Tag Archives: plant growing

Apple trees well fertilized

4 Things to look for in picking the best fertilizer for Fruit Trees.

4 Things to look for in picking the best fertilizer for Fruit Trees.

Is there anything better than a fresh piece of fruit right off the tree? Those who grow fruit trees or work in orchards know exactly what we mean. To get a fruitful harvest, just like other plants, fruit trees require good nutrition to grow and produce. They require a healthy environment, the right conditions and healthy soil. But they also need a boost from time to time to ensure they are getting the right nutrients. Water soluble fertilizers and chelated iron fertilizers and other micronutrients (manganese, copper, zinc etc.) can give fruit trees the boost they need. 

However, not all fertilizers are not created equally. The type of fertilizer you need is dependent on many factors, most importantly, the type of plant you’re growing. Below, we’ll offer expert tips for selecting the right fertilizer for fruit trees, how to apply fertilizer and answer common questions we get from our customers.

Apple trees well fertilized

4 Tips for picking the best fertilizer for fruit trees

There are a lot of different fertilizers you could choose to use. Here are four important considerations when picking the best fertilizer for fruit trees:

1. Choose the right NPK formula

Fertilizers come in many different formulas. You need to choose a water soluble fertilizer with the proper balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).  For example, you can apply a balanced fertilizer like a 20-20-20.

2. Choose the type of fruit tree fertilizer that makes sense for your needs

There are typically three main types of fruit tree fertilizers to consider:

  • Granular: This is sprinkled around the ground of the trees using a seed spreader and then raked or watered into the ground.
  • Powdered: This can be placed directly into the soil around your trees. It can also be mixed with water for a diluted application. 
  • Liquid: You spray this on the ground to soak in.

3. Assess the condition of your fruit trees & soil

The condition of your fruit trees, age, soil type will affect the type of fertilizer you should be using. For example, if your trees are struggling or not experiencing ideal growth, you may need to use a stronger fertilizer. 

We recommend you test the soil before planting. The result will help you ensure the soil pH is suitable for the fruit crop you’re growing and how much – and not too much – of each nutrient.

For example, Iron deficiency is a problem in fruit trees, particularly in conditions of high pH soil. Chelated iron fertilizer with EDTA can be used to correct iron deficient fruit trees. 

Soil testing services are available either through private labs or sometimes public labs at no charge.

4. Consider organic vs synthetic fertilizer

Organic fertilizers contain plant or animal-based waste and other natural ingredients. They typically have lower nutrient levels. Synthetic fertilizers are created using minerals and synthetic chemicals which can be used with a high level of precision to lead to higher yields.

Comparison of 2 lemon trees one lush due to fertilizer choise, one not.

What’s the best fertilizer for fruit trees?

Water soluble fertilizers are best for fruit trees. They are designed to dissolve into water and offer the following benefits: 

  • They are fast acting
  • Fruit trees will get a nutrient boost right away
  • There is a lower chance of over-fertilization
  • Water soluble fertilizers can be applied more often

How do you apply full fertilizer to fruit trees?

Applying fertilizer correctly is a key step to having an ideal fruit tree harvest. Follow these tips to ensure you are applying fertilizer correctly:

  • Don’t add fertilizer when you plant. Start 3 weeks after planting once the soil has settled completely around the roots.
  • Fertilize in early spring, just before the buds open on the tree.
  • Apply in a split application. Half at the end of first spring month, second after the second spring month.
  • Not all trees need fertilizer every year – measure their annual growth and condition to determine if fertilizer is required. 
  • Assess the size and type of tree – measures its nitrogen content.
  • Choose the right fertilizer formula based on the condition of the tree.
  • Calculate how much fertilizer to apply. The age and rate of growth of your fruit tree matter. For example, an apple tree should grow at least 12” a year. If less, increase the fertilizer by 50% in subsequent years. And for stone fruits (plums, peaches, cherries), if the tree didn’t provide a crop the previous year, don’t fertilize.
  • Follow the label instructions. At Plant-Prod, we pride ourselves on having clear and helpful instructions on every label.
  • Apply the fertilizer evenly beneath the dripline of the branches, staying at least 18” from the trunk.

What is the best month to fertilize fruit trees?

Early spring is the best time to fertilize all types of fruit trees, including apple trees. If you wait too long into the growing season, it could lead to late summer growth and make your trees more prone to winter damage. Remember that too much fertilization can be a bad thing. It can reduce fruiting and promote excessive leaf growth.


Plant-Prod is a manufacturer of water soluble fertilizers for fruit trees, plants and flowers including cannabis. The choice of growers from California to Maine for over 70 years, Plant-Prod fertilizers are made from the finest raw ingredients in the world, tested constantly for purity and turbo-milled to ensure 100% solubility in order to help you improve yields while cutting fertilizer costs. Click here to find a Plant-Prod fertilizer supplier near you.

The Problem With Hyperaccumulators: How to tell if you have contaminants in your Cannabis product.

The Problem With Hyperaccumulators: How to tell if you have contaminants in your Cannabis product.

Plants with the capability of accumulating heavy metals above concentrations that would typically cause harm or toxicity in plants are known as hyperaccumulators. Cannabis is a well-known hyperaccumulator with the ability to remove heavy metal contaminants from soils. This characteristic is desirable for soil remediation but troublesome when cannabis is grown for consumption.

If the nutrients you use are contaminated with heavy metals, your buds will be accumulating these heavy metals, exposing those who consume them.

List of some Cannabis Nutrient Heavy Metals
List of some Cannabis Nutrient Heavy Metals

The Problem: Cannabis Is A HyperAccumulator Of Heavy Metal Contaminants

Plants with the capability of accumulating heavy metals above concentrations that would typically cause harm or toxicity in plants are known as hyperaccumulators. Cannabis is a well-known hyperaccumulator with the ability to remove heavy metals contaminants from soils. This characteristic is desirable for soil remediation but troublesome when cannabis is grown for consumption.

If the nutrients you use are contaminated with heavy metals, your buds will be accumulating these heavy metals, exposing those who consume them.

How can you tell if you have heavy metal contaminants in your final cannabis product?

We care about heavy metals just as much as you do

Licensed producers of cannabis are required to test their finished products for heavy metal contaminants. Plant-Prod® is pleased to make heavy metal analysis results available to growers for our Plant-Prod MJ™ water soluble cannabis fertilizers line. When cannabis growers are aware of heavy metal levels in their crop inputs, they can anticipate potential levels within their buds.

Outsourced analysis of Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers’ heavy metal concentrations:

Table of Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers Heavy Metal Concentrations

Links to older blogs or related webpages

Want to learn about improving your cannabis plant productivity? Download our Cannabis Fertilizer Growers Handbook and learn how to get 5X more buds with 80% less fertilizer.

Or learn How To Use Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers With A Two-Part A&B Nutrient System
Plant-Prod is a manufacturer of water soluble cannabis fertilizers. The choice of growers from California to Maine for over 70 years, we formulate with everything from chelated iron, to calcium nitrate and zinc fertilizer in order to help you get bigger buds for your buck. Click here to find a Plant-Prod cannabis fertilizer supplier near you.

Introducing the Plant-Prod Duo-ToteTM


The new way to tote

 
Plant-Prod® provides soluble fertilizers to customers both in bags and in bulk. Customized formulations that are delivered in bulk simplify and speed up the preparation of large tanks of fertilizer solution. However, material compatibility limited the range of formulations available. This limitation is now behind us.

Our new Duo-ToteTM has two compartments which keep incompatible ingredients apart, avoiding caking and melting, and allowing the delivery of all formulations. The contents of the Duo-Tote can be released at the same time where they dissolve quickly and without precipitating. Suitable for larger growers, the benefits of the Duo-ToteTM are many:

One tote per tank – faster & easier

  • Formulated specifically for your size of tank and plant nutrition needs.
  • You need just one Duo-ToteTM per tank, which is simple to use and minimizes the possibility of operator error.
  • The Duo-ToteTM can be lifted over the tank using a hoist or forklift. The drawstring on the bottom releases the fertilizer into the tank.
  • No need to take delivery of numerous bags, each requiring time to open, lift and empty.
  • Speed up operations. Our customers report time savings of 75%.




For further details please go here.

A Plant-Prod Water Soluble Fertilizer Growing Story: Leading Taiwanese orchid grower grows over 10,000 orchids a year.

The Plant-Prod team visiting orchid breeder and grower Mr. Jiang Fulai.

Mr. Jiang Fulai grows orchids in Pingtung County at the southernmost point of Taiwan. He specializes in cultivating Renathera orchids, and sells the cut flowers to a market hungry for the crimson-red, kidney-shaped flowers that have been revered in Chinese culture for centuries. Mr. Jiang has used Plant-Prod water soluble fertilizers exclusively for the last thirty years.

Orchid growing conditions in Taiwan

Taiwan is a small island nation 180km east of China.

The climate in southern Taiwan is tropical, ideal for growing orchids. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, there is no risk of frost and no need for greenhouses. Plants only need to be shaded from direct sunlight.

In Taiwan, the economics of plant cultivation are significantly different from North America.

It is a small island, the same size as Maryland, with a population of 24 million. Two thirds of the island is rugged mountains, while this population, together with the booming manufacturing sector, are squeezed into a small area remaining. That means land is expensive. In comparison, an acre of agricultural land in the United States costs on average $3,000, while you can expect to pay about $15 million per acre in Taiwan.

Growing 10,000 plants with water soluble fertilizer

Mr. Jiang: “This is my laboratory.”

Mr. Jiang has been cultivating orchids for thirty years, refining methods to maximize productivity. His operation is supported by the Plant-Prod distributor, EverSing. Most of the time he employs Plant-Prod 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer, applying every 7-10 days during the growing phase, followed by Plant-Prod 10-52-10 to induce flowering and strengthen the plant. During periods of high temperatures and rainfall, Mr. Jiang turns to Plant-Prod 8-20-30 to prevent overly leggy plants.

Mr. Jiang states that Plant-Prod nutrition is key to his  remarkable levels of productivity. “Each season we can harvest 10,000 flowers from 6,000 plants,” he states, “which is the same number of flowers that a competing operation produced from 10,000 plants”.

Maximizing plant yield by focusing on plant health

Mr. Jiang (second from left) shows Sanda Jovasevic, Plant-Prod Sales and Marketing Manager (third from left) the results of Plant-Prod fertilizers on his plants.

Orchids are one of the highest value plants cultivated by professional growers, and one of the most sensitive. Plant health needs to be protected and saving a few pennies by using a typical grade fertilizer is unwise.

Plant-Prod water soluble fertilizer is formulated with quality and consistency that is unmatched in commercial fertilizers. Mr. Jiang’s experience is a testament to Plant-Prod’s commitment to maximizing productivity of high value crops.

“When using competing fertilizers, the productivity is about 40% lower,” explains Mr. Jiang in an article on the EverSing website.

In May 2017 Sanda Jovasevic, Plant-Prod Sales and Marketing Manager accompanied by Jane Liu of EverSing visited Mr. Jiang’s operation. Following are photos from their visit.

Mr. Jiang’s plant breeding nursery in southern Taiwan: