LIQUID FERTILIZERS PLUS

Organic plant food products present a different set of challenges when it comes to shelf and storage life. Just make sure to save the label for future reference. If the package that the product originally came in is not re-sealable, it is a great idea to transfer it into a different, sealable container. The key for water-soluble inorganic nutrients is to keep the product as dry as possible at all times, and the bag or container kept closed when not in use. Once it warms back up, the quality of the fertilizer product will be compromised. If there is heavy moisture in the air and the temperatures drop below freezing, crystalline structures can form since some of the fertilizer has solubilized. Avoiding high humidity is true for both warm and cold temps. Even after removing it from the humidity, the clumps of fertilizer that remain will not be nearly as water-soluble as before. The higher the relative humidity rises, the faster the product melts into a glob of gooey fertilizer mess, rendering it void of any reasonable use. Due to their highly water-soluble nature, granular mineral fertilizer will begin to solubilize in the presence of higher levels of water vapor in the air.

With these types of fertilizers, the main environmental condition to avoid is high humidity. Similar to its liquid counterpart, inorganic and synthetic water-soluble granular fertilizer mixes are relatively easy to keep in optimal condition and can have a nearly indefinite lifespan. Inorganic and Synthetic Water-Soluble Granular Fertilizers Storing the fertilizer outdoors or in an uninsulated shed is not recommended. To avoid freezing, try to keep the product in a temperature-controlled area like inside the house or a well-insulated (and preferably heated) garage. When this happens, it is usually best to dispose of the product in accordance with recommendations on the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and local/state regulations. This will have a detrimental effect on the balance of the formulation and can lead to inconsistencies in the mineral nutrient composition. If they do freeze, the solubility of the minerals can be compromised, and crystalline structures will usually form within the bottle. For the most part, they will not freeze until reaching below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of their dissolved mineral compositions, concentrated inorganic liquids will freeze at a lower point than water. The main thing to avoid with these products is freezing temperatures. In these conditions, the soluble salts found in the concentrated product should remain in solution without any issues, as long as the manufactures formulation is stable. The ideal storage conditions for inorganic liquid fertilizers are a relatively dry environment with constant temperatures between 50 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When stored in the proper conditions, these types of products can remain in usable condition for almost an indefinite amount of time. Liquid inorganic and synthetic fertilizers pose the least of challenges when it comes to product longevity. Liquid Inorganic and Synthetic Fertilizers

LIQUID FERTILIZERS PLUS

To help determine if a product has spoiled, here is a small tutorial plus tips on the best way to store your nutrients. Smart companies like the ones I work for will have a lot number from each batch printed on the bottle, which makes product and date determination substantially easier. They rarely remember how long ago the product was purchased, and if we’re lucky, the label is still in good enough shape to know what it is. I’ve worked for a fertilizer manufacturer for over ten years, and I often receive a phone call from someone asking if their bottle or bag of nutrients is still good to use.

Liquid fertilizers