The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →TIMAC AGRO USA completed its acquisition of Rainbow Plant Food from Nutrien Ltd. on December 20, 2021. The buyer said the deal would add U.S. manufacturing capacity for granular fertilizer technologies while keeping Rainbow as an independent brand offering its Super Rainbow, Rainbow, and International Rainbow grades.
What happened to Rainbow Plant Food after Nutrien sold it?
TIMAC AGRO USA announced that it had acquired Rainbow Plant Food, based in Americus, Georgia, from Nutrien Ltd. The announcement described Rainbow as an independent brand within TIMAC AGRO USA’s portfolio and said it would continue offering Super Rainbow, Rainbow, and International Rainbow grades. Those statements describe the plan at the time of the acquisition; they do not establish the brand’s current product availability or operating status. TIMAC AGRO USA’s acquisition announcement
Rainbow’s own company history says the business passed from IMC to Royster-Clark, then Agrium, and then Nutrien before TIMAC AGRO USA acquired it in 2021. That sequence is Rainbow’s account of its history, rather than an independently audited transaction timeline. Rainbow Plant Food’s company history
Why did TIMAC AGRO USA acquire Rainbow Plant Food?
TIMAC AGRO USA framed the deal as a manufacturing and service expansion. It said the acquisition would let it manufacture patented granular technologies locally for U.S. growers, with a particular opportunity to strengthen service in the Southeast and Cotton Belt—areas where Rainbow had a historic presence. The company also pointed to its agronomic technical consultants working with growers and retailers. TIMAC AGRO USA’s acquisition announcement
#1 Best Overall
- INDOOR HOUSEPLANT FOOD: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food All Plants contains nutrients for healthier, stronger plants (vs unfed when used as directed)
- NUTRIENTS FOR HEALTHY HOUSEPLANTS: This liquid plant food for indoor plants feeds instantly to help grow healthy houseplants
- FOR INDOOR POTTED PLANTS: Use house plant food with all indoor container plants, including houseplants, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and more
- DIRECTION FOR USE: This Miracle Gro plant food can be applied directly to the soil then watered or mixed in 1 quart of water to feed plants while watering; reapply every 2 weeks
- FEED YOUR INDOOR GARDEN: This bundle comes with two 8 fl. oz. bottles of plant food for houseplants; for more spectacular results, use with Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix for All Plants
The 2021 announcement named NUTRIRHIZE as a technology the company planned to manufacture in the United States and SULFAMMO as a future possibility. These were stated plans, not confirmation that either technology is currently produced at the Americus facility.
Alex Goullier, TIMAC AGRO USA’s chief executive officer at the time, called Rainbow “iconic and tied to the land, as the hometown brand of the family farmer.”
Rank #2
- FEEDS ALL PLANTS: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is a plant fertilizer that feeds all outdoor, in-ground and indoor plants, including roses, flowers, houseplants, vegetables, and trees
- PROMOTES GROWTH: Use this all-purpose plant food outdoors and indoors to grow bigger, more beautiful plants (vs unfed plants); starts working instantly to promote quick, beautiful results
- NPK: 24-8-16 outdoor and indoor plant food contains Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) which are key nutrients plants need to thrive
- APPLICATION: To use as plant food indoors, mix 1/2 tsp per gallon of water in a watering can; to feed outdoor plants, mix 1-1/2 tbsp per 1-1/2 gallon of water in any watering can or use with the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder
- COVERAGE: One 1.5 lb. container of Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food can be used as an outdoor and indoor plant food for houseplants, vegetables, flowers, trees, roses and more; feeds approximately 600 sq. ft. of garden area
What did the Americus facility contribute?
A January 25, 2022 article from TIMAC AGRO International reported that Rainbow’s Americus facility had 51 employees and annual production capacity of 190,000 tons. These are figures reported in 2022, not verified current staffing or output capacity. The article also placed the site in the Cotton Belt and Southeast market area. TIMAC AGRO International’s January 2022 article
How does the deal compare with Rainbow’s prior ownership?
| Aspect | Before the acquisition | After the acquisition, as announced |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Nutrien Ltd. owned Rainbow Plant Food, according to TIMAC AGRO USA’s announcement. | TIMAC AGRO USA completed the acquisition on December 20, 2021. Acquisition announcement |
| Manufacturing footprint | Rainbow was based in Americus, Georgia. | TIMAC AGRO USA said the deal would enable local manufacture of its granular fertilizer technologies. The statement describes the rationale, not proof of current production. Acquisition announcement |
| Brand and grades | Rainbow Plant Food operated as a Nutrien business. | TIMAC AGRO USA said Rainbow would remain an independent brand and continue offering Super Rainbow, Rainbow, and International Rainbow grades. Acquisition announcement |
| Facility scale | Not stated in the acquisition announcement. | 51 employees and 190,000 tons of annual production capacity were reported for the Americus site by TIMAC AGRO International in 2022; current figures are not established. January 2022 article |
What does TIMAC AGRO USA’s fertilizer portfolio show?
TIMAC AGRO USA’s BLUE product page describes BLUE as a homogeneous granular fertilizer and lists peanuts, corn, soybeans, cotton, and turfgrass among its main crops. BLUE is an example of the company’s granular-fertilizer portfolio, not a Rainbow grade. The page advises growers to consult soil tests, product labels, or a local field representative for recommendations. TIMAC AGRO USA’s BLUE product page
Rank #3
- FEEDS ALL PLANTS: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is a plant fertilizer that feeds all outdoor, in-ground and indoor plants, including roses, flowers, houseplants, vegetables, and trees
- PROMOTES GROWTH: Use this all-purpose plant food outdoors and indoors to grow bigger, more beautiful plants (vs unfed plants); starts working instantly to promote quick, beautiful results
- NPK: 24-8-16 outdoor and indoor plant food contains Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) which are key nutrients plants need to thrive
- APPLICATION: To use as plant food indoors, mix 1/2 tsp per gallon of water in a watering can; to feed outdoor plants, mix 1-1/2 tbsp per 1-1/2 gallon of water in any watering can or use with the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder
- COVERAGE: One 3 lb. container of Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food can be used as an outdoor and indoor plant food for houseplants, vegetables, flowers, trees, roses and more; feeds approximately 1,200 sq. ft. of garden area
| BLUE formulation listed by TIMAC AGRO USA | Additional nutrients listed |
|---|---|
| 4-5-25 | 3Mg-8S-0.25B-1.5Mn-0.5Zn |
| 5-17-18 | 3Mg-8S-0.5Cu-0.5Fe-1Zn |
| 6-6-18 | 3Ca-4Mg-10S-0.05B-0.5Fe-0.3Mn-0.1Zn |
| 8-8-24 CRAN MAX | 0.5Mg-17S |
| 13-13-13 | 2Mg-9S-0.1B-0.4Mn-0.2Zn |
The listed formulations do not by themselves establish suitability for a particular field or crop. The product label and crop-specific nutrient needs should guide any recommendation.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Indoor plant care: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Spikes provide low-maintenance feeding for healthier plants (vs unfed when used as directed)
- Feeds for 2 months: These fertilizer spikes provide continuous nutrition for up to 2 months for healthier houseplants when used as directed
- For all indoor plants: Plant food spikes provide the right amount of nutrition for houseplants, flowers, vegetables, and herbs (when used as directed)
- Easy to use: Simply use the Miracle-Aerator to make a hole in the soil, press a plant food spike into the hole, and cover it for a simple, mess-free way to feed your indoor plants.
- Coverage: This package comes with 48 indoor plant food spikes, enough to feed eight 11-12 inch potted plants for two months (coverage varies by pot size)
What the acquisition does—and does not—establish
- Established: TIMAC AGRO USA completed the acquisition from Nutrien in December 2021 and described a plan to expand U.S. manufacturing and grower service.
- Reported for 2022: TIMAC AGRO International cited 51 employees and 190,000 tons of annual capacity at the Americus facility.
- Not established by these company statements: Rainbow’s current product availability, present Americus staffing or capacity, and whether the named technologies are now manufactured there.
- Product-channel distinction: TIMAC AGRO USA’s BLUE page describes formulations and crops, but does not establish current sales-channel availability.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
