Miracle-Gro is a very common product in a gardener’s toolkit, especially for indoor gardening. If you have ever gardened yourself, chances are you are familiar with this product. But with that popularity comes a risk. Many people get a bit too excited and start using it almost religiously. So, can too much Miracle-Gro be a problem?
Applying too much Miracle-Gro will invariably stunt the growth of your plants. The excess fertilizer will raise the salt concentration of the soil, which will greatly hamper your plant’s ability to absorb water. Additionally, it will destroy many helpful micro-organisms that live in the soil.
So, today, we are going to look at all the negative effects of using too much Miracle-Gro and how to avoid them. We will also go over the right way of using Miracle-Gro, which will benefit your plants.
Can You Use Too Much Miracle-Gro?
Gardeners, particularly novice indoor gardeners, are likely to use too much Miracle-Gro. Indoor gardening differs quite a lot from gardening in open fields. Arguably the biggest challenge is to create a suitable environment for your plants to survive, and this starts with creating the ideal plant bed.
The problem is that different plants have different requirements. So, to save time and effort, many people generalize the fertilizer they use and apply it without proper thinking. This is particularly true for the “all-purpose” fertilizer of the Miracle-Gro line. People read the title and assume it is all they need for their plants.
And so, they start using it while disregarding the instructions and other factors involved in taking care of plants. They either put too much or use it too frequently. It eventually causes the fertilizer to build up and make the very soil poisonous to the plants. Ultimately, they obtain the opposite of what they were initially expecting.
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Why is Too Much Miracle-Gro Harmful?
The issue lies in the composition of Miracle-Gro — or any artificial fertilizer for that matter. Fertilizers contain various minerals, called “micro-nutrients” for the plant. These minerals are essential for the plants’ survival.
The problem starts when you put too much Miracle-Gro in your soil. Considering the soil already contains a certain amount of water and minerals, the fertilizer is supposed to act as a supplement that fulfills a plant’s requirements.
However, too much salt creates an imbalance, which disrupts the concentration gradient of water and minerals between the soil and the plant. Ultimately, your plant cannot take in water through usual means, and without its water intake, the plants will not absorb the minerals in the soil, thus making your fertilizing efforts vain.
This alone is problematic enough as without water, the plants will dehydrate and dry. Besides, not having enough micro-nutrients will stop all the biological functions of the plant’s life, which ultimately will die.
Then, you add in the effects of an excess of fertilizer on the many micro-organisms living in the soil. Those play an important role as they have a symbiotic relationship with the plant. They are a crucial factor in making the soil hospitable for plant life. Therefore, killing them will ruin the chances of future plants growing in that soil as well.
Overall, too much Miracle-Gro will not only destroy the plant you have currently, but also ruin any future investment you are planning on making.
How Often Should You Put Miracle-Gro on Plants?
Despite the negative viewpoint of the article so far, you should not avoid fertilizers altogether. They are a great way of ensuring that your plant is receiving all the nutrients it needs, and Miracle-Gro is one of the most reliable brands currently on the market.
The key here is using it appropriately in terms of amount and frequency. You should typically use it once a week or every other week. You really do not have to use it any more than that.
Now, you must know the mineral level of your soil beforehand seeing as not all plants need more fertilizer to begin with, while others may require a bit more. Thus, check how much fertilizer you need to add to get the best results.
In terms of quantity, the general rule is to mix one tablespoon of Miracle-Gro with one gallon of water. Then, evenly water your plant with this mixture with a watering can. Again, the ratio differs based on the species of plant and its environment.
The composition of the Miracle-Gro is also important. Not every Miracle-Gro product is made the same way. So, you should find out which variety is best suited for your needs and your plant’s survival.
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Should You Water Your Plants After Spreading Miracle-Gro?
Typically, you water the plants right after you applied fertilizer. This is done as a routine so that you never forget to water your plant. Therefore, we recommend using Miracle-Gro right before your routine watering.
The minerals present in Miracle-Gro are absorbed by the plant alongside the water. So, if the ground is dry, the minerals are also not entering the plant. That is why you must keep the soil moist at all times.
This is not an absolute necessity as Miracle-Gro will not evaporate magically without water. So, if you are short on time, you can water the plant a couple of hours after you mixed the fertilizer with the soil.
Now, the water requirements vary based on the species and water level of the soil. But, you should put enough water where the surface has a shallow layer of water. It is okay if the surface dries out quickly. The most important thing is that the inside of the soil remains moist constantly.
Miracle-Gro, like any other fertilizer, should be used in the right proportion. Too much of this product will damage your plants instead of nurturing them. So, measure the amount and apply it routinely rather than regularly.
Conclusion
Plants need a lot of things to grow and thrive. Most of the time, these needed elements can be easily absorbed by the plants from their surroundings. But, there are times when this is not the case. In these situations, we can help our plants and provide the nutrients that they need through the use of fertilizers, such as Miracle Gro.
While fertilizers are meant to help plants grow, there are certain procedures that you must follow in order to make sure that you are using them correctly. You can overfeed your plants with too much fertilizer and instead of being beneficial to your plants, the fertilizer that you applied will instead cause more harm than good. So, just like everything else in this world, use fertilizers in moderation.
