It makes soo much more sense to first concentrate on providing a sound nutritional supplementation program than to simply buy into the idea there's a magic concoction that will somehow provide compensation for any/all ills emanating from the grower asking the plant to deal with cultural conditions the plant is not programmed to deal with. The reasonable suggestion is fix the limiting cultural condition. This thread has been broadened to include vague generalities and what ifs; and, in it it's suggested many things are unknown about plants, and anything is possible which is like suggesting apples will start to rise from trees tomorrow instead of fall to the ground. That someone or several someones embrace a 'rising apples theory' should not be viewed as a clarion call to teachers to consider the notion a serious possibility and provide instruction time in classrooms equal to that given Newton's work. We're really not discussing the idea that a pill/ elixir might somehow benefit something that benefits something that proves beneficial to the plant (I think we all agree that's true), at least I'm not, and that wasn't what the OP was asking. I'm suggesting that for container culture, the stress resultant of poor basic cultural conditions cannot be cured by a pill or magic elixir unless the product provides specific remedy for the factor most limiting to the plant, and Liebig's Law of the Minimum is concurrent with that reasoning. Liebig's barrel ^^^ Eg., here the factor limiting growth/vitality is a nitrogen deficiency, and increasing the supply of any/all other factors will not cure the N deficiency. Any pill/ potion provided would need to facilitate uptake of nitrogen in order to fix it (that's what fertilizer is for, and we know it works, used appropriately). Unless we know in advance what we're doing can provide relief for a nitrogen deficiency w/o harmful unintended side-effects, the risk is many thousands or even millions to one that more harm than good will result. Liebig's law also includes other limiting factors like light, temperature, pests, and soil conditions. To wit, more fertilizer cannot compensate for a deficiency of light any more than more light can't compensate for a nutritional deficiency. For those who embrace the 'anything is possible' line of thought, consider the odds are astronomically high that an amalgamation formulated to provide an actually cure for a human illness would have a limiting effect, not beneficial. It's not by way of a closed mind that I arrive at a conclusion I've given quite a bit of consideration to. The idea that anything is possible is appealing on it's face, but when considering the probability that harm through providing any of a random assortment of pills or tonics to plants with no understanding of what result to expect is far more likely to harm than benefit, I think I'd be very inclined to avoid the disappointment that comes from placing hope in miracles. Of course, they happen ...... just not often enough to reasonably expect them. That's the view from here. Al

I had the same exact question. Have half a Costco jar full of expired fish oil pills, and am afraid to use them myself or even give to the cats since they are probably somewhat rancid. Did some googling and was happy to see, it seems that it could be beneficial in the garden. I hate throwing out supplements, and any type of animal product. Something gave it's life for that. The least we can do is try to put it to good use, instead of dumping it into the landfill.

Kate, as you know, we discussed that we don't fertilize newly transplanted roses until after we see new growth (10-14 days), which is the sign that the feeder roots are growing. That's the time to apply fish emulsion solution, extra dilute (50% of the labeled dilution), right over the top of the plant. Rose leaves can absorb nutrients, but the organ of the rose that is evolved and designed to do that job is the roots. The roots have the equipment to absorb nutrients in the most efficient manner. In another month, do another 50% dilution application. Roses love fish emulsion. Don't get it on your shoes! You'll have to toss them. Since it's early in the season, you don't have to worry about the fish oil damaging the leaves up in Quincy within the next two weeks. It doesn't smell good, but the odor goes away soon. Brands of seaweed and fish emulsion are generally regional. The Alaskan product is a good product. As for B-1...never used it. I read a study somewhere that it didn't do a thing under controlled study conditions, so I save my money.

There are many fertilizers (both liquid and granule) that contain all the major and minor nutrients. Its not hard to find liquid fertilizer for $30ish/gallon. The dilution is about 1/2 a teaspoon per gallon of water. It ends up being over 1,500 doses per $30... or $.02 per gallon. I'm not sure you can find a human-type vitamin that cheap. Also, a liquid fertilizer is easier to adjust the dilution as needed ~james