What Is a Plant Biostimulant?
You've probably heard the term organic fertilizer, but you may be less familiar with another category of plant inputs: plant biostimulants.
Unlike fertilizers, which primarily supply nutrients to plants, plant biostimulants support a plant's natural nutrition processes independently of their nutrient content.
What Is a Plant Biostimulant?
A plant biostimulant is a substance, microorganism, or mixture that is applied to seeds, plants, the rhizosphere, soil, or other growing media to support a plant's natural nutrition processes independently of the plant biostimulant's nutrient content.
In other words, fertilizers provide nutrients, while plant biostimulants support the plant's natural nutrition process.
That's an important distinction—and it's one of the reasons kelp has become such a useful part of many growing programs.
Kelp Help: Our Plant Biostimulant
KELP HELP is our all-purpose liquid plant biostimulant made with 22% Pacific Northwest bull kelp extract (Nereocystis luetkeana) and 0.4% humic acid.
Our kelp is cold processed and formulated for both soil and foliar application.
Kelp Help's kelp extract acts to support a plant's natural nutrition process.
Kelp extract is also a food source for microorganisms and subsequently enhances microbial growth.
The humic acid in Kelp Help may aid in the uptake of micronutrients.
How to Use Kelp Help
Shake well before using.
For general soil and foliar application, mix 2–4 oz of Kelp Help per gallon of water.
Apply the diluted solution to soil and/or foliage as directed throughout the growing season.
Kelp Help can be used with vegetables, flowers, berries, trees, houseplants, seedlings, transplants and other plants.
Plant Biostimulant vs. Fertilizer: What's the Difference?
This is where our three products become easy to understand.
KELP HELP — SUPPORT
A Pacific Northwest kelp plant biostimulant that supports a plant's natural nutrition process.
FISH ON 2-3-0.2 — FEED
An all-purpose fish fertilizer that supplies nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for plant nutrition.
PHOS FISH 1-7-0 — BLOOM + FRUIT NUTRITION
A fish fertilizer with a higher phosphorus analysis for gardeners looking for a fertilizer with more phosphorus during flowering and fruiting stages.
Rather than asking which one is “best,” think about what you're asking the product to do:
Support → Kelp Help
Feed → Fish On
Higher-phosphorus nutrition → Phos Fish
Can You Use Kelp Help With Fish Fertilizer?
Kelp Help and fertilizer serve different purposes in a growing program.
Kelp Help is a plant biostimulant, while Fish On and Phos Fish are fertilizers that provide plant nutrients.
Depending on your plants and growing program, Kelp Help can be incorporated alongside your fertilizer program. Always follow the application directions for each product.
A Simple Approach to Plant Nutrition
Plant nutrition doesn't have to be complicated.
Start by deciding what your garden needs:
🌿 SUPPORT — Kelp Help
Pacific Northwest bull kelp plant biostimulant.
🐟 FEED — Fish On 2-3-0.2
All-purpose fish fertilizer.
🌸 HIGHER-PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION — Phos Fish 1-7-0
Fish fertilizer with a higher phosphorus analysis.
Whether you're growing vegetables, flowers, berries, trees or houseplants, choosing a product based on its purpose makes building a plant-care program much simpler.
Explore Pacific Northwest Organics:
KELP HELP · FISH ON · PHOS FISH