Home-use Liquid Fertilizers Comparison of Home-Use Liquid Fertilizers Sara Rogers HORT 7050 Plant Nutrition Summer 2009 Ohio State University Fact Sheet Water soluble or liquid fertilizer is applied either to the soil or on the foliage Chelated iron is used extensively for prevention and control of iron deficiency of azalea, rhododendron, oak, and sweetgum, among others Landscape plants respond to 3 to 4 times as much nitrogen as phosphorus, and twice as much potassium as phosphorus Home-use Liquid Fertilizers Importance of Early Season Phosphorus Nutrition (Grant, et al. -cereal crops study) More severe P deficiency: plants become dark green to purplish in color Deficiency can reduce both respiration and photosynthesis Ultimately cell growth is delayed and potentially stopped Deficiency symptoms: Decreased plant height, delayed leaf emergence, reductions in seed production Early season P supply is critical for optimum yield Limitation later in the season had a smaller impact on crop production Home-use Liquid Fertilizers Care of Plants in the Home (Black and Henley) Indoor plants do not need as much fertilizer as greenhouse plants Rapid new growth is undesirable because plants will outgrow their locations A complete fertilizer containing N-P-K should be used 1
Consumer Perspective Different options when purchasing fertilizer Water soluble Liquid concentrate Slow release Continued release Which to choose? Depends on needs of consumer Comparison of Two Stores Lowe s - largest selection inside store Smaller display by doors from garden center to inside Miracle-Gro display to the left CR/SR product display on the right Home Depot - all fertilizers outside Large selection at garden center check-out stand Lowe s Lowe s --- Pictures Prices as of July 10, 2009 Store location: Opelika, AL Outside display Inside display 2
Prices as of July 10, 2009 Store location: Opelika, AL Home Depot Home Depot --- Pictures Check-out area display Main display Comparison Miracle-Gro Market Share According to Barron s online: 1) Home-center stores aggressively promoting lawn and garden products 2) Market-share gains in grass seed at Wal-Mart 3) Miracle-Grois growing media products remaining in a market-leadership position 3
Why Such a Large Market Share? Consumer marketing push Readily recognizable label Offer variety of plant foods, soils, organic products Specific application skills not required Website devoted to customer service All-purpose Rose Flowers Trees and shrubs Vegetables House Plants Citrus and palm All Purpose Feeding Plants Outdoor plants Foliar or soil feeding Indoor Plants Foliar (leaf) feeding not recommended for houseplants Fertilizer Analysis 24-8-16 4
Rose Specially formulated plant food for roses and can be used on other repeat-blooming flowers Coverage Area Use 1 gallon per rose bush Cautions Foliar feeding not recommended during extreme heat and drought 18-24-16 Flowers High phosphorus for maximum color and bloom yield Foliar and soil feeding 15-30-15 5
Flowers A special plant food that creates the ideal growing environment for acid-loving plants Rich in iron and other essential nutrients Foliar and soil feeding 30-10-10 Vegetables Specially formulated food for tomatoes and all vegetables 18-18-21 6
Miracle-Gro Houseplant Food Promotes lush, deep green foliage and beautiful blooms for healthy-looking plants Fertilizer Analysis 8-7-6 Miracle-Gro African Violet Specially formulated with five essential micronutrients for the unique needs of African Violets Fertilizer Analysis 7-7-7 House Plants Miracle-Gro Orchid Food Indoor and outdoor orchids and other acidloving plants Apply every 2 weeks during active growth periods and every 4 weeks during rest periods 30-10-10 Trees and shrubs No specific WS Tree and Shrub fertilizer WS All-Purpose 7
Citrus and palms Comparison Chart No WS plant food formulations, other than WS All Purpose Only Continuous Release products Comparison Chart Sources Barron s. May 15, 2009. More green for Scotts Miracle-Gro. Accessed July 18, 2009 from http://online.barrons.com/article/sb124026389320136541.html Black, R.J. and R.W. Henley. Care of plants in the home. University of Florida IFAS Extension publication CIR454. Accessed July 18, 2009 from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg031 Grant, C.A., D.N. Flaten, D.J. Tomasiewiczand S.C. Sheppard. 2001. The importance of early season phosphorus nutrition. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 81: 211 224. Accessed July 20, 2009 from http://www.potafos.com.br/ppiweb/canadaw.nsf/87cb8a98bf72572b8525693e0053ea70/12 1e59b17d61ca8f06256aab00720805/$FILE/GRANT%20-%20early%20season%20P.pdf Ohio State University Fact Sheet. Fertilizing landscape plants. Accessed July 20, 2009 from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1002.html Store Visitation July 10, 2009. Home Depot and Lowe s Home Improvement stores located in Opelika, Alabama The Scotts Company LLC,. 2009. Plant food products. Accessed July 18, 2009 from http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/miraclegro/brandlanding.jsp?navaction=pop&itemid=ca t50006&id=cat50006 8