Urea is produced by reacting air with natural gas, producing anhydrous ammonia. The anhydrous ammonia is then reacted with a by-product of the previous reaction, carbon dioxide, to produce urea.

There are two main problems with urea. One is that it uses up fossil fuel resources, mainly natural gas. Much of the nitrogen in urea is also lost to the atmosphere as ammonia. However, it should also be mentioned that synthetic fertilizers are not the biggest pollutants by a long shot. Also, too much organic fertilizer could have the same impact as another problem with synthetic fertilizers, run-off and pollution of water. Both can cause a harmful increase in nutrient levels in water systems, among other things causing massive algae blooms and disrupting entire ecosystems. But urea-based synthetic fertlizers are more likely to cause these problems than organic fertlizers.

Yes that might end very very badly.

Oops, I obvious didn't read well. I thought it was about the stinging nettle. :_(

Question about fertilizer for everyone, is Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium percents by weight or mass?

Weight % and mass % are the same in this context.

On a standard fertilizer label, N is expressed as weight percent elemental N, P as weight percent P2O5, and K as weight percent K2O, so you'll have to back-calculate the elemental percentages when formulating.

<soapbox>
Editorial Comment:

I don't know why you'd want to formulate your own fertilizer when a lot of research is done to produce excellent ones available commercially. (Not to mention the expense and hassle of doing it yourself.)

The "organic" or "natural" versus chemical arguments really don't hold any water, as the ion in solution from one is identical to that ion derived from another.

I'd also warn folks to stop and think about marketing hype, too. That "Bill's Perfect" fertilizer stated it was "highly concentrated in N, P & K", yet it is merely a 6-11-5 formula - about on par with Dyna-Gro. If you wanted to use it in a 125 ppm N solution, that 8-ounce bottle would give you 27 gallons @ just under $0.26/gallon. If you bought a quart of Dyna-Gro "Grow" at their new, higher price, you'd get over 134 gallons @ $0.14/gallon. (By contrast to both, a 5# tub of the MSU fertilizer will give you over 900 gallons @ a bit over $0.02/gallon.)

It was also stated that it was supposed to be applied as a mist, i.e., as a foliar feed. Most orchids really don't absorb very much through their leaves, so it's not a practical method. In fact, most foliar fertilizers drip into the medium, where they are absorbed by the roots!
</soapbox>

I like you, Ray. :)

!!!
 

Ok so I have finished my first formula :) it is 20-20-20 and has trace minerals Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, and Sulfur. It is meant to be used with a weak weekly application (Lol an alliteration I have picked up in my studies).

I am looking for people to try it out. If you meet the requirements you will receive 1 month(4 weeks) worth of fertilizer which is meant to be applied weekly.

Here are the requirements you must meet to be able to take place in this study.

1. You must have two similar plants (at least the same type).

2. Have the ability to photograph and post pictures of the plants (If the photos can be taken daily the postage will be free).

3. Love orchids.:biggrin:


What you will do is once a week water one plant with my fertilizer and water the other plant with another fertilizer. Every day you will take a picture of each plant (make sure you remember which is which). At the end of the month you will send the pics and any comments you have to me via email. During that time please send me any comments you have.

This formula is urea free, completely organic to those who it concerns but it is not vegan or vegetarian friendly.

:goodluck:

Weight % and mass % are the same in this context.

Not really with varing densities you really get a different formula by going on one or another

It's like combine two grams of water and potassium and two moles of water and potassium you get different amounts of the products of potassium oxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrogen and oxygen.

Oh and Ray it's not cause I think that other fertilizers are bad, it's for the challenge and I really think the organic hype is a little overrated but hey if it helps it helps.

One more note, this is a dry fertilizer meant to be mixed with water and put on the plants roots.