Why do people dislike Miracle-Gro?

Author: Yadira Powlowski IV  |  Last update: Friday, May 9, 2025

Miracle-Gro is a synthetic fertilizer that contains ammonium phosphate and several other chemicals that can be toxic to your soil and plants.

What is one reason not to use Miracle-Gro?

Miracle-Gro has a negative impact on your garden soil. Miracle-Gro destroys beneficial soil life. Miracle-Gro is polluting our water systems. Miracle-Gro actually stresses your plants out and makes them more susceptible to pests and disease.

What is the Scotts Miracle-Gro controversy?

Scotts Miracle-Gro Leaders Sued Over Debt-to-Earnings Surprise. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. directors and officers engaged in a scheme to unload excess inventory into distribution channels to prop up sales figures and stay in compliance with debt covenants, an investor alleges.

What is the problem with Miracle Grow soil?

There are concerns about the little white “perlite” things. Some mention pesticides too. Some are concerned about “chemicals” in general. The easy answers are pesticides and perlite.

Why is Miracle-Gro killing my plants?

The reason for this is that the Miracle-Gro product is too dense and could become compacted and water-logged, limiting airspace for plant roots, possibly causing death of the plant. No scientific research was found that this product contains heavy metals including arsenic.

Why Do So Many Gardeners Hate Miracle Gro?

What is better than Miracle-Gro?

As opposed to Miracle-Gro which offers synthetic NPK (Nitrogen - N, Phosphorus - P & Potassium - K) and little else, Neptune's Harvest products, made from fresh North Atlantic fish, contain vitamins, micro and macro nutrients, amino acids, and natural growth hormones.

Why is Miracle Grow toxic?

Harmful to Human Health

The primary ingredients in synthetic fertilizers like Miracle-Gro are urea nitrogen and ammonium sulfate. When exposed to the air, these compounds can create a greenhouse gas that damages human lungs. Nitrogen can build up in the human body when it isn't detoxified fast enough by the liver.

Can I use Miracle-Gro every time I water?

Choose Your Feeding Style

Measure and mix it directly into your watering can and pour the solution around the bases of your plants, or use with your hose in a sprayer (like the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder) for larger areas. Plan to feed every 7 to 14 days.

Is Miracle-Gro toxic to dogs?

A: There are no pesticides in the product. While we do not recommend feeding it to pets, to our knowledge there should not be any adverse reaction if a pet were to accidentally consume Miracle-Gro Miracle-Gro for Christmas Trees. Just like people, some animals have more sensitivity.

What is the best plant food?

The best fertilisers to help your indoor plants thrive
  • Ecofective Houseplant Pour & Feed. ...
  • Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics All Purpose Concentrate. ...
  • Vitax Orchid Feed. ...
  • Envii Allgrow. ...
  • Westland Bonsai Feed Concentrate. ...
  • Miracle-Gro® Drip & Feed for Orchids. ...
  • Envii Seafeed Xtra. ...
  • Westland Cacti and Succulent Feed.

Is Miracle-Gro owned by Monsanto?

The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle- Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto.

Do I need to fertilize if I use Miracle-Gro potting soil?

While many high quality bagged soils, such as Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil and Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix, contain plenty of food to give plants a good start, many plants (especially heavy-feeding plants like tomatoes and dahlias) need more as the season wears on.

What is the Scotts bird seed lawsuit?

The settlement of up to $85 million resolves claims that Scotts Miracle-Gro knowingly sold wild bird food treated with pesticides that are hazardous to birds.

Does Miracle-Gro go bad?

Plant food like Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food should not expire if stored properly and kept in a dry and cool space where the particles won't get wet. However, some plant foods, especially organic ones, contain microbes which can eventually expire.

What is a good organic fertilizer?

For general use, compost and manure are good all-purpose choices. For specific needs, like phosphorus or nitrogen, bone meal and blood meal might be beneficial, respectively.

Can Miracle-Gro damage plants?

MG is so strong that if used incorrectly, the fertilizer will actually burn the leaves and roots of your plants (you may have already experienced this). Imagine what it's doing to the healthy bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes that are working so hard to provide the nutrients your plants need.

What animal eats fertilizer?

Pets, especially dogs, find the contents of fertilizers quite tasty. Often they'll tear the bags open to ingest the contents.

How long to keep dog off grass after fertilizing with Scotts?

When a Fertilized Lawn Is Safe for Dogs & Pets. Like children, dogs and other pets also enjoy playing and running through the grass. But after fertilizing, it's also best practice to limit their use of the lawn for 24-72 hours.

What is the best homemade fertilizer?

Five Affordable and Easy DIY Organic Fertilizers You Can Find Right In Your Home
  • Eggshells. Save your eggshells people, I cannot stress this enough. ...
  • Rice Water. If you aren't washing your rice before you cook it, you should really try it...and then save the water for your house plants! ...
  • Coffee. ...
  • Potato Water. ...
  • Banana Peels.

Can I sprinkle Miracle-Gro on top of soil?

A: DO NOT SPRINKLE the granules directly onto the soil!!!. It will burn and kill your surface roots. Use as directed or buy a sprinkle alternative.

Is Miracle-Gro good for cucumbers?

You can also grow cucumbers from seed started indoors, in Miracle-Gro® Starting Potting Mix. You'll want to plant them about 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. Check the seed packet or stick tag for proper spacing for cucumber plants, usually 3 to 5 feet apart.

Can I use Miracle-Gro on my lawn?

The product can be safely used on all lawns, including warm season grass types like St. Augustine and Bermuda, and cool season grass types like Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue. Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Lawn Food should be applied every 4 to 6 weeks throughout the growing season to maintain a thick, healthy lawn.

Is potting soil toxic to humans?

Many bacteria and fungi that can cause infections in people live in soil and water. So it's not surprising that potting mix can also have in it bacteria and fungi that may on occasion cause harm to people, and in rare cases even kill them. But it's important to note that, overall, the risk is very low.

What is the best fertilizer for vegetables?

Leafy vegetables do well with a balanced nitrogen-containing fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 16-16-16 (Table 1). Vegetables grown for their fruits, seeds, roots or bulbs will thrive on a pre-plant fertilization with a low N complete fertilizer such as 6-24-24, 6-12-18 or 8-16-16.

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