Fertilizer

Fertilizer is an item used to accelerate and enhance plant growth. While no plant requires fertilizer in order to reach maturity, all plants can have their yields improved through fertilization. Vegetables increase in size, flowers produce additional blooms, and trees and bushes develop additional branches. The first time a player successfully fertilizes a particular plant species, they receive an award.

Fertilizer is available in multiple colors, with each plant species requiring a specific type. In addition to color-specific fertilizers, all plants can be fertilized using Special Mix Fertilizer or tears produced by a Cocoadile.

In Viva Piñata (2006), colored fertilizers are sold at Costolot's Store, while Ivor Bargain sells Special Mix fertilizer. In Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise, fertilizer functions similarly; however, as Ivor Bargain's shop does not appear in this title, Special Mix fertilizer is instead sold at Costolot's Store at a higher price. In Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise, fertilizer cannot be purchased and must instead be obtained from Taffly droppings.

Using Fertilizer

Fertilizer can be applied up to three times to most plants. Weeds cannot be fertilized at all. Each plant requires a specific fertilizer color, typically corresponding to the plant’s primary color.

To apply fertilizer, the player must select the desired type of fertilizer and press while hovering over the target plant. A confirmation sound effect plays if the application is successful. If the fertilizer color is incorrect or the plant is not currently able to accept a dose, a buzzer sound plays instead, indicating failure.

Flowers and vegetables may be fully fertilized at any stage of growth. Flowers produce additional flowerheads when fertilized, while vegetables increase in size. The pea is an exception among vegetables, as fertilization causes it to produce multiple pods from a single plant, similar to the behavior of flowers.

Trees and bushes

Trees and bushes can only be fertilized during specific stages of their growth cycle. Each plant has multiple fertilization windows in which it will accept one or more doses of fertilizer. The first window begins immediately after the seed is planted and the sapling emerges, and lasts until the plant produces its first set of buds. Subsequent windows occur between each new set of buds (e.g., from the first to the second set, second to the third set, and so on).

The number of fertilizer doses accepted during each window varies by species. However, all trees and bushes require a total of three successful fertilizer applications to reach full fertilization. Some species accept all three doses within a single window, while others require one dose during each of their first three windows or another distribution across their growth stages.

Unlike most other plant types, trees and bushes grant an award for each successful dose of fertilizer applied.

Fertilization increases the number of branches the plant develops, allowing it to produce more fruit simultaneously. For detailed species-specific timing information, see the “Fertilization Timeline” section on each individual tree or bush page.

Obtaining Fertilizer

The most common way to obtain fertilizer is to purchase it from Costolot’s store. It is generally not expensive, but some colors are more expensive than others.

In Trouble in Paradise, the Fertilizer Bag was added, allowing you to purchase fertilizer without needing to visit Costolot’s Store.

Special Mix Fertilizer is a unique type of fertilizer sold by Ivor Bargain. Unlike normal fertilizer, it will work for every plant and can be used if you’re uncertain what color a plant needs. In Trouble in Paradise, it is instead sold from Costolot’s Store at a higher price, but is also obtainable from the Fertilizer Bag.

A tamed Cocoadile can be directed to a growing plant. It will cry on it, fertilizing it with Cocoadile Tears. This behaves like Special Mix Fertilizer, but is entirely free.

Taffly Fertilizer

Fertilizer can also be created for free with the use of a Taffly. Directing a Taffly toward a fruit will cause the piñata to spray green goo all over it, transforming it into fertilizer of the respective color. This is the only way to obtain fertilizer as a place-able garden item. Fertilizer obtained in this way can be used on plants similar to fertilizer purchased from the shop.

In Pocket Paradise, Fertilizer is not buyable. The main way of obtaining fertilizer in this game is by using Taffly, and a tutorial episode is dedicated to this process. Taffly fertilizer works much the same as it does in the console games, but instead of spraying green goo on the fruit, Taffly will instead eat it and defecate the corresponding fertilizer. Unique to this game is that, once fertilizer has been produced, it can be collected, adding it to the Fertilizer Bag. This saves the fertilizer so that it may be used at a later time.

Taffly Fertilizer Chart

Image	Type	Fruit
	Yellow	Banana Yellow Gem
	Orange	Orange
	Purple	Blackberry Nightshade Berry Purple Gem
	Red	Apple Red Gem
	Blue	Blueberry Blue Gem
	Brown	Hazelnut Fir Cone Monkeynut Coconut Acorn
	Green	Holly Berry Gooseberry Green Gem

Varieties of Fertilizer

Yellow

Yellow fertilizer can be purchased for 3 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Daisy

Buttercup

Sunflower

Garlic

Corn

Banana Tree

Orange

Orange fertilizer can be purchased for 3 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Carrot

Yam

Pumpkin

Bird of Paradise

Tiger Lily

Orange Tree

Purple

Purple fertilizer can be purchased for 9 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Turnip

Tulip

Water Lily

Snapdragon

Blackberry Bush

Nightshade Bush

Red

Red fertilizer can be purchased for 18 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Radish

Chili

Poppy

Rose

Apple Tree

Holly Bush

Blue

Blue fertilizer can be purchased for 30 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Bluebell

Snowdrop

Gem Tree

Blueberry Bush

Brown

Brown fertilizer can be purchased for 45 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Bullrush

Hazel Tree

Fir Tree

Monkeynut Tree

Palm Tree

Oak Tree

Green

Green fertilizer can be purchased for 63 chocolate coins and effects the following plants:

Pea

Snowdrop

Watercress

Cactus

Orchid

Oak Tree

Gooseberry Bush

Special Mix Fertilizer

Special Mix Fertilizer can be purchased for 9 chocolate coins in Viva Piñata (2006) and for 63 chocolate coins in Trouble in Paradise. Special Mix Fertilizer will affect any plant that can accept a dose of fertilizer.

Cocoadile Tears

If a tamed Cocoadile is present in the garden, its tears may be used as a no-cost method of fertilization. A Cocoadile can fertilize a plant by crying on it, which is accomplished by directing the Cocoadile to the desired plant.

Like Special Mix fertilizer, Cocoadile tears can be applied to any plant that is currently able to accept a dose of fertilizer. However, this method is generally less efficient than using fertilizer items, as the player must manually direct the Cocoadile to each plant and wait for the associated animation to complete.