FAQ’s

+ What type of Gro-Expert feed should I buy?

To make sure you’re buying the right feed for your plants or crops; review your options by reading the Gro-Expert website or asking our experts what is correct for you. Obviously if your plant is named on the box it's relatively straight forward, however you may wish to grow pepper or cucumbers or even courgettes and so for advice it is best to ask. We will be expanding the range over the coming months so make sure to regularly check in with Gro-Expert to see what we will be bringing to you next.

+ Can I store unused Gro-Expert feed for use next year?

Yes, unused Gro Expert nutrients can be stored. Keep any leftover bottles sealed in its original container in a dry place away from frost for use next season. If moisture gets in, you may find the silicon has gone cloudy so best to keep all containers tightly closed.

+ What are the three numbers on the plant food bottle and what do they mean?

The three numbers on the bottle of plant feed or lawn feed (such as 5:5:10 N:P:K) indicate the ratio of three key nutrients included in the fertilisers: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, always listed in this order. Meaning, if a bag reads 5:5:10 N:P:K it contains 5 percent nitrogen, 5 percent phosphorus, and 10 percent potassium.

+ Why is Potassium noted as K when it begins with P?

The reason potassium is noted as K is because the chemical symbol for Potassium is K. When the nomenclature for nutrient elements was being conducted, phosphorus was noted as P and Potassium was noted under the Medieval Latin name for Potash which was Kalium.

+ What’s the difference between conventional feeds and organic feeds?

The difference between conventional and organic feeds is that conventional feeds are derived from minerals and organic fertilisers are derived from animal or plant based materials.

+ When should I apply Gro-Expert nutrients?

This will depend on your specific situation, however as a rule of thumb plants or crops in the soil should be fed once they start to grow ideally from early April if outside or earlier under protection. In growbags or containers the compost always comes with nutrients already added and these will last about 2 weeks so you can feed after this point. Always follow our recommendations on frequency of feeding as plants are different and need different levels of nutrition.

+ Why is it necessary to feed my lawn in the autumn?

With lawns the summer can be a difficult time due to less moisture from rain, increased traffic from children playing or general use and constant mowing removes much of the nutrition added. Autumn is a period of recovery for lawns and nutrition is vital during this period to ensure the lawns have plenty of nutrients so leaf blade number is maintained, preventing moss ingress and also to provide a store of nutrient through the winter when no nutrient applications will be made.

+ Is it okay to apply feed to lawns during the hot summer months?

Yes definitely, frequent mowing removes lots of nutrients and also when a leaf blade is cut is never grows back and can if not cared for becomes an infection point for disease. Strong healthy grasses will stave of disease and will ‘tiller’ under regular mowing. This mean the grass plants throw more leaf blades up from the roots and spread out sideways to give you a thicker lawn. Well-fed lawns will also have stronger deeper roots so fair better under the heat of the summer when there is less rain.

+ I am planning to de-moss my lawn. Should I apply Gro-Expert nutrients before or after?

With the Gro-Expert recommendation for lawns of a single application per month is doesn’t really matter. We would not recommend feeding lawns just before or just after de-mossing, however within 3 days either side will be fine.

+ I am planning to reseed my lawn. When should I apply feed?

After reseeding any lawn, we would recommend application of Gro-Expert Lawn nutrients 10-14 days after re-seeding.

+ I just laid turf. Should I feed it with Gro-Expert Lawn plant food?

Yes! We would recommend you feed your newly laid turf the day after watering it. This will help to push the roots out into the soil below to aid ‘knitting the turf’. It is most important however, to regularly water newly laid turf so it does not dry out at the edges. This will ensure no shrinkage of the turf and most importantly- no gaps!

+ Can I use the same feed in Gro-Expert for my garden?

Most definitely! You can actually use the Gro-Expert nutrient packs to feed everything in your garden and we would encourage it as well fed garden plants are healthy plants. For all flowering garden plants you could use the tomato feed if you haven’t got the flower pack and also for large tree and shrubs, using the lawn feed pack will give you luscious looking leaves.

+ Are Gro-Expert nutrient safe for my pets and children?

In concentrated form the Gro-Expert nutrients should be kept away from pets and children as they are concentrated salts and as such would not be safe if they were ingested or splashed in eyes. They are however, very safe once diluted and applied to plants. We would recommend keeping animals off lawns where the nutrient pack has just been applied as dogs may lick the lawn which would not be good for their tummies.

+ What do I do if my pets or children get splashed with Gro-Expert nutrients?

On skin short term exposure is not harmful. Just wash off the nutrients with soapy water and dry with a towel. Some people and animals may be sensitive to concentrated salts and so their skin may show a reaction. In this case it may be necessary to seek medical help. If splashed into eyes then again wash eyes with clean water to dilute the salts and keep washing until any irritation stops.

+ What do I do if my child or pet drinks Gro-Expert nutrients?

If any Gro Expert nutrient are inadvertently ingest by a child or pet, have them drink plenty of water to dilute the salts. Do not induce vomiting as this is not necessary. Make sure any product is rinsed from the mouth and continue to ensure water is drunk for a period of time. If a child or pets is unwell after ingesting Gro-Expert nutrients please seek medical advice.

+ I have a pond in my garden so is it safe to use Gro-Expert nutrient packs near it?

Yes Gro Expert nutrients are safe to use around ponds. Please ensure you don’t add large amounts of any plant nutrients to a pond as this will not be healthy for any animals that may live in the pond and may also stimulate growth of weeds and algae which my reduce oxygen levels in the pond.

+ I have put too much Gro-Expert nutrients in my watering can, is it safe to use on my plants?

We would never advise you to over apply nutrients to plants as it may be wasted or can affect nutrient uptake and even damage roots. if possible, tip have the mixture into another watering can or a bucket and fill both up to 10 litres again. If its slightly less concentrated than required that will not be an issue for the plants.

+ Please could you tell me if Gro-Expert nutrient packs are suitable to feed potatoes growing in bags?

Yes. The tomato pack, used once a week with normal application rates, would be fine for potatoes. They actually are from the same family, solanum. The analysis of the tomato pack plus the extra support from other nutrients is ideal for potatoes as they love higher potassium levels and need lots of calcium to produce strong tubers

+ I would like to use Gro-Expert nutrient packs, however I have set up an inline feed system and need to make a nutrient solution to be added to the water. Can I use Gro-Expert nutrients in this system?

Yes you can. The Gro-Expert nutrients sit well together as a stock solution mix especially as our Gro-Expert Calcium is chelated. For more details make direct contact via the website and we will provide you with a complete recipe for your plants.

+ Can Gro-Expert nutrient be used for indoor plants as well?

Yes they can. In fact, we encourage it as many people just use water to keep indoor plants going and wonder why their plants never look good. Using the Gro-Expert flower pack nutrient every couple of weeks on your indoor plants will keep them looking great.

+ Can I use Gro-Expert lawn food on my plants as I bought the one for lawns instead of for plants by mistake?

Sadly not. It would not do plants any harm, however the nutrient ratio is much more weighted towards nitrogen which would produce lovely leafy plants but not much in the way of quality fruits or flowers. Best to use it in your garden on trees and shrubs or lawn if you have one, or contact us directly for a replacement.

+ Can I use Gro-Expert plant food on my lawn as I bought the one for berries instead of for lawns by mistake?

Yes you could, however it is not ideal. The analysis of the berries feed is more potassium based and so won’t promote growth at the same level as the lawn feed. Plus the berries pack contains calcium which grasses don’t require very much of, so it may we wasted. Best to contact us directly for a replacement pack.

+ I have various plants in my house and garden. All suffer from chlorosis. My water ph is 8.5 & very hard. Will Gro-Expert nutrient be helpful to me?

They will, however the pH will still be a concern and will prevent certain nutrients being available for plants to use. Sadly high pH plays havoc with the uptake of iron and manganese by plant roots and both of these nutrients are essential for chlorophyll production which give leaves their green colour hence why you are seeing yellow chlorosis. Please contact us directly and we can help you source a pH down material you can add to the nutrients to solve your issue.

+ Can I use Gro-Expert feed over the leaves of my plants or just apply to the surrounding soil?

Gro-Expert nutrient packs are designed ideally for root application, however with many plants such as strawberries, grasses, and some flowering plants it’s impossible not to get some of the nutrient over the leaves especially when using a rose on a watering can. This is actually fine and needn’t be a worry. Plants are adapted to take a small portion of nutrient through their leaves and will use any nutrient laid on the leaf surface.

+ I have bought a Gro-Expert nutrient pack and want to take it to feed my holiday home and wondered if I can carry it in my luggage on a plane?

Inside a case and if the pack is protected from damage the Gro-Expert nutrients would be safe to carry. We do however recommend you contact your airline as they many have specific rules on this kind of thing.

+ I have removed all the packaging from the Gro-Expert nutrient pack and now cannot remember what to do. Can you help me?

Not a problem. Go to the Gro-Expert website and look for the product that corresponds to your pack and print off a copy of the instructions. If you cannot remember the pack you purchased please contact us directly and we will be able to help you.

+ Can I use the Gro-Expert nutrient packs for hydroponics?

Yes indeed. The Gro-Expert nutrients are used by many professional hydroponic growers in our commercial grower versions. If you need any help on application please contact us directly.

+ Do you ship Gro-Expert nutrients outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland?

Yes we can do, however it is best to contact us directly regarding this as the carriage charges will be slightly different.

+ Are Gro-Expert nutrients suitable for use by Vegans?

Yes they are. The main feeds are all mineral nutrients and the Iron and Calcium and Aqualatus are all derived from plants.

+ I would like to buy many packs of the Gro-Expert nutrients, can I do this?

Yes you can, as we always carry plenty of stock. Also you could contact us directly depending upon the number you wish to buy.

+ Are any of the Gro-Expert feeds suitable for bulbs? How soon after planting should they be used?

Yes, you can use Gro-Expert flowers for bulbs, however timing of feeding is important. When you buy a bulb, it already has the entire nutrient stored inside to produce a flower. The important thing is to feed it once flowering has finished. At this point the bulb is initiating flowers for next season and the leaves and roots are mobilising nutrient into the bulb for storage. Also don’t cut off the leaves when green as this removes valuable nutrients the bulb will be pulling in for storage.

+ Do Gro-Expert plant nutrients have a shelf life or use by date?

Gro-Expert nutrient packages do not have a use by date as they will last in their containers for up to two years. If keeping for longer periods keep the packs in a cool dry place but free from frost. Keep the containers tightly closed and do not store on a hot window ledge as this can lead to the products experiencing extremes of temperatures.

+ What do I do with the empty containers?

All Gro-Expert packaging is completely recyclable. Just rinse the bottles out in order to remove any nutrient left and place in your recycling bin.

+ Is using Gro-Expert flowers better than using slow release granules in my hanging baskets?

In our opinion yes it is! For the simple reason you are in control. The term controlled or slow release means the product is metered out either via granule breakdown or via the temperature in the compost, however you cannot control how much nutrient is available. Also as the hanging basket fills with roots, the plants nutrient demand increases and slow or controlled release nutrients will, by that time, be depleted. Liquid feeding gives you a regular accurate amount of feed to keep the plants happy and produce fabulous blooms. Plus if you need to water more due to increased demand, you can add more feed.

+ Can I use the Gro-Expert lawn feed through a hose end applicator?

Yes you can. Work out the volume of the area to be sprayed and how the hose end applicator is metered. Then add the required amount of nutrient to the chamber and fill with water. If you need help with this or are unsure, always contact us directly and we will be happy to give you recommendations. Do NOT fill the chamber with concentrated nutrients as this may scorch your lawn.

+ Once I have mixed the nutrients how quickly do I need to use them?

The nutrients once mixed in a watering can will be fine for at least a week.

+ What role do fertilisers play in feeding people

Fertilisers play an essential role in helping feed the world. Thanks to modern fertilisers, world food production has more than doubled since 1960. Today, almost 50% of our global food supply is directly linked to the use of commercial fertilisers. If we are to meet future food demands, especially as more people move towards a vegetable based diet, we will need to double our current levels of production. We can’t do that without fertilisers. Continuing to make better and more efficient use of fertilisers will help us feed the growing population.

+ Are Organic foods better because they are grown without fertiliser?

Again this is a common misconception with organic growing. Organic growers use fertiliser too. It is just made from different ingredients such as animal manure, sewage sludge, plant waste, fish meal, or harvested plants like seaweeds. Sadly, these natural fertilisers are not available in sufficient quantities to meet the demands of today’s intensive farming, nor do they provide nutrients in the combinations contained in commercial fertilisers.