The Superthrive company purchased the Dynagro product line a couple of years ago. So FoliagePro is now available at Lowe's and Home Depot. The labeling looks slightly different because now it says Superthrive Dynagro Foliage-Pro. It's very affordable.

nice!

24-8-16 (soluble granular) and 12-4-8 (soluble liquid) are both urea-based fertilizers that lack calcium & magnesium (secondary macro-nutrients) as well as some micronutrients. Urea tends to produce coarse growth (large leaves and long internodes), especially in low light conditions. Ammonium toxicity is also an inherent threat when urea-based fertilizers are used at temperatures below 55*F or when soil is soggy or compacted. Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 (soluble liquid) is a complete nutritional supplement and contains all nutrients essential to normal growth. It also derives more than 2/3 of it's nitrogen from nitrate sources, which significantly reduces the potential for ammonium toxicity, a very common issue seldom diagnosed properly or appropriately linked to its underlying causes.

24-8-16, 12-4-8, and 9-3-6 are all 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers. The average plant uses about 16% as much phosphorous and 62% as much potassium as nitrogen. There is a considerable advantage in using a fertilizer that closely mimics the ratio at which plants actually utilize nutrients. 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers are specifically formulated to mimic the uptake ratio of the average plant, which allows us to fertilize at the lowest EC/TDS levels possible w/o deficiencies.

Al

The urea-based fertilizers you speak of here (24-8-16 (soluble granular) and 12-4-8 (soluble liquid)) is the walmart brand / Miricle Grow i referenced yes? Yes - correct.

The osmocote plus is good yes? Yes, I use it for some applications. I bought 2 cases of it when I learned what impact the Russia/Ukraine war would have on fertilizer prices.

Controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) do have one issue that you might consider. When mean soil temperatures are above about 85*, a high % of plants enter a stage of torpor or a consequential dormancy. During this stage, lower fertility levels help facilitate the increase in water uptake plants need to cool themselves. The rub is, nutrient release by most CRF products (including Osmocote-Plus) is driven primarily by temperature (the higher the temp the more fertilizer salts are delivered to the soil solution). So, during summer's dog days when you might wish to be pulling back on nutrient salt concentrations in the soil solution, the CRF prills are at maximum release rates.

Because of this, I use the Osmocote-Plus sparingly as a guard against me forgetting to fertilize or just getting lazy about it. I primarily rely on weekly applications of Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 unless temps get too high. This affords me more control of what my plants get and when they get it.

Al

I am coming to the States in a couple of weeks so I looked up to see if the Home Depot I would be visiting would have the dynagro fertilizer. Unfortunately, it doesn't. So maybe they are out of it or perhaps don't stock it at the store I will be going to.

Try searching under the new labeling. Also available through Amazon, if that's an option for you.

I found it on Amazon, gardengal. Thanks! There is a big price difference for the product between Canada and the U.S.

More or less? Just curious.

Al

@tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

The urea-based fertilizers you speak of here (24-8-16 (soluble granular) and 12-4-8 (soluble liquid)) is the walmart brand / Miricle Grow i referenced yes? The osmocote plus is good yes?

I already answered your questions in my post upthread, 5 or 6 above this post. I'll copy/paste it to this text box as well in hope you can see it. This site has been wonky lately when it comes to who can see what ..... but I did reply. I'll re post it below this post. If you can't see the second posting, send me a message with your email addy and I'll send it directly to you.

Al

The urea-based fertilizers you speak of here (24-8-16 (soluble granular) and 12-4-8 (soluble liquid)) is the walmart brand / Miricle Grow i referenced yes? Yes - correct.

The osmocote plus is good yes? Yes, I use it for some applications. I bought 2 cases of it when I learned what impact the Russia/Ukraine war would have on fertilizer prices.

Controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) do have one issue that you might consider. When mean soil temperatures are above about 85*, a high % of plants enter a stage of torpor or a consequential dormancy. During this stage, lower fertility levels help facilitate the increase in water uptake plants need to cool themselves. The rub is, nutrient release by most CRF products (including Osmocote-Plus) is driven primarily by temperature (the higher the temp the more fertilizer salts are delivered to the soil solution). So, during summer's dog days when you might wish to be pulling back on nutrient salt concentrations in the soil solution, the CRF prills are at maximum release rates.

Because of this, I use the Osmocote-Plus sparingly as a guard against me forgetting to fertilize or just getting lazy about it. I primarily rely on weekly applications of Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 unless temps get too high. This affords me more control of what my plants get and when they get it.

Al

Ya i only see the one answer fron you then my follow ul question and then yiu saying you answered my follow up question.

maybe mobile is wonky?

sending you a dirext message with my email now - thanks!

Is the Superthrive Foliage Pro and Superthrive Grow product pretty equivalent? I am asking because I am able to get a concentrated product of Grow, but not of Foliage Pro. What is the difference between the two?

And Tapla if you are reading this, I want to let you know that your lesson on pinching plants (a post elsewhere) got me the biggest price awarded at a horticultural competition this August for my coleus plant!

Only tangentially similar :-) Both contain that full array of micros including calcium and are urea free. But GROW contains higher level of phosphorus, which is often unnecessary.

Will it make a huge difference? I doubt it :-) I have purchased the wrong product before (labeling looks so similar) and I never noticed a significant difference in growth and performance.

Thanks for the credit, NHL, but the plant's care was entirely in your hands, so all plaudits to you! Strong work. I bet you even have an image you can share?

Al

Way to go! Looks great! Congratulations on the ribbon(s).

Al