Liquid MSU type fertilizer turned grey-blue is it ok?

[Becca]

For the fertilizer guru's....my liquid MSU type fertilizer has turned a grey blue color. I mix it into a liquid concentrate and keep the big batch in a gallon container, and then a smaller proportion of it in a 32 oz opaque bottle and refill it as needed. I keep both containers in two separate places...one in the basement in the storage room where it stays dark and the other under my kitchen sink where it is handy! Both containers probably don't get any cooler the 50 or 60 degrees. Anyways....I've noticed lately that both containers changed colors....from it's vibrant blue color to a dark grey-blue....is it ok to use? Is it still good? I got scared and started to poor it out and then stopped thinking some one on here might be able to tell me if it is still any good before I waste it all down the drain.

[Ross]

Mine does the same. I think the blue is just a dye that helps you determine the dilution.

[Becca]

Well I'm not so concerned that it is blue, but that it has changed from it's blue color to a grey-blue color....so you have this grey-blue color as well? I just wanted to make sure it is still safe before I give it to the orchids is all. I can't figure out why the color would change, the only thing I could think of would be temperature, but it has been at a pretty steady indoor temperature.

[vmax3000]

Hi Becca,
Is the original container an older batch? Some of the coloring agents may have become inactive due to age...just a thought, if it's older. My automatic response to anything that looks different is to smell it (my spouse HATES that). He believes when in doubt, throw it out. I don't always subscribe to that belief. If it smells different, especially bad, it may be that your batch may have been contaminated with some creature that exists on mineral salts. Okay, I am wondering off into the wilderness.... Just my thoughts....

[Becca]

Well I smelled it and it and all smells fine. It's a pretty fresh batch of fertilizer, I bought it from Ray around July I think. The powder looks fine. I've made previous batches of concentrate from it before and didn't have any problems. I really don't have a ton of it left....not sure what I'll do with it. Sometimes it's better to be safe then sorry!

[vmax3000]

That is just so weird. Like Ross said, typically the color gives you an idea of concentration. I can't come up with any other reason beyond some coloring agent has aged or faded. Did your water quality change? I'm stumped!

[Ross]

Just checked mine tonight when I mixed a fresh batch, and yes it is a weird gray-blue color. I wouldn't worry about it.

[quiltergal]

My dry mix has turned that color in the container! It's almost as if the lid doesn't make a tight enough seal. I never had that problem with the first batch I bought, but this second one has been strange. It's kind of "fluffy" too. It's almost a brand new container. I bought it in the spring. I'm not about to toss it.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

My dry mix has turned that color in the container! It's almost as if the lid doesn't make a tight enough seal. I never had that problem with the first batch I bought, but this second one has been strange. It's kind of "fluffy" too. It's almost a brand new container. I bought it in the spring. I'm not about to toss it.

I had that problem too when I was just using the powder because I was dipping into it so often. I think the powder turns blue like that because the moisture in the air gets to it every time you open the container. That's when I started looking into making a concentrate so I wouldn't have to dip into the powder as often. It seems to have really helped!

Thank you everyone for the reassurance that my liquid fertilizer is probably ok. I'll continue to use it.