O
ne of the most popular trends in the modern
gardening marketplace is that of the bloom
booster. Sold under catchy names and colorful pack-
aging, nutrient companies market bloom boosters as
essential fertilizers to be used during the flowering
phases of plant growth, including them on the feeding
schedules sold with their products. Bloom boosters can
add a significant expense to garden operations, so it’s
best to understand them and maximize their potential.
We reached out to accomplished cultivator and
fertilizer developer Aaron Hoare to learn more about
bloom boosters. Hoare, like most expert gardeners,
emphasizes critical analyses in his horticulture
practices, paying particular attention to plant
physiology and the creation of nutrient feeding
programs founded on basic plant needs.
To gain a better understanding of fertilization
methodology in relation to flowering phases
and bloom boosters, Hoare has provided a
basic overview of the practices he uses in the
development of his own nutrient mixes. These
procedures are structured around both irrigation
and runoff water analytics.
According to Hoare, cultivators looking to explore their
nutrient feeding regiments, including the use of bloom
boosters, should begin by testing their irrigation and
runoff water with a laboratory. These lab readings will
show the parts per million (ppm) of each macronutri-
ent in their water after nutrients are mixed, as well as
those built up in their soil. The results provide a logical
point of departure in deciding whether or not to use
bloom boosters or make any other necessary tweaks to a
feeding schedule.
Hoare applies this analytical, data-driven approach for
fertilizer development in his own nutrient formulas. From
these studies, he came to the conclusion that with flower
phase macronutrients, the ideal “ready for plant” irriga-
tion water analysis in parts per million should be 125 ppm
nitrogen, 60 ppm phosphorus, and 165 ppm potassium. It
should be noted, again, that Hoare’s figures are formulated
via a holistic approach to fertilization scheduling that
takes into account variables like nutrient buildup in soil.
N - P - K R AT I O S, WATE R A NA LYS IS,
AN D PART S PER MILL ION
While the utility of fertilization schedules included
with most modern nutrient lines is unquestionable
for novice growers, these same gardeners will
likely have to learn the basic elemental analyses
of fertilizers if they hope to achieve extraordinary
harvests. This brings us to the N-P-K ratio featured
on all fertilizer products: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
and potassium (K).
These three elements are known as macronutrients
and they serve as the essential foods for all plant life.
Moreover, different levels of these macronutrients
are required for stimulating growth during different
phases of a plant’s life. During the flowering phase,
many horticulturists agree that vigorous flower growth
requires higher levels of phosphorus and potassium
combined with lower levels of nitrogen. As a result,
bloom boosters generally present an N-P-K ratio
somewhere in the neighborhood of 0-50-30 or 0-39-25.
“ significant
B LO O M B O OSTE RS C A N A DD A
expense
TO GAR DEN OP E RATIONS , S O IT’S
B EST TO U N DE RSTA ND TH E M A ND
M AX I M I ZE T HE IR P OTE NTIA L.”
grow cycle
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