s/o miracle grow

mae141

I was reading the post below about miracle grow and never knew all that, and it makes me not want to use it anymore! The problem is, I am a newb at the gardening thing, and I really don't spend a ton of time on it because I don't really have a ton of time. I just putz over here sometimes to kill time at work.

So, what do you use instead of miracle grow? Anything? It certainly made a difference in my garden last year. Are there any beginner- friendly ideas/websites/other resources that I wouldn't have to spend a ton of time researching?

 TIA

kastle

compost, kelp meal, fish emulsion, worm casings, well-rotted manure, etc. are all great fertilizers. 

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids...it gives big, immediate results.  Organic fertilizers are more along the slow-and-steady variety.

~NB~

kastle:

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids.

I was gonna say "crack" but steroids will do.

Ever notice how insanely fat and fluffy plants are at the nursery? Then when you get them home, even when they're well watered and cared for, they start looking punier right away, before they get established? It's nitrogen withdrawal. Literally. The plants have to learn to adapt when they no longer get the nitrogen fix every week.

mae141

kastle:

compost, kelp meal, fish emulsion, worm casings, well-rotted manure, etc. are all great fertilizers. 

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids...it gives big, immediate results.  Organic fertilizers are more along the slow-and-steady variety.

 

Where do I get those delicious sounding fertilizers? Would a regular ol' garden center have that? Or even a more convenient Lowes?

JoeysLady

mae141:

kastle:

compost, kelp meal, fish emulsion, worm casings, well-rotted manure, etc. are all great fertilizers. 

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids...it gives big, immediate results.  Organic fertilizers are more along the slow-and-steady variety.

 

Where do I get those delicious sounding fertilizers? Would a regular ol' garden center have that? Or even a more convenient Lowes?

 

I have seen fish emulsion at Lowes.  Right alongside the other fertilizers.

ETA; I have also seen Espoma brand fertilizer, which is an organic fertilizer made from poultry manure.  Also in Lowes.

kastle

JoeysLady:

mae141:

kastle:

compost, kelp meal, fish emulsion, worm casings, well-rotted manure, etc. are all great fertilizers. 

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids...it gives big, immediate results.  Organic fertilizers are more along the slow-and-steady variety.

 

Where do I get those delicious sounding fertilizers? Would a regular ol' garden center have that? Or even a more convenient Lowes?

 

I have seen fish emulsion at Lowes.  Right alongside the other fertilizers.

ETA; I have also seen Espoma brand fertilizer, which is an organic fertilizer made from poultry manure.  Also in Lowes.

poultry manure is supposed to be a-maz-ing.  Lowes should have compost, too.

eta: OP- I see you're in NoVA.  Merrifield Garden Center (locations Merrifield, FFX & Gaithersburg) have all of the things I mentioned & poultry manure

FoxinFiji

mae141:

kastle:

compost, kelp meal, fish emulsion, worm casings, well-rotted manure, etc. are all great fertilizers. 

Miracle Grow is kind of like steroids...it gives big, immediate results.  Organic fertilizers are more along the slow-and-steady variety.

 

Where do I get those delicious sounding fertilizers? Would a regular ol' garden center have that? Or even a more convenient Lowes?

We just got a huge trailer load full of compost from one of the county compost sites for only $5.  It's beautiful stuff that really makes the plants grow nicely.  Plus is sifted to remove large branches and debris.