Unlocking precision with Universol water soluble fertilisers

 “We’ve all observed crops that seem to need a boost – whether it’s to stimulate growth, encourage flowering, or enhance resilience before winter,” says Peter Robinson, Technical Area Sales Manager for the North-West, North/Mid Wales, Staffs and Derbyshire. “The extensive and versatile Universol range has been developed to meet these specific needs and more.”

Cost-effective nutrition

A great-value water soluble fertiliser range, Universol delivers precise nutrition to pot, bedding, and container-grown nursery crops.  Selecting the right Universol formulation at the right time of year/crop stage ensures you get optimal results and therefore return on investment. Each colour coded product contains all the necessary elements – NPK, magnesium, trace elements (and calcium for soft water formulation) – and, what’s more, dissolves completely and quickly.

Today, the growers I work with are using a variety of growing media – peat-based, peat-reduced, and peat-free blends incorporating components such as woodfibre, bark, and coir. Each mix has different physical and chemical characteristics, such as water-holding capacity, nutrient retention, nutrient availability, and rewetting ability – all of which influence how water-soluble fertilisers perform.

Some growers are using controlled-release fertilisers while others are using base fertilisers only in their mixes. Water soluble fertilisers are an important tool in managing these scenarios.

Water quality key

So, before developing a water-soluble nutrition programme for your crops, I recommend analysing the water source and/or growing media – a service offered through our team of FACTS and BASIS-qualified Technical Area Sales Managers. We use the lab results, typically returned within a week, to generate tailored nutrient recommendations.

Customised strategies

To deliver the most effective nutrition programmes, I often employ AngelaWeb 3.0 – our advanced precision nutrition software. Inputting data into this platform generates customised fertilisation strategies based on variables such as crop demand, water quality, and growing media composition. Programmes may incorporate both water-soluble and controlled-release fertilisers, tailored to your nursery’s specific production system.

Versatile Universol range

Standard Universol range

• Universol Yellow – Starter feed: Encourages root and shoot development; apply 1–2 times after potting.
• Universol Green – Growth booster: Use following Universol Yellow.
• Universol Blue – Mid-season balanced feed: Apply after Universol Yellow or Green.
• Universol Violet – Early compacting feed: Restrains growth and promotes flowering.
• Universol Orange – For pots and bedding: Helps hold back crops and enhances flowering.

Universol Hard Water formulations

• HW 211 – High nitrogen formulation: Stimulates early vegetative growth.
• HW 212 – Mid-season balanced nutrition: Promotes uniform growth.
• HW 213 – Finishing feed: Supports hardening off.

Universol Soft Water formulations (Calcium nitrate compatible – consult ICL)

• SW 312R – Early growth and colour enhancement.
• SW 213R – Compact growth and flowering.
• SW 113 – Hardening-off formula: Slows vegetative growth and encourages flowering.

Addressing nutrient deficiencies

The ICL technical team can also provide immediate advice on nutrient deficiencies based on visible crop symptoms. For example, when visiting nurseries, I commonly see nitrogen deficiencies in outdoor crops following periods of heavy rainfall.  To help your production team correctly identify symptoms, we have nutrient deficiency posters for bedding and nursery stock, and each month one deficiency is highlighted in detail in our Technical Matters digital newsletter.

Accurate diagnosis of crop deficiencies is of course essential for selecting the correct fertiliser to put things right. It can also help prevent recurrence through a detailed evaluation of controlled-release fertilisers (CRFs) and fertigation programmes.

For help devising a season-long water-solubles programme for your crops, or for correcting a deficiency, speak to your ICL Technical Area Sales Manager.

In part two, Peter will focus on application techniques and equipment – see the next edition of Technical Matters.