Granular fertilizer

UFXEFU · May 4, 2017

Ideas and opinions on dissolving granular fertilizer. What are the advantages or disadvantages?
Bob

garyjr · May 5, 2017

Unless you like to fertilize with a watering can, hose end sprayer or rain barrel, etc. I don't see any advantage. Granular fertilizer spread around the base of the plants should leach slowly into the root zone during each rain or watering. I did think of one other advantage and that would be as a foliar feed. I know with Epsom salts dissolved in a spray bottle misted over the leaves the results are noticeable overnight.

Country Breeze · May 5, 2017

Granular fertilizer is made that way for a reason. I don't see any advantage in dissolving it, as it's usually more expensive than the water soluble fertilizers.

Gardeneer · May 5, 2017

I don't see why not. I do it now and then. It is much cheaper than a lot of fancy fertilizers..
You can use it the same amount as MG water soluable, 2 TBS per gallon ? But you have to let it sit for a while and stir it. There will be some solid at the bottom of bucket. That is just the filler. A 10-10-10 , for example, has 70% filler.
I make concentrate in 5 gallon bucket. Put about one lb in it. I would pour about a quart of it in 2 gallon watering can ( even less ) and fill it with water. I use less concentrate because I fertilize more frequently instead.

Spreading granular is more convenient but I think it will take much longer time to be available to the plants.

Country Breeze · May 5, 2017

Granular fertilizer should be bioavailable upon the first watering and extend well beyond that. compost tea is usually free, and Miracle Grow is time consuming.

Can it be done, sure. I just see no advantage.

May 4, 2017	#1
UFXEFU Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a Posts: 253	Granular fertilizer Ideas and opinions on dissolving granular fertilizer. What are the advantages or disadvantages? Bob

May 5, 2017	#2
garyjr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mechanicsville, VA zone 7a Posts: 97	Unless you like to fertilize with a watering can, hose end sprayer or rain barrel, etc. I don't see any advantage. Granular fertilizer spread around the base of the plants should leach slowly into the root zone during each rain or watering. I did think of one other advantage and that would be as a foliar feed. I know with Epsom salts dissolved in a spray bottle misted over the leaves the results are noticeable overnight. __________________ "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts." C.S. Lewis

May 5, 2017	#4
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	I don't see why not. I do it now and then. It is much cheaper than a lot of fancy fertilizers.. You can use it the same amount as MG water soluable, 2 TBS per gallon ? But you have to let it sit for a while and stir it. There will be some solid at the bottom of bucket. That is just the filler. A 10-10-10 , for example, has 70% filler. I make concentrate in 5 gallon bucket. Put about one lb in it. I would pour about a quart of it in 2 gallon watering can ( even less ) and fill it with water. I use less concentrate because I fertilize more frequently instead. Spreading granular is more convenient but I think it will take much longer time to be available to the plants. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

May 5, 2017	#3
Country Breeze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: On The Mason Dixon Posts: 93	Granular fertilizer is made that way for a reason. I don't see any advantage in dissolving it, as it's usually more expensive than the water soluble fertilizers.