I hope that other people are as confused about the numbers on plant care products as I am... (I mean, I hope I'm not the only one who's confused!) I'd like to get this number business straight in my head, once & for all!

I took inventory in my garden shed & have 2 different Ortho Rose care products with 2 diff sets of numbers on them (8-4-12, and 12-4-8). I also have another Rose care product from Miracle-Gro with yet a THIRD set of numbers (11-6-11)! It just seems to me that if something is good for a particular plant, a company would stay consistent with the amounts of whatevers they advise you to care for it with!

So, I know that the numbers stand for Nitrogen, Phosphate & Potash, but my question is: What, exactly, do those elements/chemicals do for (or to) plants?

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I took inventory in my garden shed & have 2 different Ortho Rose care products with 2 diff sets of numbers on them (8-4-12, and 12-4-8). I also have another Rose care product from Miracle-Gro with yet a THIRD set of numbers (11-6-11)!

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What you have are known as the mixed or so-called "complete fertilizers". They have the three primary nutrients in varying proportions and strengths, so the 8-4-12 would contain 8% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 12% potassium. The three nutrients are always listed in the same order, to avoid confusion.

Nitrogen is usually associated with leaf and stem growth. Phosphorus stimulates early growth and root formation; plus, it speeds up maturity and is involved in seed production. Potassium has to do with root growth, hardiness, and resistance to disease; as well as the development of flowers, fruit size, and quality.

Regarding your two Ortho Rose care products, the one with 12-4-8 is higher in Nitrogen than the other one, so it would be the one to use if you wanted to improve the leaf and stem growth of your rose.

Unfortunately, many people think these "complete fertilizers" are the "miracle cure" their plants need, but the ideal fertilizer would be one that makes up for any deficiency which exists in the soil. It is always best to have your soil tested to see what your soil actually needs, instead of adding any nutrients that already are there in quantities which may be adequate or more than adequate.

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"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"

Components and Uses of Fertilizers in the Garden

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I know you're doing this to me on purpose, Cyber-Sis! You're off sounding like a college professor again... but any information you DON'T give me, had better NOT be on the quiz!)

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Hey Cyber-Sis, I may be Trouble Twin Two, but I would never do anything to you on purpose. I tell my students there will NEVER be anything on the exams that we have not covered in class, and the same holds true for you!

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8-4-12 would contain 8% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 12% potassium.

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... those numbers don't add up to 100! Where is the other 76% of what I paid for?

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Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three primary macronutrients needed for plant growth, so they are the main nutrients used in mixed fertilizers and the ones prominently displayed on the labels and represented by the numbers. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are secondary macronutrients and are needed in fairly large quantities so they are also included in these fertilizers. Micronutrients or trace elements are also needed for good plant growth, but in smaller amounts, and are added mainly to help sell the fertilizers and make them more marketable, since the small quantities which are added would have minimal effect on the plant growth. Other chemical compounds, non-fertilizer materials and conditioners are added make up the difference.

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It sounds to me like I shouldn't need any dirt at all!

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Sorry Patty, you still gonna need dirt! All the major elements (macronutrients) and trace elements (micronutrients) are already present in soil, so the fertilizers are used to make up for any nutrients your soil may lack.

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why put Phosphorus in the rose food at all? My rose bush roots are already there & the plants are obviously already mature... (& I've never heard of a rose bush seed!

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I really don't know, but I would guess it's because it's one of the three primary macronutrients always included in mixed the fertilizers and some people may have new roses that aren't mature or do not have a well-developed root system and could benefit by the Phosphorus. Since there are no rose seeds that might explain why the Phosphorus number is low on both your rose care product.

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you are saying "Potassium" for that last number, while all my containers are saying "Potash". (Safe to assume, I assume, that they're the same thing!) You probably don't know this one: WHY do they confuse the issue by coming up with a different word for that?

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They are kinda the same thing, but I think Potash is water-soluble. I guess the different names are to confuse people like us!

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By the way... guess what? If I'd have read everything that came with my Soil Test Kit, I wouldn't have had to start this topic! All the stuff you said was right there!

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Oh geesh, NOW you read the directions! Thanks a lot Cyber-Sis, so that means I wouldn't have had to answer all these questions. Now I know why you are Trouble Twin One!

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So, what's wrong with "more than adequate"?

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Correct amounts of all the elements are essential for good plant growth. The only difference would be the relative amounts required by the plants, and the areas where you live since certain areas of the country have nutrient deficiencies which others do not. Adding more than what is adequate could upset the nutrient balance of your soil.

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Another thing, maybe just a bit off topic, but not really... Where does Epsom Salts come into this?

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Patty, I know two things about Epsom Salts and one is that it works wonders in a soak bath when you're sore and stiff from playing in the dirt. The other is that many, many years ago when I was young (told you it was many, many years ago) and I didn't know anything about gardening, plants, or anything that grew or was green except to add water, a friend told me to use Epsom Salts on my flowers and I did. Well, since they didn't die I just kept using it on my flowers.

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You know, this whole thing about plant food, fertilizers & boosters brings to my mind the issues I dealt with when I raised a lot of chickens, & sold eggs & baby chicks...

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Patty, I guess the issues you raised help explain why so many people are into organic gardening and organic foods.

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It's almost sounding as though, in much the same way, these additives for plants have the propensity to do more harm than good, in the long run!

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I think it would depend on the type of additives you're talking about. Actually, fertilizers are only meant to make up for deficiencies in your soil which is why you should buy a fertilizer which contains only the nutrients you need.

I hope this answers some of your questions, but this ended up being longer than my dissertation. Next time you have a question, call me!

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"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"