Bio-stimulant versus plant food: What’s the difference?

Angharad James, product manager at Maxicrop, explains the difference between a bio-stimulant and plant fertiliser, and discusses which should be used when for a thriving garden:

“When it comes to helping your garden thrive, some gardeners are unsure whether to use a bio-stimulant or a plant fertiliser. While both support plant health and play an important role, they work in distinct ways.

Bio-stimulants

Bio-stimulants, like Maxicrop All Purpose Growth Stimulant, work by enhancing a plant’s natural processes. They don’t provide direct nutrients, but instead improve how plants use existing resources in the soil for optimal plant health.

One of the key benefits of using a bio-stimulant is strong root development – it helps boost healthy root systems, which allows plants to access nutrients and water more effectively. Stress tolerance is also increased. Whether it’s drought, frost, or disease, bio-stimulants help build resilience, ensuring they thrive in challenging conditions. This is becoming increasingly important in UK gardens with the extreme weather conditions we are experiencing.

Quality bio-stimulants are made from seaweed extracts, as they are rich in nutrients, proteins, polysaccharides, and other compounds proven to improve plant growth and provide real results for gardeners. At Maxicrop, we source the finest quality, sustainable seaweed of the Norwegian coast, as it contains natural antioxidants, betaines, and phytohormones.

We recommend using a bio-stimulant for establishing plants to support germination, rooting and transplanting, and for the ongoing long-term health of any plant to ensure it can cope with environmental stresses and make the most of existing nutrients in the soil.”

Plant fertilisers

“Plant fertilisers, on the other hand, provide essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), to support plant growth directly.

Each of these elements offers a unique benefit to plants. Nitrogen encourages leafy growth, ideal for lawns and foliage-heavy plants, Phosphorous supports root and flower development, while Potassium enhances overall plant health, helping with disease resistance and fruit production.

They’re formulated with specific nutrient ratios to target various stages of plant development and different requirements. For example, tomatoes require higher levels of Potassium to achieve a bumper yield of crops, whereas leafy green crops prefer higher levels of Nitrogen.

We recommend applying a fertiliser when plants show signs of deficiency or need an extra boost during key growth stages, such as flowering or fruiting.

The Maxicrop range includes varying ratios for the main plant groups, such as tomatoes and fruiting plants, vegetables and crops, flowering plants and lawns. Importantly, all Maxicrop feeds combine the perfect level of NPK with the organic seaweed biostimulant base, meaning gardeners don’t have to choose between the two have the best of both worlds with every use.”

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For more information about Maxicrop, visit www.seezon.co.uk

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Editors notes

Maxicrop® has been a trusted name in gardening for over 80 years, known and loved for its premium organic seaweed-based products that support plant growth and resilience.

Sustainably sourced from the pristine waters off the Norwegian coast, Maxicrop’s seaweed extract is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, offering a natural bio-stimulant to develop strong plant cells and boost root growth, while building resistance to disease, drought and cold.

Its hero product, the popular All Purpose Growth Stimulant, is a pure bio-stimulant with an enriched formula designed to enhance root development, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance in plants.

The wider range features products that carefully combine this high-quality, highly concentrated seaweed base with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium to provide complete care for a variety of garden needs, including Vegetable Growth Stimulant and Feed, Tomato Growth Stimulant and Feed, Growth Stimulant and Sequestered Iron, and Moss Killer and Lawn Tonic.

Certified organic by the Soil Association, Maxicrop provides eco-conscious gardeners with effective, sustainable solutions for healthy, thriving plants.