Not so fantastic plastic

gruntlabor said:
Bobcat, sorry off topic, please excuse..
I recently had occasion to write to MiracleGro. No answer so I asked Copilot:
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I have a huge box of OLD MiracleGro. A tiny smear of it instantly dissolved the porcelain in my kitchen sink. A quarter teaspoon in a gallon of water turned it BLACK. Is this stuff safe to use on plants??
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Copilot said, ... that sounds genuinely alarming. If your old MiracleGro is reacting so aggressively—dissolving porcelain and turning water black—it’s not just aged, it’s likely chemically unstable or contaminated. That kind of reaction suggests a breakdown or transformation of ingredients that could be corrosive, toxic, or both.

Here’s what we know from expert sources:

🌫️ Porcelain Dissolution = Chemical Reaction Porcelain is highly resistant to most household substances. If MiracleGro dissolved it, that’s a red flag for a strong chemical reaction—possibly involving acids, oxidizers, or degraded compounds.

🖤 Black Water = Possible Contamination or Oxidation Water turning black could be due to oxidized metals, mold, or chemical residues. While black water isn’t always dangerous, when it’s linked to fertilizer, it suggests something more serious.

🌱 Not Safe for Plants (or You) Even if it were just old, MiracleGro contains synthetic fertilizers that degrade over time. But in your case, the extreme reactions mean it could harm plant roots, soil microbiomes, and potentially leach toxins into the environment.

🔍 What You Should Do

Do not use it on plants.

Avoid contact with skin or drains.

Dispose of it as hazardous waste—your local municipality may have guidelines for chemical disposal.

Consider a water test if any got into your plumbing.

Ventilate the area and clean any residue with caution. ...
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Wow. That's alarming. I would suspect some sort of acid, but that high of a concentration in Miracle Grow seems very unusual. I know next to nothing about it, but here's what Copilot came up with:

Acidic Components in Miracle-Gro​

Based on historical formulations and user reports, here are the key acidic substances that might be present:

  • Ammonium sulfate: A common nitrogen fertilizer that can significantly lower pH, sometimes to around 4.5. This acidic environment can be corrosive to some ceramic glazes, especially if the fertilizer is left in prolonged contact.
  • Peat moss: Often included in potting mixes, it’s naturally acidic and can contribute to a lower pH.
  • Phosphoric acid derivatives: Some water-soluble Miracle-Gro products may contain phosphate salts that, when dissolved, can create mildly acidic conditions.
 

In 2020, Italian researchers found microplastic in fruit and vegetables. Apples and carrots have the highest levels of microplastic particles. The contamination occurs through root uptake, where plants literally drink contaminated water and transport the plastic particles throughout their tissues. Even washing won't remove these embedded particles. Carrots were the worst plastic collector, but it's likely because it's a root vegetable that is totally immersed in the soil.

You wouldn't think plastic could make it's way through the roots of plants and into the vegetables, but it does. I suppose you could grow your own, but how do you know the soil you're using doesn't have them.
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
Most plastic is unrecyclable. There is no getting rid of this sh-t.
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.... and it never goes away. Every piece of plastic ever made is still around (Unless it was burned, which releases all kinds of toxic chemicals into the air). All the rest just breaks down into smaller particles and infiltrates everything.

Also concerning is they know little about its effects on human health. It's not like they can do properly controlled studies. Where are you going to find a human on the planet with no microplastics in their body to compare with. It's even in rainwater. Everyone is polluted.
 
bobcat said:
.... and it never goes away. Every piece of plastic ever made is still around (Unless it was burned, which releases all kinds of toxic chemicals into the air). All the rest just breaks down into smaller particles and infiltrates everything.

Also concerning is they know little about its effects on human health. It's not like they can do properly controlled studies. Where are you going to find a human on the planet with no microplastics in their body to compare with. It's even in rainwater. Everyone is polluted.
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Yes, and they say every living creature on earth is contaminated with Teflon.
 
Unfortunately I read one of the major sources for microplastics in our environment come from from car tires slowly wearing away as we drive. They aren't just made of rubber. It's in the air we breathe which makes it difficult to avoid. Also heavy metals were included in the list. Now I'm off for my Sunday drive...
 

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