What Happens To Liquid Fertilizers Go Bad?
Liquid fertilizer go bad? Actually, it does not spoil over time, but if it is not stored properly, it will lose its effectiveness. The liquid fertilizer can be used for 8 to 10 years if it is properly stored. It will have the same potency as the original and will provide useful nutrients to your garden’s plants. You’re probably wondering how to store liquid fertilizer correctly so that it doesn’t lose its nutrients.
The Causes
Freezing temperatures and overheating are two of the most common reasons for liquid fertilizers go bad. A crystalline material will form in either of these situations, indicating that your fertilizer has begun to degrade. Because of the discrepancies in your fertilizer’s nutrient content, it will no longer provide your garden with the proper amount of nutrients.
How Can We Know Our Liquid Fertilizers Go Bad?
Before using any fertilizer, you should always inspect the bottle thoroughly, especially if the fertilizer has been stored for an extended period of time. If it’s been stored outside in freezing or excessively hot temperatures, it’s probably no longer edible. You should search for any traces of crystals inside the container when inspecting it. If you see crystalline structures, your fertilizer has been tampered with, and you must discard it.
Liquid Fertilizer Disposal Made Safe
If it’s time to get rid of the old fertilizer, there are a couple of safe options to avoid your liquid fertilizers go bad.
Add To The Compost Pile
You could add outdated fertilizer to your compost pile if you have one. Because this will be your nitrogen supply, you might not want to apply all of the fertilizer at once. If you don’t already have one, now is a good opportunity to start one or ask a friend or neighbor if they have one. Make sure your compost pile solely contains organic liquid fertilizer.
Throw It Away
You can put your liquid fertilizer in a plastic bag and throw it away if it doesn’t include any chemicals like nitrogen or phosphate. Even organic fertilizer should never be poured down the drain since the nitrogen and phosphate it contains are harmful to our water source.
Avoid Your Liquid Fertilizers Go Bad Before It’s Too Late!
Temperature is the main adversary of liquid fertilizer; overheating and freezing temperatures will degrade the fertilizer’s quality, rendering it useless. There is no reason why your fertilizer should go bad if it is stored properly and in a controlled environment.
What Happens If I Use Expired Liquid Fertilizers?
Although using expired liquid fertilizer on your plants will not hurt them, it does not imply you should keep using it. Old fertilizer simply loses its efficacy and usefulness, meaning it won’t provide your plants with the nutrients they need to thrive. As a result, the only way your plants will suffer is if they don’t get enough nutrients. If you’re using expired fertilizer, you might want to increase the rate or amount of fertilizer you use. However, it is strongly advised that you replace the old fertilizer with a new bottle to ensure that your plants receive the maximum amount of nutrients.
Final Words
Fertilizers are a must-have in any garden. Even if you utilize the greatest soil, as your plants grow, they will eventually get deprived of nutrients. The fertilizer you use and how often you fertilize your garden can make or break your efforts. You can avoid if your liquid fertilizers go bad with all those guidelines.