The seismic shift in the world’s behavioral patterns during 2020 has meant that nearly everyone has been spending substantially more time at home. Once all those jobs around the house had been tended to, many people’s attention turned to their outdoor spaces, perhaps with a new appreciation of those open-air sanctuaries?
With more time on their hands, an increasing number of those lucky enough to have an outdoor space to call their own, recognized the fun and benefits to be derived from growing their own crops, vegetables, and flowers at home. Window boxes, balconies, patios, raised beds, and greenhouses were all given a makeover in anticipation of abundant and bountiful crops, buds, and blooms.
Some of the nation’s new micro-farmers were blessed with success the first time, others were not so lucky and have subsequently learned that sometimes it takes a little more than water and light to enjoy a bumper crop or big flowers.
Many plants will derive most, if not all the nutrients they need from the soil or compost they are planted in, but tired soil and a lack of fertilizer can leave you with a sad, bedraggled looking crop and poultry results. Not only that, but your plants often need particular nutrients to be available to them at different stages of their growth, if you’re going to realize the results you dream of, that is.
Have no fear, we’re here to guide you through the best nutrients for an outdoor grow and how and when to use them.
The best natural nutrients for an outdoor grow
We believe that natural nutrients are the best way forward and not only can we supply the best natural nutrients for an outdoor grow, but we’ll also show you the best organic nutrients for an outdoor grow.
The best nutrient solution to provide abundant flower growth and full, dense foliage must contain both macro and micronutrients and will address your crop’s needs, at each stage of its development.
No matter what plants you are growing, your crop will rely upon molecule and enzyme production and reactions to produce bumper crops, quality produce, and all the goodness that you’re looking for. Macro and micronutrients are what your plants look for to help them achieve this.
Macronutrients
All plants require macronutrients in greater quantities than others. Macronutrients include phosphorous, potassium, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur.
The ‘Holy Trinity’ of primary nutrients, required by each and every plant, are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Because of their overriding importance, the quantities of these three elements usually feature prominently on the packaging of fertilizers and plant nutrients. In this ‘NPK Ratio’, the greater the value in each position of the ratio, the higher the percentage of that nutrient the product contains.
There are other nutrients within the macronutrient classification but they are classed as secondary to N/P/K, although they still play vital roles in a plant’s development. Secondary nutrients include:
Calcium
Activates plant enzymes and regulates the flow of water in plant cells. Calcium is absolutely essential for cell growth and division, in other words, growth. It also serves as a buffer if an excess of other nutrients is present. This makes it invaluable to a plants' root structure.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps to stabilize a plant’s cell walls and is an essential element of photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism.
Sulfur
Sulfur is present in most important plant tissues and is essential for the formation of chlorophyll and the production of vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and enzymes. It plays a vital part in water equilibrium within the plant and helps protect plants against disease.
Micronutrients
Just as the name suggests, plants require these nutrients in smaller quantities than macro’s, although they are still essential for the health of your crop. Micronutrients include manganese, iron, boron, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, copper, and chlorine.
I’m ready to get my outside grow on, what nutrients do I need?
The type of plants that you are growing will dictate which nutrients you need, as will the medium you are growing your plants in, soil, fertilizer, etc. We would recommend that you always seek advice from your seed, plug, or cutting supplier and do a little research, to ensure that you don’t damage root structure or more by providing the wrong nutrients or grow medium.
From here on in, we’re going to assume that you’re looking to achieve what we would be aiming for, dense leaf growth and an abundance of large, healthy buds and flowers. To get truly wonderful results, we’d suggest that the best nutrient mix you can use is a four-stage system, with a profile of high-quality, natural plant nutrients tailored to boost each stage of your plants’ development.
Each of the following nutrient sets is available in two options, you can opt for the standard, natural nutrients that return stunning results, or you can choose to get the same amazing returns from our organic nutrient sets. It’s purely a choice of organic, or not, there is no difference to the productivity of your precious grow.
Seedling Booster
This natural formulation pumps growth and strengthens your infant plants from day one. Our unique Seedling Booster delivers a total nitrogen content of 11%, comprised of 7% ammoniacal nitrogen and 4% nitrate nitrogen. It provides a phosphate level of 40% of product volume, together with 13% of soluble potash.
The Nitrogen (N)/Phosphorus (P)/Potassium (K) ratio of 11-40-13 persuades your plants to put down healthy roots and boosts vigorous growth, without demanding too much from your seedlings. Each of your plants’ vital nutrients is held within our seedling booster and derived from monopotassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and diammonium phosphate.
Growtime Fertilizer
Our Growtime Fertilizer is the best fertilizer for an outdoor grow and provides just the right balance of macronutrients and micronutrients to guarantee your plants can reach their full potential. It has a full nitrogen content of 19%, split 12% ammoniacal nitrogen, and 7% nitrate nitrogen. Phosphate levels are at 5% of this product, with 20% soluble potash.
The 19-5-20 N/P/K ratio is the ideal balance to energize your crop and promote solid growth throughout the important vegetative phase. Growtime Fertilizer will help develop stronger root-balls, improve nutrient uptake and retention, and enhance microbial activity. This highly effective treatment’s vital plant nutrients are derived from monopotassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and diammonium phosphate.
Flowertime Fertilizer
Simply put, Flowertime Fertiliser promotes an explosion of buds and flowers! This is another outstanding outdoor fertilizer formula that drops everything your plant needs to develop large, healthy, and bountiful flowers. It delivers a nitrogen content of 16%, comprising 10% ammoniacal nitrogen and 6% of nitrate nitrogen. Phosphate levels are at 6% in this product, with the addition of 30% soluble potash.
This perfect 16-6-30 ratio promotes absolutely jaw-dropping ‘floral’ development. From the very first sight of buds and flowers, start dosing your crop and continue right through the flowering period. All the vital nutrients your blooming plants require can be found in Flowertime Fertilizer. They are derived from potassium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, and potassium nitrate.
Plant Booster
If you feel that your hungry, fast-growing plants need a treat, dose them with our Plant Booster and reap the results later. It delivers your plants a 27% Phosphate content and 27% soluble potash.
Happy, healthy plants, with an abundance of flowers, are what you’ll get from using this 0-27-27 N/P/K ratio treatment. You can promote early flowering by using Plant Booster towards the end of the vegetative stage. It will also improve root stability and nutrient retention. The valuable nutrients in Plant Booster are derived from potassium sulfate and monopotassium phosphate.
Are these the best nutrients for vegetables too?
Any plant will gain benefits from a rich source of vital nutrients, such as these. However, the optimum balance of nutrients for fruit and vegetable growth will depend very much on the crop you want to grow. Again, all plants have different nutritional requirements, and if you wish to make the absolute most of your chosen crop, no matter what it is, ensure its exact nutritional requirements are met.