hinmo24t
Masterpiece
scooped this up at end of season recently, 8lbs for $13ish
walked home depot few days ago and noticed it was more expensive.
walked home depot few days ago and noticed it was more expensive.
deal on osmocote
- Thread starter hinmo24t
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namnhi
Masterpiece
I ordered a couple bags. This is my go to fertilizer... twice a year.
Thanks.
Thanks.
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
do you use about a teaspoon per pot would you say? top dress?
im thinking even half a teaspoon?
namnhi
Masterpiece
I say about half spoon but depends on the pot size as well. A little more or less doesn't seem to hurt anything. I am terrible at feeding my trees so this form of fert really helped. Am thinking of one dose around early March and another one around Sept will do for my climate.
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
The thing I like best about Osmocote is that the nitrogen source is nitrates or ammonia, not urea. More immediately available to plants without waiting for the urea to break down.
Firstflush
Chumono
So what do you all think when you have a few dozen undissolved micro pellets in the pot many months later?
Do you think it was improper manufacture or just haven’t dissolved yet?
Do you think it was improper manufacture or just haven’t dissolved yet?
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
The pellets don't dissolve. They release fertilizer inside through osmosis. All those empty shells are one of the reasons I avoid this stuff.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Pretty good deal. Thanks!
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
They don’t dissolve but the resin is biodegradable. It takes a little longer but they do breakdown.
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
like years...I've found them in the soil when repotting trees that haven't had work in five years...
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
even if they dont dissolve or w.e., i found strong reviews on the product that override or nullify everything else in my mind
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
You are right. It takes about 3 in my garden. Don’t know how long in bonsai pot. I haven’t been in bonsai that long.
namnhi
Masterpiece
In my case, most of the used and sometimes still good pellets are just wash away from watering. I don't find that to be an issue.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
FWIW, Osmocote was blamed for some bonsai nursery problem waay back. The stuff "dumped" large amounts of fertilizer all at once because release is temperature/water activated. It got a bad rep back then. Don't know if that's still an issue, though. I don't use it because it's a "set and forget" fertilizer which doesn't care about a plant's current needs or conditions. It just does its thing. I 'd rather have a bit more control than that...
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
i respect that and dont doubt you, interesting too
i based decision off 4.5/5 (90% positive) out of a 16,000 sample size and also, i follow momij-en (sp?) on youtube and he likes the product for his collection of maples
, which is what a big concentration of my horticulture is geared towards now
BrightsideB
Omono
I got the same size bag earlier this year. I just put it in my tree’s that are in developing stages. I did only once this year I can see giving it twice a year working better. Not in trees that are in bonsai mix soil. They get the liquid and bio gold attention lol.
AcerAddict
Shohin
That is a really good price. I'd buy some if I didn't already have a bunch of Miracle-Gro granular fertilizer already. Plus, I use Holly-tone Evergreen and Azalea food on my Japanese maples, Japanese Holly, and our in-ground Azaleas since they like more acidic soil.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
I, unfortunately, don't fertilize my trees like I should. I looked into Osmocote, but have read mixed reviews mostly because of the casing of the product being slow to breakdown, if it does at all. I have picked up some BioGold, but might look back into Osmocote...
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Osmocote release is temperature controlled, which can be a problem in hot summer areas. According to my recollection of a label, with daytime highs in the 70's F, or 18 to 20 C, it will take 3 months to release most of the fertilizer. At 80 F it takes 2 months, and at 90 F it takes one month. Roughly. So the obvious problem is, application rate needs to vary depending on expected temps. Our most common bonsai species grow faster the warmer the weather, up to a point. At about 95 F our common bonsai species begin to slow and go into a summer dormancy. This is when Osmocote is releasing most rapidly. This is when fertilizer burn can happen. If you use a coated fertilizer, apply it 3 months before peak summer heat, and re-apply after summer dormancy has ended. It is a difficult product to use if you have very hot summers.
Where I live, we rarely have weather over 90 F, it is easier to use here.
To get better control, mix Osmocote with your favorite cottonseed meal cake or other organic fertilizer and put them in the "tea bags". Then when hot weather threatens, you can remove all the fertilizer until weather is cooler. Tea bags also eliminate having empty shells in the potting mix.
Where I live, we rarely have weather over 90 F, it is easier to use here.
To get better control, mix Osmocote with your favorite cottonseed meal cake or other organic fertilizer and put them in the "tea bags". Then when hot weather threatens, you can remove all the fertilizer until weather is cooler. Tea bags also eliminate having empty shells in the potting mix.
