Plant food scam

CorrineMitch

One of things that annoys me is the number of plant food liquids or feeds you can buy; often from the same manufacturer.  Most of them do the same thing but are packaged for different plants so people buy lots, when they dont need to. (Rose/orchid/Citrus etc)

Look on the back of the package and somewhere on there will be a table giving numbers for the amount of Nitrogen;Phosphorus and Potassium in the food.    A higher first number (nitrogen) is good for leaves (green growth) so ideal for lawns and foliage plants.  A higher second number (Phosphorus) is ideal for flowers and fruit (so good for flowers and fruit!) and a higher third number (Potassium) is good for root growth.  7:7:7 is a basic amount of each.

It is like many things I have read about here - dont spend extra for the fancy name.  Own brands are excellent and if you want an overall, 'one does everything', go for bog standard Tomato food.  If you can find one with seaweed too, that adds many of the other nutrients that plants need and should make a big difference.  And for Spring feed - a large bucket of Growmore is great - cheap and cheerful.  Scatter a small handful around the base of plants before rain and let the rain and worms do the work. 

Pollycat

Plant food scam

I can't see the scam here.

sarah1972

Pollycat said:

Plant food scam

I can't see the scam here.

Neither can I to be honest? 

Pmd the team to move to the gardening board 

Tucosalamanca

It's not that straightforward though is it? Reading the NPK is useful but it's just a very rough guide.

There are so many variables, I'm sure that most gardeners are aware of the nuances when selecting their chosen plant foods.

Your bog standard 7:7:7 tomato food might be good for many things but if you want the best hanging baskets on the street, chances are that you're going to spend a few quid on something more refined.

twopenny

I still buy one of the first. It's cheaper now because it's been around so long.
I have tried the newer heavily advertised stuff but just once.
And quickly found that the cheap brands rarely are as good in fact often horrible.
The trick is to do the same as you do with food and other stuff. Keep your eyes open for good brands when they are on offer or much cheaper in bulk and decant.

Not so much a scam, more there's often a reason why a product is half the price of a known one.

Farway

twopenny said:

I still buy one of the first. It's cheaper now because it's been around so long.
I have tried the newer heavily advertised stuff but just once.
And quickly found that the cheap brands rarely are as good in fact often horrible.
The trick is to do the same as you do with food and other stuff. Keep your eyes open for good brands when they are on offer or much cheaper in bulk and decant.

Not so much a scam, more there's often a reason why a product is half the price of a known one.

Very true, you have to check on dilution rates as well, one capful or two per gallon?

Wilko Tomorite copy cat is one example I found. It was an identical formula & dilution but cheaper than the real thing

One year later, same ratio of nutrients as the real thing but needs twice as much, in other words it's been watered down, now I just use Tomorite because it works and summer is too short to find penny-pinching cost more in long run