Should liquid fertilizers and seaweed extracts be refrigerated?

[ALToronto]

Any organic ingredients would be less likely to spoil, and minerals have better solubility in cold water than warm. Any thots?

[tucker85]

No, they don't need to be refrigerated. In fact it might cause some of the minerals to crystallize but I'm not sure about that.

[ZWUM]

Just keep them out of direct sunlight.

[Ray]

There are too many variables to give a set, universal answer.

[ALToronto]

I'm using Dyna - Grow liquid fertilizer and KelpMax. Minerals precipitate out of warm water - that's why water heaters scale up. But soluble organics have lower solubility in cold water - like sugar.

It seems to me that most fertilizer ingredients are mineral - could anyone confirm this? Seaweed extract, on the other hand, may well spoil at room temperature, so is it better to refrigerate it?

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

I'm using Dyna - Grow liquid fertilizer and KelpMax. Minerals precipitate out of warm water - that's why water heaters scale up. But soluble organics have lower solubility in cold water - like sugar.

It seems to me that most fertilizer ingredients are mineral - could anyone confirm this? Seaweed extract, on the other hand, may well spoil at room temperature, so is it better to refrigerate it?

Ummmm.. I're read somewhere else the opposite advice. So following that, I'm refregirating SuperThrive while keeping seaweed bottle just in the dark in the room T enrivonment. I haven't noticed any detactable changes but that's not to say that there's none.

I'd like to hear what others practice.

Lilia

[Ray]

Dyna-Gro fertilizers are dilute enough that you will see no precipitation if you refrigerate them. However, there is no advantage to doing so, as they are very chemically stable.

Hormones, on the other hand, do degrade with exposure to light and heat. The synthetic ones in products like K-L-N or SuperThrive are particularly susceptible. The natural ones in KelpMax are too, but less so, and the manufacturer adds a preservative to extend the life. I store the stuff at about 55F, and they tell me it ought to be good for several years.

[ALToronto]

I'm very certain about solubility changes with temperature for minerals and organics. Look it up, it's basic high school chemistry.

Now, what about oxygen? Would a nitrogen gas flush (like Bloxygen or Xtend-It) be helpful?

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by Ray

Dyna-Gro fertilizers are dilute enough that you will see no precipitation if you refrigerate them. However, there is no advantage to doing so, as they are very chemically stable.

Hormones, on the other hand, do degrade with exposure to light and heat. The synthetic ones in products like K-L-N or SuperThrive are particularly susceptible. The natural ones in KelpMax are too, but less so, and the manufacturer adds a preservative to extend the life. I store the stuff at about 55F, and they tell me it ought to be good for several years.

Ray, what would think the shelf life of a product like Kelpmax would be after opening it and storing it at room temperature?

[Ray]

The manufacturer says "at least two years", but in that case, it is important to close it quickly, as it can react with air to form a film - not that the film is damaging (unless it gunks up a pump or sprayer), but it is a waste!