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Most fertilizer sold to gardeners uses urea as the nitrogen source, but most commercial greenhouses use nitrate as their main nitrogen source. Why?

I have been spending time in the African violet (AV) community, and most growers, including the African Violet Society of America (AVSA), recommend using nitrate rather than urea. But Schultz African violet fertilizer is very popular in this group, and it is mostly urea. In a test reported on by AVSA of the top AV fertilizers, one used only urea, and the other used no urea. A prominent breeder stated: “I’ve used fertilizer containing urea for nearly 30 years“.

I have used urea-based fertilizer for 50 years on all kinds of houseplants, and it seems to work, though recently some of my streptocarpus seedlings may be showing yellow leaves. It is time to understand the urea vs nitrate controversy in more detail.

Watch the video version of this blog: https://youtu.be/YdY5S7RUKMo

GMO food labeling compliance became mandatory starting June 23, 2025, but if you look at the label on processed food in the US, you won’t see a GMO label.

The reason for this is that the FDA has decided to use a different term. The food will be labeled as “Contains a Bioengineered food ingredient”. The word Bioengineered (BE) is replacing the term GMO.

The general public has been asking for GMO labeling on food for many years. After spending many millions of dollars, they now have their wish.

Key Takeaways

• USA now labels GMO food.
• GMO is now called “Bioengineered”

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I’ve been writing about garden myths for about 15 years, and there are still many more that need attention. I have over 300 started posts that could be finished.

However….. I am also interested in a wider range of myths and it is time to widen the scope of my myth busting.

You might have noticed I have started writing about food and food nutrition myths, and even climate change. So far I have dabbled in these but now it’s time to follow this interest more deeply.

I have decided to start a new venture called Reality Time.

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I know that many of you think that this question has already been settled and that 97% of scientists agree that global warming is anthropogenic, i.e., it is human-caused.

The question is far from being settled

The goal for this post is to present some of the arguments presented by both sides of the debate.

Key Takeaways

• There is clearly no consensus about climate change among scientists.
• There is no consensus about the extent of human-caused global warming.
• We know a lot less about the climate than we have been led to believe.
• Society has been misinformed by the news – no surprise there!

PDF version of this post

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Gardeners talk a lot about dynamic accumulators, and they are important for techniques such as permaculture and regenerative agriculture. The problem was that we didn’t have an accepted definition for them – nobody agreed on what they were.

The science of dynamic accumulators has recently advanced, and we now have a proper definition, an extensive database of possible candidates, as well as some research supporting claims about them. There is also new testing of weed teas made from them.

This may become more important to gardeners than you realize.

Key Takeaways

• We have an official definition for Dynamic Accumulators.
• About 10% of plants in the database qualify as dynamic accumulators for at least one nutrient. None qualify for all nutrients.
• Nutrients in weed tea are lower than most people expect.

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Is fish fertilizer better than a synthetic fertilizer like Miracle-Gro?

If you read the advertising for fish fertilizer, you might conclude that it will grow much better plants, but those same products don’t show you any data to support the claims. Where is the proof?

I decided to run my own test to see if fish fertilizer grows bigger tomato plants.

Key Takeaways

• Fish fertilizer did not grow statistically better plants.
• The extra cost of fish fertilizer can’t be justified based on growth.

This post uses affiliate links

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Lots of people in warmer climates grow Streptocarpus outdoors, but what about growing them outdoors in colder climates where winter is so cold that they won’t survive?

It does not seem to be a common practice, but since I do a lot of outdoor gardening in zone 5, I had to try it. Here is what I have learned.

Key Takeaways

• Not much luck growing in the ground at my place.
• Grows well in a container.
• It can be overwintered in a cool, dark place.

Purchase Streptocarpus seeds, leaves, and plants.

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The common advice for growing streptocarpus is to plant fairly shallow. Soil should not go much higher than the top of the root ball, or the plant will rot and die.

However, you are also told that to propagate the plant vegetatively, you should take a leaf or part of a leaf and plant it an inch or two deep. I usually plant these leaves about an inch deep, and they grow just fine.

Streptocarpus are also known to form plantlets from roots, deep in the pot (see image further down in this post). These grow underground for quite a long time before the tips reach above the surface of the soil.

How can all of this conflicting information be correct? Is this another Streptocarpus myth? I decided to test the claim that planting deep will cause Streptocarpus to rot and die.

Key Takeaways

• Planting deeper will not kill a streptocarpus plant.

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Japanese knotweed is one of the most notorious invasive plants in temperate gardens—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Let’s bust some myths and explain the latest science on how to control it.

Key Takeaways

• DIY solutions do not work.
• Standard solutions used for other weeds also don’t work.
• Herbicide spray works best, but it still takes a couple of years and has to be done correctly.

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Bats have long been shrouded in mystery and misconception. Their nocturnal habits, unique appearance, and association with darkness have fueled numerous myths and superstitions. This article aims to dispel these falsehoods, revealing the true nature of these vital mammals. Learn to appreciate and understand them.

Key Takeaways

• Bats are extremely useful in the garden, where they eat a lot of insect pests in colder climates and pollinate fruits in warmer climates.
• There is very little threat to humans or pets.
• It is rare for them to carry rabies.

This post uses affiliate links

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