What are the Types of Fertilizer, Including Granular & Liquid

What are the differences among the many forms of fertilizer that you see on shopping aisles? What is a granular fertilizer? What about water-soluble? What are slow-release, timed-release, and controlled-release? What is an organic fertilizer? If you have questions about the numbers on the bag, read What's in a Package of Fertilizer? first. Then read below for more about the different forms of fertilizer.

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What is the difference between granular and liquid fertilizer?

Granular fertilizers are solid granules, while liquid fertilizers are made from water soluble powders or liquid concentrates that mix with water to form a liquid fertilizer solution. Plants quickly take up most water-soluble fertilizers, while granular fertilizers need a while to dissolve or decompose before plants can access their nutrients.

Granular Fertilizers

These are meant to be worked into the soil or sprinkled around plants. They last 1 to 9 months, depending on the type. Because they must first break down before releasing nutrients, it usually takes a watering and a few days to begin to see their results. It's often good to work them into the ground before planting. You may be familiar with common granular farm-grade fertilizers such as 8-8-8 and 10-10-10.

High-tech Granular Fertilizers

Miracle-Gro® Shake &#;n Feed® Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, have "slow-release," "timed-release," or "controlled-release" properties, synonymous terms meaning that they release their nutrients slowly over a period of time. They are coated to control the rate of release typically from 2 to 9 months, depending on the formula, whereas uncoated (and cheaper) farm grades last only 2 to 4 weeks. They depend on moisture and temperature for release. The nice thing about coated granular fertilizers is that you apply them only once or twice during the growing season and they gradually release nutrients in tiny doses as roots can take them up. Little is wasted and they last longer, so even though their price is higher, they are actually more economical than uncoated, farm-grade types. When applied at the right rate and in places where they don't wash away, these high-tech products are more environmentally sound because they are less likely to contribute excess nutrients to any runoff that ends up in local streams.

Organic or Natural Granular

Organic fertilizer comes from an organic source such as manure, blood meal, cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, or others, as opposed to synthetic sources. There are also some natural fertilizers that are not organic, such as Greensand, which contains potassium, iron, calcium, and other nutrients. These are considered okay for organic gardening because they are not synthesized, but come from natural mineral-rich deposits in the earth. Organic fertilizers depend on the microbes in the soil to break them down into digestible bits for plants. Organic fertilizers tend to encourage soil microbes, earthworms, and other flora more than synthetic fertilizers do, because most organic fertilizers don't add excess salts and acid to the soil. Microbes aren't very active when the soil is colder than 50 degrees, and according the USDA, a rule of thumb is that for every 18-degree increase in soil temperature, the microbial activity doubles. Therefore, you have to be careful about applying too much organic fertilizer, because if microbial activity releases more nutrients than the plants take up and the soil can hold, the excess can wash away. Typically, a gardener might overload the soil in spring, when it is cold, but won't know it until summer warms things up and the tomatoes are all leaf with no fruit!

Liquid

Liquid fertilizers, such as Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food and Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed® Tomato, Fruits & Vegetables Plant Food, are water-soluble powders or liquid concentrates that mix with water to make a fertilizer solution. They usually require a hose-end sprayer or watering can. The liquid nutrients generally last 1 to 2 weeks, so you need to reapply often. The advantage of liquid fertilizers is that they are quickly absorbed, so plants get their benefits soon after you apply them. They are great as a starter solution and for a quick boost during the growing season. These fertilizers are also useful to supplement granular fertilizers for potted plants because frequent watering of containers leaches nutrients. Fish emulsion is a popular organic liquid concentrate fertilizer, but be forewarned that if raccoons and other critters are a problem in your garden, you my find some digging around fresh applications until the fishy aroma is gone.

Can I get by with one general-purpose fertilizer, or do I need different types?

By enriching the soil with plenty of compost and organic matter, you will use less fertilizer. Vegetables need plenty of phosphorous and potassium, so the fertilizer you choose should contain plenty of each. For the longest-lived vegetables, such as tomatoes, you may prefer to use an organic fertilizer or a coated high-tech product that releases nutrients slowly over a period of time. You can supplement with a liquid food. Organic fertilizers are suitable for everything.

When in doubt, buy the fertilizer that offers the greatest number of nutrients and a nitrogen level of at least 3 percent. See The Basics of Fertilizing for a little more help on which crops need the most (and least) fertilization.

Even if your garden beds are rich in nutrients, most plants benefit from a regular application of fertilizer during the growing season. And houseplants also need feeding once in a while. But with all the fertilizers on the market, knowing which fertilizer to use can be a challenge. Liquid and granular fertilizers can both be used on indoor and outdoor plants, but these two fertilizer types offer different benefits and are used slightly differently. Here's what you need to know to feed all your plants correctly.

Pros and Cons of Liquid Fertilizers

You can find both conventional and organic liquid fertilizers made of natural materials, like kelp meal or fish meal. These products are usually applied by hand with garden sprayers, hose attachments, or watering cans.

Pros of Liquid Fertilizers

Because they are in liquid form, these fertilizers are easy to apply and they offer other benefits too, including:

• They&#;re easy to use. Unlike granular fertilizers, liquid fertilizers don&#;t need to be worked into the soil after application. Plus, liquid fertilizers are more mobile in soil and can spread underground to hard-to-reach plant roots.
  
• They&#;re readily absorbed by plants. Granular fertilizers must break down in water before plants can absorb them, but plants can take up liquid fertilizers immediately. If plants are struggling from nutrient deficiencies, liquid fertilizers offer immediate relief, and they can also rapidly boost the growth of healthy plants.
  
• Applications are uniform. Individual grains of granular fertilizers may contain uneven amounts of nutrients, while the nutrients in liquid fertilizers are evenly distributed in a liquid base. As a result, liquid fertilizers often provide more uniform coverage in the garden.
  
• They&#;re versatile. Liquid fertilizers can be applied at the base of plant roots or used as a foliar spray for even faster absorption. If you have delicate plants, you can dilute liquid fertilizers with water to make a fertilizer perfectly suited for light-feeding plants.
  
• They&#;re less likely to attract digging pests. Granular fertilizers can sometimes attract rodents that dig up garden beds. Liquid fertilizers don&#;t remain at the soil&#;s surface long, making them less appealing to animals.

Cons of Liquid Fertilizers

From easy application to quick absorption, liquid fertilizers offer a lot of perks, but they do have a few drawbacks, such as:

• They don&#;t last as long. Because liquid fertilizers are more likely to wash out of the soil with water, they must be reapplied more often than granular fertilizers.
  
• They can be pricier. Granular fertilizers can be easier on your budget since they are often sold in bulk and don&#;t need to be reapplied as frequently as liquid fertilizers.
  
• They&#;re less efficient in large gardens. It&#;s easy to apply liquid fertilizers to houseplants, container gardens, or small plots, but they are impractical to use in large garden spaces.

When to Use Liquid Fertilizers

If you start vegetable seeds indoors in spring, you can feed delicate seedlings with a diluted liquid fertilizer when they&#;re a few inches tall. Liquid fertilizers are also ideal for potted plants and container gardens since they&#;re less likely to build up in soils. You may also want to use liquid fertilizers as a quick plant pick-me-up if you notice your plants are struggling during the growing season or you see signs of plant deficiencies.

Since liquid fertilizers can be used as foliar sprays, they&#;re particularly beneficial for lettuce and leafy greens, although other vegetables also appreciate them. You can use liquid fertilizers on new transplants to reduce transplant shock and apply these fertilizers throughout the growing season at two- to four-week intervals to provide your plants with a regular source of nutrients.

While liquid fertilizers are easy to use, they shouldn&#;t be applied in hot weather or when the sun is high overhead. Instead, use liquid fertilizers in the early morning or evening to reduce the chances of leaf scorch.

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Pros and Cons of Granular Fertilizers

Granular or dry fertilizers include both conventional and organic fertilizer options, such as bone meal, blood meal, and feather meal. However, some gardeners also consider compost and manure to be granular fertilizers. Granular fertilizers may come in pelleted form or coarse powders, but they&#;re usually applied by hand or with a broadcast spreader.

Pros of Granular Fertilizers

Since granular fertilizers break down over time, they provide a slow release of nutrients and offer particular benefits to gardens, including:

• They don&#;t need to be applied as often as liquid fertilizers. Granular fertilizers are less likely to wash away in the rain, so they don&#;t need to be applied as frequently.
  
• They provide ongoing support to plants. Because they remain in the soil longer, granular fertilizers sustain plants over extended periods, ensuring that plants always have the nutrients they need. This makes granular fertilizers particularly beneficial for heavy-feeding plants.
  
• They&#;re cost-effective. Because granular fertilizers are often sold in bulk, they&#;re usually more budget-friendly.
  
• They&#;re more efficient in large gardens. With a broadcast spreader, granular fertilizers can be easily spread over large garden plots and lawns.

Cons of Granular Fertilizers

While granular fertilizers certainly have some major advantages, they also have a few drawbacks, such as:

• They&#;re more likely to burn plants. Granular fertilizers are highly concentrated and can burn plant tissue when improperly applied.
• They are harder to apply. Granular fertilizer application takes longer because these fertilizers need to be worked into the soil.
  
• They aren&#;t absorbed as quickly. The nutrients in granular fertilizers are released little by little every time you water, so they don&#;t offer a quick nutrient boost to plants in need.
  
• They can attract pests. Animal-based fertilizers, like bone meal, may attract coyotes and other critters you may not want around.

When to Use Granular Fertilizers

Granular fertilizers are often too strong for indoor seedlings, but they are ideal for new garden beds. Pre-plant applications of granular fertilizers can be broadcast over gardens at the beginning of the season and then worked into the soil before seeds and seedlings are planted. Alternatively, granular fertilizers can be added to new planting holes prior to transplanting to give plants the nutrients they need to grow.

When applied as a top dressing at the beginning of the season, granular fertilizers provide sustained feeding for plants for weeks or months, but you can also reapply these fertilizers as a side dressing around heavy-feeding plants at six- to eight-week intervals. They&#;re particularly useful for slow growers like onions and fruit trees. Granular fertilizers can also be applied at the base of plants, like melons, when they begin to flower to encourage the plants to produce a larger harvest of fruit.

After application, granular fertilizers should be watered into the soil to make the nutrients they contain more accessible to plants. Also, keep in mind that granular fertilizers are concentrated and should never be applied directly against plant tissue. To avoid plant tissue burn, apply side dressings of granular fertilizer 3 to 6 inches away from plant stems and leaves and thoroughly mix top dressings of granular fertilizers into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil before planting seeds or seedlings.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is liquid fertilizer better than granular for indoor plants?

  Both liquid and granular fertilizers can be used on houseplants; however, liquid fertilizers are usually easier to work with. Beyond being simple to apply, liquid fertilizers can be diluted if needed, and they&#;re less likely to build up in potting mix.

• Can you use granular and liquid fertilizers at the same time?

  Yes. While you apply granular and liquid fertilizers in different ways, one common way to use these fertilizers together is to apply a slow-release, granular fertilizer as a top dressing at the beginning of the growing season. After that, use a liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks to provide extra nutrients to your plants as they grow.

• How do you make liquid fertilizer at home?

  Compost, worm castings, or aged manure can be steeped in water to make a DIY liquid fertilizer known as compost tea. Adding an air bubbler will help you brew compost tea even faster.

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