Defending Synthetic Fertilizer And How You May Be Supporting Monsanto

[@TheMillennialGardener]

This was a "risky" video to make since it is such a passionate subject, but I decided to make it to share my perspective and promote open discussion. Make sure you watch the whole video to fully understand my perspective and the risk-vs-reward balancing act. Ask any questions in the Comments below!

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

If you really want to make a "risky" video, do one about how those little bags of worm castings people pay 15 or 20 dollars or even more for are a complete ripoff. The whole concept is vastly overblown and misunderstood... there's hardly any nutrient content to speak of in worm castings, so people who think they're an amazing fertilizer are simply misinformed. You'd be better off just buying a 40lb bag of composted cow manure for five bucks in that case. And making a tea with worm castings to encourage microbial growth does have an effect - but you'd really get the same benefit by simply putting a couple dozen live red wigglers from the bait store in your garden beds and letting them do their job. Reasonably healthy soil will attract plenty worms in most cases anyhow.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@dogslobbergardens6606 that's not a product I'm personally familiar with. I've actually never purchased it. I keep things very simple. I really only buy an organic 5-5-5, bone meal, and an all purpose and bloom boosting soluble feed. Aside from mulch and compost, I don't add much else fancy.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener simple is good, for sure! Let's just say, if something is really, really hyped up... proceed with caution and one hand firmly covering your wallet ;) There's lots of snakeoil salespeople out there these days. Not necessarily "bad" products, just folks promising amazing miracles that really don't add up.

[@ianantoinerobinson715]

I thought it was awesome subscribed👍

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

I say the same thing and get flack but that's cool. Congrats on stating water soluble chems are not dangerous to us for sure. And they don't harm the garden when used with a plan.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for acknowledging, Gary. The key is using them responsibly and observing results. Don’t abuse them, but that can be said for any product, organic or synthetic.

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks so much for bringing such a matter of "fact" approach to this topic. We need to stop shaming people for trying to garden and using fertilizer products that work within their means. Saving and sharing this video around. Thanks again.🙏

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. At the end of the day, it's about attracting new gardeners, and any food grown in your backyard is better than the best stuff in a grocery store!

[@crazysquirrel9425]

A good analogy: Miracle grow - sugar boost to your body. Organic - Protein boost to your body. 1st one hits hard and fast. 2nd one is for the long run. A mix of the two in LOW AMOUNTS should work to satisfy both scenarios.

[@blenderbenderguy]

Perfectly addressed and though I've always snubbed 'Miracle Gro products I think I've had a change of heart. Thanks so much for all your clear, concise, and easily understood videos.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The important thing is to use them if they're beneficial to you. If you're having great results without them, then don't worry about it, because it's just extra time and money spent. However, if you find benefit, then it's probably worth the small price. Most people should give them an honest trial and see if they work for them. For me, we get so much rain and our soil is sandy that the heavy feeders need the soluble types to perform well, but that may not hold true for everyone.

[@bluegrassdiggers9030]

'"We can't let perfect be the enemy of good." That quote really hits home, kind of sums up what we are experiencing in this country. Great video.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's true. Sometimes, we have to focus on the positives. Thanks for watching!

[@jeil5676]

Good job at bringing some logic to very touchy, feely subject.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks. That's the problem with this subject - it is too emotional. It would be great if we could all have a nice, large garden with unlimited access to manure and not need any fertilizers, but that isn't reality. The highest cost of all is driving to the grocery store to buy commercial produce - even commercial organic produce. If all you have is a little patio garden and 2 boxes of Miracle Gro make it so you can grow enough tomatoes, peppers and lettuce to keep you out of the grocery store all summer, that's a massive win. That's a huge plus for the environment, because such a tiny fertilizer amount yielded so much self-sufficiency.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener I absolutely agree that we should encourage new gardeners to just pick up a couple-few plants from Bonnie or whatever and a box of basic ferts from the cheapest store in town and *just get started.* I also agree that if that's as complicated as a person ever gets with it, it's still worthwhile! The last thing we should do is discourage people by being snobs and making them feel that if they're not 100% organic and self-sustainable, they're not good enough. Every little bit counts, even just some herbs on a window sill. :)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@dogslobbergardens6606 exactly. We don't live in a world where we have to grow our own food anymore to survive, so most just view it as a chore. We need to make gardening as simple, convenient and inviting as possible. I truly believe most people are gardeners at heart, but they just don't know it. These products really help increase success for minimal effort, and that's how you change lives. Having all these rules centered around perfection all but guarantees a grocery store addiction.

[@debhadden205]

I live in Florida. We had to have our roof cleaned and the chlorinated water devastated our hibiscus and other shrubs, rose bushes, and myrtle trees. I tried so hard to bring everything back. It wasn't until I started using miracle grow weekly on my plants that they recovered. I had so much success I switched to it on my backyard veggie potted garden. My yields have doubled!. I'm loving this video.

[@lgflanang]

Best fertilizer reality check ever, thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. This is just my opinion, but I find a lot of the fears out there to be confined to commercial situations. Used as directed in the backyard, they can do some good.

[@boinerz]

This video is a perfect example of why I remain a steadfast subscriber, even though sometimes I'm a full video behind (summer is a crazy busy time for me). When you make a statement it's not a dictat but well-researched and well thought out. That logic inspires me and I'm certain many more of your subscribers. So thank you for what you do: offer sound advice on gardening that's easy even for a beginner to follow. And the Dale segments just add icing to the cake. I look forward to them as much as I do the advice you give!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. I'm glad you appreciate the approach. It's not really fair to tell people what to do, because there are many ways to be successful, "success" is only relative to a person's goals, and what works in one location may not work in another. I just don't want people to hold religious beliefs when it comes to gardening. You have to be flexible and experimental, and always encourage others. You may garden differently than someone else, but at the end of the day, we're all gardeners. Dale sends his love!

[@bigtitan27]

Well said! One of the biggest mistakes I see new gardeners make,is not feeding their plants. So much bad advice gets repeated over and over and unfortunately a lot of new gardeners take it as gospel and dont get the results they were hoping for.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I agree. There are a lot of gardening channels out there telling people you don't need to fertilize your garden at all. I don't buy into a lot of it, and for the limited information out there that is good, people have spent their entire lives developing self-sustaining systems through countless hours of hard work to avoid regular fertilizing with store-bought products. It isn't realistic for a casual grower with a full-time job and kids. Sometimes, it's best to just start slow and simple.

[@ttb1513]

@@TheMillennialGardener I appreciate you taking up a controversial topic. For me, I am close to water bodies and am very conscientious of wanting to avoid runoff of nutrients into (very) close water bodies. For this reason I avoid water soluble fertilizers adamantly and create raised beds that have lots of compost and organic matter for the microbes to break down for the plants. The book "Teeming with Microbes" is a great source of info on the soil food web. I realize runoff is not relevant or a concern for most, but I try to build a healthy soil food web without fertilizers and am interested in any info on how prone to runoff, or not, various approaches are. I am hopeful that I can sustain the soil without water soluble, manure, or chemical fertilizers. Organic matter and compost amended to the the soil, raised beds, shredded leaf mulch, no dig gardening, etc. have all worked so far with no fertilizers. Interested in anything I can learn.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@ttb1513 for the record, using water soluble fertilizers won’t necessarily cause runoff. Use them when the weather is dry, and they are taken up quickly. Some of the biggest offenders of runoff are gardeners that use manure. Manure runoff is the WORST. Some of the most harm comes from commercial organic farming, because they use manure before it is fully composted (and spread e.coli disease, which has killed many) and they place their piles in areas that run into streams. In some ways, the water solubles in low concentrations are less harmful. It’s more about our practices as gardeners than the products, themselves. An irresponsible organic gardener will cause more damage than a responsible person using synthetics.

[@nancynorris1084]

I love your channel! This is one of my favorite videos of all you have made. Makes perfect sense to me.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@MadScientistSoap]

I started out with Miracle Gro with a memorable garden 25 years ago. It kept me in the game always trying to achieve the same effect.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It really is a good product, and it does work. Thanks for watching!

[@chrism3845]

Great vid. I’m astounded how companies since about the 1950’s lie through their teeth, yet there are NO repercussions like massive fines. The vegetable oils we use in food are toxic, High consumption of carbs for people with Diabetes is all wrong, and so on.

[@NN-fz4pd]

Thanks for saying that water soluble fertilizers like miracle grow are not bad for your health. That was something that was holding me back from using it

[@archstanton9703]

Well put! I'm using both types of fertilizer in our garden. I've gotten mixed results because of our harsh desert climate, but your gardening channel has inspired me to continue and not give up. Every year my gardening knowledge and skills have increased, and next year I hope to have a more bountiful harvest. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. I think one of my winter projects is going to be to try and convert some of my raised beds into multi-purpose hoop houses where I can swap out the covers. Frost cloth in the late winter, insect netting late spring, shade cloth mid-summer, frost cloth again in the fall. Something like that may really help your climate if you use raised beds.

[@archstanton9703]

@@TheMillennialGardener If I can find some fresh early variety tomato seedlings that I can harvest before it freezes, I might plant some more tomato plants. If I do, I'll try to construct some kind of covering out of PVC to cover the galvanized raised bed. Next year, I'm definitely going to use your half-water jug method to give the plants enough time to set fruit before it gets too hot. I planted a four plants using this method, and they produced more fruit than the other tomato plants. Cheers!

[@Ethaneman]

Very well said. I would just add that the fertilizers are really only a problem if you allow water run off and waste. I live in SoCal and we really have to be careful with our water resources. When I designed my irrigation, drainage and watering program I made sure that no water is flowing into the gutters. I use Miracle Grow and it stays on my property. In our rainy season I am not using fertilizers.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, now that is true. You certainly don't want runoff into storm drains, because that can cause algal blooms, and that's not good. But again, that all comes down to responsible use. Use the product as directed on the package, don't cause a runoff problem and don't abuse it, and they're really harmless and can yield great results. But for the record, organics will do the same thing if you create a runoff problem. They're just as harmful when used improperly. I hope you guys get some rain soon. I wish I could send you some of mine!

[@mountainguy4710]

Great educational video explaining the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Terri_Stauffer]

Love this information it’s the truth. I fell for the you don’t need to fertilize, after being successful using fertilizer. Let’s say that didn’t work so let’s use organic only. Well that didn’t go well either. Last year after struggling and learning the truth about how organic fertilizer works, I bought some miracle grow and my plants perked up and got really good harvest. So yes this year miracle grow to start while the organic fertilizer is being processed by soil life.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Miracle gro is a great fertilizer, easy to find and it works. I don't enjoy its ratios or the source of its nitrogen but that's just my personal preference. I do think that one thing that is understated about fertilizer salts is that highly soluble forms of nitrogen can increase pest pressure. Additionally highly soluble phosphorous applications may prevent or reverse the symbiotic association of mycorrhizal fungi. At the end of the day both of those are only the result of over application or incorrect usage. Smaller amounts applied regularly are better than large boluses applied less frequently. IMO Jack's has a higher quality nitrogen source (nitrate) and they do a lot of testing to ensure low amounts of heavy metals and contaminants but you will pay more for that. Like you, I use a combination of salts and organic ammendments. Great video, you are spot on with your take here!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think the risk of over-fertilizing for the backyard gardener is very slim, and that's more of a problem with commercial practices. For me, personally, fertilizing is a pain and can get expensive, so if it's a nuisance for me, I imagine it's even worse for most people since I'm pretty obsessive over this whole gardening thing. I've since switched to Jack's because of cost/lb. The 25 lb bags of Jack's can't be beat, and it's probably a better company from an ethics standpoint, so for me, it's a no-brainer. However, for people with much smaller gardens, I think Miracle Gro is just fine when used as directed. My soil is teeming with worms and all the mulch interlocks into a giant fungal web, so I'm certainly not overdoing it. But, I will tell you that well-fertilized, deep green plants are much less likely to be attacked by pests. The plants that get attacked usually have some yellowing due to age. The well-fed plants have a much stronger defense against pest attacks.

[@warrenmaker798]

AT LAST an honest and sensible video on this subject. The biggest problem with synthetic fertilizers are that generally they consume far more fossil fuels to manufacture. Also that overtime not only will they not help your soil microbiome; they will in fact have a serious detrimental effect on it. Your phrase of a "One Two Punch" is perfect in my humble opinion.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Everything in life has some sort of cost. Imagine how much fuel is used by everyone driving to the grocery store to buy 100% of their food, not to mention all the hauling required to get the food there? If we all had gardens, I'd be willing to bet we'd see a dramatic reduction of fuel use, even if we only used fertilizers like these. Anything you can grow at home, no matter how small or how large, is a good thing. That's why I can't stand it when folks criticize how people choose to grow their food. The fact they're growing any of their own food should be commended, because most people are not growing anything at all.

[@shawng8432]

Awesome information. I was kinda wondering about your using these products while others are so negative toward them. I figured you probably researched and familiarized yourself, probably more than others. Thank you for keeping it real, relevant!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad my perspective was helpful! It was a bit risky to make this video since it's a passionate topic.

[@Coloradolostandfound]

Well I feel enlightened, and appreciated your gutsy decision to put this post up.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. I hope it was helpful. Not every video needs to be about only the good things that everyone agrees on. Sometimes, we have to dig into the controversial topics and show failures, too.

[@WheelgunsOnWheels]

Absolutely beautiful message. So true and so rational. Thank you for providing the community sound and sane advice.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@christophergetchell6490]

This was actually a great video, no nonsense, well thought out and informed rather than just following some narrative like so many things on here! I myself use a combo of Jack's water soluble and another company's trifecta plus organic in combination with some other additives that I need once in a while! Locally grown anything that uses fertilizer responsibly is better than anything that used trucks to get it long distances especially to and from processing! Whatever gets people contributing to the food supply is good!

[@sofakingphat8087]

I believe it depends on the gardener and the kind of gardening you’re doing. At one time I used the chemical fertilizers just because it was a little bit easier and faster acting. Overtime I realize that I wanted to have more organic foods so I switched over to organic fertilizers. I tried to use compost, worm, casting, integrate worms into my soil, etc. etc. for a healthy biological soil. Sometimes you cannot get away from using chemical fertilizers in order to save your garden and it’s fruits. It takes a long time to grow organically however I believe that it’s more sustainable and healthier for the environment. I suggest that people who, want to garden read everything available in order to make decisions on how they grow. The one thing I can’t stand is Walmart and their cardboard tasting sponge like fruits and vegetables. I’d rather get them from my own garden.

[@astroAl76]

Just excellent...and indeed courageous knowing you would get some blowback. I was all organic until I saw one of your earlier videos simply and concisely explaining why organics just can't do the job in containers lacking a thriving microbiome. Thanks again for all the great info!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. Did you see good results after adding some synthetics? I'm glad you were open-minded about it.

[@lynlalalala]

I use Miricle Grow on my flowers and organics on my fruits and vegetables. Sooner or later the flower soil ends up in my garden. The problems I have are the neighbors lawn service companies spraying pesticides and herbicides uphill and upwind from my property and food crops. I now have to grow all my edibles in containers. I still am concerned about drift.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm sorry to hear that. Are the yards tight? Or can you put some kind of fence up that could act as a barrier? Is something like a raised bed hoop house feasible? That's really sad to hear.

[@Hutzjohn]

I like to use both kinds. In todays world good production is so important so I like fertilizers that feed the plants for best/highest production. When I use "chemical" fertilizers, a day or two before I like to add a tablespoon of molasses and 1 cup of skimmed milk per gallon of water to feed the soil life to help try to keep things even {feed plants & feed soil life}. So far it seems to work well, actually I haven't seen "plants" grow this much and fast since I watched the Sci-Fi movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (where the space pods grow/duplicate people in their sleep).

[@innerjon]

MAN I LOVE THIS CHANNEL! Very well done sir 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching.

[@dahutful]

One I will save and share frequently. Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Happy to hear you found it useful. Thank you for watching!

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

If you're buying either synthetic or organic ferts, soil mixes, amendments etc at any big box store, dollar store or through Amazon, you're supporting horrible corporations no matter what. So let's not kid ourselves about that part of it. I take the view that someone starting out should use *whatever* means is available to them to get going, and then with a couple season's experience they should consider alternatives to constantly buying bagged/boxed products shipped in from who-knows-where. You might be amazed how much plant-based fertilizer an average home gardener can make, very easily and almost entirely for free. But then again, plenty of experienced gardeners have limitations on time, budget, etc, and if they're using Miracle-Gro or other salt-based ferts for the convenience, fine. More power to them for at least growing something.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think you're letting "perfect" be the enemy of "good." There's no such thing as "all bad" or "all good." I'm not going to kid myself and think just because there are some cons to using fertilizers in the garden that it somehow defeats the purpose. No matter what you do in your own backyard, it's always better than anything you buy in the stores. There is no way composting can keep my garden going. It isn't feasible. I don't make nearly enough food waste, I live on sand, and we get 60-100 inches of rain a year. It simply cannot sustain my garden, let alone my extensive container garden where organics are mostly useless because of the inherent problems with "container culture" itself. A mere 2-3 generations ago, almost everyone had a garden because they had to. But now that we can buy our food, it's freed up so much of everyone's time, most people don't have one. It's a lot to ask people to give up so much of their time to grow food when they can pick up everything they need for a week in 45 minutes, so we really need to simply the process to draw people back into this lifestyle. I'll support whatever it takes to get people into the garden, within reason.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener you have utterly missed my point, on a couple different levels. Most importantly, I have never and would never say "all" ferts of any sort are inherently bad or good. I said, quite carefully, that people *with some experience* should *consider* alternatives to constantly buying mass-produced products. That is definitely not an all-or-nothing statement, or demanding perfection. Maybe some folks do a little of each; that's great. Or maybe they just don't want to mess with it; that's fine too. Of lesser importance is your misunderstanding of "plant-based fertilizers." Compost is a fairly lousy fertilizer, actually; its main benefit is simply adding organic material for water management and to eventually build soil, which is great, but that's not what I'm talking about here. Making compost on-site is never going to keep up with most people's gardens anyway, unless they literally grow 3-5 times as much biomass strictly for compost-making as they intend to grow veg. The studies have been done, and it just doesn't add up for a home gardener. Home composting is basically a novelty, and of course it's good for keeping stuff out of landfills. Making plant teas to use as fertilizers *can* keep up with some or all of a home gardener's NPK needs, IF they have the time and feel like making them. Literally all you really need is a couple-few sterile comfrey plants, some banana peels, and your grass/weed clippings to get all the NPK and micronutrients most gardeners need. (Don't let any gurus tell you it has to be some complicated alchemy, either. It's seriously just a matter of steeping it all in water for a couple weeks.)

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener I most definitely agree that staying away from grocery stores as much as possible is a good thing. And so is staying away from other stores, whenever it's practical for you. You do not truly *NEED* all that stuff in boxes and bags (organic or synthetic) to grow healthy plants - despite what half a century of advertising would have us believe. Using commercial fertilizers or making your own (or a mix of both) is a choice each gardener can make for themselves.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener And of course I'm all about simplfiying the process. That's the whole point. I'm going to mow and rake my lawn anyway, so putting it in a bucket covering it with water and leaving it alone for 3 weeks is actually *simpler* than going to a store or online and ordering something. Plus I didn't have to work an extra hour or whatever to pay for that store-bought stuff. Same with the comfrey, plant it once, you've got fertilizer free for the taking essentially forever. You're just letting plants like grass and comfrey "mine" nutrients from whatever soil you do have. And there's a LOT more in there than most people think. Even most soil tests only measure immediately-available soluble nutes - and that is not the whole picture. Unless a person is truly growing in a very high percentage of sand, they have a lot more under their feet than they realize. See where I'm going with all that? I hope I've explained it better for you now.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

I use Miracle-Gro for tomatoes and vegetables both the granulated fertilizer in a shaker and the water soluble version. I shake in every couple of months and water in every other dry week. I have had good success with my fruits and vegetables. I may get Miracle-Gro bloom booster and start using it once my garden matures a bit more. Overall, I am pleased with Miracle-Gro. Good job defending a good product from an OK company.

[@ericadzhari9031]

I'm from Singapore and can't get miracle gro products here. I bought miracle gro plant food and bloom booster from US via amazon to shipped here. Costed me 4-5 times more than you guys in the US but it was worth every penny coz i know it works. My plants are happy and me and the Mrs are happy.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You definitely don't need to buy the MiracleGro brand. All that matters it the N-P-K ratio and that it is a water-soluble type. If you can get water soluble fertilizer of another brand with similar numbers, that's all that matters. You can look into other companies like JR Peters, Jack's, Jobe's, Dr. Earth...they all sell water soluble types. Or maybe you'll have different brands there.

[@kevinharrigan2727]

Miracle Gro is what my family uses for our fertilizer cuz it’s very cheap and available, but we use it very sparingly. Seriously, if you use it responsibly, it can be an INCREDIBLY useful tool. Overuse of fertilizer is horrible, but responsible use can be extremely beneficial, especially when you have very infertile soil like we have here in North Florida, where it’s mostly sand.

[@StephanieFung]

Also for folks who don't want to support Scott's/MG, I have had good experience with Schultz brand fertilizers. Some of them are packaged with a dropper bottle making it easy to measure and mix into your watering can (super for houseplants and containers). They have a variety of products with different ratios and my local gardening shop sells them instead of MG.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Exactly. Any brand will do. I, personally, have switched to Jack's because they can be purchased in bulk for less money per pound, and I believe they're a superior product. However, Miracle Gro is the most convenient, so for folks with small gardens, they're going to be the most convenient. At the end of the day, gardening needs to be made convenient enough that new people will take up the lifestyle.

[@barco581]

Check out Plant Marvel too. They include a full range of micronutrients too. It is a farm fertilizer but some of their wholesalers will sell to the general public. I think my 25lb bag of 12-5-19 was around $30.

[@nelsonpagel2175]

Good video, I use Miracle grow once my plants start producing flowers and fruit, it seems to keep them going full steam further into the season. I use mostly organic overall. And yes, it I rarely buy produce in the summer and I'm about to start my overwintering Giant Kohlrabi, in seed trays. Perennial onions are great to have as a note.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think most gardeners can grow something through the winter with a little protection, like a low tunnel. It helps supplement our food instead of having to buy everything from stores. Thanks for watching!

[@corndawg7228]

Absolutely love this much needed content

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@barco581]

One of the best videos on here about synthetic fertilizers. I bet you took a lot of flak from the 100% organic people! People bash MiracleGro all the time, but compare the label to products like Pete's and Plant Marvel-guess what, they are very similar. The latest university studies show the highest yields come from a combination of organic and limited use of synthetic fertilizers. Great example too of just how little amounts of synthetic fertilizer can help support huge yields. Synthetic fertilizers really help now in the heat of the summer when plants are under fruit load stress. You might have a tomato plant with 20 tomatoes and a 100 degree day-tremendous stress on that plant. You can only feed the soil so much and this is where synthetics are key. And a lot of us know synthetics are not causing damage as we are soil and tissue testing too.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

People have been scared into believing various myths based on zero evidence. Yes, it's true that commercial farmers out in areas of California and Arizona that see virtually no rainfall all year and are forced to turn over incredibly high yields using intensive commercial practices can see salt buildup in their soil overtime, because they're over-producing, over-fertilizing and never seeing any rainfall year after year. This situation simply *doesn't* occur in the backyard garden. If I fertilize my pepper bed twice a month, that equates to 6 tablespoons of fertilizer spread over an entire month. In that same month, we average 6 inches of rain. It's literally impossible for fertilizers to build up in my soil. People don't actually think the problem through, and it leads to these myths that have no basis in reality. The truth is that responsible use of these fertilizers increase yields with no downside, which is *good* for the environment, because you'll be producing more food and buying less commercial produce.

[@barco581]

@@TheMillennialGardener spot on. It is a shame that we have community gardens all across the country that do not allow any synthetic fertilizers-imagine that, you can't even use one tablespoon per gallon of water weekly! As far as fertilizers go, I highly recommend Plant Marvel. It is a farm fertilizer so one can look up local distributors. The 12-5-19 is great for vegetables. 25lb bags are around $30, you can't match those prices buying consumer grade from hardware and big box stores.

[@qveenissac]

An excellent video with informative points. You're also quite an articulate person! Subbed just off this vid.

[@theurzamachine]

Miracle Gro also has organic fertilizer. The way I see it, synthetic fertilizers need to be mixed with water while organics do not. If you live in a wet environment, use organic. If you live in a dry environment, you can choose. I do find that bulk organic fertilizers usually have a higher %Nutrient : $ ratio compared to Synthetics.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Miracle Gro does have an organic line, yes, but I think people just hate that brand. No matter the source, they're just anti-Miracle Gro. And that's fine, but I want it to be for real reasons and not myths. For many, it can be a beneficial thing. I live in a very rainy environment, and I actually have to use the solubles because it rains so much here, my soil constantly gets washed out. I actually believe it's more important to use the solubles if growing in sandy soil since nutrients are rapidly eroded. People in drier climates with clay soil actually maintain the nutrients better and need less fertilizer, so you may want to consider that.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@TheMillennialGardener yep, working in really sandy soils is almost like growing hydroponically. There's just no way around it, you're going to have to keep adding ferts throughout the season. I don't get quite as much rain as you do, and my soil has a ton of clay in it, so that's not an issue for me. It just depends.

[@15SecondsWithMona]

@@TheMillennialGardener Your tips regarding sandy soil and soluble fertilizer have made a huge difference for me here in the Sandhills. My first "big garden" year has gone amazingly well,of course with much room for improvement. I'm so grateful for you and your channel. Thanks for your concise explanation of the pros and cons!

[@deplorablekulak6823]

THANK YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH I HAVE GONE THROUGH CHEMISTRY A FEW TIMES AND I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS AREN'T GOING TO HARM YOU ANYMORE THAN THE ORGANICS THEY BREAK DOWN TO THE SAME CHEMICAL COMPOSITION BEFORE UPLOADED INTO THE PLANT IT JUST SKIPS THE ROOT ZONE PROCESS

[@OldMotherLogo]

Excellent video. ALL fertilizers - in fact, everything that has mass - is made up of chemicals. Period. To call one fertilizer “chemical” and the other “organic” is to display a misunderstanding of what those words mean.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, I agree. These fertilizers are called "chemical" to scare people away from them, but all fertilizers are chemicals regardless if they're organic or synthetic. If you dump the organic stuff into a storm drain, it'll be just as terrible and polluting, so no matter what you use, you have to be responsible. Some of the worst runoff problems in farming comes from runoff from stockpiled manure, so composting can actually cause a lot of damage if you don't do it properly. It all comes down to responsible use and proper management.

[@ttb1513]

The book "Teeming with Microbes" illuminates the soil food web and discusses how plants attract and feed microbes that break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can actually use, right by the roots. Do not mistake nutrients (fertilizers) being poured into the soil, some of which reach the roots of plants, more of which wash away) as being the same.as the microbes locking up the nutrients and building a healthy soil ecosystem. I shared Alice’s outlook of everything with mass being made up of chemicals, so why isn’t everything a "fertilizer". The book reshaped my understanding and illuminated distinctions between sources of plant nutrients. Manure runoff is a real problem, but it not nearly, nearly the same as hot or cold "compost", The book is really good. I am interested in learning anything people can add. A healthy soil ecosystem and food web binds soil particles into larger ones that are less susceptible to erosion. Because of my locale, I am very concerned about contributing to nutrient runoff into water ways, so I have read extensively (more to follow) on how to build healthy soil and avoid runoff from fertilizer application. The lessons learned carry over to those who do not live close to water ways.

[@OldMotherLogo]

That everything that has mass is made up of chemicals is not my “outlook,” it’s a fact. Saying that everything is made up of chemicals in no way suggests that everything is a fertilizer, that’s a weird association. IF one is growing in pots with potting medium, adding “organic” amendments like bone meal may not even be available to the plants because the potting medium lacks the necessary microbes. It has nothing to do with what you are saying and everything to do with 1) people misusing words and 2) people having sloppy thinking and not understanding chemistry, biology, and how the natural world works. Millennial Gardner is talking about backyard gardening and people being mislead by words like “chemical” and “organic,” not massive agriculture which, as he points out, can suffer from the very same problems from manure runoff as nitrogen runoff from synthetic nitrogen. Synthetic fertilizer, when used properly by backyard gardeners, which is what we’re talking about here, is not going to cause harm. I’m speaking as someone who has practiced predominantly “organic” gardening on and off for close to 50 years.

[@ttb1513]

@@OldMotherLogo Ok, sorry to have used the word "outlook" instead of fact. The fact that all matter is made up of chemicals does NOT mean that soluble fertilizers and compost (not including manure here) are the same when it comes to how easily they leach and run off. I listened and understand well that the author has sandy soil and basically has eliminated compost amendments as an option. Understand well that my comments were about my situation, where I can compost and amend with it, but I also am very close to water bodies that I do not want to pollute with leached or run off nutrients. I am interested in any information and experience people have with being conscientious of this. With your experience, feel free to pipe in. I understand well that manure run off is a problem. For people close to valued, clean and clear water bodies like me, I will not apply manure and am very wary of fertilizers that can also leach or run off, so I focus on building and maintaining healthy soil (I am not an expert, but I am greatly interested in the topic, have learned a lot, and listening to learn).

[@ttb1513]

@@OldMotherLogo I usually see the miracle grow referred to as a synthetic fertilizer, not "chemical". The definition of synthetic in chemistry is: "Synthetic chemicals are made by humans using methods different than those nature uses, and these chemical structures may or may not be found in nature". The point he makes @4:08 is that one type is soluble and immediately available and the other is consumed by the soil micro biome and available to the plant later but with longer duration. I do not use either in my beds. And no manure. Hot compost as an amendment and cold shredded leaf compost as a mulch. If I had his sandy soil and my very close by water bodies I do not want to pollute, it would be careless of me to use a soluble fertilizer that would leach greatly. Same for manure.

[@Shivermetimbers90]

Thank you so much for making this video. I was beating myself up over fertilizers 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ considering jacks 20-20-20 after watching your other videos

[@sarahkirbach5040]

Tha k you for the clarification. I use all of these products in my garden and have good results bc of it. I wouldn’t have the production without a combo of both.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I feel the same way. My soil is sandy, and we get 60-100 inches of rain a year, so I can't simply compost. It all washes away, so I have to periodically add these solubles. My area isn't rural enough to have a regular source of compost without paying an arm and a leg, so these water soluble fertilizers are a good bridge for my climate. Thanks for watching.

[@justincentraltexas]

Love this video! I honestly love the channel too. You have a great way of approaching topics in a way that comes across much more like a conversation with an informed friend than the.. for lack of a better term.. science based channels. Most are run by high degree holding folks that have a tendency to be boring or are talking down and insulting folks. You blend things very well. The scientific method and gardening go hand in hand and I'm not gonna lie I love the vids that compare results on miracle grow vs organic. You explained very well they flat out do different things and are best used together! I'm glad your not taking some "branding" choice for your channel. I sure hope when you blow up on KZbin you stay the same. You seem to be a good man with self respect so I just can't wait till you end up with a Netflix show teaching the world all you can!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying the channel. I try to keep this channel informative, but sort of like a vlog style where I'm filming what I'm doing at the moment. I've found it's the best way to keep things honest, and also keep things timely, since everything I'm doing is what's actually happening during the growing season. I don't really have an angle. This is just who I am and it's what I love to do. I appreciate you watching.

[@terryli340]

I respect your opinion and thanks for sharing.

[@jeil5676]

Not to mention the shipping and refrigeration costs of supermarket produce.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Oh yes. The amount of refrigeration, storage and long-haul trucking is enormous. The only areas of the country that are frost-free are tiny portions of CA, TX and AZ, and some of Florida - on good years. Our ability to grow food year-round in the US is very poor because of this, so an absolutely enormous amount of our food also has to be long-haul trucked and often purchased internationally. Growing as much of your own food as possible and not utilizing that supply chain is a *huge* win for all of us.

[@dvoutsin]

The thing that is keeping your soil healthy is the use of organic fertilizer and compost. It is well shown that use of synthetic fertilizer exclusively over time without the addition of organic matter will lead to soil nutrient depletion. Try using those super concentrated liquid fertilizers only and over time and tell me what happens. Been there, done that myself. So when you say in no way are these products harmful it's not entirely accurate.

[@jeremiahthelion]

Love this balanced approach!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you found it enjoyable. Thanks for watching!

[@travisevans7502]

I agree I don't use miracle gro in my in ground beds but do use it in my flower pots I prefer to use organic fertilizer in my vegetable garden but mostly use compost doing no dig in my most established beds I only use compost but don't have a problem using it

[@theapopkagardener2485]

Great information. Dale is incredible. He is so smart and obedient 🥰

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dale is such a good boy, and he's truly brilliant. He's smarter than a lot of hoomans I know 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@jonbfrom254]

Exactly you got start small my first garden was in pots then next year it went from 5 ft x 16ft then following fall it went to 25 by 10 and finally my garden size 45ft by 25ft. Every year it gets bigger. And every spring I buy 5yds turkey compost from dr gobbler. That stuff has change my dirt. Texas zone 8b my dirt is like paste when it gets wet, so it needed help with root development.

[@powervoc2]

Excellent info. Thanks for this.

[@bobfitch8855]

Excellent job, excellent information.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@amysoddities]

Super interesting thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@derrickkissoon8891]

Thank you, Sir.

[@Joel-McConnell]

Thanks for spreading common sense instead of "manure"! lol! Really like your channel and your style of offering information.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoy it! I appreciate you watching.

[@Jay12629]

If you don’t want chemicals in your garden that’s going to be difficult since everything in the UNIVERSE is a chemical.

[@godisnotmocked1345]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@sowmiyadinesh1847]

WoW ! U have a fan :) great video👍🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@rosesaria5594]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge,I’m really against GMO product or produce.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I don't blame you. However, GMO's are rarer than people think. You can't just buy GMO seed since it's highly protected intellectual property. Residents like us can't buy GMO seed, so there's no risk of buying any seed in a store that's GMO. GMO is mostly confined to commodity crops like corn, soy and polyunsaturated vegetable oils. If you avoid corn and soy products, and don't cook with unsaturated oils, you're going to avoid most GMO's. I only cook with coconut oil, butter and extra virgin olive oil, personally. I avoid all other fats.

[@ryanlaplante4007]

excellent thoughtful video! ❤

[@mountaincreekhomestead]

Thanks for clarifying this subject! Growing Productive not Pretty!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@srshufelt]

I always to recommend a new gardener to start small and go from there.

[@pd6569]

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good! As always, your videos are well researched and informative and easy to digest. Dale found a nice home, he looks happier all the time…..as do you. I am grateful for the cooler weather here in 7b (northern VA) as the temps have been over 90 for a while and have beat up some of my tomato plants. The trellis system you inspired me to use (in a new bed) is working great. Thank you for all of the effort you put into your videos.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dale is so very happy. It makes me happy to see he's loving life so much. We went through a brutally hot week, but the past week has been 10 degree below average, and honestly, we've been getting a lot of odd cold fronts this summer. It's definitely the coolest summer I've experienced since moving here in 2017. I'm glad the trellis system is working out for you. My goal is all about showing folks new ways to do old things!

[@pd6569]

@@TheMillennialGardener Just like you and I and many other suffered during the first part of the spring, this weather pattern has been all over the place. I have hundreds of baby figs but still way behind the curve as far as maturity I don’t know that you’d be interested in meeting up but my wife and oldest are heading down to Fort Fisher this Sunday for the week. Would love to buy you a cuppa coffee, breakfast, lunch, whatever. I know there’s a nice cigar shop in Wilmington as well. Either way, have a great day and again thanks for all you’ve done for our garden.

[@kennethlatimer4607]

Can't get enough of Dale. Good boy. Excellent video. In South Florida the sugar cane growers destroy our ecosystem. They destroy the estuaries and coastlines. God Cole boys club.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dale is a very good boy, indeed. It's important to note that it's people causing the problem, not the products. You can cause just as many problems by piling your manure piles high near a waterway and allow rainwater to carry the manure into the streams. Organic gardening can be potentially more destructive. It's all in the practices. People need to be aware of what they're doing. Keep these things away from sources of water, and don't over-apply.

[@amberhampton5304]

Thanx u

[@msday2vzw]

Love this video!! Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your viewership.

[@in_the_village_project]

Good video

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@highplains7777]

I love Miracle Grow for potted plants. I also love organic fertilizer and compost. I also love ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, etc.... It's all good. Just use them the right way.

[@Aviator168]

Last year, I only use solubles and found that was easy to control. This summer, I start using organic + solubles and found that a bit difficult to control the feeding. Going back to all soluble for the rest of the season.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do think it's a good idea to add organics and solubles. Organics are important to keep the microbiome healthy in the soil. It's not just feeding the tree - you also have to feed the natural bacteria and fungi in the soil. Solubles don't do that. Relying only on solubles will deplete your soil more quickly. Another good alternative is to add a compost and mulch layer if you don't want to use organic fertilizers. That will add fresh bacteria and fungi, as well as organic matter.

[@Aviator168]

@@TheMillennialGardener Fungi is bad for me. Every Aug, I spend too much time and effort trying to control downy mildew and failed every time.

[@jeffreydustin5303]

The biggest concern I have is not chemicals...everything is chemical. It is toxins.

[@raystupka3823]

Can you use both granular and liquid at the same time?

[@Sigmund1924]

Valuable info. Thanks. I’ve always wondered though if there are things in compost and organic fertilizers that are beneficial for plants and trees that can’t be found in non organic fertilizers such as Miracle Grow or vice versa. For example, I’ve heard an avocado specialist say that there is something in chicken manure (besides nitrogen)that is especially good for trees.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, organic fertilizers like compost are "complete foods" in the sense that they contain countless organic compounds, whereas synthetic fertilizers only have what the labs put in there. Organic fertilizers also feed your soil, because they require being consumed by worms, mealybugs, bacteria and fungi in the soil, so they build healthy soil over time. Synthetic fertilizers are designed to supplement heavy feeders by providing them with heavy quantities of NPK that organic fertilizers cannot provide. The way you have the most success is to build your soil using a foundation of organic fertilizers, compost and mulch so you have a beautiful loam with lots of organic matter, and then strategically supplementing with synthetic fertilizers on your "heavy feeder" plants to increase the harvests. I wouldn't recommend using only synthetics, because they don't improve your soil and lack some trace micronutrients.

[@Sigmund1924]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the reply. I’ve been going heavy on the compost and the mulch for my avocado trees and they’re growing like weeds. I was thinking of eliminating the synthetic fertilizer but I’ll take your advice and stay with it for a potentially bigger harvest.

[@ahmed.dhaheri]

Well said

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@janwilliams4282]

Well done

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@acidnut]

I just went out to water my garden beds with miracle gro after watching this video. I forgot I still have half a of 5lb box. lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Hopefully that means it'll last a very long time 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@victormcox]

Great video!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks!

[@robertmoore661]

Great information thank you Sir.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@Life-ch8rj]

Good information. My only question is when you do use synthetic fertilizer aren’t you adding salts to your soil which in time builds up and destroys soil ?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's one of those "theoretical" problems anti-fertilizer folks like to bring up, but it doesn't really happen in real life. That's because the soil naturally washes out every time it rains and every time you irrigate, so the tiny amount of "salts" don't actually accumulate. It's even more extreme in containers, because containers wash out constantly. Unless you live in a place where it never rains, it isn't a problem you're likely to face. I'll give you another example: if your water comes from "city water" and you use that water, you're constantly pumping chlorine and other salts into the soil. Most people are watering their garden with tap water loaded with salts, but there really isn't another choice. It's been raining since 7AM yesterday, and I've accumulated 7.5 inches of rain so far. When it ends, my entire garden is going to *need to be* blasted with synthetic fertilizer, because the nutrient washout is awful right now.

[@craigr.5089]

Excellent

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@cdeg1964]

I am confused. I have always been told that the Miracle-Gro type products reduce the soil flora and fauna because they cause an accumulation of salts and can cause imbalances that reduce micro mineral uptake. Is that wrong??

[@shlomovenezia101]

MG nitrogen is derived from synthetic ammonium and water soluble nitrates, producing off-chemicals that are harmful to soil microbes, worms, and all other forms of life in the soil...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's one of those theoretical situations that can occur *in theory,* but almost never do in practice, and it's weaponized to demonize these types of fertilizers. Yes, it's true that salts can accumulate in your soil overtime, but every single time it rains or you water your garden, you're flushing those salts out. The natural erosion process handles them for you. In the entire eastern half of the US, this is almost impossible because we get so much rain as long as you're using the products as directed and don't abuse them. If you grow in a container, they get flushed out so often by rain that I have to fertilize every 7-10 days or yellowing will occur. It's possible you can overdo it if you live somewhere in Arizona where the soil is hard as a rock, naturally salty with an alkaline pH and you're constantly running drip irrigation with synthetics added, but in practice, these things just don't happen often. It all comes down to responsible use and not abusing them. If you take care of your soil, amend it regularly and keep overall good practices, these fertilizers have a huge benefit in production by giving heavy feeders a boost.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@shlomovenezia101 "toxicity" is related to dosage. *Everything* is toxic in too high of a dose, and *nothing* is toxic in low enough of a dose. Water and oxygen are both toxic if you take in too much too quickly, and people have died doing both things, yet few people classify "water" and "oxygen" as toxic. These fertilizers are not in any way harmful to your soil when used as directed and responsibly. What you're speaking of is from terrible farming practices and abuse of these fertilizers, which is not something the backyard gardener will encounter. If you are increasing your harvests through responsible usage, you're producing more food per square foot and benefiting the environment by not buying commercial products, which are far more destructive.

[@cdeg1964]

@@TheMillennialGardener You know what... I used to use MG in a rotational schedule with molasses and fish emulsion. I had a great garden then. Then I got freaked about poisoning my soil with MG and tried to do the fully organic thing. That was okay, but not great. NOW, I am doing something wholly different. First off, I rebuilt the entire garden because the beds were rotting... now they are concrete block - not cinder block, concrete. I added peat, alfalfa flakes or pellets, beet pellets, blood meal, epson salt, and triple phosphate to all the beds when I prepared the soil. I left it for a week and then inoculated it with SuperThrive micro minerals/vitamin, cal-mag, fish emulsion, and byo-soil for microbe cultures. This is going much better, however, I am thinking that for occasional foliar feeding - like when I need to treat for powdery mildew or flea beetles or caterpillar damage - I think I will consider going back to MG. As long as I don't have to worry about killing my soil babies or bees, I am good.

[@rockmanxja]

Where do the rain or watering flushes the salt? Into the water and pollute that instead.

[@pilsplease7561]

I have been saying what you said in this video to toxic keyboard warriors for years while im late seeing your video I hope more people keep watching it because Im tired of people shitting on chemical fertilizers and hyping organic as the greatest thing ever.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

All fertilizers are chemicals - whether organic or synthesized, if you bought a bag of fertilizer, it's a chemical. The benefit of organic gardening is largely the removal of nasty pesticides and herbicides sprayed all over our foods. If you choose to boost your garden by giving your plants a monthly drink of water with MiracleGro mixed in it, it's not hurting anything. I don't know how some of these irrational beliefs based solely in fear with no actual data to support them get started. You'll find the same people afraid of MiracleGro smoking cigarettes and eating processed foods 😆

[@prettylagoon]

What about liquid Mir gro or just Osmocote?

[@jeil5676]

Monsanto is now Bayer? *(Throws away heroine stash).

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yep. The merger was complete around 5 years ago, so you may surprised to find a medicine cabinet and bathroom full of their products.

[@anaartigas3381]

Thank you for making things simple and practical for us new gardeners. 🙏🏼💚

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@vesperholly8285]

Thanks to your wonderful information, I’ve been using Miracle-Gro products, completely worry-free, in tandem with organic slow release products since I started my garden last year. I’ve since, though, heard from a gardener on TikTok about a natural fertilizer made completely from the Comfrey plant. He claims it’s high in nitrogen and potassium. Do you have any experience with this?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I am not familiar. A lot of people make claims, so it's hard to tell what's real and what isn't. The only way to know is to experiment.

[@blenderbenderguy]

Be really careful with Comfrey..... "Between the self-seeding and root regrowth, comfrey can become invasive. There is a sterile species of comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum 'Bocking 14', which eliminates the self-seeding problem in the garden." I thought what I got was 'Blocking 14' variety. Turned out not to be...... I'm doing a lot of "chop & drop"! Chickens love it though.

[@ttb1513]

@@blenderbenderguy Yes, I too hope mine is the Bocking 14 variety so the self seeding is not an issue. Comfrey has a deep, deep tap root and is used as a plant that mines minerals and nutrients from deep and stores them in the leaves, from which comfrey tea can be made, or simply the leaves can be chopped and dropped where needed. It is a.very resilient plant. The leaves readily regrow.

[@joelambrose9]

​@@blenderbenderguy😊

[@jeanlaikan8400]

I use both chemicals & compost, but latter requires a lot of composting materials which I don't have. The con I read about chemicals is that the plants absorb the nitrates which get into our body. This is converted to nitrites which is harmful to health. They say we have to stop chemically fertilising our plants one month before harvest to allow the plants to get rid of the nitrates. What is your view about that? Thanks

[@jeanlaikan8400]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for your update. I am fine with chemical fertilisers, buy I never use chemical pesticides or fungicides.

[@ttb1513]

Hmm. That is interesting. I thought plants used nitrogen in the form, nitrite or nitrate, they they needed.

[@menotworking]

"I don't use chemicals on my plants!" "Wait, isn't water a chemical?"

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is if it's treated water from a town water supply. These fertilizers are harmless, and the idea that they are somehow bad is a myth without evidence. Abusing a product is also not a valid argument - "too much" of anything is "too much" by definition.

[@menotworking]

@@TheMillennialGardener I'm on your side about chemical phobia. Plain old water, H2O, is indeed a chemical. Dihydrogen Monoxide is one "chemical" name for it.

[@sdfft820]

Put organic matter in your soil and use conventional fertilizers.

[@goo757]

JUST EPIC INFO

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@mgstrip]

great video!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@tedhodoba3637]

I'm growing hardy bananas among other plants in New Mexico. Our soils and water are both very alkaline. Would Miracid be good to use on them?

[@tedhodoba3637]

I saw there was a notification and a reply from you but it seems to have disappeared. I appreciate any suggestions you may have. I enjoy your channel very much.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks! According to most sources, bananas like a pH of 5.5 to 7, which is mildly acidic to neutral. If you have alkaline soil, you may want to take measures to increase the acidity. Coffee grounds, compost amendments and elemental sulfur prills can help with this. MiracleGro also makes an acid-loving plants formula, but I'd be very careful using that with any regularity. Long story short, plant the bananas, amend with coffee grounds, compost and something like a pine bark mulch (because it's mildly acidic) and see how they perform.

[@tedhodoba3637]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks. I have been using coffee grounds and wood chips for mulch. I also use horticultural sulfur on my beds. I've been using organic fertilizers as well. So far the bananas are growing like weeds. I just wasn't sure if I should be doing more after watching your video. Our climate is so unique and it's hard to find information on growing these plants here. People are surprised when I tell them I'm growing bananas and that they over winter here. My place is zone 7b but right on the cusp of 8a. Thanks again for your response! I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@jefftripp7599]

What do you do when you have a Fig tree that is only growing a few inches a season? I have pictures of the tree

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Is it in a container? In ground? You can upload a photo to a site like Imgur and post the link if you wish in the comments. Figs need four things: 8+ hours of direct sunshine a day, plenty of warmth, plenty of fertilizer and plenty of water during the growing season. If it isn't growing well, it's either a very young tree that is trying to grow roots first, something is attacking it/roots rotting, or it isn't getting enough of at least one of the 4 things I just mentioned are needed.

[@jefftripp7599]

@@TheMillennialGardener it’s in the ground the tree was already planted when I bought the house . instagram.com/p/CSXmFKLH1I7/?

[@davidbravo4427]

I think jacks is better than miracle grow what you think?🤔

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have since switched to Jack's, because the 25 lb bags are far cheaper per pound than the MiracleGro boxes. I can't say which is better, but most professionals say Jack's sources better ingredients. That's hearsay, though.

[@cantwealljustgetalong2]

i wonder why the same expert gardener organic all purpose is now 4-4-4 instead of 5-4-4 like it was last year

[@GottabKD777]

Agreed, just garden.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The only bad garden is no garden 😄

[@cecilbrown4804]

I MG,StaGreen works well also...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Sure. Whatever brand you prefer is just fine. It's more about the benefits of synthetic soluble types, in general. I, personally, use Jack's and not Miracle Gro, but I used it in this video because it's what everyone can get the most easily in most cases.

[@slycooper3938]

What about the claim that synthetic fertilizer kills soil microbes? If this is true, then wouldn't using organic fertilizer + synthetic not makes sense, since there wouldn't be enough microbes left in the soil to break down the organic fertilizer?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Unfortunately, a lot of gardening zealots spread a lot of false claims. One of the common claims is that these types of fertilizers are "chemicals," and are therefore harmful. I've heard people make false claims of it making the fruits toxic, and false claims that it kills the soil microbiome. None of those are true when used as directed. My soil is teeming with worms, and the mulch I put down is a consistent mat of fungus. The truth is, organic fertilizers are also processed "chemicals," too, and it's really just a libelous statement. The real benefit is growing your own food in your own backyard garden. Whether you choose to grow 100% organic, or to supplement with these synthetics, the fruit will be just as healthy and the soil microbiome will be just fine. The difference is, in most cases, if you supplement with these synthetics as directed (and not abuse them), you'll have larger harvests, especially if you grow in containers, have sandy soil, or live in a climate where it rains a lot.