£16.99
A specialist liquid organic fertiliser formulated for all conifers and acid-loving woody plants — combining zinc sulphate, potassium salts, magnesium sulphate, and hydrolysed proteins to deliver the acidic, micronutrient-rich nutrition that supports healthy needle colour, dense growth, and long-term structural vigour in this demanding plant group. pH 4–7. The only formulation in the Dr.Soil range specifically calibrated for plants that require acidic conditions. Supplied in a bottle made from ISCC PLUS certified plastic — free from fossil petroleum content.
Dr.Soil Organic Fertiliser for Conifers is distinguished from the rest of the Dr.Soil fertiliser range by two characteristics: its pH range of 4–7 (the most acidic formulation in the range) and its unique emphasis on zinc and magnesium as primary active components alongside the standard amino acid and potassium base.
Zinc sulphate is the lead active ingredient — an unusual prioritisation that reflects the specific nutritional biology of conifers. Zinc is essential for auxin (plant growth hormone) synthesis in conifers, and auxin is what drives the apical dominance and directional growth that gives conifers their characteristic form. Zinc deficiency in conifers manifests as shortened internodes, rosetting of needles at shoot tips, and loss of the vigorous apical growth that defines a healthy conifer’s silhouette. Zinc sulphate in a liquid formula is the most efficient vehicle for correcting or preventing this deficiency.
Potassium salts support water regulation, frost resistance, and the structural integrity of woody tissue — properties of particular importance for conifers, which retain their foliage year-round and must maintain physiological function through winter. Magnesium sulphate provides the magnesium that is the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule — essential for the sustained deep green colour of healthy conifer needles — and sulphur, which contributes to the acidification of the substrate around the root zone and supports the synthesis of the amino acids and secondary compounds that give conifers their characteristic resinous character. Hydrolysed proteins complete the formulation, providing the amino acid nitrogen that supports sustained vegetative growth.
The pH range of 4–7 is critical: conifers and other ericaceous plants evolved in acidic soils and are physiologically optimised for acidic conditions. In alkaline or neutral substrates, iron, manganese, and zinc become progressively less available to roots, causing the gradual yellowing and decline that is commonly misdiagnosed as disease or drought stress. This fertiliser’s acidic character helps maintain the pH conditions in which conifers thrive.
The bottle is produced from plastic certified to the ISCC PLUS standard (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) — an independently audited European certification guaranteeing the plastic is derived from renewable or recycled feedstocks rather than fossil petroleum. No virgin fossil-derived plastic content. Chain-of-custody traceability verified at every production stage.
This formulation is designed for all conifers and acid-requiring woody plants: spruce (Picea), fir (Abies), pine (Pinus), larch (Larix), cypress (Cupressus / ×Cuprocyparis), juniper (Juniperus), thuja (Thuja), yew (Taxus), hemlock (Tsuga), and other coniferous species; as well as acid-loving broadleaved woody plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, heathers, blueberries, pieris, and other ericaceous species that share the conifer’s requirement for acidic, micronutrient-rich growing conditions.
Dilute 40 ml of concentrate per 1 litre of water. Mix thoroughly. Apply to moist soil — never to dry roots. Apply as a soil drench directly to the root zone. For established garden conifers, apply around the drip line of the canopy (the outer edge of the branch spread) where the active feeder roots are concentrated, rather than immediately at the trunk base.
| Application | Dilution | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Established garden conifers | 40 ml per 1 L water | Every 3–4 weeks during the growing season (March to September); apply around the drip line, not at the base |
| Container conifers and topiary | 40 ml per 1 L water | Every 2 weeks during active growth; container-grown plants exhaust their growing medium faster than garden specimens |
| Ericaceous plants (rhododendrons, azaleas etc.) | 40 ml per 1 L water | Every 2–3 weeks during the growing season; avoid application during or immediately after flowering |
| Recovering or deficient plants | 40 ml per 1 L water | Weekly for the first month to correct deficiency symptoms; then revert to standard frequency |
Do not apply in autumn after September for outdoor conifers in cold climates. Late-season nitrogen stimulates soft growth that does not harden before frost, increasing winter damage risk.
Classified as non-hazardous under EU Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP). Non-flammable and non-explosive. Store in the original sealed bottle between 5°C and 30°C, away from children. Avoid prolonged skin contact; wash hands after use. If contact with eyes occurs, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not ingest. Do not allow to enter drains or surface watercourses. Compatible with certified organic production under EU Regulation 2018/848.
Dr.Soil Organic Fertiliser for Conifers · Net volume: 1 litre · Active components: zinc sulphate, potassium salts, magnesium sulphate, hydrolysed proteins · pH 4–7 · Dilution: 40 ml per litre · Certified organic production compatible · ISCC PLUS certified bottle · Fossil petroleum-free packaging
