Plant food

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Herb, Jan 26, 2011.

  1. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    How long will this last once some has been made, ie by adding it to a jug of water etc?
     
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Hi Herb,

    Are you talking about the chemical plant food ? If so, it will keep as long as you can bear the smell.:help:

    I make up plant food by using anerobic decompostion of plant waste. You know that is going to smell terrible from the word go so you just get used to it:dbgrtmb:

    I made my first batch when I was about 8 years old & my brother described it as "Pure Evil"
     
  3. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    About five seconds :heehee:. I seem to spend my life mixing it up - but its worth it.

    However I would agree with Ziggy. If you are talking about things like Miraclegrow - they are simple chemicals and I would think that they would last almost indefinately.
     
  4. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    I, like a lot of other gardeners use both chemical and "natural" plant foods. Straight nitrogen, phosphate, and potash if properly stored will last years. Diluted to a solution they will still last years if kept in a cool dark place. I buy chicken pellets and growmore in reasonably large quantities and again if properly stored they will last a reasonable length of time. Again, like a lot of gardeners, I also use MiracleGro which when, in solution, will last a long time. I harvest cowpats [ I have an affinity for stepping in then when I'm not looking for them!!]
    and sheepsh.... which I hang in small hessian sacks in tubs of water until the water is the colour of tea. Now that, after a couple of weeks, will start to smell somewhat - especially if the weather is good and hot. But anyway commercial chemical plant food will last a long time either in it's original form or diluted into a solution.
     
  5. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    Thanks all.

    yes, I was talking about the packet stuff you can buy in every supermarket. Most have to be made up in pint quantities of water and I don't have enough plants to feed all that to in one go! :s
     
  6. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Well, the shop bought stuff in solution usually come in light-proof plastic containers which if you stored them in a cool place. Plant food that come in granule, powder or crystal form will last years if you store it in a cool and DRY place.
     
  7. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    Herb - you need a Brugmansia. You feed it double strength every day. But its worth it.

    [​IMG]
    This is a picture I found on the net.
     
  8. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    That's fantastic, PeterS!
     
  9. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I think you also need a warmer climate:D
     
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