It's All About the Nutrients: NPK
Plant food delivers three main nutrients to plants:
- Nitrogen (N)-helps fuel growth.
- Phosphorus (P)-promotes root development, increases blooms, and helps gets plants off to a strong start.
- Potassium (K)-essential to overall plant health; helps plants fight off diseases and withstand stressful growing conditions (like drought and heat).
These three key nutrients appear somewhere on every plant food package as a series of numbers, such as the 12-4-8 found onMiracle-Gro® Shake 'N Feed® All Purpose Plant Food.The first number, 12, refers to the percentage, by weight, of nitrogen (N) in the plant food. The second number, 4, refers to the percentage of phosphorus (P), and the last number, 8, refers to the percentage of potassium (K).
Plants also benefit from other nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, which are included in many plant foods. If you look on the back of any fertilizer package, you'll see a list of all the nutrients it contains.
Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix (for containers) or Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil (for raised beds). If you have an in-ground garden bed, then till 3 inches of Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil into the top 6 inches of your existing soil.
Types of Plant Food
Plant food typically comes in three different forms:
- Continuous release granules
- Liquids
- Water soluble powders or crystals
Continuous release plant foods, such asMiracle-Gro® Shake 'N Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, usually comes in granular form, and the nutrients are released slowly over time. Mix this type of fertilizer directly into the soil surrounding the plant. To find out how much and how often to feed, it's always best to refer to the product label.
With liquid and water soluble fertilizers, the feeding happens when you water.Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, for example, can either be mixed in a watering can or delivered through your garden hose with theMiracle-Gro® Garden Feeder attachment. The hose attachment mixes the plant food for you, so all you have to do is water as you normally would. These kinds of plant foods need to be applied more often than continuous release fertilizer, but the nutrients reach plants more quickly.
How to Feed Your Plants
If you've ever been reluctant to fertilize your plants because it's unclear or complicated, then we're here to help all of that go away. Here's how to start feeding your plants in 3 easy steps.
- Choose a plant food. Continuous release fertilizers are great if you prefer a slightly hands-off approach, but if you're out in the garden on a weekly basis, then liquid or water soluble plant foods could be a better option.
- Start feeding early. To get the best results, begin feeding your plants in early spring so they have the nutrients they need to start the growing season off strong. Continue to feed on a regular basis according to label directions.
- If you've planted new plants in Miracle-Gro® soil or potting mix, then wait 30 days to start fertilizing because your plants will feed off the abundant nutrients already in the soil.
- Set reminders. Remembering to feed your plants can sometimes be the hardest part. If you're using a water soluble or liquid plant food, then you'll have to feed every 7-14 days, depending on which product you have.
- Continuous release fertilizers are applied less often, usually around every 6 weeks. Always refer to the product label for how often to apply. Once you know the right feeding schedule, set a recurring reminder in your phone or smart speaker to help keep you on track.
Should You Feed Your Plants in Summer?
Absolutely! While some folks believe that you shouldn't fertilize the garden in summertime, the opposite is actually true. After all, that's when plants are growing most vigorously—think of them as ravenous teenagers. That doesn't mean you should give them more food than the label says (that's never a good idea), but it does mean that you'll want to stick with a regular feeding schedule to make sure your plants are getting enough to eat.
No matter what kind of plant food you choose or what time of year you're feeding, be sure to follow the directions on the label for the best results. Do that and your plants will never go hungry!
FAQs
Carbon dioxide, water, and light are the ingredients plants need in order to make their food to grow. Carbon dioxide is a gas that we humans breathe out. Plants need to take in carbon dioxide as part of their nourishment.
Can you put Miracle-Gro plant food directly on soil? ›
Lightly work a granular fertilizer, like Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, into the surface soil around each plant base, being careful not to disturb the roots or new growth, then water thoroughly to release the nutrients into the soil.
What are the three numbers on Miracle-Gro fertilizer? ›
The first number, 12, refers to the percentage, by weight, of nitrogen (N) in the plant food. The second number, 4, refers to the percentage of phosphorus (P), and the last number, 8, refers to the percentage of potassium (K).
Should you water after applying Miracle-Gro? ›
Can I water after applying Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food? We would recommend waiting at least 24 hours applying Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food to continue watering your plants. Be sure to apply the product to your plants every 7-14 days for the best results.
What is the best homemade plant food? ›
Five Affordable and Easy DIY Organic Fertilizers You Can Find Right In Your Home
- Eggshells. Save your eggshells people, I cannot stress this enough. ...
- Rice Water. If you aren't washing your rice before you cook it, you should really try it...and then save the water for your house plants! ...
- Coffee. ...
- Potato Water. ...
- Banana Peels.
What is one reason not to use Miracle-Gro? ›
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.
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.
Can I use 20/20/20 fertilizer on all my plants? ›
Works excellently for a variety of flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees and houseplants.
What to use instead of Miracle-Gro? ›
As opposed to Miracle-Gro which offers synthetic NPK (Nitrogen - N, Phosphorus - P & Potassium - K) and little else, Neptune's Harvest products, made from fresh North Atlantic fish, contain vitamins, micro and macro nutrients, amino acids, and natural growth hormones.
What's the difference between plant food and fertilizer? ›
Plant food provides a balanced blend of nutrients to support overall plant health, while fertilizers target specific nutrient deficiencies in the soil. Understanding these differences can help you make informed decisions when it comes to nourishing your plants.
Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food instantly feeds vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants to grow bigger and more beautiful than unfed plants. Simply feed them every 1-2 weeks. The formula is safe for all plants, and is guaranteed not to burn when used as directed.
What is the best thing to feed plants? ›
The best plant food depends on the type of plants you have. Generally, if your plants are nitrogen-loving, then a balanced fertilizer with a higher level of nitrogen should be used. If your plants are phosphorus-loving, choose a fertilizer with a higher concentration of phosphorus.
What are the basic foods that plants make? ›
Plants use a process called photosynthesis to make food. During photosynthesis, plants trap light energy with their leaves. Plants use the energy of the sun to change water and carbon dioxide into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is used by plants for energy and to make other substances like cellulose and starch.
What are the 3 ingredients in plant food? ›
Look for the three-number formula on every bag of fertilizer. Just remember NPK, which stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The formula represents the ratio of these three ingredients always in that order.
What are the 3 main nutrients plants need? ›
The three main nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Together they make up the trio known as NPK. Other important nutrients are calcium, magnesium and sulfur.