On Mon, 2 Aug 2004 14:54:51 -0400, "Wil" wrote:



Yes indeed, thanks for pointing this out. At one time it seems that Miracle
Grow was a different formula with a higher nitrogen ratio. I may be wrong
about that.

You're not wrong. The original MG was created for epiphytic orchids grown under
glass, and can still be bought under the names 'Miracid' and 'ProSelect'. The
NPK ratio is 30-10-10, but 90 percent of the nitrogen is bound up in urea. It
requires environmental breakdown of the urea to make the nitrogen available to
plants, so the 30 percent N figure by itself is a bit misleading.

There are still other formulations of MG. For details see 'plant food' at
http://www.miraclegro.com/

I know Osmocote comes in different ratio forumlas so the box
should be read to know exactly what ratio of Nitrogen-phosphorus-potash
[N-P-K] is in the particular fertilizer.

Yes, but caution is advised here as well, since there are formulations with
different release rates (generally, from 3 to 18 months), and formulations with
different release rates for the individual macronutrients as well. It gets very
complicated. Detailed information is available under 'fertilizers' at
http://www.scottsprohort.com/

Also there is a time to use a high nitrogen fertilizer. I do use it if
foliage looks sluggish. However, too many home gardeners seem to think if a
little Miracle grow is good then more will cure all plant problems or uses
it at the wrong time.

Over use is an ever-present possibility. Personally, I believe in deliberately
under-fertilizing with granular fertilizers like Osmocote, and supplementing
with water-solubles like Miracle Grow when I can. For soil beds I use mostly
compost, sometimes supplemented with water-solubles. The vegetable plantings
additionally get carefully measured small amounts of 13-13-13 since they are
almost all gross feeders. I'm willing to do these different things because for
me its only a hobby and I'm merely dabbling, but if I were growing
professionally I'd have to do many things differently, including fertilizing.
What I do now mostly succeeds (sometimes even more than I had hoped for), but a
commercial grower needs better than 'mostly' to survive.

Wil