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| I bought this plant food http://www.scotts.com/smg/goprod/%23name%3F/prod100078 from Lowe's to put on my maturing tomato and pepper plants that I have already planted in containers. I just used it yesterday and noticed on the Scotts website that this food is "not suitable for container gardening" but they recommended using Miracle-Gro Shake-n-Feed fertilizer for container plants. I understand that in-ground plants and container plants require slightly different things, but I wouldn't think that this plant food would work for in-ground plants and then not work for container plants. Is there something I am missing in my train of thought? Maybe something more complicated than I am realizing? Anyways, I already have this plant food in my container plants. Do I need to re-pot them and use a different fertilizer or will it be fine the way it is? Thanks! |
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| The exact chemical form the nutrients take may be an issue. The nitrogen in fertilizer is not just 'nitrogen' - it can be nitrate or nitrate, urea, etc. These have different chemical constituents, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. I suspect that there may be the potential of salt build-up in this particular fertilizer. In the ground, salts can wash out, but in a container, they're stuck in the pot. I wouldn't bother re-potting. I'd just get a fertilizer designed for container use, and add it during the season. |
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| I see. Thanks for the response, that makes a lot of sense. I'll be getting some Shake-n-Feed with it being so widely used. If I was to fertilize it with Shake-n-Feed now, would I have to worry about over fertilizing since I already have the other plant food granules mixed in with the soil? I know my plants are wanting some food, but I'd hate to over fertilize and not realize it until weeks later when they die or start exhibiting signs of toxicity :-/ |
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| I see. Thanks for the response, that makes a lot of sense. I'll be getting some Shake-n-Feed with it being so widely used. If I was to fertilize it with Shake-n-Feed now, would I have to worry about over fertilizing since I already have the other plant food granules mixed in with the soil? I know my plants are wanting some food, but I'd hate to over fertilize and not realize it until weeks later when they die or start exhibiting signs of toxicity :-/ |
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| Shake n Feed is a Slow Release granular, no magic about it. But for containers that is better,because lasts longer than ordinary granular PLUS it has Calcium and Magnesium. Fertilizers like 10-10-10, 16-16-16 are quick release and have NO calcium and Magnesium. I mix Shake n Feed with my 5-1-1 potting mix for peppers and tomatoes. For the bed plants I use other stuff, like MG BLUE soluble, 16-16-16, Ammonium sulfate (23-0-0), Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) and dolomitic lime. ( the last two item are used very sparingly) |
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