Straight Answers to Frequently Asked Osmocote® Questions

Is there anything “new” about Osmocote® technology?

YES! Osmocote was the first controlled release fertilizer on the market. However, if you haven’t been keeping up with its development since then, it’s time you take another look. Over the years Scotts has continually refined and improved this 1st Generation technology: creating new coatings; building new coating facilities; evolving products to include controlled release micronutrients and Scotts Patterned Nutrient Release Technology™. These product developments have made plant nutrition even more efficient, less wasteful and more closely in tune with plant growth. Today’s Osmocote offers unparalleled precision. Tomorrow’s Osmocote will be even better.

How can you be sure Osmocote products release predictably?

More than two decades of field research and product development—and the industry’s most stringent quality control standards—virtually guarantee Osmocote releases exactly as promised. Nutrients releasing too fast or not fast enough, can almost always be traced back to one or more of these factors: product selection, rate selection and soil temperature. Nutrient release increases as the soil temperature rises and decreases as soil temperatures cool. Different crops are able to best utilize nutrients only during certain points in their growth cycle. So selecting a coated fertilizer that’s not suitable for the prevailing climate or crop type, or applying the fertilizer at an improper rate, results in nutrients being released when they are not needed. Always carefully consider crop type, feeding habit, length of growing season, timing of application, container size in relation to plant size and irrigation/rainfall.

What factors affect the longevity of Osmocote products?

The pre-defined longevity of Osmocote products is set at an average media temperature of 70˚ F. If media temperatures average higher than 70˚ F, nutrients will be released at a faster rate, reducing product longevity. Conversely, if average media temperature is lower than 70˚ F, nutrients are released at a slower rate, extending the longevity. Rate of application also influences longevity; a lower rate versus a higher rate will act to decrease the length of nutrient supply to the plant. To properly select longevity, always take the average media temperature and application rate into account.

Is Osmocote® Plus safe for use in the greenhouse?

Yes. Scotts Professional research and trials have shown the use of Osmocote Plus in greenhouse production is not only safe, it offers these additional advantages:

• Reduces the amount of water soluble fertilizer required.
• Minimizes nutrient runoff.
• Provides a consistent nutrient source to finish crops fast.
• Enhances post harvest quality to elevate customer satisfaction.

The two surfinia Petunia pictures (100 gm treatment vs. 15 gm (1 tbsp) treatment) illustrate just how safe Osmocote Plus is in general. 16-9-12 Osmocote Plus was applied at an overdone rate in an attempt to “overdose” the plants. They were grown on the same irrigation schedule throughout the crop cycle. The picture on the left shows the initial treatment of 100 gm (7x standard dose). The picture to the right compares a 15 gm treatment (left) vs. the 100 gm (right). Even at this outrageous rate, the heavy feeding petunia finished bigger and faster than the standard treatment.

This rate was for demonstration purposes only. For application rates, refer to Directions for Use on the label.