Damp Fertilizer

[Shirley]

Not for the first time, dampness seems to have taken over my fertilizer so that the granules tend to clump together and the colour has changed. Is this fertilizer still OK to use? Since this has happened before, I've tried to be really careful with keeping it well sealed and I can't figure out why this occurs. Would it just be condensation due to termperature changes in my sunroom? Would appreciate any advice!

[Ross]

I've had this before myself. Just use it like before. It's safe. Try to keep it drier in the future It's not as "well-sealed" as you had hoped.

[Andrew]

Soluble fertilizers tend to be hygroscopic and will start absorbing water once the mosture content of the surrounding air rises above the critical relative humidity of the combined salts. ie condensation isn't forming and wetting the fertilizer per se but rather the fertiliser salts are drawing water directly from the air. Make sure the container is airtight and/or store the fertiliser in a less humid part of the house.

[cb977]

I keep an old mayo jar with some fertilizer out in the orchid room but keep the rest of the big container in the house to avoid the humidity from affecting it. As the mayo jar empties, I just refill it.

[Gin]

I store mine in a closet in the house were it is warm and dry also I put a small open container on top of the Fert. with a cracker in it, the moisture absorbing packets work too . The Fert. is fine to use .. Gin

[Ray]

Another alternative is to mix up a liquid concentrate - evaporation of the water is far easier to control than is deliquescence.

[justatypn]

Originally Posted by Ray

Another alternative is to mix up a liquid concentrate - evaporation of the water is far easier to control than is deliquescence.

I as well mix mine into liquid concentrate...great alternative...

[CoolPhrog]

Great thread! I too have been having this problem...great advice!

[AHAB]

Could use a sealable 5 gallon pail/lid from home d or a paint store.
I used a sealed pail with my sea salts from my previous hobby of raising corals. The salt stayed dry and pourable for quite awhile.

[Shirley]

Thanks, people! I think in future I'll keep the builk of it in the house and just mete out smaller amounts for my plant room as I need it. Maybe that'll do the trick!