The Growth Technology (GT) Fertiliser Guide
The GT (Growth Technology) range keeps growing (pun totally intended). A cult-favourite overseas that finally made its way to New Zealand, much to the delight of plant hobbyists in the know. At first NZ got the GT besties, GT Foliage Focus, Complete Focus and CCS (Clonex Clone Solution).
Lucky us, there are now 4 new GT formulas available, bringing it to 7 GT best sellers now available in New Zealand. Since we're catching up with our international plant buddies, I thought a 'who's who' GT guide might come in handy. Here's a run-down of each of the 7 GT formulas, which plants they are for, when to use them and a few tips along the way. Let's go.
Why is GT different?
Some things change. Some stay the same. The first thing to know is all GT formulas are made to the same high standards. GT makes what the industry calls 'crop-specific' fertilisers. Although that means there are differences between each formula, up first here are the things that don't change:
GT includes calcium
Calcium is one of the 12 essential minerals all plants need. Yet the majority of fertilisers have no calcium. A calcium deficiency can cause cracked, split, cupped or curling leaves, slow, stunted or deformed growth, and buds that form but die before flowering (such as bud blast in Orchids, Hoyas and African Violets).
All GT formulas include calcium. No guesswork or separate supplementation required. And at the high calcium levels most indoor plants require (even enough to meet the higher requirements of calcium-lovers such as Orchids, Hoyas, Peperomia, African Violets and Roses).
But how high is high? Just finding another fertiliser that includes calcium is hard enough, but one with adequate levels is even harder. The closest to GT averages 20ppm calcium. Well below the calcium levels our plants need. GT formulas vary, with the average of 80ppm calcium. Much better.
Complete + balanced
GT includes all 12 essential nutrients plants require, and nothing they don’t, in crop-specific, balanced ratios. All at guaranteed levels, all listed on the label.
Because GT are crop-specific, it's not just about what you will find included (which is a big deal by itself), but also what you won't find. GT is guaranteed free of urea and chlorides (more about those 2 coming up).
You also won't find nickel (for cereal crops like barley and legumes), cobalt (also for legumes like peas), or sodium (for C4 plants like spinach) on the label. Not essential, and known phytotoxins for indoor plants, even in small amounts.
GT gives your plants everything they need, and avoids anything they don't, reducing the risk of both deficiencies and excesses, including extra protection from fertiliser burn (one of the reasons it's so popular for the sensitive guys, like Orchids, Hoyas, Calathea, variegated plants in general... the list goes on!).
No chlorides
Potassium chloride has the highest salt index of all common ingredients used in most fertilisers. That increases the risk of fertiliser burn. Excess can cause scorched leaf edges, smaller leaves and slow or stunted growth. Excess chlorides can also play havoc with soil pH which can cause some minerals to become toxic, and others to be locked out altogether. All GT formulas are guaranteed chloride free.
Free of urea
Urea is not the only nitrogen source available, but is a lot more affordable. One reason urea is the most common nitrogen source used in most fertilisers. Urea is more difficult for indoor plants in soil-less potting mixes to convert from urea, into the life-giving nitrogen they need.
Excess urea can accumulate in potted plants, with nowhere for roots to escape, increasing the risk of fertiliser burn. GT uses ammonium nitrate instead. More expensive, but also more available to plants, reducing the risk of both nitrogen deficiencies, and excess urea, increasing protection for your plants from fertiliser burn. All GT formulas are guaranteed urea free.
pH buffered
Soil pH matters. Too acidic and some nutrients turn toxic, while others like nitrogen and calcium get locked in the soil, harder for plants to absorb. Too alkaline and essentials like iron and phosphorus become locked and less available.
Look for the signs like leaf tip death (causing brown leaf tips), and plants that wilt even when properly watered. Most indoor plants prefer slightly acidic pH around 6. GT is pH buffered to create the ideal, slightly acidic pH plants thrive in, for maximum nutrient availability.
Chelated minerals
Pronounced 'key-lay-ted' (like a key in a door). Chelation 'unlocks' the essential metal nutrients such as iron and zinc. Metal nutrients can react in the soil, turning them into solids plants can't use, causing deficiencies even if your fertiliser is complete. Chelation adds organic molecules to protect precious metals, keeping them water-soluble and available to your plants. All metal nutrients in GT are chelated.
The NZ guide to Growth Technology
GT Foliage Focus
Even if you're new to GT, this is the formula you've most likely seen or heard of. The #1 best seller used by indoor plant hobbyists who are all about that leaf. Like the name says, this one's for foliage. Formulated to grow bigger, healthier, more lush foliage, faster.
Like all GT formulas, Foliage Focus is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients plants need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel. Includes calcium at the higher level plants need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to further reduce the risk of both deficiencies and excesses. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Which plants is GT Foliage Focus for?
Indoor plants where foliage is your focus. Popular for the Aroid family. Monstera, Philodendron, Epipremnum, Pothos, Syngonium, Ferns, Sansevieria, ZZ and more. There's a reason there's a variegated Monstera on the front. This formula is especially popular for variegated foliage (which is more prone to fertiliser burn).
Shop GT Foliage Focus here >
GT Complete Focus
One formula to rule them all, GT Complete Focus is formulated for a 'mixed jungle'. A balanced middle-of-the-road fertiliser for both foliage and flowering, when you just want the convenience of one fertiliser for everyone, job done.
As you'd expect from GT formulas, Complete Focus is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients plants need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel. Includes calcium at the higher level plants need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to further reduce the risk of both deficiencies and excesses. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Which plants is GT Complete Focus for?
Can be used your entire collection if you'd prefer to avoid feeding multiple, separate, crop-specific fertilisers. Popular for Peace Lilys, Begonia, Anthurium, Peperomia and many more.
Shop GT Complete Focus here >
GT Clonex Clone Solution (CCS)
Known simply as CCS, GT Clonex Clone Solution is best buddies with Clonex rooting hormone gel. GT are the clever chaps who formulated Clonex back in the 80's, still a best seller to this day, marketed in NZ by Yates.
GT CCS is a specialist root fertiliser. Still complete and balanced, providing all 12 essential minerals plants require, focused on speeding up root growth and supporting growth of stronger, healthier roots for propagating plants and for plants recovering from root damage.
CCS meets the same high standards as all GT formulas. Complete and balanced, including all 12 essential nutrients plants need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel. Includes calcium at the higher level plants need. Organically chelated metal minerals keeps them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to further reduce the risk of both deficiencies and excesses. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Shop GT CCS here >
GT Flower Focus
One of the recent GT arrivals in NZ. Best buddy to GT Foliage Focus. Flower Focus encourages and supports flowering, meeting the high mineral demands during the reproductive phase for all flowering indoor plants. You shift from Foliage Focus to Flower Focus from first sign of a new flower spike or bud, until flowering finishes.
GT Flower Focus is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients plants need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel. Includes calcium at the higher level plants need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to further reduce the risk of both deficiencies and excesses. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Which plants is GT Flower Focus for?
Flower Focus is an all purpose bloom fertiliser, for all flowering indoor plants. Popular for African Violets, Peace Lilys, Begonia, Anthurium and more. If you haven't guessed yet from the packaging, this formula's a favourite with Hoya hobbyists. PS: Another popular approach for Hoya nutrition is Orchid fertiliser (GT provides this option also), as Orchids and Hoyas share similar higher mineral requirements and sensitivities.
Shop GT Flower Focus here >
GT Orchid Focus GROW
GT Orchid Focus was originally formulated for the world-famous Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (home to the annual Kew Orchid Festival in London's Princess of Wales Conservatory).
Orchid Focus GROW meets the unique needs of Orchids during the vegetative phase (growing foliage). Helps unlock successful, repeat flowering next season. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium levels and more all change between the vegetative and reproductive (flowering) phase.
"... it's the care you give, including what you feed when an orchid is NOT flowering, that can be the key to unlock successful flowering next season."
GT Orchid Focus GROW is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients orchids need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel, known phytotoxins for orchids and hoyas. Includes calcium at the higher level both orchids and hoyas need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to emulate the natural slightly acidic habitat of largely epiphytic Orchids and Hoyas. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Shop GT Orchid Focus GROW here >
GT Orchid Focus BLOOM
BLOOM meets the unique needs of Orchids during the reproductive phase (flowering). The nitrogen drop helps shifts a plant's focus to flowering. BLOOM promotes larger, more prolific, longer-lasting blooms.
Best buddy to GT Orchid Focus GROW. Shift from GROW to GT Orchid Focus BLOOM when your Orchid or Hoya is due to flower. If you don't know your plant's usual cycle, shift to BLOOM at the first sign of a new spike, new peduncle, or buds on an existing spur.
GT Orchid Focus BLOOM is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients orchids and hoyas need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel (known phytotoxins). Includes calcium at the higher level both orchids and hoyas need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula to emulate the natural slightly acidic habitat of largely epiphytic orchids and hoyas. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Shop GT Orchid Focus BLOOM here >
GT Rose Focus
GT Rose Focus is formulated to promote magnificent blooms while increasing pest and disease resistance for roses. Rose Focus supports more prolific, larger, longer-lasting blooms, with more fragrance and more vibrant colours.
GT Rose Focus is complete and balanced. It includes all 12 essential nutrients roses need, and nothing they don't. No cobalt or nickel. Includes calcium at the higher level roses need. The metal minerals are organically chelated to keep them unlocked and available. All in a pH buffered formula. Guaranteed no chlorides, urea or sodium for extra protection from fertiliser burn.
Shop GT Rose Focus here >
Where can you buy GT in NZ?
Stockists cover the whole country now, both in-store and online, including me here at Love That Leaf. Shop the whole Growth Technology range >