Wondering how to feed plants? Feeding plants actually means fertilizing them. Gardening may be considered incomplete without using fertilizers.
When gardeners fail to get desired results from certain fertilizers, they stop fertilizing the plant. That’s a wrong practice. They should never stop fertilizing without knowing the actual reasons.
Before applying any type of fertilizer, you must have proper knowledge about fertilizers’ quantity and methods. Here we are going to talk about osmocote fertilizer, the most common plant food.
Osmocote fertilizer is an expensive artificial fertilizer. Gardeners use it to make bedding flowers, vegetables, and other plants healthy. It also helps the plants to grow fast. In appearance, it looks like tiny balls covered with a shell coated by nutrients. Osmocote Classic is formulated with an NPK of 19-6-12.
It is correlated with the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Before using it, it is necessary to have complete knowledge about how and when to use fertilizers.
Want to get proper info about this amazing product.
Take a cup of tea, sit on your terrace and start reading this post!
What is Osmocote Fertilizer
As a gardener, you are familiar with different organic and inorganic fertilizers. Osmocote fertilizers are one of them. Usually, professional gardeners use it despite it being an expensive synthetic fertilizer. They do so because of its quick results for their costly bedding flowers, vegetables, and other pot-grown plants.
Do you know what Osmocote fertilizer is?
Generally, it looks like a tiny, round peppercorn with an off-white color. They are not called granules, instead, they are known as prills. The buffy shell of prills is covered with basic nutrients.
Before planting, scatter the prills on the top of the garden soil. When the soil becomes warm and the rain or irrigation reaches the prills, the nutrients spill out of the shell to adjust in the soil. Plant roots observe them and fulfill their needs for food.
We recommend Osmocote Plus Indoor & Outdoor Plant Food. It works for 4-6 months without harming your plants as it is formulated according to the slow-release formula with no chemicals.
For indoor or outdoor plants, you should apply Osmocote every 6 months, and for fruits and vegetables, it is best to apply every 4 months.
Note: Osmocote fertilizers are available in water resistance bottles from 1.25 lb to 3 lb, and 10 lb of resealable bags.
Types of Fertilizer
As you know fertilizers should be found in different forms. Some show slow results and others are quick and fast. We also have different fertilizers for indoor and outdoor plants. You can also get osmocote fertilizer in granules, liquid, and powder form.
Each type has its own benefits and effects. Basically, there are two main types of fertilizers:
- Slow Release Formula
How do you make it possible for your plants to supply nutrients forever? It’s so simple! You can do it by adopting the slow-release formula of Osmocote fertilizers.
As the name shows, slow or time-release fertilizers take time to show action and results. It has slow effects on plants. But it is a plus point as it may not harm your plants and there is no fear of chemical burning.
Such fertilizers are designed to feed the plants, vegetables, and lawns all the time with healthy nutrients throughout the growing season. New Osmocote prills are enclosed in a protective shell that helps the nutrients to come slowly and feed the plants regularly, not at once like other inorganic fertilizers.
Always remember that you don’t use any type of fertilizer without reading its instructions printed on the label. Be sure to check the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). The NPK number of a product shows the percentage of essential nutrients in the fertilizer.
Nitrogen helps the plant in healthy growth and leaf-rich colors. In the development of new roots and producing seeds, phosphorus plays a vital role. On the other hand, potassium is important for nice and strong stems. So, it is crucial to check the NPK of fertilizer before purchasing and applying.
The best Osmocote slow-release formula is the Osmocote Classic With NPK 19-6-12. Nutrients are found in encapsulated form, which has many layers of polymeric resin. It may be released in 3-4 months.
- Quick Release Formula
Fast or quick-release fertilizers work immediately. Such fertilizers are ready to use and you may not have to wait a long time for the best results. It is best to use quick-release fertilizer for newly established lawns.
With this type of fertilizer, it can be possible to provide nutrients for your grass and plants immediately. If you want to get rapid growth of plants, it is best to apply a fast-release formula. Try to apply it in starting the season of growth as it will help in the strong and tall growth of your turf. It may recover the grass which is naturally blocked by unwanted weeds.
If you are going to apply a quick release formula, you must be careful as sometimes it may harm your lawn. The reason is that it contains some kind of chemicals to help it for fast actions. But on the contrary, they can also burn your grass.
Over application is also dangerous because in this case, you may find burn damages on your lawn. The use of fast-release fertilizer means there is a need for re-application and it will be necessary. You have to mow your lawn much more than before., So, be prepared for it!
Here we suggest AM Leonard Fertilizer Osmocote 14-14-14. It is a controlled release formula that works for 3-4 months.
5 Methods To Apply Osmocote Fertilizer
Some gardeners may not be interested in using fertilizers because they have bad experiences regarding them. The reason behind it is that they don’t have proper knowledge about using fertilizers. They don’t know how to apply fertilizers properly at the correct time.
But avoiding fertilizer is not the solution. Here we solve the problem in an easy way. We are going to mention some easy methods to apply any kind of fertilizer that will show results soon. Just read them carefully and follow them.
A well-known brand Osmocote provides you a complete guide to using its product labeled on it.
Let’s start to read the methods!
- Deep Soil
This is the ideal method for those who are making their lawn for planting but show nothing yet. If you apply the application deeply after planting, it will only damage your lawn but nothing good. First, determine the size of the place where you want to add fertilizer. Dig the soil deeply at the required size.
Then take the fertilizer and follow the directions labeled on the package to put the Osmocote fertilizer on. When you apply it to the whole planting area, mix the fertilizer into your soil properly with the help of a hand or a tiller. Don’t forget to wear safety gloves before spreading the fertilizer.
Here is a guiding video on how to prepare the soil for fertilizer.
- Individual Applications
If you think there is no need to apply Osmocote for the large area, you can limit the application to the place where you are going to plant. You can call this a dibbling method.
To start it, dig a planting hole for seeds, but it may be a little deeper than the hole you normally dig. In the bottom of the hole, put the required amount of fertilizer. If you are planting a specific root system, use 20% less fertilizer than the normally used application method.
After filling the bottom, plant your seeds as you normally do. This method is preferable as it requires less food. After planting, water the soil properly to establish the plant’s root system.
- Topdressing
If you want to fertilize the area where the plants have already grown, choose the technique of topdressing. Spread the fertilizer across the surface with your hand, hand-held spreader, or a drop spreader.
Be careful while watering the soil as this application needs less water. Many slow-release fertilizers are operated by moisture, so too much rain and water can wash away prematurely. Remember that Osmocote releases by Osmosis, putting nutrients into the soil for four to six months continuously.
- Banding
Banding is a fertilizing technique that works well for plants that have already been planted in rows. Make two-inch furrows on the side of plants and put the fertilizer in them. The depth of these furrows should be two inches deeper than the original seed furrow.
If you have already dug furrows for irrigation on both sides of the plants, the new fertilizing lines should be between them and the plants. If you are using a drip hose, add the fertilizer under the transistor.
It may take a long space in your garden, but is effective to handle long rows of vegetables and flowers.
- Repotting
You can apply one of the above methods to your indoor and outdoor plants. If you want to refresh the soil, repotting is the best procedure for this. To apply this technique, you must be more careful than before.
First, take out the plant from the soil carefully, work hard without disturbing the root balls. Now put the right amount of fertilizer into the soil, spread the prills in a way that they could not be hurt. Because it may leave a bad effect on their performance.
Repot the plant again with great care and water it normally.
How To Use Osmocote Fertilizer For Indoor Plants
As Osmocote is a slow-release formula, you can apply it to indoor plants. It also shows the best results and feeds your plants inside properly. Here are some directions to apply Osmocote Fertilizer inside:
- Take Osmocote Plus smart-release fertilizer and sprinkle one scoop of prills into the plant pot.
- Mix the topsoil into 1-3 inches.
- Water the plant.
- Reapply the fertilizer every 6 months.
Soon you see the results. You can repeat the process every 4 months round the year.
How To Use Osmocote Fertilizer For Outdoor Plants
For outdoor plants, select the area where you want to apply it and follow the instructions listed below:
- Dig the soil 3 inches deep to spread the fertilizer.
- Do this process across the area you want to fertilize.
- Sprinkle the prills of Osmocote in the soil to feed the plants.
- While transplanting or repotting, mix the prills into the soil.
- Now water the soil according to its need.
- Avoid overflowing the soil.
You apply it every 4 months in the growing season.
Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs)
Is Osmocote good for all plants?
It is the best-formulated fertilizer that has11 essential nutrients in it. It works with all varieties of plants in all growing conditions.
How quickly does Osmocote work?
A classic formula of this fertilizer can release for four to five months at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. At 70 degrees it may work for three to four months. As the degree increases, the released time period decreases.
Can you dissolve Osmocote in the water?
It can not be mixed in water directly as it is a time-released formula. So, apply it without adding water.
Do you think Osmocote is organic?
No, it is not. It is an inorganic fertilizer but it works as an organic fertilizer because it contains all the benefits of organic fertilizers.
Final Verdict
We are summarising here with the words that osmocote can prove the best fertilizer for both indoor and outdoor plants.
Surprisingly, it is found in granules form that is a coated protective shell. That releases nutrients slowly according to the needs of a plant.
We have also discussed easy methods to apply it without any help from an expert. You must be careful about the quantity of Osmocote as you may burn your lawn if you don’t follow the instructions.
