The TRUTH About Miracle Gro

[@nauci]

So incredibly grateful for those of you who spend so many hours deep diving papers and distill the information for the rest of us! I love gardening, but researching how to garden is so difficult when chemophobia and old wives tales dominate the knowledge sphere. People are learning the wrong lessons from the mistakes big agriculture has made, and the common arguments are devoid of nuance and evidence. Subscribing immediately!

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching and the kind words. I find the most honest approach to any topic is to follow peer review and be willing to change your position based on new evidence.

[@robertc5387]

If someone is uncomfortable using Miracle Gro, then I fully support their decision not to use it. What I don’t support is opinion that’s stated as fact when there is currently no evidence to support such a fact. Thanks very much for producing a highly informative video which separates the two. I particularly appreciate your willingness to change your position as new information becomes available - we should all adapt that philosophy, scientists or not. This is not a contest to see who “guessed” right before the facts were known. Sometimes our egos exert far too much control over our judgement.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching RC. I didn't realize my own cognitive bias until I started grad school and sat in a stats class where I learned about experimental design, dara analysis,etc. It changed my mindset to not really have opinions but just go with the current understanding.

[@catherinetrinh3260]

This podcast was very beneficial . When I lived in the city, I was content to use Miracle Grow. It worked well. After retiring and moving to my piece of Heaven, I became concerned about my forest and didn't want to cause any damage to the soil. After all, until my husband and I took up residence, there wasn't any human interference on its ecosystem. Thus, I became suseptible to the position of the environmentals. What seemed to be missing was hard scientific evidence. Your podcast included peer reviewed research and was less than ten years old. Your position is correct in my way of thinking. You used evidence that is peer reviewed by reputable sources and within ten years old. Your position is strengthened by providing sources.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. I do my best not to have a position or opinion. As humans we are extremely prone to confirmation bias and personal opinions. I do my best to take the approach of reading peer review and making decisions based on that data and the willingness to change my practices based on new data .

[@austinharris9383]

Thank you for your balanced approach and reliance on peer-reviewed data. Peer review is crucial for maintaining the integrity of science by filtering out low-quality or invalid articles, which often shape people's opinions on topics like those discussed in this video. Excellent video! Keep up the great work!

[@Dr.Warren]

Confirmation bias of personal opinion is real. It is also critical to be willing to change practices when new data is available.

[@WDE2010]

Thank you for a methodical approach based on what peer reviewed scientific data shows about the product in question.

[@Dr.Warren]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jaytoney3007]

I use synthetic water soulable fertilizer sparingly, mainly for seed stats, potted plants, and to give a boost to new transplants. From my exprience the representations of NPK are too high. I dilute it to about a quarter strength to get the NPK levels below 5-5-5 and fertilize as needed, or with seed starts about twice a month. In my main garden beds, I use slow release granular fertilizer on certain crops, and some only as needed. I use a layer of leaves in the fall to cover bare soil, then work them into the soil when I start my spring garden. See a lot of worms, and the soil is healthy. I also add compost made from leaves, grass clippings, plant tops from the garden (I leave the roots in the soil to dteriorate), coffee grounds, peelings, egg shells, and other kitchen scraps. I keep the soil moist in the off season, so it doesn't dry out. I have excellent plant growth and harvests, so I am doing something right. I have sixteen raised beds, an inground herb garden, and an orchard with ten fruit trees. A bag of 10-10-10 granular fertilizer lasts 3-4 years, and 1 pound of senthetic fetilizer lasts between 1-2 years.

[@Dr.Warren]

You are using a multifaceted approach which is the premise at the end of the video. Great job! Sounds like your garden is rocking!

[@ClarenceGrover]

I like all the information that you have shared. I’m a user of miracle gro . I believe in their product and like you said,like in the directions they tell you how to use properly. I’m in the desert southwest

[@Dr.Warren]

My overall plot of the video is it's safe but don't overcook it. With you being in an arid environment that is especially true. 3 years ago this week I flew into Phoenix and drove up to the canyon. Such a beautiful area. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. It's very much appreciated!

[@annsfrench]

Thank you for you level-headed approach to this topic. I love when actual research is used to dispel common myths and “panic” topics. 🙌

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching. As a scientist it's my goal to read the peer review literature on a topic and inform myself. You also have to be willing to change your view point on a topic if new information and raw data becomes available on a topic. I try not to have an opinion on anything but have a mindset of "at this time this is what peer review literature says"

[@marlenefunk2137]

I am 80 years old. I have lived in Pennsylvania, Florida and South American. I have used Miracle Gro for as long as I can remember and found it better than any other plant food. Never had one problem with it or my pets and plants. Impossible to find in South America.

[@Dr.Warren]

I wonder if it's not shipped down there?

[@williamwaters4506]

Thank you for this talk that is based on scientific information.

[@yendor33x]

Happy to have found your channel. Started with a lawn sweeper video. War Eagle!

[@Dr.Warren]

WDE Rodney! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@drummereef]

I don't see the link to the original video as referenced at 1:00. Can you provide this? Great info as always! 👍

[@Dr.Warren]

Should be all the way at the bottom

[@nancyk8153]

Miracle Gro has synthetic slow release fertilizer. I use it in my garden for flowers and shrubs. I do not use it for my edibles because I want organic soil for my fruit & veg.

[@ralusek]

Important note regarding atmospheric carbon: while it's true that decomposing matter for organic compost/fertilizer/mulch results in carbon being released into the atmosphere, that is carbon that is already "on the books." Carbon can be temporarily kept out of the atmosphere by being locked up in plants and animals, but it is essentially in a cycle wherein it will eventually make its way back to the atmosphere, and then taken up again by plants, and then animals, etc. The difference with "chemical" fertilizers is that they're petroleum-based, so they're actually introducing carbon into the atmosphere that had otherwise been functionally removed from the equation (by being sequestered underground as oil).

[@Dr.Warren]

I almost went there in the video but it was going to add another 5-10 minutes going through the carbon cycle and then going into the offset of emissions by the increase of CO2 uptake of a plant being more because it's fertilized. It started getting outside the scope of the video.

[@moomoon1410]

This is fantastic. Good work 👍🏾👍🏾.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for the kind words

[@curiouscat3384]

sigh....this is exhausting! I applaud your in-depth research and presentation. After about 5 years of reading and listening to smarter people than me, when it comes to my own nutrition and health as well as the environment, I've concluded that nothing good (ultimately) comes from the massive use of synthetics and chemicals. As long as glyphosate and Grazon remain legal in USA as an example, I do not trust the EPA or the FDA to decide what is safe or not because they are "owned" by big corporations. Many of the chemicals allowed in U.S. are banned in other countries. I only trust the wisdom of regenerative farmers now, to interpret the studies which are often flawed or worse, hidden or interpreted to deceive. I've retreated to living on my 1 acre city property, drinking and watering my gardens with filtered rainwater, raising organic pastured chickens for eggs, making compost from oak leaves and green trimmings and my own urea (urine) collected fresh every day ! I love nice landscaping and flowers and a small lawn but if I can't grow something without importing bagged products from big box stores then I won't grow it. Americans are so steeped in convenience, cheap$, and materialism that we can't see the forest for the trees. Sorry for the rant - your video caught me early in the morning after a day of stewing over alarming statistics about metabolic diseases and pollutants.

[@ganymededarling]

This was a great video! Im very familiar with the channel you referenced. He also says he doesn't use sunscreen because he believes it's dangerous so i always take what he says with a grain of salt!

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for taking time to watch and dropping a comment.

[@richardsmith1161]

Is there any truth to literature stating synthetic fertilizer runoff can increase Uranium in drinking water?

[@Dr.Warren]

This is new to me. Could you provide a link to the paper?

[@behlockaetheking7062]

Maybe stop fertilizing with uranium😂

[@StevenTripp-e2v]

Not sure of the info . But in the 80s government had farmers use radioactive fertilizer weed killer in tobacco. It seemed government wanted teeth to fall out after smoking showing how bad cigarettes were.

[@michellewilson1657]

Thank you for doing this, very intriguing on planet protection level

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment

[@annestickney7371]

Auburn, huh? I thought I heard an Alabama accent. I'll be subscribing to help me with my garden in Tuscaloosa.

[@Dr.Warren]

Yeah, you can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy. My accent always gives me away even if I try to hide it. I've learned to embrace it. Thanks for subscribing and leaving a comment. Occasionally I wear an Auburn ball cap in a video so hopefully you don't unsubscribe if you see the AU logo on my head.🤣

[@jlseagull2.060]

Unless MG has changed its ingredients, I don’t believe the current hyped about how dangerous MG is. I have used MG for decades in different time zones. What I have found is the area and soil matter most. In 9b, everything can like weeds if the soil is right - tomatoes, zucchini’s, all kinds of squash, roses, etc. etc. I have not stopped using MG and still enjoy seeing lots of pollinators and earthworms.

[@Dr.Warren]

There does seem to be a lot of fear mongering. When used according to the label and in the correct amount at the current timing the data suggests it's safe.

[@jackscrafts9202]

Thanks DOC

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@mogeking56]

Is it safe seriously 😳 kids in my town are snorting this stuff it’s fantastic 🤓😎

[@Dr.Warren]

Ha!

[@BurrBones]

I'm all about using what works for veggie gardens but I'm not wasting time or money on a perfect lawn. We waste entirely too many resources on lawns. Plant native species that look great and use less resources than grass and the chemicals it requires.

[@take5th]

The comments section seems to have been populated by miracle-gro employees. But, I do agree it is safe if used properly.

[@Dr.Warren]

Ha! Perhaps they had their people jump in there? I am unaffiliated and just sharing the data we have on hand about it.

[@take5th]

@@Dr.Warren perhaps. I didn’t mean to impugn your content, just being snarky b/c so many people commented so thoroughly and similarly..unusual for youtube comments. Perhaps gardeners are just smart! In fact, I’m sure they are!

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

Just use organic concentrate liquid

[@Dr.Warren]

I have some of that too. I need to do a video on it.

[@dmurawsky]

Why did they pay millions of dollars in settlements because of health issues if they’re not doing anything wrong?

[@dmurawsky]

Also, “the human body does not know the difference” seems to be a bold statement considering the toxicity level that miracle grow admits to.

[@Dr.Warren]

Are you referring to the 2012 fungicide lawsuit? To my knowledge they have never paid out a lawsuit for miracle gro?

[@Dr.Warren]

Anything is toxic. Water is toxic, table salt is toxic. The chemical doesn't make something toxic the dosage does. We measure this with what is known as LD50

[@dmurawsky]

I hope you can see why you may be endangering your listeners who trust you by recommending a product that has hurt so many people

[@Dr.Warren]

I do not form opinions on such topics but go with the current knowledge of peer review data. If you can provide me with a peer review paper saying the ingredients of miracle gro are harmful to humans when used as directed by the label I would quit using it and do another video based on new data. With our current understanding this product doesn't it hurt anyone and is not putting anyone in danger.