Hey everyone, I've got a question about fertilizer that might seem a bit silly, but here goes! I was looking for a 3-1-2 fertilizer for my pepper plants but couldn't find any at the garden store. They did have a 6-2-4 formula made for fruit trees. I started thinking back to my basic math lessons and wondered if using half the recommended amount of the 6-2-4 would be similar to using the 3-1-2 fertilizer. Is it really that simple? If not, is there a way to make the 6-2-4 less potent to avoid shocking my peppers?
1 Answer
Yes, the numbers on fertilizer indicate the percentage of nutrients by weight. So, a 3-1-2 fertilizer has 3% nitrogen, 1% phosphorus, and 2% potassium. The 6-2-4 has double of each nutrient per pound. However, it gets a bit tricky based on the mixing instructions on each label. For example, if the 6-2-4 says to mix 1 tablespoon per gallon and the 3-1-2 says 2 tablespoons per gallon, using the amounts as instructed will actually give you the same strength—you just get more uses out of the 6-2-4.
Sounds like I’m going to have to use some of that 6th grade math! Thanks though, this helps me out immensely!