What Do the Numbers on Fertilizer Mean?

What Do the Numbers on Fertilizer Mean?

If you’re looking to buy fertilizer, you may come across names and numbers that you’re not familiar with. In this article, we’ll help you along the way with some tips and tricks on recognizing the right fertilizer for your plants.

This Is the Meaning of Numbers on a Fertilizer Label

On every fertilizer label, you’ll find 3 bold numbers:

  • The first number is the amount of nitrogen (N).
  • The second number is the amount of phosphate (P2O5).
  • The third number is the amount of potash (K2O).

These numbers indicate the primary nutrients. If you find a bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer, this means that it contains 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphate, and 10% potash.

What is the Meaning of a Fertilizer Grade?

The grades of fertilizer are made by mixing 2 or more nutrient sources together to form a blend. A blend contains particles of more than one colour. In our GARDENWORKS fertilizers, you’ll find different constitutions for different types of plants and their needs. Some fertilizers only contain one of each of the nutrients, for example, sodium nitrate(16-0-0) and liquid nitrogen (30-0-0).

More Advice on Choosing the Right Fertilizer?

Do you want to know more about choosing the right fertilizer for your plants? Visit one of our stores and our team will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.