Reading through Instagram comments, DMs, and grow communities, you see it all the time:
"I use MicroBio+ as fertilizer."
"Is that enough on its own?"
"I poured it into the substrate, but nothing's happening."
Briefly and fairly: MicroBio+ is not a fertilizer.
And that's not a quibble – it's the key to using the product correctly and truly seeing results.
In this post, we'll clarify:
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What MicroBio+ actually does
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Why it doesn't directly "feed" the plant
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Why it can't work magic without a nutrient source
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How to combine it correctly (organic, mineral, Living Soil, compost, etc.)
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What to watch out for with Hydro / DWC
1) Fertilizer vs. Soil Activator: One feeds – the other organizes
Microbes are the engine, not the additive
A fertilizer is essentially a nutrient source. It provides (directly or indirectly) the building blocks the plant needs: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, trace elements, etc.
When you fertilize, you provide "food."
MicroBio+, on the other hand, is a microbiological soil activator (and legally declared as a soil conditioner).
This means: MicroBio+ is more like the kitchen team in the soil – not the food itself.
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It supports processes in the substrate
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It activates the rhizosphere (the active living space directly around the root)
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It helps nutrients become available when they are present
Key takeaway:
Fertilizer = provides nutrients.
MicroBio+ = supports soil life & conversion processes.
2) What MicroBio+ specifically does (a little microbiology, but easy)
In healthy soil, magic doesn't just "happen." Most nutrients are not immediately plant-available, but are bound in organic matter or soil particles.
This is where microbiology comes in:
Rhizosphere & Exudates
Roots secrete so-called root exudates (sugars, amino acids, organic acids). This is how the plant "pays" microorganisms to work in the soil.
Mineralization & Nutrient Release
Microbes break down organic matter and release nutrients (mineralization).
This is, simply put, the process that converts organic reserves into "plant-available forms."
Nutrient Mobilization
Certain microbial processes can "mobilize" nutrients, i.e., convert them from bound forms into more available forms (e.g., in conjunction with organic acids and enzymes in the rhizosphere).
MicroBio+ supports precisely these soil and rhizosphere processes. The result is not "fertilizer power," but: better conditions for the plant to get nutrients.
3) Why MicroBio+ is not a fertilizer (and never "enough on its own")
This is the part that helps many people understand:
✅ MicroBio+ does not replace fertilizer
It does not provide a significant amount of nutrients that would sustain a plant for weeks.
✅ MicroBio+ does not directly feed the plant
The plant absorbs nutrients through its roots – MicroBio+ is not a "nutrient shot."
✅ MicroBio+ does not work in "dead soil" without food
If your substrate is empty, depleted, or practically without organic reserves, then:
Without a supply, there's nothing to convert.
Yes: MicroBio+ can revitalize soil – but if there's truly no nutrient source (organic/mineral/compost-based), then it's like a team of chefs in a kitchen without ingredients. This is where our Organic Line with products like: LivingSoil Base, Mineral Charge, and TopDress Bloom comes into play.
4) What you always need: a nutrient source in the system
For MicroBio+ to unleash its potential, your setup needs at least one of these:
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organic substrate / Living Soil
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compost / worm castings
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organic fertilizers (solid or liquid)
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mineral fertilizers (also works)
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your own soil/amendment products (e.g., your lines)
In short: MicroBio+ and "food in the soil" = success.
MicroBio+ alone = usually disappointing.
5) Combining? Yes – almost always without problems (organic & mineral)
Very important, because this is also constantly asked:
You can generally combine MicroBio+ without hesitation with:
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organic fertilizers
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mineral fertilizers
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compost, worm castings
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your own products
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and most fertilizer systems on the market
Why? Because MicroBio+ is not a competitor to fertilizer, but supports soil processes. In many systems, this even complements each other very well.
6) Special case DWC / Hydro: what to watch out for
If you're running DWC (Deep Water Culture) or generally in very "water-dominated" systems, there's a typical pitfall:
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With fertilizers containing a high organic content, pH fluctuations can occur.
- pH should only be adjusted with phosphoric acid or nitric acid!
This is not "MicroBio+ is bad," but system-related:
Organic components + microbial activity + water reservoir = can move the chemistry in the tank more strongly than in the substrate, especially when the CalMag
If you're running DWC:
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pay particular attention to pH drift
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dose carefully / observe
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and don't blindly adopt organic-heavy mixes
Especially in DWC / Hydro (but also in very soft waters), pH stability strongly depends on the buffering capacity of the nutrient solution.
This buffering essentially comes from:
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Calcium (Ca²⁺)
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Magnesium (Mg²⁺)
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the corresponding anions (mostly nitrate, sulfate)
If the Ca/Mg content is too low, the following happens:
Low buffering capacity = unstable pH
Calcium and magnesium salts not only provide plant nutrition but also chemically stabilize the solution.
If this content is missing:
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the solution is less able to "buffer" acids
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microbiological processes have a stronger effect on the pH
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the pH reacts more sensitively to every change
👉 Result: pH drift, often upwards.
Microbiology amplifies the effect (e.g., with MicroBio+)
If you use MicroBio+ or other microbially active products:
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Microorganisms metabolize organic components
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ion equilibria change
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CO₂ escapes from the solution
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organic acids are broken down
Without sufficient Ca/Mg buffering:
➡️ pH rises again, even if you adjusted it correctly beforehand.
This is not a flaw of MicroBio+ –
the system is simply too weakly buffered.
7) Why we don't sell it as fertilizer (brief & transparent)
MicroBio+ is not a fertilizer because it is not intended to supply the plant with nutrient quantities. It is declared as a soil conditioner / microbiological soil activator because its focus is precisely there:
👉 Activate soil life, support processes, strengthen the rhizosphere – and thus create the basis for nutrients to be used more efficiently.
This clear classification is not a marketing trick, but protects you as a user from false expectations.
👉 MicroBio+ does not cause the pH increase.
👉 It only makes it visible when the system is poorly buffered.
This is an extremely important point for trust & understanding.
8) Practical Key Takeaways (for those who need it quickly)
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MicroBio+ is not a fertilizer.
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It doesn't feed – it activates.
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Without a nutrient source in the substrate, there's nothing to convert.
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It's at home in Living Soil / organic setups – but mineral also works.
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In DWC with high organic content: keep an eye on the pH.
FAQ (because these questions really come daily)
"Can I use MicroBio+ without fertilizer?"
You can use it – but if there's no usable food in the substrate, the plant will still starve. MicroBio+ does not replace a nutrient source.
"Does it work in depleted soil?"
It can help reactivate soil life. But depleted soil still needs nutrient input (e.g., compost, worm castings, organic/mineral fertilizers, amendments).
"Can I combine it with my fertilization schedule?"
In most cases: yes, without problems – both organic and mineral. Special case: DWC with a lot of organic matter → monitor pH. Generally, the schedule should also be minimized first, as active soil life allows plants to absorb nutrients better, meaning less fertilizer is needed.
