Frequently Asked Questions

We get tons of questions about our products every day! Use this guide to answer some of our most frequently asked questions and learn how Norcal Nutrients can help you!.
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What is Azospirillum and why would I use it?

Azospirilllum, while hard to pronounce, is incredibly easy to use! With no risk of burning you can apply directly to plant roots or fresh cuttings. Our Azospirillum Super Concentrate contains 100x the concentration of Azospirillum Brasilense of our competitor brand. This bacteria encourages vegetative growth and rooting by stimulating the production of indole-3 acetic acid (a natural growth hormone) so it’s great for transplanting and cuttings.

I want to amend my soil with nutrient before planting, how do I do that?

Simply add fertilizer at a rate of about 1 cup per cubic foot (which is approximately 8 gallons) or roughly 15 lbs per yard, and fold/marble it in. No need to over-mix; you don't want to destroy your soil structure. Just make sure there are no hot pockets of fertilizer that didn't get incorporated. Need help calculating your nutrient needs? Check out our Garden Calculator Here.

How far ahead of time do I need to amend my soil and let it “cook”?

When amending the soil, we recommend amending no more than a few weeks in advance of planting, particularly in rainy areas. Our products are designed to begin releasing nutrients into the soil immediately and continue along an environmentally specific schedule, so no need to waste nutrient before planting. Especially if the soil will be receiving a lot of irrigation or precipitation before planting, precious nutrients will be washed down through the soil.

What about “no till”?

Our products are completely compatible with no till, though we’d recommend sticking with the organic versions for that application. Just skip the amending and jump right to the top dress directions of this section.

What are your “boost” products and how should I use them?

Our boost line of products is an organic/synthetic hybrid, increasing the NPK to levels not achievable in organics. It can be used in the same way as the organic products- for either amending or top dressing your soil- depending on your desire to be organic or reach for the higher NPK yield potential.

Do I use both the organic and the boost at the same time?

These products are not intended to be used simultaneously or in addition to the organic products, but in place of. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t alternate between the boost and organic products, it just means don’t use them at the same time unless reducing the total amount of each you are adding as not to over feed.

Okay, I’ve planted... now what? How soon can I top dress?

For feeding, we typically recommend once/week, unless plants are being watered every day or so in which case the frequency may be increased based on plant needs. The density and grade of soil media will have the greatest affect on this. A general rule of thumb is if the plant is looking perky, happy and green you're feeding adequately.

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE TO USE YOUR PRODUCTS?

We pride ourselves on making easy to use products, and that of course includes application. No need for eyeglasses or special tools, our formulas allow plenty of margin for error, so you can garden with confidence!

CAN YOU USE THIS PRODUCT WITH OTHER FERTILIZERS

Sure! You just need to cut back the rate of application accordingly. I like to use food analogies; we could eat pizza for dinner, we could eat pasta for dinner, but you wouldn't eat a full dinner of pizza and a full dinner of pasta. You'd cut the amount of each in half to make a full serving. Same with fertilizers, reduce accordingly.

WILL these PRODUCTS HARM MY SOIL BIOLOGY?

Our products are formulated to maximize NPK, while still preserving soil biology. Additional microorganisms (in the form of compost teas) should be added to replace what is lost through the season (works great with all Mr. B's Green Trees products).

DO YOUR PRODUCTs WORK IN COMPOST TEAS?

Sure! But that is more of a nutrient tea. Compost teas are just that; compost. They are designed to promote and introduce microorganisms into the soil. Our fertilizers are best used in conjunction with a true compost tea, to help further break them down and make the nutrients available. Need a tea recipe? Shoot us a message! We have great ones.

WHAT MAKES YOUR PRODUCTs DIFFERENT?

What doesn't! From the sourcing of the premium input materials, to the formulations themselves, we manufacture with your success being our first priority. You've spent a lot of time researching the perfect product for your garden; look no further.

Are the dry nutrients fully soluble in water?

Like most organics, the minerals and base materials make our products more suspendable in solution than soluble. While that does disqualify them from fertigation or ebb and flow hydro use, they still work great with bucket feeding applications, top dressing, drain to waste and of course amending media!

Your products look great! How do I figure out how much I need?

Check out our handy project calculator HERE.

I’m ready to purchase, where can I buy?

See the store locator, which includes options for free shipping to your door through our retail partner The Soil King. Click here to view our retailers by location!

I left my bucket out in the rain and the powders got wet, should I toss it?

No way! Although there might be a stronger odor (with the materials being activated by the moisture,) they’re still effective at delivering the nutrients your plants need. Go ahead and apply as you normally would, which includes of course watering them in!

My pet Dog/Cat/Horse/Emu got into a bucket, are they going to be okay?

Animals are curious creatures! While the products are generally considered non-hazardous, they are not intended for consumption. We love pets and always exercise all precautions, and because of that, recommend having them checked by your vet if there’s any concern for their wellbeing.

USE OUR GARDEN CALCULATOR