Is Osmocote a water soluble fertilizer?
Osmocote is a pre-planting, slow release fertilizer. Miracle-Gro (unless using the new continuous-feed, shake-able formulation) is a water soluble fertilizer used every other week or so. They both work. The advantage to the Osmocote is that it is working even if you’re not there.
Is Osmocote biodegradable?
Osmocote fertilizer features a polymer shell, which may elicit concern for some naturalists. The good news is that the polymer consists of a biodegradable resin. It melts slowly into the soil over time, delivering healthy nutrients to the roots of the plant. Osmocote fertilizer is water-soluble and degrades into the soil.
Is Osmocote Fert. safe?
Osmocote is a slow-release fertilizer. This means that it is inorganic, which means that it is not immediately available to your plants. . It releases its nutrients over time, making it ideal for your plants. The ingredients used in this product are safe for your plants. Soybean oil is a good source of phosphorus and other nutrients.
What are the effects of organic fertilizer?
The important effect of organic fertilizer on crops and NPK fertilizer
- In the actual agricultural production, the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer is only 30% - 45%. ...
- Organic fertilizer can increase crop yield and improve the quality of agricultural products. ...
- Organic fertilizer can promote the growth of soil microorganism and strengthen the absorption and utilization of crops. ...
What is Osmocote Fertilizer?
S F Gate explains that Osmocote is classified as a controlled-release fertilizer. Osmocote releases the nutrients in a predictable fashion that offers the benefit of greater precision when feeding plants. Osmocote Fertilizer According to AICL (https://icl-sf.com/global-en/osmocote50/), the first generation of Osmocote fertilizer was developed in 1967. Formulations continued to evolve for specialty purposes. Osmocote delivers nutrients for plants into the soil.
What sets Osmocote Fertilizer apart from the others?
Osmocote fertilizer has a coating of polymers over the prill. The porosity of the polymer changes with the temperature. Warmth and moisture enlarge the pores, releasing higher levels of nutrients, correlating with the growth spurts associated with plants in warm weather. The unique formulation of the shell causes the pores to open in warm temperatures and tighten when the soil cools. The timing of the nutrient release is ideal for plants when they need it the most. Fewer nutrients are released in cool weather when plant growth slows. Osmocote fertilizer formulations are made with varying thicknesses of the polymer layer, which regulates the release of nutrients and micronutrients.
How is Osmocote fertilizer administered?
The general recommendation is to sprinkle Osmocote fertilizer in the garden at a ratio of one scoop per four square feet of soil. Sprinkle the prills onto the top of the soil at planting. Mix the prills gently into the top layer. Osmocote fertilizer may be administered every four to six months during the growing season. You may adjust the amount of fertilizer following the needs of the crop, but do not overfertilize. Less fertilization is needed when soil temperatures remain cool. Osmocote fertilizer is most effective when it is mixed into the soil and still provides plant nutrients. You may, however, apply it as a topdressing without mixing it into the soil, but it will not be as effective. You may also place Osmocote in a hole, with soil over the top, and the plant placed directly above the fertilizer. Osmocote fertilizers release nutrients into the soil slowly when temperatures outside are below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In temperatures above 85 degrees, the prills degrade more quickly into the soil, offering longevity of three months instead of four. It is worth noting that some formulations are delivered in varying amounts and ratios. It’s wise to read the label of each product for specific application instructions as it could differ from one plant type to another.
Is Osmocote an organic fertilizer?
The answer is no. Osmocote is not an organic fertilizer. According to the official website, Osmocote offers all the benefits of organic fertilizer, but it does not meet the established standards for this classification. Plants cannot use nutrients in their organic forms. The fertilizer must be broken down into inorganic nutrients. It’s the only way that plants can absorb them. Osmocote fertilizer does contain organic ingredients, but the process involved in breaking them down into an absorbable form renders the products inorganic.
Is Osmocote fertilizer the right choice for all gardeners and farmers?
While it is a time-tested product of high quality and reasonable effectiveness, it is not the best choice for all gardeners and farmers. Some prefer using the controlled release prills, but Osmocote fertilizer is higher in price than comparable brands that offer similar nutrients for plants. It is not the most broadly used fertilizer as many choose to keep costs down with more affordable options for larger farming and nursery operations.
What are the types of Oscmocote products?
It is used for everyday gardening purposes for plant nourishment. The formulation is 19 percent nitrogen, 6 percent phosphorus, and 12 percent potassium . The second formulation is the Osmocote Plus formulation, with micronutrients added. This type is recommended for annuals and fast-growing plants, often used in nurseries. The third type is the Osmocote Pro N-P-K formula which is recommended for woody and herbaceous plants with large amounts of micronutrients, in a similar formulation. SF Gate adds that there are Osmocote products for indoor and outdoor use. Each formulation offers specific nutrient ratios to cover a broad spectrum of applications.
How is Osmocote stored?
Proper storage of Osmocote fertilizer is essential to prevent its degradation. Keep Osmocote in a cool, dry place for storage. Rainfall and temperature can impact the effectiveness and quality of Osmocote pellets. Exposure to excessive heat and humidity may cause Osmocote to release nutrients, rendering it less potent.
How hot does the soil need to be for osmocote prills to release nutrients?
Osmocote prills slowly release nutrients as long as the soil temperatures remain below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. (REF 4, Tips sidebar) In hot summer regions, the warm soil temperatures hasten Osmocote prill degradation, shortening the longevity of the fertilizer in the soil profile.
How does osmocote work?
Whatever the Osmocote product or formulation, the fertilizer prill is coated with a polymer that changes porosity based on temperature. As moist garden soil temperatures warm, the pores increase in size to release more nutrients. This relationship to temperature correlates to increased growth of plants, thereby well-timing the nutrient release for use by plants. As soil cools, the pores tighten and fewer nutrients are released. Depending on the thickness of the polymer layer, the amount of nutrients in a prill can last for three to 12 months.
What is osmocote in garden?
Osmocote looks like small, round peppercorns with a creamy beige color. Rather than being called granules, Osmocote particles are known as prills. The beige shell on the prill coats a core of nutrients. Prills are scattered atop the garden soil or incorporated into the soil at planting time.
What is the original Osmocote?
The original formulation is called Osmocote Classic and is the Osmocote that most gardeners know and use for everyday gardening purposes. It is a formulation of 19-6-12, correlating to percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively.
How long do prills last?
Depending on the thickness of the polymer layer, the amount of nutrients in a prill can last for three to 12 months.
What is a prill in gardening?
Prills are scattered atop the garden soil or incorporated into the so il at planting time. As soil warms and rain or irrigation reaches the prills, the coating allows internal nutrients to trickle out into the adjacent soil -- via osmosis -- for plant roots to absorb.
Who makes osmocote fertilizer?
Listen to any garden-related television or radio show, or read a reputable garden magazine, and you'll encounter many references to a product called Osmocote. Gardeners usually reserve the use of Osmocote, a more expensive synthetic fertilizer, for only their most prized bedding flowers, vegetables, houseplants or other container-grown plants. In the United States, Osmocote is sold and marketed by the Scotts Company of Ohio. In early 2011, the Osmocote brand and product was purchased by Everris International, a global horticultural corporation based in The Netherlands.
