Blooming Age
For a gardener, there are few things as satisfying than flowers in full bloom. Some even go as far to say, “it is the reason; the gardener’s goal”. Indeed, seeing the fruits of your labor in during the flowering stage will make all the hard work absolutely worth it.
It is for this reason why many gardeners utilize supplements such as the best bloom booster for a bigger and much more satisfying yield!
- Blooming Age
- A Quick Look at the Best
- Buyer’s Guide to the Best Boosters
- The 7 Best Bloom Boosters
- 1 FoxFarm Beastie Bloomz – $
- 2. Rock Solid – Super Bud Booster and Bloom Booster – $
- 3 Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient – $$$
- 4 Advanced Nutrients Big Bud Liquid Fertilizer – $$
- 5 General Hydroponics Liquid Kool Bloom Fertilizers – $
- 6 JR Peters Jacks Classic No.4 10-30-20 Blossom Booster – $$
- 7 Advanced Nutrients Bud Candy Fertilizer – $
- Sources:
Since plants take bud and bloom only for a time, the best bloom booster allows you to maximize and make the most of this stage for the best possible flowering results!
However, it can all get very daunting and confusing as gardeners consider the many different fertilizers, bloom boosters, plants supplements, macronutrients, that they can get for their favorite plants. “Where to start?” many would wonder.
Well, I’ll be happy to help you out pick the best bloom booster for your garden so you too can be full of pride as they yield the most captivating flowers!
Below, I’ve quickly listed the top seven best bloom booster. Then, head on over the buyer’s guide section for helpful info, tips, and tricks for the best blooms!
A Quick Look at the Best
#1 FoxFarm Beastie Bloomz – $
#2 Rock Solid – Super Bud Booster and Bloom Booster – $
#3 Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient – $$$
#4 Advanced Nutrients Big Bud Liquid Fertilizer – $$
#5 General Hydroponics Liquid Kool Bloom Fertilizers – $
#6 JR Peters Jacks Classic No.4 10-30-20 Blossom Booster – $$
#7 Advanced Nutrients Bud Candy Fertilizer – $
Buyer’s Guide to the Best Boosters
What are Bloom Boosters anyway?
Bloom Boosters, sometimes referred to as P-K Boosters or PK Nutrient Additives, helpimprove the quality, density, and yield of your plants during their flowering phase.
However, there are dozens of bloom boosters available on the market that it gets downright frustrating to find and use the right one for your plants.
So, for us to find the ideal bloom booster, we need to understand better how fertilizers work and how bloom boosters are distinct. For a more detailed discussion on fertilizers and the N-P-K concept, you can check our article here.
Basically, the said article explains how fertilizers are labeled, and why the particular nutrients N (for Nitrogen), P (for Phosphorus), and K (for potassium) are essential for plants to grow, thrive and remain healthy.
Significant Base Nutrients
Remember that when a plant enters the flowering stage, the nutrients it needs will change. This time is when the required base nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are most vital. I’ve also cited the effects of nitrogen deficiency before.
Additionally, the need for these base nutrients will continue to increase as the plant focuses on producing fruit and flowers.
However, among the three elements, Phosphorus and Potassium are most significant during the bloom stage. It’s because of this need that bloom boosters are typically high in the “P” and “K” nutrients.
The Importance of P & K in Bloom Boosters
Concerning a plant’s flowering stage, phosphorus is vital as it,
- Encourages the growth of healthy roots and the plant as a whole
- Increases the number of flower sites
- Is crucial in the conversion of energy
- Speeds up blooms and fruits
On the other hand, potassium’s equally important role gives several main advantages to plant health.
- K helps strengthen plant growth
- Also, increases flowering sites
- Edifies plant’s immune system and resistance to disease
- Fuels plant metabolism
- Improves the size and quality of fruits
Other Essential Nutrients
The best bloom boosters will also utilize minerals and trace elements, often in lesser quantities, in addition to P-K boosters for the healthiest and most efficient absorption of these nutrients.
The amount and ratio of these nutrients, though, will vary depending on the type of bloom booster (or the kind of plant) you’ll be using. Let’s consider some of them.
- Calcium (Ca)
- Ca plays a significant role in cell development
- And helps plants grow stronger roots, stems, leaves, and flowers
- Also, Ca increases the fruit set
- Sulfur (S)
- S promotes vitamin and amino acid development
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Mg an essential component for chlorophyll
- Aids in the effectivity of phosphorus
- Vitamin B-1
- Assists plants in absorbing base elements
And in fewer quantities
- Boron (B)
- Copper (Cu)
- Iron (Fe)
- Chloride (Cl)
- Manganese (Mn)
In conclusion, bloom boosters all serve to improve the density, quality, and size of your flowers. This purpose is, again, the reason why the best bloom booster is often high in phosphorus and potassium.
However, in addition, to yield produced, great boosters also promote plant maturity by speeding up fruiting and blooming.
Quick Fertilizer Guide for the Best Results
Fertilizers, and in effect, bloom boosters, are available in three different types. I’ll be listing the four types below and the best way to apply them.
What and How to Apply
Granular
- The most common and affordable type of fertilizer.
- Usually, lasts for 1 to 2 months before reapplication is needed
- Best for general gardening
HOW:
- The most common and affordable type of fertilizer.
- Usually, lasts for 1 to 2 months before reapplication is needed
- Best for general gardening
Liquid
- Liquid fertilizer either come in concentrates that need to dilution or dry particles dissolved in water before use.
- Absorbed quickest through roots and leaves.
- Best for potted plants
HOW:
- Place carefully and remember to follow the brand’s instructions to avoid burning your plants.
- Water near plant roots weekly
Granules with controlled release
- Granules that are scattered about your soil.
- These granules release nutrients over a period of several months
- Reapplication is once or twice annually.
- Fuels a wide range of plants
- The most expensive option
HOW:
When to apply
Now that we know the types of fertilizer that are available and how to use them, let’s now consider another important factor. When should you use your bloom boosters forthe biggest, densest, and most colorful blooms?
- Before the flowering stage
- The high phosphorus content of bloom boosters promotes vigorous and healthy flower buds
- A good time to apply booster formulas is when your plant begins to form buds
- During the flowering stage
- A lack of phosphorus will mean smaller or fewer flowers during the blooming stage.
- Hence, periodically apply bloom boosters during this stage to help new buds continue forming, speed up maturity and strengthen the plant’s immune system
- Bloom Booster manufacturers often recommend using the booster formula every 1 to 2 weeks while your plants are blooming
The 7 Best Bloom Boosters
1 FoxFarm Beastie Bloomz – $
Details
- Type: Granular Synthetic Fertilizer
- NPK Ratio: 0-50-30
- Net WT: 6 oz
2. Rock Solid – Super Bud Booster and Bloom Booster – $
Details
- Type: Liquid concentrate
- NPK Ratio: 0-4-4.5
- 1-quart bottle (available also in gallons)
3 Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient – $$$
Details
- Type: Liquid Concentrate
- NPK Ratio: 2-8-4, 6-4-4, 0-0.5-0.7
- Pack of 3 at 32oz each
4 Advanced Nutrients Big Bud Liquid Fertilizer – $$
Details
- Type: Liquid concentrate
- NPK Ratio: 0-1-3
- 1L
5 General Hydroponics Liquid Kool Bloom Fertilizers – $
Details
- Type: Liquid Concentrate
- NPK Ratio: 0-10-10
- 1 quart (also available in gallons)
6 JR Peters Jacks Classic No.4 10-30-20 Blossom Booster – $$
Details
- Type: Water Soluble Granules
- NPK Ratio: 10-30-20
7 Advanced Nutrients Bud Candy Fertilizer – $
Details
- Type: Liquid Concentrate
- NPK Ratio: 0-0-1
- 1L
Sources:
- The UC Guide to Healthy LawnsUC IPM. 2016. Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
- Nitrogen Fertilizers Pennstate Extension. 2017. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
- Your Alameda County Garden, Month-by-Month UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County, University of California
- How to feed plants Jim Mccausland. 2016. Sunsent.com
- Growing Watermelons Bonnieplants.com. 2016
- Organic Fertilizers and Soil Amendments Steve Albert. June 1, 2009. Harvesttotable.com