Why grow organicly

[rary]

I have several containers of plant food, so was thinking why shouldn't I use it to feed my plants, after all a plant can't tell the difference from organic or inorganic feeding, as both methods have to be in a soluble state for the plant to use it, and I am not referring to any chemical sprays for pest control, it is just the method of feeding whither in solid or liquid state

[Snadger]

Its a personal choice rary. I try and grow organically whenever I can, but I am not anal about it. If you already have the fertiliser and are happy to use it, it would be better used than go into land fill.

[veggiechicken]

Its not a question of whether the "food" is solid or liquid, but what the "ingredients" are, that make a "food" organic or not................
or have I misunderstood your question, rary?

[Logunner]

My hope is to be chemical free in the next 3 years, controlling the marestail will be the deciding factor in this.

Hoping to be using just animal manure, bfb, coffee grounds etc. and my own compost.

[Teds Mum]

I'm less worried about chemical fertiliser than I am about poisons applied to kill pests and weeds.
Pretty sure those poisons won't do me any good either.

[rary]

Its not a question of whether the "food" is solid or liquid, but what the "ingredients" are, that make a "food" organic or not................
or have I misunderstood your question, rary?

The question is, is there a difference made to the plant i.e. is there a difference in growth, taste or health benefits when you use organic feeding compared to inorganic feeding, or is it more a life choice not to use inorganic feeding, I am not criticising either of the methods, Like Snadger says why send it to land fill, so I will use it if I have it

[Thelma Sanders]

It may/may not be better for the plant - but it is much better for us/the environment in the long-term.

Use up what you have and change to more natural growing after that

[Runtpuppy]

From what I understand, there are two aspects of growing organically. The first is obviously the feeding and the second is pest control. Inorganic pest control obviously involves dangerous chemicals (and I say dangerous chemicals, because let's face it, everything is chemicals. Even organic stuff is a bunch of chemicals in the end). That makes it dangerous for the environment because it kills the good animal life along with the pests.

The feeding aspect with inorganic feeds and fertilisers isn't so much about being a danger to the environment, I think. They have all the 'right' chemicals and salts that the plant requires. What I think is a problem is that it is akin to feeding plants the equivalent of vitamin tablets instead of fresh fruit and veg.

Yes, the vitamin tablets will give them some of the right ingredients in the right quantity. However, the micronutrients that they lack are still coming from the soil. In the end, you're left with soil that is depleted of those micronutrients.

With organic feeds, you are essentially returning what you took from the soil. Whether it is composted plant matter or animal matter that was either plant matter that they ate and excreted, or plant matter that they absorbed and assimilated in the form of blood and bone, it's all essentially processed soil.

This way, you don't end up with soil that is thoroughly depleted of all the good stuff and, as a result, 'weak'. So while I don't say you shouldn't use inorganic fertilisers at all, I would definitely recommend feeding the soil as much as feeding the plant to retain a healthy ecosystem.

Use them as supplements, as vitamin tablets, in addition to the fruit and veg, is what I am trying to say :P

[Squingy]

I think some are confused on what you mean by organic and inorganic feeds. If for example your comfrey's been sprayed with a synthetic pesticide say roundup and you use a tea from that comfrey to fertilise your plants it shouldn't be considered an organic feed.
If a company decides to sell say, ground up comfrey in a pellet form that's grown without synthetic chemicals then that's an organic feed, regardless of form.

In terms of chemistry, organic refers to containing carbon or not. So do you mean if a feed is purely mineral, say, N-P-K this is "inorganic" opposed to say composted grass which has N-P-K plus the retained carbon element of the grass having been once alive, and this is an "organic" feed?

I am happy that someone else sees that all pesticides, regardless of form are chemicals, it's the chemicals in neem oil, chrysanthemums etc that allow them to work. The difference in chemicals meaning some have existed in tandem with the rest of nature thousands of years while the others have been manufactured synthetically.

Back to your original question, you may as well use them in addition to the "organic" stuff. I myself have sachets of what I think is "inorganic" fertiliser got for free that's never been used, because of my preference to good compost and teas. I really should use them up.