What's Really Inside GrowScripts Complete 9-3-6?
Two fertilizers can have the exact same 9-3-6 numbers and still be formulated differently.
That's because NPK is only part of the story.
At GrowScripts, our Complete 9-3-6 combines two nitrogen sources, calcium, magnesium, essential micronutrients, a small amount of silica, and additional formulation ingredients.
Here's what's inside and the science behind it.
1. Two Sources of Nitrogen — One Formula
GrowScripts contains 9% total nitrogen, supplied by:
- 6% urea nitrogen
- 3% nitrate nitrogen
Why use both?
Nitrate is readily available for plant uptake. Urea is an established nitrogen source that is converted in soil into ammonium, which plants can also use.
Combining these sources provides two pathways for nitrogen nutrition, although their availability and efficiency depend on growing conditions.
Some other fertilizers rely on different nitrogen combinations. That doesn't automatically make one approach better.
Our formulation is designed for soil and container-grown plants, where urea can undergo its normal conversion processes.
2. The 3-1-2 Ratio Has a Scientific Foundation
GrowScripts uses a 9-3-6 NPK analysis, equivalent to a 3-1-2 ratio.
This ratio is recommended by university extension specialists for many container-grown crops because it reflects useful proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
It provides a versatile foundation, with application rates adjusted according to plant needs.
3. More Than NPK
Plants need more than three nutrients.
Our formulation also provides calcium (1%), magnesium (0.5%), sulfur, and seven essential micronutrients:
Boron, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and nickel.
Several of these micronutrients are supplied in chelated forms, which can help maintain their solubility under appropriate conditions.
The result is a broad nutritional profile that goes beyond nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium alone.
4. Why Include Silica?
GrowScripts includes a small amount of silica, listed at 0.0006% on our guaranteed analysis.
Scientific research has demonstrated that silicon can benefit certain plants, particularly under environmental stress.
However, these effects depend on plant species, silicon availability, and application rate. We do not claim that the silica concentration in GrowScripts guarantees those outcomes.
5. Why Include Yucca Extract and Sodium Gluconate?
Our formulation includes two additional non-plant-food ingredients:
Yucca Extract — 0.02%
Yucca contains naturally occurring saponins with surfactant properties. Surfactants can change how water wets surfaces.
Sodium Gluconate — 0.10%
Sodium gluconate is a compound capable of binding certain metal ions and is used as a complexing agent in various formulations.
These ingredients are part of our formulation approach. Their presence does not, by itself, prove increased nutrient uptake or faster plant growth.
6. What About Bottle Size?
Some fertilizers are available in gallons, while GrowScripts currently offers an 8-ounce concentrate.
We recognize that gallon containers can make economic sense for growers using large quantities.
But an 8-ounce bottle still produces a substantial amount of diluted fertilizer:
- At ¼ teaspoon per gallon: approximately 192 gallons
- At ½ teaspoon per gallon: approximately 96 gallons
- At 1 teaspoon per gallon: approximately 48 gallons
The right feeding strength depends on the plant and its growing conditions.
For everyday plant care, a compact concentrate can provide many applications without requiring a gallon-size bottle.
The Bottom Line
Not all 9-3-6 fertilizers use identical ingredients.
GrowScripts Complete 9-3-6 combines a researched NPK ratio with multiple nitrogen sources, essential secondary nutrients, chelated micronutrients, and additional formulation ingredients.
We don't claim every ingredient makes our product superior to every alternative.
We believe customers should understand what they're feeding their plants and why those ingredients are there.
Plant nutrition shouldn't be a guessing game.
Explore GrowScripts Complete 9-3-6
Scientific References
- University of Maryland Extension. *Growing Vegetables in Containers and Salad Tables.
- University of Minnesota Extension. *Fertilizer Urea.
- Debona, Rodrigues & Datnoff (2017). Silicon's Role in Abiotic and Biotic Plant Stresses. Annual Review of Phytopathology.
- Colorado State University Extension. Yucca Extract for Trees.