GROWERS GUIDE

Growth Phase

In the growth or ‘vegetative’ phase, plants have a particularly high demand for nitrogen. Consequently, “grow” nutrients contain a relatively high concentration of nitrogen to help ensure plants do not run out of nitrogen prematurely.

Bloom Phase

In the bloom phase, the demand for phosphorus and potassium increases. Consequently, “bloom” nutrients contain a relatively high concentration of both phosphorus and potassium, but relatively low nitrogen. Hence, switching to “bloom” during the flowering phase will help ensure plants do not become deficient in potassium and phosphorus. This is especially important for heavy fruiting plants such as tomatoes and strawberries.

The use of grow and bloom nutrients at the appropriate times is also more economical. For example, the use of bloom during the growth phase would result in the excess phosphorus and potassium being wasted. This wasted nutrient potentially becomes an environmental concern when the nutrient is discarded – particularly in large commercial operations.