What is 6-6-6 Fertilizer Good For? Best Products Included

The numbers on the fertilizer are pretty significant, right? But what exactly does they mean?

To maintain a healthy garden you must keep the soil nutrients in balance. That’s where the 6-6-6 fertilizer comes into play.

But what exactly does this number show? This number indicates the NPK ratio.

So, the fertilizer contains:

  • Nitrogen (N): 6%
  • Phosphorus (P): 6%
  • Potassium (K): 6%

Well, what makes up the rest of the bag?

Some fertilizers contain other micronutrients, such as magnesium or calcium. Others contain fillers.

Now let’s talk about NPK.

What Does 6-6-6 Mean?

To understand NPK you must simply remember three words.

Up, Down, and All-around

let me explain this in detail.

6-6-6 NPK

Nitrogen (6%):

Nitrogen is the go-to nutrient for powering any leaf, stem, and foliage growth.

Hence this represents the word up.

This is why we say nitrogen is involved in forming healthy and robust foliage, essential functions like photosynthesis, and the growth of flowers.

The 6% nitrogen in this fertilizer is a significant ratio as it is the ideal ratio, that many plants love.

This nitrogen ratio is parred with other micronutrients providing a balanced ratio.

This balanced ratio is loved by plants which helps them from root to shoot.

Let me summarise all this for you.

Nitrogen is the go-to nutrient for healthy, vibrant foliage and essential functions like photosynthesis.

Now, let’s jump to phosphorus.

Phosphorus (6%):

Recall the role of nitrogen. It powered leafy growth.

When it comes to phosphorus, it powers fruiting and blooms.

So, whether you want lush green lawns or more tomatoes from your tomato plant, this fertilizer will do the job.

The other primary function of phosphorus is supporting plants’ shoot and root systems. Thanks to phosphorus that our plants anchor firmly in the soil.

As it majority supports the roots it represents the word down.

Now, let’s summarize all this.

Phosphorus powers blooms and fruiting. The right amount of phosphorus means an improved root system, beautiful flowers, and healthy fruits.

Potassium (6%):

Potassium regulates the function of enzymes and controls the flow of liquids.

That’s why say that potassium works “all-around”.

Its ability to increase plants’ resistance to diseases makes it essential for plants. This, in turn, will make your plants strong and vibrant.

The best part?

Potassium is the key to conserving moisture, leading to increased drought resistance. Therefore, potassium deficiency will make your plants vulnerable to diseases.

That’s not what we want.

This “Big Three” member increases plants’ resistance to diseases. It improves the plant’s overall health by making them strong and vibrant.

This takes us straight to our main topic.

What is 6-6-6 Fertilizer Good For?

This balanced fertilizer is amazing for plants with low nutrient requirements.

The balanced 6-6-6 fertilizer is a good blend for trees, tomatoes, indoor plants, and lawns. This is because it provides all three vital macronutrients (NPK).

Let’s take a look at some of them.

Plants That Like 6-6-6 Fertilizer:

Plants That Like 6-6-6 Fertilizer

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are heavy feeders and need specific fertilizers at different stages.

They love balanced fertilizers during their growing period.

Initially, they should be fertilized with a balanced 6-6-6 fertilizer in the growing season for a growth boost.

This fertilization will help generate better blooms, generating more fruit.

However, if your soil is deficient in a specific nutrient, it’s better to get personalized recommendations.

This can be done using a soil test.

Trees & Shrubs:

Trees and shrubs generally like a balanced fertilizer.

A balanced fertilizer can promote leaf growth, establish roots and maintain the health of the tree.

The 6-6-6 after performing well on hundreds of trees has secured a good spot for itself.

Most trees need to be fertilized once per year to stay healthy and this fertilizer does the job.

Just use it according to the package instructions and you’re good to go

Great!

Indoor plants:

Generally, indoor plants love balanced fertilizers.

For proper growth and maintenance, they need to be regularly fertilized.

6-6-6 fertilizer is a great choice as it contains all essential nutrients in a good quantity.

The nutrients in this fertilizer will help the plant to grow greener leaves and establish its overall health.

This fertilizer should be applied once every 2-3 weeks or according to the soil conditions and plants’ needs.

Indoor plants like spider plants and peace lilies love this fertilizer blend.

Good!

Lawns:

Lawns generally love a balanced fertilizer which keeps them lush green.

the nitrogen and phosphorus in it work together to give lawns a greener look while strengthening the roots.

The 6-6-6 fertilizer transformed my dull lawn into a lush green one.

Just apply it according to the package instructions and you are good to go.

However, it all depends on your soil condition. Perform a soil test to get personalized recommendations.

Perfect!

Plants That Dislike 6-6-6 Fertilizer:

Plants That Don't Like 6-6-6 Fertilizer

Acid-loving Plants:

Acid-loving plants like a fertilizer which decreases the soil pH as well as provides them essential nutrients.

In this case, 6-6-6 fertilizer would not be a good fit for them as it does not decrease the pH of the soil.

These plants live and grow with a fertilizer, specially designed for them.

Acid-loving plants include azaleas, blueberries, and rhododendrons.

Great!

Roses:

Roses are generally like a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.

During growth, a high phosphorus fertilizer such as 18-32-16 is preferred by roses.

You can use a balanced blend but for best results, it is recommended to use a fertilizer formulated for roses.

So, a fertilizer according to their needs should be used.

This takes us to our next point.

Orchids:

Orchids are unique plants that grow near a tree or shrub and get nutrients from them.

Let me explain.

These plants get nutrients from air, tree rocks, and water more than the soil itself.

Even with these conditions they need to be fertilized once a month.

Consider using a fertilizer specially designed for them.

Note: Avoid using balanced triple 6 fertilizer.

Best 6-6-6 Fertilizers:

If you want to find the right fertilizer., we’ve got your back!

Here are my top picks after testing different products (so you don’t have to waste your time and money).

Gardenera 6-6-6 All-Purpose Fertilizer:

After reading many great reviews, I had to give this fertilizer a try.

This fertilizer made my indoor plants and lawn lush green and healthier than ever. What more do I need?

As an all-purpose fertilizer, it can be used on a variety of plants some of which are discussed above.

The quick-releasing nitrogen in it is great for quick recovery and leaf growth.

It is also packed with other micronutrients which plants love.

Gardenera 6-6-6 fertilizer

This fertilizer is absolutely worth the money and can do wonders.

Just apply it according to the package instructions and you are good to go.

Sunniland 6-6-6 Fertilizer:

This fertilizer was recommended to me by a friend, so I had to give it a go.

At the time of purchase, my trees were not doing great. The trees need to be fertilized once per year and this fertilizer does the job, keeping them healthy.

The best part?

This fertilizer is very beginner friendly and very easy to use.

Sunniland Fertilizer 6-6-6 Granules

The instructions on the package can even be understood by a 7-year-old.

FertilizerProsCons
Gardenera 6-6-6Best overall
Best price
Can burn if overapplied
Sunniland 6-6-6Beginner friendly
Great for trees
Has bad smell
Cannot be re-sealed
It is expensive

Now we need to know how to apply the fertilizer.

How To Apply 6-6-6 Fertilizer:

When it comes to the 6-6-6 Fertilizer, you have two options:

Liquid or Granular.

Let’s take a look at each of them in detail.

Liquid:

liquid fertilizers are water soluble and are applied to plants by a water can.

The application process of a liquid fertilizer is very simple.

Find out how much fertilizer to apply from the back of the package.

Then, mix it accordingly. Apply it near the plant’s root zone.

The best part?

As they are water-soluble, their nutrients are instantaneously available to the plant for uptake.

Perfect!

Granular:

Granular fertilizers are slow-releasing and release nutrients gradually.

They are not water-soluble and are sprinkled as granules, followed by watering after application.

Apply the Fertilizer in a circular pattern around the plant’s root zone. Then, water it in so that the Fertilizer starts working.

In the case of lawns, sprinkle it using a fertilizer spreader according to the package instructions.

The best part?

Unlike water-soluble the nutrients are released gradually and the chance of leaf burn is low.

This takes us straight to our next point!

Final Verdict:

6-6-6 is a fertilizer that can be looked down upon but can do wonders for your garden.

So from all this discussion, we can say that this NPK ratio is great in the growing phase of plants keeping them green and healthy.

So, what is 6-6-6 fertilizer good for?

This balanced blend is great for trees, lawns, vegetables, and, indoor plants as it keeps them healthy by generating robust foliage.

If you have more questions, feel free to get in touch. Stay tuned for more.

Happy Gardening!

You May Like:

8-8-8 Fertilizer | All You Need To Know

18-18-18 Fertilizer | A Complete Guide

Is 20-20-20 The Best Balanced Fertilizer?

What is 6-6-6 Fertilizer Good For? Best Products Included

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top