“Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah….Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive….”

The disco beat propelled John Travolta (as Tony Manero) across the dance floor. Fingers popping, head snapping, his fluid moves propelled the disco craze of the Seventies.

As you watched, Did you realize that behind those smoldering eyes and swiveling hips was Travolta’s attempt to convey a message to the world’s gardeners?

In your mind’s eye, visualize the movie poster: He’s wearing a white outfit, colored pink by the disco lights above. His right finger points to the ceiling, his left hand gestures to the floor. His legs are cocked open, ready to begin a series of moves that will mesmerize the crowd… and put lesser dancers into traction if they imitate him.

You thought he was a lowly paint store clerk who turned into a disco king at night. But the message is plain. John Travolta was teaching gardeners about their plants’ fertilizer needs.

He was reiterating the meaning of the three numbers on a fertilizer bag: the percentages of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Think of the movie poster again: the finger points UP, the hand gestures DOWN and the legs circle ALL AROUND. And those are exactly the plant functions of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium: UP, DOWN, and ALL AROUND!

Nitrogen stimulates growth of foliage and limbs. That’s why most turf fertilizers have a high Nitrogen percentage. Phosphorus nurtures root growth, so it follows that “Starter Fertilizers” display a higher middle number. Potassium helps a plant resist stress from drought and cold – it contributes to the all around good health of the plant.

So there you have it – the cryptic stance is revealed. John Travolta was into polyester, platform shoes ….and plants.

The truth is out there … if you just know how to look at it.