Choosing the proper plant fertilizer is key to healthy plant growth. Miracle-Gro fertilizer is ubiquitous in stores and online. However, is it the best?
Here are 12 of the best alternatives to Miracle-Gro you should know about.
Whether you’re looking for something other than what you’ve used in the past, looking for an organic alternative to synthetic fertilizers, or looking for an alternative that you may have around the house, there is something for everyone on this list.
What Is Miracle-Gro?
If you’re new to plants and gardening, you may not know about Miracle-Gro yet.
Miracle-Gro is a well-known brand that sells synthetic fertilizers.
You can find Miracle-Gro at just about any retail location that sells:
- plants or gardening supplies
- greenhouses
- garden centers
- home improvement stores
- and online.
Miracle-Gro is marketed to everyone, Dave and Anna for example, to increase the height, fullness, and strength of their plants.
There are a couple of reasons why gardeners are looking for alternatives:
First, there isn’t a lot of organic options. Miracle-Gro specializes in synthetic fertilizers in searched people in their area, so they can sell a lot more synthetic fertilizers than organic fertilizers.
Second, gardeners are looking for an alternative from the chemicals. It can be argued that some chemicals are doing more harm than good to the soil.
For example, ammonium phosphate, it is water soluble, gives the phosphorous your plants need to develop roots.
It is also acidic, it lowers the pH of the soil making it more acidic.
Miracle-Gro also has urea, it is water soluble, and also helps plants take in nitrogen in a more efficient way.
Urea can irritate your nose, mouth, throat, and stomach.
Key Takeaway: These organic-compound chemicals help your plants in various ways but may not be great for you, or the organisms and microorganisms in your soil.
1- Joyful Dirt All Purpose Organic Plant Food
This fertilizer is organic and can be used on all different types of plants.
Joyful fertilizer can be used on indoor plants, gardens; outside flowers; veggies; or greenery.
Joyful is safe around kids and pets so you do not need to monitor kids and pets for the area you just fertilized.
Other fertilizers require children and pets to wait a minimum of 24 hours to go outside.
Application is easy:
- You can shake the fertilizer straight onto the soil before watering
- You can mix the fertilizer with water in a watering can making it easier to water all the potted plants you have around your home.
- Reapply each time you water your plants.
2 – AgroThrive All-Purpose Organic Liquid Fertilizer
AgroThrive is another multi-use, organic fertilizer.
Can be used for an indoor or outdoor plant.
Best is to mix it with water and apply it to plant.
It’ll help your plants to:
- Grow faster
- Improve the colour of the flowers, taste of fruits and vegetables
- Increase the amount of flowers, fruits and vegetables a plant usually grows.
AgroThrive is safe for kids and pets.
No need to move your fertilized potted plants up deep on a shelf, or other spots so that little ones and paws can’t get to them; they are good where they are!
3- Jobe’s Organic Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer with Biozome
This organic fertilizer is specifically formulated for flowers, especially roses, both indoors and outdoors.
Apply the fertilizer on your soil every six weeks, thoroughly watering your plants.
This fertilizer will help flowers support blooms, generate additional flowers, and grow larger flowers.
Jobe’s Organic Flower and Rose fertilizer is also safe for kids and pets, the only reason you would need to keep them out of your flower bed is to make sure they do not pick or deliberately walk on your delicate blooms.
4 – Aquatic Arts Indoor Plant Food
Aquatic Arts Indoor Plant Food is a faster acting alternative to plant food spikes.
To use this fertilizer, mix 1 teaspoon for every 2 cups of water into a watering can prior to your next watering day.
You could also mix the fertilizer and water in a spray bottle, but do not spray any foliage when fertilizing, only the soil!
5 – Preen 2164116 Plant Food Weed Preventer
You can, and should, use this plant food every three months from early spring all the way until late fall.
The weed preventer does just what it says.
When you fertilize a lawn or garden, the beneficial plants are going to use more of the nutrients from the fertilizer, leaving little left for the weeds.
You would apply this fertilizer in gardens, trees or shrubs, or your lawn in order to support abundant plant growth in addition to everything this product prevents weeds from doing.
6 – Osmocote 274150 Smart-Release Plant Food Plus
Osmocote’s smart-release plant food is a great fertilizer for pretty much anything.
Indoor or outdoor plants, gardens or pots, it can be used for any, all, or everything!
What’s nice about this fertilizer is it will feed your plants for up to six months, so you only have to apply it two times a year!
To apply this fertilizer:
sprinkle granules directly on the soil at three tablespoons for every 4 square feet
mix the fertilizer into the top 3 inches of soil
and make sure to water your plants regularly.
7 – Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food
This fertilizer is made for lawns to provide fuller, greener grass.
You can apply Scotts Turf Builder every 6 to 8 weeks between early spring and late fall.
You can use a drop spreader or a broadcast spreader to apply your fertilizer evenly, and then thoroughly water your lawn.
Water your lawn thoroughly to wash the fertilizer coating off of the blades of grass on to the soil.
8 – Jacks Prof 20-20-20 General Purpose Fertilizer
Here’s another nice general-purpose fertilizer that you can use on your houseplants or garden plants.
This fertilizer has a high NPK ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, that can assist with root and shoot development of your plants.
This fertilizer must be mixed with water before it is applied to the soil of your plants.
9 – Eggshells
Eggshells really do contain calcium which promotes cellular structure of plants, which is critical for young plants.
Gather and clean your eggshells every time you use eggs.
If you wash them well enough, there shouldn’t be much bacteria left. I prefer to sterilize my eggshells by baking them on a low temperature for a few hours.
When the eggshells are clean and dry, crush them as finely as you can.
If you really want to crush them it is best to use a blender or food processor; it will provide a perfect powder that you can spread on your plant’s soil.
My Experience: This eggshell powder can be used for indoor or outdoor plants including bedding plant flowers, vegetables, or greens.
10 – Coffee Grounds
If you make coffee at home, save the used coffee grounds!
They are an awesome fertilizer for plants that prefer acidic soil.
If you grow hydrangeas, azaleas, tomatoes, blueberries, or roses, you can safely add used coffee grounds to the soil.
After you brew your coffee, add the coffee grounds into the top 3 inches of soil, then water your plants.
In addition to the nitrogen, magnesium and potassium they provide to your plants, coffee grounds also help retain water.
11 – Compost
Compost is a great fertilizer that you can create at home!
Compost is what happens when you combine food scraps, water, soil, and microorganisms.
The soil microorganisms eat the food scraps, which speeds up the decomposition process.
What remains is extremely nutrient-rich soil that you can add to your plant soil.
You may want to add compost to your outdoor plants, or you may end up with unwanted pests in your indoor plants.
Things you should add to your compost are:
- Yard waste (if there are no pesticides applied)
- Hair and fur
- Houseplants
- Shredded paper products
- Nutshells
- Teabags
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Fruits and vegetables
Things you should not compost are:
- Pet feces
- Fats, grease, or oils
- Meat
- Dairy products
- Eggs
12 – Homemade Alternative
If making compost is too much effort then here is a Miracle-Gro alternative that anyone can create in a few minutes.
You will need:
- 2 gallons of water
- 2 tablespoons of non-scented Epsom salt
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of bleach
Watering can – large enough to hold 2 gallons of water:
- Add the 1 gallon of water to the watering can.
- Add the other ingredients and mix gently.
- Add the other 1 gallon of water and you can apply this mixture to the soil once a month in the spring and summer.
Final Thoughts
I think you can see that all of the Miracle-Gro options listed above have alternatives.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or you’re thinking of switching to organic products, there is an option for everyone.
Use what is best for your plants.
If Miracle-Gro is working well for you and your plants, you can find it easily, and it’s in your budget, keep using it!