1. Is Osmocote organic?
No, Osmocote is an inorganic fertilizer but it works just like, is just as responsible and has all the benefits of a super efficient organic fertilizer. Let us explain; Many people don’t realise it, but a plant can only use nutrients that are in an inorganic form. Any organic fertilizer needs to be broken down by soil micro-organisms into an inorganic state before it can be used by the plant. The advantage of this is that all the nutrients in an organic fertilizer are not available all at once but are released over a longer and safer period of time, just like Osmocote.
On the other end of the scale are so called “straight inorganic fertilizers”. These are the guys that gave inorganic fertilizers its bad name because with these fertilizers all nutrients that are applied are immediately available to the plant even if the plant can’t use all of it at once. This leads to wastage and polution through leaching and even to root burn. Even though Osmocote is an inorganic fertilizer, it is nothing like these “straight” fertilizers and in terms of how it works it is actually much closer to an organic fertilizer in that it releases only a little bit of nutrients daily and the plant can easily use all of it with almost zero wastage. The advantage of Osmocote over organic fertilizers is that the nutrients are already in an inorganic (useable) state and the plant can start using it immediatedly. Best of both worlds. With Osmocote you also know exactly which nutrients you are giving to the plant at what time. With organic fertilizers you are always guessing because the soil micro-organisms are working at their own pace and will release different nutrients sporadically and at different times and some nutrients may never become available to the plant. The coating of Osmocote is organic and made from bio-degradable materials that will completely dissapear after 3 years in the environment.
2. Can Osmocote be used in the garden?
Absolutely. It is safe and clean and doesn’t smell bad. It will work very well for all garden plants. If you want to use it for the lawn just be sure to pick an Osmocote with a fine prill and don’t mow the lawn too short – you don’t want the lawnmower to pick up all the Osmocote that you have applied.
3. How should Osmocote be applied?
Osmocote was designed for and is mostly used proffesionally for plants that are in some form of a container for example a seedling tray, a grow bag or a pot, and for that reason these application methods focus on containerized plants. As a gardener or hobbiest the best advise will be to understand how Osmocote works and to devise a method of application that best suites your situation. Osmocote is very safe so don’t be scared to experiment with different methods. As long as you don’t damage the coating, you can’t do much harm.
Back to the proffessional container plant grower:
The best and most cost efficient method will be to mix the Osmocote into the growing medium. This can be done by a specialized growing media mixing machine, a concrete mixer or even by hand. It will all depend on your set-up and the scale of operations.
It is important to note that we do not suggest that Osmocote be mixed into big heaps using a bulldozer since the bulldozer will damage the Osmocote coating as it drives onto and over already mixed growing medium.
Osmocote can also be top dressed to already potted plants. Here it is important to make sure that the Osmocote can’t fall out of the pot or plant bag during watering or if the plants are blown over during a wind storm. It is also important to place the prills close to the dripper if you are using a dripper to give water. It is often safest to work the prills about 2cm into the top of the growing medium when top-dressing.
Another method of application to already potted plants is using a dibbling hole. This is where a hole is pushed in the growing medium and the right rate of Osmocote is applied into the hole which is then covered up. Same as with topdressing, this should be as close as possible to the dripper if drip irrigation is used.
One of the most effective and simplest ways of applying Osmocote is when plants are being re-potted or potted up. Simply throw the Osmocote onto the medium in the new pot and plant the plant on top of it. Don’t worry about the bare roots touching the Osmocote, it is very safe.
4. What are the application rates of Osmocote?
These application rates are guidelines only and applies only to containerized plants.
Don’t be scared to experiment with different application rates to achieve the best results in your unique situation:
Apply Osmocote Pro 3-4 months (17+11+10+2MgO+TE) at 2-3 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Pro 5-6 months (17+11+10+2MgO+TE) at 3-3.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Pro 8-9 months (16+11+10+2MgO+TE) at 3.5-4.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Pro 8-9 months (11+10+19+2MgO+TE) at 3.5-4.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Pro 12-14 months (16+11+10+2MgO+TE) at 4-5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Exact Mini 3-4 months (16+8+11+2MgO+TE) at 1.5-2.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Osmocote Start 6 weeks (12+11+17+2MgO+TE) at 1.5-2.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
Apply Micromax Premium 16 – 18 months (Micro Elements) at 0.2-0.5 grams per liter of growing medium.
5. Can Osmocote be incorporated into a medium for rooting cuttings?
Yes. Osmocote is one of the few fertilizers that are safe enough to do this. It has been done with great success on a commercial level.
6. Does Osmocote have an expiry date?
No. If bags are kept dry and reasonably sealed it will stay as good as new for many years.
7. Do you sell in smaller quantities?
The current supply chain and product selection is focused on commercial use but if you are prepared to buy at least a 25kg bag, prepay it and collect it during office hours you are always more than welcome. There are also a couple of retail nurseries who are selling in
smaller quantities.
8. Isn’t Osmocote too expensive for big commercial nurseries and growers?
No it is not.
Osmocote will off course cost more than conventional “straight” fertilizers because it is a much higher technology, but it is this very technology and the efficiency with which it works that makes Osmocote cost effective. If you take into account the very low application rate of Osmocote, the fact that it is a complete feed including trace elements, the fact that you can properly feed plants for months on end without raising a finger, the minimal losses through leaching and the safety of Osmocote it is really not expensive at all and a in fact a very cost effective solution for big commercial nurseries.
9. Is Osmocote available in countries neighbouring South Africa?
We can send Osmocote to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Angola and Zambia.
10. What makes Osmocote better than other controlled release fertilizers?
The perfectly balanced availability of all the claimed elements over the entire course of the claimed longevity. In other words it gives what it claims it has and it gives it for as long as it claims that it can. Always. It is often taken for granted that a controlled release fertilizer should at least do that but in reality it is not easy to accomplish and not a lot of products do accomplish that. It is really only the highest quality controlled release fertilizers like Osmocote that can consistently perform great in every trial.
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