It’s that time of year again when elementary Science projects are almost due! Since I have been attending soil classes and talking about farming for the last several months, my 4th grader, Abby, decided to do a plant-related science project. I purchased some organic pea seeds from Johnny’s Seeds. She planted 8 seeds in Miracle Gro, a synthetic fertilizer, and 8 seeds in McEnroe Organic Farm Potting Soil (with some McEnroe Lite on top). Her goal is to observe the speed of growth of the plants in each soil, the number of seedlings that actually develop in each soil (out of the 8 seeds that she planted in each soil), and the visual quality of the plants.
Abby’s Hypothesis
Abby felt that the Miracle Gro pea plants would grow faster. She also felt that the organic soil would produce more plants than the Miracle Gro soil. And she also hypothesized that the organic plants would be the stronger plants.
What is Miracle Gro Anyway?
We mentioned that Miracle Gro is a synthetic fertilizer. What does that really mean? Synthetic fertilizers can have harmful effects on the environment. They have the ability to harm the microorganisms that are responsible for making both soil and plants fertile and make it difficult for the soil to hold water and nutrients. When synthetic fertilizers runoff into the water system, they can serve as pollutants by increasing the presence of nitrogen. This can cause life to quickly die off, and it kills both animals and plants in the water. Many Miracle Gro products are full of unhealthy, inorganic chemicals, are mass produced, and they are generally composed of cheaper, low quality ingredients.
14 Days Later
After 14 days of observing Abby’s experiment, some initial results demonstrated that two of the Miracle Gro seedlings sprouted first. However, only six out of the eight Miracle Gro seedlings sprouted thus far while all eight pea seedlings sprouted in the orgranic soil. When Abby and I transplanted the seedlings to larger pots, we also noticed that the root systems in the organic soil plants appeared thicker and stronger.
Measuring Nutritional Value
I decided to take Abby’s science experiment one step further. During the BioNutrient Food Association soil classes that Ann Pellegrino and I attended recently, we learned about a method used to measure the nutrition level of each type of vegetable and fruit. What a fantastic opportunity to really be able to demonstrate the nutritional value of the food that we are growing at HeartBeet Farms vs. food that is being purchased from other sources.
Using a tool called a refractometer, we can take the juice or sap from any type of vegetable or fruit and measure its Brix. Based on the Brix scale, it will reveal the level of nutrition that the fruit or vegetable contains. When light enters a liquid it changes direction; this is called refraction. Refractometers measure the degree to which the light changes direction. A refractometer takes the refraction angles and correlates them to the Brix Scale. The Brix scale (click to view the brix-chart) is calibrated to the number of grams of cane sugar contained in 100 g of water. When measuring a sugar solution, the % Brix reading should perfectly match the actual concentration.
So I thought this might be a great opportunity to take her experiment a bit further and measure the nutritional value of the peas that were grown in the the Miracle Gro plants vs. the pea plants grown in the McEnroe organic potting soil. That will be the last step of the experiment as the plant leaves and peas develop. I am personally excited to see the results! Stay tuned – Abby and I will keep you posted…
FAQs
It Has a Very Negative Environmental Impact (cont.)
The long-term impact of using Miracle-Gro soil can also lead to soil degradation. The dependency on synthetic fertilizers can disrupt the natural nutrient cycles and microbial communities in the soil, affecting its overall health and fertility.
Is Miracle-Gro potting soil considered organic? ›
Is Miracle-Gro Organic? Miracle-Gro is not an organic fertilizer as it is made with chemicals or syhtnetic ingredients. The short answer: no. Standard Miracle-Gro “all purpose plant food” fertilizers are synthetic and should not be used in organic gardens.
What is the difference between Miracle Grow garden soil and potting soil? ›
Potting mix is meant to stand alone, as opposed to being mixed in with existing soils. It is a self-contained product designed to provide potted plants with everything they need to grow and thrive. Garden soil is meant to be spread around. Mix garden soil in with your native dirt to improve it.
What makes Miracle-Gro not organic? ›
The difference between synthetic fertilizers (like Miracle-Gro) and organic fertilizers (such as those made by the brands listed above), is that synthetics are made in a lab and organics are made from real plant and animal materials.
What is the problem with Miracle Grow soil? ›
Most are concerns about the fertilizer that commercial potting mix contains. Some mention specifically the “synthetic” or man-made fertilizers specifically. There are concerns about the little white “perlite” things. Some mention pesticides too.
What is the difference between SuperThrive and Miracle-Gro? ›
Yes, the SuperThrive plant has more new growth, more leaves and is a bit greener. On the other hand, the Miracle Gro plant is also vigorous and the growth is more mature and leaves are larger. In the end, the SuperThrive plant is probably a bit more vigorous.
Does organic potting soil make a difference? ›
Composted tree bark: This rich source of organic matter gives structure to the plant, improves drainage, and helps with nutrient absorption. Sphagnum peat moss: These decomposed remains of moss are highly absorbent but aren't easily compressed, allowing the plant to breathe and drain optimally.
What is a good substitute for Miracle-Gro? ›
Your neighbours could use liquid kelp or fish emulsion. They are liquid products that are diluted in water and then used to water the plants – ideal for containers. Fish emulsion has a bit of a smell when you're mixing it up, but when it is absorbed by the soil, you don't smell anything. I have used it for houseplants.
What happens if you put too much Miracle-Gro on plants? ›
Too much fertilizer can potentially cause a chemical burn on the roots of your plant. In severe cases, it can also cause the whole plant to wilt and die. This is something that you might see happen within a few days of fertilizing. You'll need to act quickly if your plant has been overfertilized.
Why can't you use Miracle-Gro garden soil in pots? ›
Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to use potting mix (also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative. For raised beds, you'll want to use a blend of potting mix and garden soil.
Plus it has perlite to help oxygen needed by plant roots to flow through the soil and plant food to get the growing started. Then—you guessed it—you'll need to take fertilizing into your own hands a month after planting.
Why do gardeners not like Miracle-Gro? ›
While the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company claims that their products provide essential nutrients for healthy plant growth, some organic gardeners argue that the use of synthetic fertilizers like Miracle-Gro can harm the soil and the health of your plants.
Is Miracle-Gro organic soil? ›
Yes! Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil is formulated with with quick release natural fertilizer to grow more vegatables, guaranteed (vs. unfed plants; satisfaction guaranteed or your money back). Why should I use organic soil?
Which is the best organic fertilizer? ›
Organic products like cow dung manure, garden compost, seaweed, fish emulsions, vermicompost, perlite, etc., all fall under the banner of organic means of fertilizing greenery. Using these naturally found substances makes the plants more joyous and helps them live a healthy and long-lasting life.
Is Miracle-Gro good for all plants? ›
The formula is safe for all plants, and is guaranteed not to burn when used as directed. Get beautiful results with Miracle-Gro®. For outdoor plants, there are two great methods for feeding your garden: With the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder: One feeder refill packet in the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder will cover 500 sq.
What to use instead of Miracle-Gro? ›
A good soil management program would start with an organic fertilizer, such as Neptune's Harvest Fish Emulsion or Fish-Seaweed Blend. These products are complete fertilizers.
Does Miracle Grow get too old to use? ›
According to the Miracle-Gro representative that I spoke with, the liquid plant food is best used within three years after being purchased if stored properly. It is still viable for up to eight years.
It’s that time of year again when elementary Science projects are almost due! Since I have been attending soil classes and talking about farming for the last several months, my 4th grader, Abby, decided to do a plant-related science project. I purchased some organic pea seeds from Johnny’s Seeds. She planted 8 seeds in Miracle Gro, a synthetic fertilizer, and 8 seeds in McEnroe Organic Farm Potting Soil (with some McEnroe Lite on top). Her goal is to observe the speed of growth of the plants in each soil, the number of seedlings that actually develop in each soil (out of the 8 seeds that she planted in each soil), and the visual quality of the plants.
first. However, only six out of the eight Miracle Gro seedlings sprouted thus far while all eight pea seedlings sprouted in the orgranic soil. When Abby and I transplanted the seedlings to larger pots, we also noticed that the root systems in the organic soil plants appeared thicker and stronger.
vegetable or fruit and measure its Brix. Based on the Brix scale, it will reveal the level of nutrition that the fruit or vegetable contains. When light enters a liquid it changes direction; this is called refraction. Refractometers measure the degree to which the light changes direction. A refractometer takes the refraction angles and correlates them to the Brix Scale. The Brix scale (click to view the brix-chart) is calibrated to the number of grams of cane sugar contained in 100 g of water. When measuring a sugar solution, the % Brix reading should perfectly match the actual concentration.