• Organic Liquid Bloom Booster — 500ml white bottle of grey liquid with dr forest Bloom Activated EM-1 label
  • Organic Liquid Bloom Booster — back of bottle with Ingredients panel and Directions for Use
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Dr Forest

Organic Liquid Bloom Booster UK | EM-1 Fermented

Organic Liquid Bloom Booster UK | EM-1 Fermented

£11.00 GBP
£11.00 GBP
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Organic bloom booster — fermented minerals, beneficial microbes & plant biostimulants

Fermented with EM-1 Phosphorus & Potassium Living Microorganisms Zero Nitrogen Handcrafted in Stockport Recycled Plastic Bottle

This is not a factory product. It is a living fermented fertiliser made by hand in small batches at our workshop in Stockport — minerals, plant extracts, and beneficial microorganisms brewed together over months of anaerobic fermentation. The result is a bloom-stage supplement that delivers phosphorus and potassium for flowering and fruiting alongside active microbial cultures that inoculate the root zone with beneficial bacteria, yeasts, and fungi.

The formula contains zero nitrogen — deliberately. Nitrogen pushes vegetative growth, which is exactly what you do not want during flowering and fruiting. The zero-N design means you can use this product right through late bloom and into harvest without risking unwanted leaf growth, delayed ripening, or diluted fruit sugars. The fermentation process — inspired by the Jadam method — dissolves mineral nutrients into biologically active forms while the EM-1 culture produces vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, and plant growth-promoting compounds. If you are in early flower and want some nitrogen alongside PK, we recommend supplementing with Micro-Amino amino acid chelated micronutrients.

Zero NUse Through Harvest
EM-1Living Culture
3+Months Fermented
AloeGrown In-House

What goes into this bloom booster

  • Micronised rock phosphate — natural phosphorus source dissolved through months of anaerobic fermentation; provides the energy currency (ATP) that flowering and fruit development demand
  • Sulphate of potash & potassium mineral — dual potassium sources for fruit quality, sugar transport, water regulation, and disease resistance during the reproductive phase
  • Dr Higa's EM-1 culture — Effective Microorganisms: a consortium of phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and fungi that produce vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, and antioxidants
  • Aloe vera — grown organically in-house at Dr Forest HQ; contains salicylic acid (a natural plant defence signal), saponins (biosurfactants), and polysaccharides that improve foliar wetting and root zone biology
  • Organic banana peel — potassium-rich organic matter fermented with the EM-1 culture; also contributes phosphorus, calcium, and organic acids
  • Humic acid — natural chelator and microbial food source that improves nutrient availability and stimulates beneficial soil organisms
  • Molasses & Supa Cera C powder — microbial food source and EM ceramic powder that support the fermentation process and enhance the biological activity of the finished product

How it is made

The production is a two-stage fermentation process. Stage one: micronised rock phosphate, sulphate of potash, potassium mineral, aloe vera, humic acid, and filtered water are fermented anaerobically for a minimum of three months at room temperature. This extended fermentation dissolves the rock minerals into biologically active, plant-available forms — the same principle as the Jadam liquid fertiliser (JLF) method. Stage two: organic banana peel, EM-1 culture, molasses, and Supa Cera C powder are added and fermented at 25°C+ for approximately two weeks. The final liquid is strained through a 200-micron sieve and bottled.

This is a fermented product

It has a strong, distinctive smell — this is completely normal and indicates active biological cultures. The odour dissipates rapidly after dilution and application. If the smell is neutral or absent, the product may have been compromised — contact us for a replacement.

Handcrafted in Stockport

Every batch of this bloom booster is fermented by hand at our workshop in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The aloe vera is grown organically in-house at Dr Forest HQ. No two batches are chemically identical — this is a living product, not a factory formulation. Supplied in recycled plastic bottles.

The science of fermented mineral nutrition & beneficial microbes

Why fermented is different from dissolved

Conventional liquid fertilisers dissolve mineral salts in water — fast-acting but biologically dead. Fermented fertilisers take a fundamentally different approach: minerals are broken down by microbial activity over weeks or months, producing a complex liquid that contains not just plant-available nutrients but also the living organisms, enzymes, organic acids, and growth-promoting compounds generated during fermentation. The result is a product that feeds both the plant and the soil biology simultaneously.

01

EM-1: The Microbial Consortium

EM-1 (Effective Microorganisms) is a defined consortium of beneficial microbes developed by Professor Teruo Higa: phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and beneficial fungi. These organisms coexist in a stable culture and produce a range of bioactive compounds during fermentation — organic acids that lower pH and solubilise minerals, enzymes that break down organic matter, antioxidants that protect plant cells, and plant growth-promoting substances including vitamins and hormone-like compounds. Applied to soil, they colonise the rhizosphere and compete with pathogenic organisms for space and resources.

02

Anaerobic Mineral Extraction

The three-month first-stage fermentation follows the Jadam liquid fertiliser (JLF) principle: rock minerals placed in anaerobic conditions with water and organic acids are slowly dissolved by microbial activity and acid production. Micronised rock phosphate — normally slow to release in soil — is converted into plant-available phosphorus forms through this extended biological processing. The resulting liquid contains phosphorus in organic acid complexes that are immediately accessible to plant roots, rather than the locked-up mineral forms that characterise raw rock phosphate.

03

Aloe Vera as a Biostimulant

Aloe vera contains salicylic acid — the plant hormone that triggers systemic acquired resistance (SAR), the plant equivalent of an immune response. It also contains saponins (natural biosurfactants that improve leaf wetting and soil penetration), polysaccharides (that feed soil microorganisms), and a range of vitamins and amino acids. Used in Korean Natural Farming and other biological agriculture systems, aloe vera extract is a documented plant growth promoter and defence elicitor. The aloe vera in this product is grown organically in-house at Dr Forest HQ in Stockport.

04

Humic Acid — Chelation & Biology

Humic acid is a high-molecular-weight organic compound that chelates mineral cations (keeping them plant-available in the soil solution), increases cell membrane permeability (improving nutrient uptake), and acts as a carbon food source for beneficial soil microorganisms. In this formulation, the humic acid serves dual functions: it helps solubilise the rock minerals during fermentation, and it enhances the biological activity of the finished product when applied to soil.

05

Potassium for Fruit Quality

Potassium governs sugar transport from leaves to fruit, regulates stomatal opening (water management), and activates over 60 enzymes involved in plant metabolism. This formulation delivers potassium from two sources: sulphate of potash (fast-acting, chloride-free) and a potassium-bearing mineral (slow-release). The dual-source approach provides both immediate availability for rapid fruit development and sustained background supply throughout the reproductive phase.

06

Living vs Dead Fertiliser

The critical distinction: this product arrives containing active, living microorganisms. Conventional liquid fertilisers are sterile chemical solutions — they feed the plant but do nothing for the soil biology that sustains long-term fertility. A fermented fertiliser inoculates the root zone with beneficial organisms while simultaneously providing mineral nutrition. Each application builds the biological workforce in the soil, improving nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and organic matter breakdown for future seasons.

References

  1. Higa, T. & Parr, J.F. (1994). Beneficial and effective microorganisms for a sustainable agriculture and environment. International Nature Farming Research Center, Atami, Japan.
  2. Cho, J.Y. (2016). Jadam Organic Farming. JADAM Publishing.
  3. Nardi, S. et al. (2009). Physiological effects of humic substances on higher plants. Soil Biol. Biochem., 41, 215–229.
  4. Canellas, L.P. et al. (2015). Humic and fulvic acids as biostimulants in horticulture. Scientia Horticulturae, 196, 15–27.

How to use: bloom-stage supplementation for flowering & fruiting

This is a supplement, not a base feed

Bloom Booster is designed to be used alongside your base Dr Forest fertiliser (Tomato, Rose & Flower, Fruit & Veg, etc.) during the flowering and fruiting stage. It does not replace the base feed — it adds phosphorus, potassium, microbes, and biostimulants on top of your existing programme.

Application rates

Foliar spray

Rate: 5–10 ml per litre of water  |  Frequency: Weekly during flowering and fruiting

Strain through a fine sieve or muslin cloth before adding to a sprayer — although pre-strained through 200 micron, additional straining prevents any residual particles from clogging nozzles. Apply as a fine mist to both leaf surfaces in early morning or late evening. The aloe vera saponins improve leaf wetting.

Root drench

Rate: 5–20 ml per litre of water  |  Frequency: Weekly during flowering and fruiting

Dilute and apply directly to the root zone. This is the preferred method for delivering the beneficial microorganisms to the soil. The living EM culture colonises the rhizosphere on contact. No straining required for watering can application.

When to start

Start: When flower buds first appear  |  Continue: Right through to harvest

Begin applications at the first sign of flowering. Continue weekly through fruit set, fruit development, and right up to harvest. Because this formula contains zero nitrogen, there is no risk of pushing unwanted vegetative growth or delaying ripening during late bloom — you can keep applying through the final weeks when nitrogen-containing products would need to be stopped. For early flower when some nitrogen is still beneficial, supplement with Micro-Amino amino acid chelated micronutrients alongside this product.

Step-by-step

  1. Shake the bottle well. This is a living fermented product — sediment and biological material settle during storage. Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
  2. Measure the required volume. Root drench: 5–20 ml per litre. Foliar: 5–10 ml per litre. Start at the lower end and increase if plants respond well.
  3. For foliar use, strain first. Pour through a fine sieve, muslin, or old tights into the sprayer. This prevents nozzle blockages from any residual particles.
  4. Dilute in water and apply. For root drench, simply add to a watering can and pour around the root zone. For foliar, spray both leaf surfaces evenly.
  5. Apply weekly from the start of flowering right through to harvest. Zero nitrogen means no need to stop before picking. Use alongside your regular base fertiliser — this is a supplement, not a replacement.
Works well combined with…

Use as a bloom-stage supplement alongside Dr Forest Tomato 3-4-6, Rose & Flower 5-3-5, Bloom 2-8-4, or any Dr Forest base fertiliser. Pair with Cal-Mino for chelated calcium during fruit development — the combination of PK from the bloom booster and Ca from Cal-Mino covers the full mineral demand of fruiting. Add Seaweed Powder fortnightly for additional biostimulant activity.

Frequently asked questions

This is a fermented product containing active microbial cultures. The smell — often described as yeasty, sour, or slightly vinegary — is completely normal and indicates a healthy, active fermentation. The odour dissipates rapidly after dilution. If it smells rotten or putrid (as opposed to sour/fermented), the culture may have been contaminated — contact us for a replacement.
EM-1 (Effective Microorganisms) is a defined consortium of beneficial bacteria, yeasts, and fungi developed by Professor Teruo Higa in Japan. It includes phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and beneficial fungi. During fermentation, these organisms produce vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, antioxidants, and plant growth-promoting compounds. When applied to soil, they colonise the root zone and compete with pathogenic organisms.
No. This is a bloom-stage supplement designed to add phosphorus, potassium, microbes, and biostimulants on top of your existing base fertiliser. It does not contain enough nitrogen or the full range of nutrients needed for complete plant nutrition. Use alongside a Dr Forest base fertiliser (Tomato, Rose & Flower, All-Purpose, etc.) for a complete programme.
The aloe vera is grown organically in-house at Dr Forest HQ in Stockport. It is harvested fresh and added directly to the fermentation. Aloe vera contains salicylic acid (a natural plant defence signal), saponins (biosurfactants), and polysaccharides — all of which contribute to the biostimulant activity of the finished product.
The first stage — mineral extraction — runs for a minimum of three months under anaerobic conditions. The second stage — EM-1 activation with banana peel and molasses — takes approximately two weeks at 25°C+. Total production time is at least 14 weeks per batch. This is not a product that can be rushed.
For root drench application with a watering can — no straining needed. For foliar spraying — yes, strain through a fine sieve, muslin, or old tights before adding to a sprayer. The product is pre-strained through a 200-micron sieve during bottling, but additional straining prevents any residual particles from blocking sprayer nozzles.
Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight. This is a living product — do not freeze or expose to temperatures above 35°C, as this will kill the beneficial organisms. The bottle may produce a small amount of gas during storage from ongoing microbial activity — open carefully. Use within 6 months of purchase for best results.
Yes. The fermented ingredients and beneficial microorganisms are safe for all garden plants. Start with the lower dilution rate (5 ml/L) on sensitive varieties and increase if plants respond well. Particularly effective on tomatoes, peppers, roses, strawberries, and all fruiting and flowering crops.
No — and that is by design. This is a living, handcrafted fermentation, not a factory formulation. Each batch will vary slightly in colour, smell, and microbial composition depending on the specific conditions of that fermentation. The mineral inputs are consistent, but the biological component is naturally variable. This is the nature of fermented products.
Yes. This product is supplied in recycled plastic bottles.
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