MiracleGro vs. Plain Soil

MiracleGro

• MiracleGro is a popular brand of plant fertilizer marketed to home gardeners. It generally contains equal parts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. MiracleGro is sold in a few different forms. It can be mixed with water and sprayed directly on the soil in gardens or pots. There are different kinds of MiracleGro, depending on what it will be used for. The products are specialized for a wide rage of plants such as orchids, desert plants and tomatoes. Like any fertilizer, if over-used, it causes a buildup of salts in the soil, which will have a negative effect on plants. Have your soil tested at a lab to find out what nutrients you need. Follow the recommendation of the lab for what type of MiracleGro fertilizer to add to your soil.

Plain Soil

• Plain soil, in its natural state, has many similarities to living things. It changes over time -- the nutrients and composition of the soil are constantly being altered by water, temperature changes and the addition of new materials from plants, animals and the wind. The plants that grow on plain soil, predominantly rugged species of grasses or trees, have evolved to get what they need from the soil. However, plain soil doesn't last long sustaining modern agriculture or lawns. It needs to be fertilized to handle many of the typical demands placed on it.

Nutrients

• Plants can't survive without six "macronutrients": nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. There are also seven "micronutrients" that plants can't function properly without: boron, copper, iron, chlorine, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. All of these elements are present in most soils, but to varying degrees. This means that most plants can start growing, but will develop deficiencies if sufficient amounts of any of these 13 elements are not present. Indigenous plants are best suited to growing in soil without fertilizer. These plants are usually adapted to the natural amount of nutrients available in plain soil.

Texture

• Soil texture is determined by the percentage of sand, silt and clay in it. Soil with lots of sand and low amounts of organic material will not be fertile. These types of soil can benefit from the use of MiracleGro. Since water easily leaches vital plant nutrients out of the soil, they will need to be replaced frequently. Soil needs to have well-balanced texture with roughly equal percentages of sand, silt and clay to hold onto nutrients. Adding organic matter such as compost will help a soil become more fertile.