What is Midnight Gro™ ?

Midnight Gro™ is a concentrated liquid fertilizer made from nutrient loaded biochar derived from digested dairy manure solids, a germination accelerator, a liquid NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) solution and a host of beneficial microbes. It is manufactured by Crystal Creek Organics Inc.

Midnight Gro BasilWho is Crystal Creek Organics?

Crystal Creek Organics Inc. was a startup in Rochester Institute of Technology’s business incubator Venture Creations. The company was originally funded by NYSERDA to develop a production scale process to capture the phosphorus from dairy manure.

Crystal Creek’s Business Direction

There was no financial reward to capture and isolate the phosphorus from dairy manure to keep it out of the watershed so an expanded vision that included revenue was necessary to conjure up. The opportunity to team with Cornell to process the nutrient rich manure solids, that were a biproduct of our process, into biochar presented itself. It was the start of the new vision.

Biochar is the carbonization of biomass. It is 50% porous with enormous surface area (one pound is the equivalent of 140 surface acres) and is thus an excellent substrate to house compounds.  The mix of different compounds define the properties of a loaded biochar product as is the case with Midnight GroTM

Economic uses of “straight” biochar have been slow to develop. However, due to its 30% to 60% porosity and enormous surface area (up to 500 square meters per gram…1 pound = 140 acres), it is an ideal substrate to “house” one or more compounds. The selection of those compounds are made with an objective in mind. The objective for Midnight Gro TM is to pack nutrients, a germination accelerator and microbes into a compact package that will economically cover large areas.

Economics of Midnight Gro™

The targeted retail price is $7.99 per 16 ounces of concentrate. 16 ounces of concentrate, once diluted will cover 870 square feet or less than $.01 per sq foot. To cover a ¼ acre lawn would cost $39.95.

At a commercial grower’s level (concentrate sold by the gallon) the targeted price to the grower is $99 per acre.

Midnight GroCurrent Status

Midnight Gro™ ran several field trials while developing its current “recipe”. Those trials showed promise; however expectations were higher and a new recipe was developed. Numerous trials will be underway the Spring of 2025 in row and cannabis crops along with turf trials. Results of those trials will be added to this web site.

Our Team

CCO’s serial entrepreneurial team is comprised of engineers, marketing personnel and fertilizer experts. Cornell has been extremely supportive as has Spruce Haven Farm.