Grow your own deliciously fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and vibrant flowers with nutrient-rich plant food. Whether you are a newbie or a professional gardener or grow indoor or outdoor plants, a complete plant food mix that contains essential minerals and nutrients will create a healthy ecosystem that will help your plants to survive and thrive.
The 8 Best Plant Food
- Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
- Schultz Liquid Plant Food
- Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food
- Scotts All Purpose Flower and Vegetable Continuous Release Plant Food
- Preen Garden Weed Preventer Plant Food
- Organic Plant Magic Instant Compost Tea Plant Food
- Espoma Garden-Tone Food (Our Top Pick)
- Jobe’s Organic Granular Plant Food
Our Top Pick for the Best Plant Food
Our top pick for the best plant food is the Espoma Garden-Tone Food. For superior plant growth and deliciously tasting herbs and vegetables, the Espoma Garden-Tone plant food provides a complete and balanced nutrient-rich diet for your beloved plants. Once you apply the food and water to your plants, sit back and relax and watch your herbs and vegetables grow and thrive into a bountiful harvest that is ripe for the picking.
Check the price on AmazonCreate a Nutrient-Rich Holistic ECo-system for Your Plants
Planting and cultivating your own fruit, herbs, vegetables, flowers, and shrubs is an exciting and rewarding experience. However, getting your precious plants to consistently produce beautiful blooms and an abundant harvest can be challenging.
Once you have planted your seeds and see the first delicate, green shoots appear out of the soil, poor soil conditions, harsh weather, voracious insects, and ravaging plant diseases or poor plant health can stop your plants from reaching their full potential.
Although plants get their basic food nutrients, such as hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, from the soil, sun, and rain, the soil they are planted in may not contain all the necessary minerals and micro-nutrients they need to grow into strong adult plants.
Nutrient-rich plant food is the right formula to create the right soil environment for plants to develop strong and healthy roots systems, stems, and foliage, which will ultimately result in a flourishing garden that you can be proud of.
How to Choose the Right Plant Food
Plant food or fertilizer contains 3 basic nutrients.
Nitrogen stimulates the plant’s natural production of chlorophyll which promotes healthy green leaves and stems.
Phosphorus helps the plant to develop strong roots, stems, blossoms, fruits, and vegetables.
Potassium promotes overall plant health and helps to fight off diseases.
These 3 power macronutrients are displayed on the plant food’s packing as a series of 3 numbers, such as 12-4-8 which appears on the front of the Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. These numbers refer to the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is contained in the food.
More intensive plant food formulas such as Espoma Garden-Tone Food also contain a complex blend of macro and micronutrients that are highly beneficial for plants such as:
- Calcium that neutralizes harmful substances in the soil and creates a more balanced soil environment for your plants.
- Magnesium is used to gather sunlight and help plants and vegetables grow.
- Sulphur assists in the plant’s shape and development.
How to Choose the Best Plant Food
Types of Plant Food
Plant food is distributed to your plants via 3 distribution methods: granules, a water-soluble powder, or a liquid.
– Granular Plant Food
A quick and easy way of applying plant food is by using granular food. The granules are sprinkled or spread over the soil around the base of the plant. To activate the granules, you just water them with a garden hose or a watering can. Granular also comes in 2 types; slow/continuous-release and water-soluble.
– Slow/Continuous Release Granules
Slow-release granules produce a long-lasting effect once the granules are absorbed into the soil, the nutrients are continuously released over time, roughly 4 weeks to 6 months, which means you will not have to reapply the granules as often.
Granular particles work slowly so it may take a while to see positive results. If your plants are suffering from deficiencies or heat stress, the granules may not deliver the nutrients fast enough. Also, granular plant food needs the right type of soil conditions to work effectively such as a moist and warm environment and the pH of the soil can also reduce the granule’s effectiveness. If you prefer slow-release granules, it is a good idea to check the pH of the soil before you apply the granules.
– Water-soluble Plant Food
Water-soluble plant food can be granules that are easily dissolved in water or a powder that you sprinkle on the soil and then use the garden hose. Once you have applied the powder to the soil, the plants can quickly absorb the life-sustaining nutrients through their roots, which means you should see results quickly, usually within 10 days.
This type of plant food can be used as a quick pick me up for wilting plants, for both outdoor plants or indoor potted plants, and greenhouse plants, and it is especially useful for drip irrigation systems.
The downside of this treatment is that it is a short-term feeding program and you will have to reapply the solution frequently, in about 2 weeks after the first application.
Leaching can also be a problem with water-soluble plant food, especially in gardens that have sandy soil or those that receive a lot of rain. You also have to make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to the correct water to product ratio as you can burn the foliage of the plants.
– Liquid Plant Food
Liquid plant food such as water-soluble powders provides instant nutrients to your plants so you should see results quickly. You can apply liquid plant food by using a dropper applicator, spray bottle, garden sprayer or a watering can. A highly nutrient-rich plant food, liquid solutions are very concentrated, so you have to make sure that you dilute the food properly as it can make the plant sick especially seedlings or those specialty plants such as orchids, African violets, or Bonsai plants.
– Synthetic Versus Organic Plant Food
Synthetic plant foods are specially engineered to enhance plant growth which means they will contain chemicals as well as natural ingredients.
While there are benefits to using synthetic plant food, such as a more effective feeding system, they can cause burning or leaching if they are not applied properly.
There are also concerns about the possibility of the chemicals being passed to humans via vegetables and fruit. However, there is usually a low risk involved with these types of gardening products. Just make sure they are kept away from children and pets.
Organic plant food has not been genetically engineered and will contain natural environmentally friendly ingredients. The downside of this type of plant food is that the plant growth might develop at a slower rate and the product may contain other ingredients such as a bone meal.
Although a product may say it is organic, it may not be an officially “certified organic” product. It may contain 100% natural ingredients. However, it is not certified organic unless it has been deemed organic by a government organization such as OMRI.
Some manufacturers contain ingredients that are certified by OMRI but do not have an official certification. However, they are recognized by similar organizations such as the Baystate Organic Certifiers, a Massachusetts Organic Certifier.
8 Best Plant Food – Reviews
1. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
Grow healthy and flourishing plants with the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food.
The 8-ounce Miracle-Gro plant food can be used on flowers, vegetables, roses, trees, shrubs, and houseplants. Once you apply the plant food, your plants will produce spectacular flowers, bigger vegetables, and lush foliage.
Miracle-Gro has an incredibly high concentrated formula that contains a 24-8-16 mix of 24% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus, and 16% potassium. The water-soluble granules provide instant nutrition to your plants as you apply them to the base of the plant and you should start to see rapid growth within 10 days.
To apply the plant food, you can use a watering can or Miracle-Gro’s special Garden Feeder, and reapply every 2 weeks and it is guaranteed not to burn when it is applied as directed.
The Miracle-Gro plant food mix is available in a variety of box sizes, and a pack of 24 sticks, which is ideal for smaller potted plants.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Very good price
- Economical
- Concentrated formula
- Provides instant nutrition
- Can be applied with a Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder or watering can
- For best results, use every 1-2 weeks
- Provides very good coverage with a garden feeder
- Grows bigger, more beautiful plants versus unfed plants
- Feed every 1-2 weeks for optimal results
- Easy to use
- Suitable for all indoor or outdoor flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs
- Safe for all plants and guaranteed not to burn when used as directed
Cons
- Does not dissolve very well so you have to mix it well
- Not ideal for large commercial gardens
2. Schultz Liquid Plant Food
Whether you have indoor or outdoor plants, the Schultz Liquid Plant Food provides essential minerals such as nitrogen, phosphate, and potash, along with other micronutrients that your plants need to grow and thrive.
If your plant’s leaves are dropping, just add 7 drops of concentrated plant food liquid per 1-quart of water with the easy-to-measure dropper, and Schultz’s well-balanced 10-15-10 formula instantly provides vital life-giving minerals every time you water.
The plant food is an excellent choice for transplanting, repotting, and rooting all types of plants, and to apply it, you can use a watering can or a non-clogging hose-end sprayer.
If you have specialized plants such as orchids, African violets, or bonsai plants, use less liquid, about 3 drops, otherwise, the concentrated formula will be too strong for them.
The Schultz plant food liquid comes in a single 4-ounce bottle or a 2 or 3-pack.
Pros
- Very effective
- Affordable price
- Very good value for money
- Highly concentrated mix of micro-nutrients
- Original all-purpose plant food
- Well balanced 10-15-10 formula
- Ideal for indoor and outdoor plants
- Encourages new growth
- Easy-to-measure dropper
- Ideal for transplanting, repotting and rooting
- Available in a single 4-ounce bottle or in a 2 or 3-pack
Cons
- Need to apply fewer drops for specialized plants such as African violets or bonsai plants
3. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food
Become a savvy gardener with the Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food. An effective gardening solution, the Osmocote plant food contains slow-release granules that can be used for all types of plants indoors and outdoors regardless of their condition.
Your flowers and shrubs will bloom and grow as the plant food contains a good mix of 15-9-12 nitrogen, phosphate, and potash and 11 essential nutrients such as magnesium 1.3%, sulfur 6%, boron 0.02%, copper 0.05%, iron 0.46%, manganese 0.06%, molybdenum 0.02%, and zinc 0.05%.
Osmocote’s special Smart-Release plant food is highly effective as each granule is coated with a unique semi-permeable resin that allows water to penetrate the granule and dissolve the encapsulated nutrient at a slow rate. Your plants will get the food they need at the right time and the empty shell is left behind after the nutrients are released.
You can apply the granules directly to the soil and then water them or add 1 scoopful of granules into 2-gallons of water in a watering can.
A highly economical plant food, you only have to reapply the granules every 6 months.
To keep your plants safe, Osmocote offers its famous no-burn pledge when you use plant food as directed.
The Osmocote plant food is available in a 1 or 2lbs bottle or an 8lbs pack.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Highly effective
- Easy application
- Can be applied directly to the soil or mix the granules in a watering can
- Unique semi-permeable resin-coated slow-release granules
- Formulated for all plant varieties, in all conditions
- Just one application will feed plants up to 6 months
- Can be used for indoor and outdoor potted plants
- Contains a 15-9-12 mineral mix and 11 essential nutrients
- No-burn pledge when you used as directed
- Available in a 1 or 2lbs bottle or an 8lbs pack
Cons
- Not organic
- Not ideal for orchids or specialty plants
4. Scotts All Purpose Flower and Vegetable Continuous Release Plant Food
The Scotts All Purpose Flower and Vegetable Continuous Release Plant Food contains the necessary minerals and nutrients that deliver life-giving nourishment to your plants, which effectively encourage vigorous root growth, lush foliage, healthy vegetables, and flourishing flowers.
The well-balanced 10-10-10 plant food formula also contains 2% sulfur that helps to create stronger plants, and the continuous slow-release formula makes sure that plants receive their nutrition at the right time. You can just sit back and relax while your flowers bloom and vegetables are bountiful.
The plant food is very easy to apply, just sprinkle the required amount of fertilizer beads directly to the soil around the base of the plant and let your watering, sun, and rain in conjunction with the fertilizer, work its magic. Scott’s all-purpose plant food beads will not burn your beloved plants if you use the food as directed and the plant food only has to be reapplied every 2 months and the 3lbs bag covers 150-square-feet. You can even use it for fruit trees and bananas.
Remember, a small amount goes a long way, and be especially careful when using the granules for smaller indoor plants as the plant food may be too potent for indoor plants and can burn their foliage.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Highly effective all-purpose plant food
- Can be used for flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees and bananas
- Encourages growth, lush foliage, and tasty vegetables
- Promotes beautiful flowers and abundant harvests
- Economical: a little bit goes a long way
- Slow-release nitrogen for even, continuous feeding for up to 2 months
- Well balanced 10-10-10 formula
- 3lbs bag covers 150-square-feet
- Contains 2% sulfur
- Will not burn your plants when used as directed
- Easy to use
Cons
- No micro-nutrients
5. Preen Garden Weed Preventer Plant Food
Feed your plants with the beneficial minerals they need for long life and stop those noxious weeds from destroying them with the Preen Garden Weed Preventer Plant Food.
A highly versatile plant food, the Preen Garden Weed Preventer Plant Food is safe to use around 200+ established flowers, veggies, trees & shrubs and its balanced plant food formula promotes abundant blooms and increased vegetable yields and strong root development, and prevents weeds up to 3 months. The weed preventer/plant food is easy to apply in 3 easy steps:
- Step 1. Remove existing weeds.
- Step 2. Sprinkle the granules with the convenient shaker-top applicator bottle
- Step 3. Water the soil
The all-purpose granulated fertilizer contains a 9-12-9 mix of nitrogen, phosphate, and soluble potash, and 6.5% sulfur, which promotes beautiful blooms, strong foliage, and root growth while also helping to resist disease. Although this product will not kill existing weeds, it prevents new weeds from sprouting, which eliminates the need for time-consuming hand weeding and it lasts up to 12 weeks.
It is highly effective at killing weeds such as Annual Bluegrass, Cheatgrass, Common Chickweed, Florida Pusley, Henbit, Knotweed, Lambsquarters, Puncture Vine, and Sandbur, and provides excellent coverage for 900-square-feet and rain will not wash it away.
You can use Preen any time during the spring, summer, or fall and it can also be used on herbs, ground covers, ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, and listed vegetables at least 2-3-inches tall, but is not to be used on flower or vegetable seeds.
For effective weed control, apply Preen after spreading mulch on your flower and shrub beds.
Preen contains a weed preventing active ingredient, Trifluralin, but the ingredient is bio-degradable.
The Preen weed preventer/plant food comes in a 5.625lbs and 7lbs bottle, 13lbs packet, and a 16lbs bucket.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Very good price
- Highly efficient at preventing weeds
- Two-in-1-product weed preventer and plant food
- Contain a 9-12-9 nitrogen, phosphate, and potash mix
- Contains 6.5% sulphur
- Convenient shaker-top applicator cap
- Safe to use around 200+ established flowers, veggies, trees and shrubs
- Balanced fertilizer strengthens plants and promotes abundant blooms and increased yields
- One application lasts up to 3 months
- Can be used during the spring, summer, or fall
- Ready to use
- Eliminates the need for constant weeding
- Ideal for a wide range of weeds
- Rain will not wash the product out of the soil
- Excellent coverage for 900-square-feet
- Comes in a 5.625lbs and 7lbs bottle, 13lbs packet, and a 16lbs bucket
Cons
- Not pet and livestock friendly
- Does not kill weeds
- Not to be used on flower or vegetable seeds
- Not available for sale in CA
- Heavy rain may shorten its effective period
- Contains trifluralin
6. Organic Plant Magic Instant Compost Tea Plant Food
Cultivating and keeping your plants looking fresh and fabulous can be challenging but with a little bit of fertilizing magic from the Organic Plant Magic Instant Compost Tea Plant Food, producing colorful blooms and a bountiful harvest is quick and easy.
Organic Plant Magic has created a well-balanced 6-5-5 macro-nutrient-rich plant food that is packed full of 55 trace minerals as well as beneficial micro-organisms that are essential elements for healthy soil and plants.
The odorless 100% organic tea contains no synthetic fertilizers and the only animal by-product that is used is bone ash. As well as being safe for your plants and the environment, the compost tea is kid and pet-friendly.
Just 1 tablespoon of this all-season water-soluble powder to the soil or mixed into water will build nutritious soil for an optimal environment that will prevent pests, disease, and effects from drought. Your plants will be strong and produce fantastic flowers, foliage, and vegetables that are superior in color, taste, and vibrancy.
A little bit goes a long way as the ½lb bag makes 32+gallons of plant food tea and treats up to 1,000-square-feet of soil and can be applied with a sprayer, watering can, and it can be used in irrigation systems, and for hydroponic plants.
Although the ingredients in the tea are certified by OMRI, Organic Plant Magic has not applied for official certification from OMRI but they are certified by Baystate Organic Certifiers, a Massachusetts Organic Certifier.
Organic Plant Magic offers a money-back guarantee on its excellent plant food tea concoction.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Very effective
- 100% organic ingredients
- Well-balanced 6-5-5 macro-nutrient-rich plant food
- 55 trace minerals and beneficial micro-organisms
- No harsh synthetic chemicals
- Creates strong root growth and lush foliage
- Produces strong and healthy plants that are superior in color, taste, and vibrancy
- Ideal for flowers, fruit, veggies, trees, shrubs, plants in containers or houseplants
- Kid, pet, and environmentally friendly
- ½lb bag makes 32+gallons or covers up to 1,000-square-feet of soil
- Can be applied directly to the soil or mix with water during normal watering
- Easy to use
- All season application
- Water-soluble powder dissolves quickly
- Certified by Baystate Organic Certifiers, a Massachusetts Organic Certifier
Cons
- No OMRI certification
- Contains animal by-product bone ash
- Using too much can burn smaller plants like herbs
7. Espoma Garden-Tone Food
A superior plant food, the all-natural, organic Espoma Garden-Tone Food was originally developed for professional gardeners and it is an excellent choice for residential herb and vegetable gardens.
Garden-Tone contains 15 different organic ingredients such as calcium and magnesium and a 3-4-4 mix of nitrogen, phosphate, and soluble potash. The secret to its plant growing success is Espoma’s unique Bio-tone®, which is a special blend of thousands of beneficial microbes that biologically enhance your natural plant’s DNA to ensure superior plant growth and delicious vegetables and herbs.
The US-made plant food contains no sludge, hazardous or toxic ingredients and it is environmentally safe, so you will not have to worry about any toxins in the soil, and as it is naturally low in salts, it will not burn your plants. The all-season slow-release formula provides continuous feeding for better vegetables and herbs up to one month and it is ideal for seedlings and transplants and established plants.
You can use the plant food for vegetables and tomatoes, out in the garden, and indoor potted plants but the mix has a strong odor so you will need to apply it in a ventilated area.
Espoma has a wide range of Garden-Tone products that cater specially for different plant types, such as roses or tomatoes, flowers or trees so you will be able to find the perfect plant food to cater to your gardening needs.
Pros
- High quality
- Specially formulated for herb and vegetable gardens
- Superior plant growth
- Produces bigger and more abundant harvests
- Creates strong and vigorous plants
- Ideal for organic gardening
- Safe for people, pets, and the environment
- Originally developed for professional gardeners
- All natural ingredients
- Complex blend of 100% natural & organic ingredients
- Complete & balanced plant food
- 3-4-4 fertilizer mix
- Contains 15 different nutrients
- Enhanced with Bio-tone® beneficial microbes
- Long-lasting
- Won’t burn or leach away
- Slow release formula is ideal for seedlings and transplants
- Can be used for outdoor and indoor plants
- Naturally low in salts, so it won’t burn plants
- All-season application
Cons
- Has a strong odor
- Contains bone meal
- Not certified organic
8. Jobe’s Organic Granular Plant Food
Whether you have a small garden or a large-scale garden, Jobe’s Organic Granular Plant Food is an excellent choice. It is biodegradable, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and all-natural, and will deliver long-term benefits without synthetic chemicals, thereby creating an overall healthy garden ecosystem full of flourishing plants.
To restore, maintain, and enhance a plant’s natural growth, Jobe’s granular fertilizer contains a unique 2-5-3 blend of 2% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus, 2% soluble potash, as well as 7% calcium, 0.5% magnesium, and 1.4% sulfur. Biozome, which is a combination of healthy bacteria, Mycorrhizal fungi, and Archaea, also improves soil conditions, helps plants to resist disease and the effects of insects and drought.
Especially ideal for organic gardeners, Jobe’s plant fertilizer is OMRI listed for organic gardening by the USDA.
You can use Jobe’s all-purpose plant food during the initial planting session and you should see fast results within 5 days and then reapply it every 4-6 weeks. This plant food comes in an easy pour 4lbs bag and a 1.5lbs bag.
Pros
- High quality
- Very affordable price
- Made in the US
- Fast effective results
- Organic granular fertilizer
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
- Contains Biozome healthy bacteria
- No synthetic chemicals
- Ideal for flowers, vegetables, and shrubs
- Economical: a little bit goes a long way
- Promotes soil quality, root growth, and nutrient absorption
- Helps plants to resist disease, insects, and drought
- Safe to use around kids and pets
- OMRI listed for organic gardening
- Available in an easy pour 4lbs bag and a 1.5lbs bag
Cons
- Very strong odor
- Require some preparation and you need to mix well into the soil
Our Top Pick for the Best Plant Food
Our top pick for the best plant food is the Espoma Garden-Tone Food. For superior plant growth and deliciously tasting herbs and vegetables, the Espoma Garden-Tone plant food provides a complete and balanced nutrient-rich diet for your beloved plants. Once you apply the food and water to your plants, sit back and relax and watch your herbs and vegetables grow and thrive into a bountiful harvest that is ripe for the picking.
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