Understanding NPK: What Those Numbers Really Mean

The Three Numbers

Every soil amendment and fertilizer has three numbers on the label, like 1.35-1.13-2.87 (that's PREP's analysis). These numbers represent the percentage by weight of three essential nutrients:

What Each Nutrient Does

Nitrogen (N): The Growth Driver

Nitrogen is responsible for leafy green growth. It's a key component of chlorophyll, the molecule that makes photosynthesis work. Plants that aren't getting enough nitrogen turn yellow and grow slowly.

Signs of deficiency: Yellowing leaves (starting with older ones), stunted growth, thin stems.

Too much: Excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit, increased pest susceptibility.

Phosphorus (P): The Root Builder

Phosphorus drives root development, flowering, and fruiting. It's essential for energy transfer within the plant and plays a critical role in early growth stages.

Signs of deficiency: Purple-tinged leaves, poor root development, delayed flowering.

Too much: Can lock out other nutrients like iron and zinc.

Potassium (K): The Stress Manager

Potassium regulates water use, disease resistance, and overall plant vigor. Think of it as the plant's immune system booster.

Signs of deficiency: Brown leaf edges (leaf scorch), weak stems, poor drought tolerance.

Too much: Can interfere with magnesium and calcium uptake.

Beyond NPK

The big three get all the attention, but healthy soil needs more. Our products include secondary nutrients and micronutrients:

BOOST and FEED deliver all of these through a carefully balanced blend.

Why Low NPK Numbers Aren't Bad

Synthetic fertilizers might show numbers like 20-20-20. Our products show much lower numbers (1.75-0.83-4.40 for BOOST). Does that mean they're weaker?

Not at all. High-number synthetic fertilizers deliver a quick burst of nutrients that plants can't fully absorb. Much of it washes away as runoff. Our all-natural amendments release nutrients slowly as microorganisms break down the organic matter, feeding plants at a pace they can actually use.

Lower numbers, sustained release, better results. That's the natural approach.