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Bonide® Root & Grow® Plant Starter
Bonide® Root & Grow® Plant Starter

Bonide® Root & Grow® Plant Starter

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Description

Stimulates early root development. Mild 4-10-3 formula encourages strong root growth and helps reduce transplant shock. Intended for use at planting time: apply diluted solution into planting holes for contact with root system. Promotes greener, more vigorous plants and trees.

  • 1 pint (16 ounces) makes 8 gallons.
  • 1 quart (32 ounces) makes 16 gallons.

Questions & Answers

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Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
want to help new trees to root
Jupp N on Jul 10, 2020
grower recommended
Jim G on Jun 13, 2020
want to help new trees to root
Jupp N on Jul 10, 2020
Recommendations in reviews of fruit trees. Many reviewers seemed to indicate this stuff made a difference in their young tree growth
JAMIE C on Jul 3, 2020
grower recommended
Jim G on Jun 13, 2020
Planting Blueberry bushes
Richard F on May 29, 2020
Time for more!
Teresa P on May 17, 2020
Starting new grape vines
eugene g on Mar 18, 2019
This stuff is amazing. Any tree or Bush I've planted without it died around year 2. Since using it, I haven't lost a plant yet!
Natasha M on Jan 6, 2019
Get things off to the best start possible.
John R on Mar 4, 2017
Very good for starting cuttings
ANTHONY C on Mar 21, 2016
Recommendations in reviews of fruit trees. Many reviewers seemed to indicate this stuff made a difference in their young tree growth
JAMIE C on Jul 3, 2020
Planting Blueberry bushes
Richard F on May 29, 2020
Can you use this product after transplanting within a certain time frame? I have a few trees I transplanted a week ago and did not have this at the time.
David T on Sep 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Now is a perfect time to use this! Fall is when you want young root systems to develop before the cold weather sets in. Please be sure to follow the package directions carefully and don't overdo it.
can I use this on 1 year trees?
Mary S on Jan 5, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Yes, Bonide Root Grow Plant Starter is basically a 4-10-3 Fertilizer. I use it on my high bush blueberrry plants every spring.
What ratio of fertilizer to one gallon of water would I need for transplanting an older rose bush?
Maria L on May 21, 2019
BEST ANSWER: This product should be mixed at a ratio of 3.5 tablespoons per gallon of water for established plants.
I have a big problem with weeds in my garden, would this help with garden soil and this product to help reduce the weeds???
Ladybug7!!! on Oct 6, 2016
BEST ANSWER: This is a plant starter to help root development in new transplants. It is not intended for use as a weed control.
Is it necessary to use this if my garden soil is amended every year?
Diane D on Feb 17, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Definitely yes. One of my basic duties is to enable the roots to be strong, vigorous and able to endure. Roots need soil amendment but what good is that if they lack the capacity to respond to soil amendments. Stark Bros. Products are the result of much testing. I have successfully relied on their products together with their directions, so long as I follow the directions. You will have happy roots whose smiles manifest in healthy plants.
what does the ratio 4-10-3 denotes?
Khushal C on Aug 27, 2018
BEST ANSWER: On a fertilizer this is the amount of major nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash. Here 4% nitrogen, 10% phosphorous, 3% potash. All fertilzers come with such ratings which is a basic way to compare or decide on what formula to buy depending on the nutrient deficiency your soil has. Some may also have other micro-nutrients which may have at least purported value for some purposes--e.g. getting a new plant started--although there are a lot of untested claims for various addititives. In principle you would pay twice as much for an 8-20-6 per lb than for a 4-10-3. Leafy vegetables tend to need a high nitrogen, fruiting plants more phosphorous/less nitrogen.
Would this help with plants or trees that are not growing ? I have a 2yr pomegranate that is still 2 feet tall and a 6 month fig not growing much?
Jose C on Jun 8, 2018
BEST ANSWER: We recommend you do a soil test before you purchase any kind of fertilizer. That way you will know exactly what your soil is missing. Do a soil pH test as well; it may be that the soil needs to be amended to be either more alkaline or more acidic. Pomegranates prefer between 5.5 to 7.0, and fig trees like the soil to be between 6.0 to 6.5.
Would this be good to use on strawberry plugs as a soak right before planting for hydroponic use?
vinceandrose v on Apr 13, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have only used this on my fruit trees, and it worked excellently. I think for the small investment, I would purchase a specialty amendment specifically for strawberries. Since it takes two years to get a good crop, why chance it going wrong. Also, I have never soaked strawberries in anything but water, always made a pyramid mound to spread the roots over, watered them after they have been planted, and then about a week later watered again with water amended with a specialty strawberry amendment. Good Luck!!! Nothing better than a sugar sweet fresh strawberry for breakfast, dinner, supper and late night snack.
Is the Bonide Root and Grow plant starter safe to use on plants that will produce fruit for human consumption?
Paul C on Aug 16, 2017
BEST ANSWER: This product is safe for fruit and nut trees and garden vegetable plants. Please follow the label directions as amounts are different, depending upon use. Here is a link to the product label: //www.bonide.com/assets/Products/Labels/l158.pdf
can I use it on bare rooted trees when planting and on potted trees when planting?
Usama T on Sep 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Yes, can be used for both situations.
Can I use this on Seedlings?
Suzette T on Apr 10, 2020
BEST ANSWER: You can use this on tree seedlings, but I wouldn't use more than a teaspoon per gallon of water mixed . Every 6 months . It's very easy to fry (kill) tree seedlings from to much fertilizer. Once tree seedlings get to 3-4 years old the can handle recommended doses on the bottle . Still it's always better to go light on fertilizer usage
Would this be good for transplanting berry plants to there permanent home? I just got them, it is mid september and I wanted to ger them in the ground before winter.
Neil K on Sep 16, 2019
BEST ANSWER: It's best to wait until spring to fertilizer - doing so now will stimulate new growth that will be damaged by the cold. You can use this in the spring when the plants break dormancy.
Can this product be used for fall planting?
Phil R on Nov 9, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Even though this is a mild fertilizer, it's not advisable to fertilize in the fall because it encourages tender new growth that will be damaged by frost/sub-freezing temperatures. Always wait until spring to fertilize.
Does this help vegetable plants like pumpkin, watermelon, musk melon etc. ... ?
Kevin H on Aug 15, 2017
BEST ANSWER: This is excellent for all new trees/plants. It contains important micronutrients that help establish a strong and healthy root system. It's kind of like an immune-system booster for plants. :-)

Customer Reviews

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4.5 / 5.0
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Great for new plants
Definitely recommend this product. Purchased to use with cuttings, new plants, and transfers. Works wonderfully well!! Great product at a good price. Well worth the investment.
October 6, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Helped to keep the bugs away. Great product for the price!!!
September 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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