Does it go bad or last long?
Many people don't know if old fertilizer is safe to use.Can your plants still benefit from its ingredients if you toss it out?
Most gardeners don't know the shelf life of all the different types of fertilizer.
You can gain a better understanding of shelf life with the help of the following list.
You need to shake up the bottle before you use Ocean Magic since the minerals settle to the bottom during storage.
It takes about five years for the seaweed to go rancid.It may be difficult to determine when a fertilizers goes bad because it has a powerful odor when fresh.
The shelf-life of Miracle-Gro Shake n Feed is shorter than that of other types of fertilizer, because they break down the components over time.
It's very common for dry granular to be used for lawn applications.Scott'sTurf Builder retains their active ingredients until you place them on the soil for plants to use up.
Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Plant Food is made to be dissolved in water so you can apply it to your plants.If it doesn't get wet, the crystals will remain intact.
A general rule is never to store fertilizers that contain pesticides.Give them to someone who will use them.
The number of plants in the area and soil conditions play a role in how fast the ground depletes of nitrogen from thefertilizer.
Extra time is needed to break down organic fertilizers into minerals and plant roots.
Synthetic liquid fertilizers are usually not last in the soil for more than a week.
Granule synthetic fertilizers typically have a coating or binder around the active ingredients to slow down the rate of absorption into the ground, so they last much longer.
The natural ingredients in some plant food can degrade over time.
The material will break down if it gets wet from rain, snow, ice, a sprinkler, or even high humidity.
If the material remains inside a plastic bag or container, you can still use the product, but if it is left in a box or sack that leaks, the nutrition will be lost.
Some of the signs don't mean you have to throw away thefertilizer.You will have to do a bit of work to fix it so that you can spread it on your plants.
No stabilizing chemicals, aside from natural phosphoric acid, are used to keep liquid fertilizers from degrading.
After opening the container, there is no way to know how long the active ingredients will remain inactive.
The liquid's biological components will start to grow in the container.
You can witness the bottle bulging out from the production off-gasses as the mold feeds.The liquid will have a rancid smell.
If you see any of these indicators, please don't put the product on your plants.
If you dry and break up the material, you can use it safely on your plants.
Cats, mice, rats, and beetles are attracted to organic granular fertilizers.If you see waste products in thefertilizer, don't use these creatures because they could be harmful to plants.
Plants should not be affected by small quantities of mold growth.Spread the material in a dry place for a few days to kill off the fungi before putting it around plants.
Microbial inoculants are very sensitive to environmental conditions.
The soil has good bacteria that help in the breakdown of the NPK.There is an increase in growth and health when there is more nutrition in the ground.
When you open the seal on the bottle, the warm air will cause the spores orbacteria to feed, so nothing remains for your plants.
The organisms will die if the bottle is set in a hot location.If this happens to a bottle of inoculants, it will ruin the effectiveness.
Don't expect to see any positive results when you pour the liquid into your garden.
Most packaging won't protect the product during long-term storage.
If the original has cracks, there is no need to put the product in a different bottle.
If you want to know the age of the product, you should have a permanent pen or marker on hand to label each bag or container with the name brand and the original purchase date.
If you want to use liquidfertilizer in a bottle, you need to wipe down the spout and neck area with a rag, then screw on the cap lightly.
If there is no expiration date on the label, add the purchase date with a marker and store the bottles upright.
Dry material from opened bags can be poured into a container.To seal the container, remove as much air as you can.
A dangerous chemical reaction can occur if you mix different fertilizers in a single container.
Exposure to extreme temperature swings and sunlight make a dry location the best place to storefertilizer.
It's best to have a temperature and humidity-controlled garage, greenhouse, basement, or shed.There is no protection from heat, cold, or pests when left in storage bins outdoors.
Many homeowners are confused about the best way to keep theirfertilizer in good condition because they don't know what to do with it.
The article helped clarify how to tell when it's bad.I hope you use the tips to store thefertilizer correctly, so you can use it safely for many gardening seasons to come!