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Fertiliser confusion - organic/inorganic/natural/synthetic/chemical - aagh!
Nollie
Posts: 7,529
The Science Bit:
OK, I think I have this straight - both organic (ex living organisms) and inorganic (rocks and ground minerals) are ‘natural’ products of the earth; chemicals can either be naturally occuring (all life is effectively ‘chemical’) or manufactured/synthesised artificially, hence ‘synthetic’, although ‘chemical’ and ‘synthetic’ are often used synonymously.
I believe that fertilisers for pots should be synthetic or inorganic, as organic compounds cannot be broken down in a sterile potting medium into an inorganic form that plants can then absorb.
Natural (whether organic or inorganic) fertilisers are best for plants in the ground as they can break them down if required, whereas long-term use of synthetic compounds can deplete soil health and be toxic to soil organisms.
So assuming the above is accepted - please correct me if you disagree, I’m no plant nutritionist nor chemist - presumably only a fertiliser that is both ‘natural’ and ‘inorganic’ (without artifical synthesis) can be suited to use in both pots and in the ground?
The Practical Bit:
The clear implication is that it is fine for plants both in pots and in the ground. It’s a fine white granuar material that looks like salt, can be disolved in water and used as a liquid feed or foliar spray.
Would I be safe to use it sparingly as an occasional boost for plants in the ground? Can I assume it is inorganic, thus suitable for pots, which is surely what they mean by ‘balcony’? All that ethically natural botanical speak kind of implies it’s organic, but it doesn’t say it is and I don’t think it is 🤔
Any thoughts folks?
OK, I think I have this straight - both organic (ex living organisms) and inorganic (rocks and ground minerals) are ‘natural’ products of the earth; chemicals can either be naturally occuring (all life is effectively ‘chemical’) or manufactured/synthesised artificially, hence ‘synthetic’, although ‘chemical’ and ‘synthetic’ are often used synonymously.
I believe that fertilisers for pots should be synthetic or inorganic, as organic compounds cannot be broken down in a sterile potting medium into an inorganic form that plants can then absorb.
Natural (whether organic or inorganic) fertilisers are best for plants in the ground as they can break them down if required, whereas long-term use of synthetic compounds can deplete soil health and be toxic to soil organisms.
So assuming the above is accepted - please correct me if you disagree, I’m no plant nutritionist nor chemist - presumably only a fertiliser that is both ‘natural’ and ‘inorganic’ (without artifical synthesis) can be suited to use in both pots and in the ground?
The Practical Bit:
I have just taken receipt of a new Italian fertiliser, theoretically to give my potted flowering shrubs and roses a boost but I’m confused by their claims on the packet (the website doesn’t clarify) and now don’t know where to use it! It’s called SymbioEthical NPK 20.20.20 plus microelements and activator by SymbiaGro: “ethically natural, for ‘botanical’ use, suitable for balcony, garden, vegetable patch and orchard”.
The clear implication is that it is fine for plants both in pots and in the ground. It’s a fine white granuar material that looks like salt, can be disolved in water and used as a liquid feed or foliar spray.
Would I be safe to use it sparingly as an occasional boost for plants in the ground? Can I assume it is inorganic, thus suitable for pots, which is surely what they mean by ‘balcony’? All that ethically natural botanical speak kind of implies it’s organic, but it doesn’t say it is and I don’t think it is 🤔
Any thoughts folks?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Posts
More education required.
I am sure it will be inorganic. The term organic is considerably abused and often seems to be used for anything containing carbon.
I am unaware about organic fertilisers not being used for plants in pots, so not sure whether correct, I think it is unlikely.
I agree that long term use / abuse of inorganic feeds may cause soil problems, hence feed the soil, not the plant.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I use blood, fish and bone and seaweed meal in the garden, but not in pots (as I've previously seen mould growing on it if used in pots) and I don't think the bio-life in pots is as extensive as it is in the ground.
I use Miracle Grow and/or Seaweed extract for pots in the garden, and seaweed extract for houseplants (Orchids excepted).
At the end of the day a Nitrogen atom (for example) from blood, fish, bone is exactly the same as a Nitrogen atom from Growmore/Miracle Grow etc. An 'organic' atom is exactly the same as a 'non-organic' atom
Using blood fish bone, organisms break the material down and convert it to NPK etc. over a period of time and thus feeds the soil which in turn feeds the plant.
Using Growmore etc, the NPK is delivered immediately
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
I do feed the soil heavily with manure and compost, but still find certain flowering plants in the ground need an additional liquid boost, especially in my very alkaline soil irrigated with alkaline well water where nutrient uptake can be inhibited. I have recently been experimenting with an alfalfa/fish emulsion/iron and manganese tea recipe for in-ground plants. BF&B is hopeless as my dog digs it up.
I guess if the fertiliser in question is not claiming to be organic it must be inorganic, but if it’s artificially synthesised I really don’t want to add it to the soil, so will reserve it for the originally intended purpose, which is pots.
That was my understanding @Pete.8. Insofar as I understand the science bit, plants need organic material to be broken down into a useable, inorganic form in order to absorb the nutrients therein. The critters and microbial life that do that will not be present (or at least not initially and thereafter not in vast quantities) in a pot filled with sterile potting medium. That’s why slow release pellets or instant release liquid feeds for use in pots are generally not organic. Using organic additives certainly won’t harm plants in pots, but the question is, how effective are they and are they fast enough acting to provide the required boost during the flowering season?
Seaweed is an interesting example, of organic origin but converted to inorganic so this works in pots too? Is it the fact that it is a fast-acting foliar spray that can be absorbed by the leaves so organic/inorganic/soil microbial action is irrelevant?
It contains mostly plant hormones and trace minerals vital for plant life that are often missing from soils and composts.
I started using it about 10 years ago and was quickly sold on the stuff.
It just seems to work wonders on just about any plant I've used it on.
I've never been good with houseplants, but I started feeding them with only seaweed extract a couple of years ago. I've not lost one and they're all thriving
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.