So... as I read this forum, and become more educated, I have a question about fertilizers. I like the idea of Osmocote self regulating the dose based on soil temp. I also like using fish emulsion as a foliar spray. (yeah...I know YUK, and never during bloom!!) I also use it as a liquid feeder occasionally.
Now the question: If I use Osmocote 19-6-12 and Fish emulsion 5-1-1, am I getting close enough to the 8-1-3 number? It would seem so....anything I am missing here? This would be used on potted citrus, and mango.

P.S. the pole tree from last week has got a few bulging buds!

Thanks!
Albert

" If I use Osmocote 19-6-12 and Fish emulsion 5-1-1, am I getting close enough to the 8-1-3 number? It would seem so....anything I am missing here?"

I think you mean 5-1-3 that is the ratio that citrus use. Yes the combination of 19-6-12 and 5-1-1 will get you closer to 5-1-3 (if you use equal amts you have 12-3.5-6.5---if you use twice as much fish emulsion you have approximately 10-3-5.

Wow! I must be on crack today! I had 8-1-3 on the brain all day I guess in the end, the osmocote alone is pretty darned close at 4.75-1.5-3 by itself, so if I restrict my use of the fish yuk to just occasionally, I should be good. Then again, maybe I should stop worrying about it and enjoy the nice smelling blooms I have

Thanks Skeeter!

19-6-12 is not a 4.5 - 1.5 - 3 ratio, it is a 3.2 - 1 - 2 ratio. - Millet

Well,
in my opinion:

Citrus seem to work good with 5-1-3 and 4-1-2 and some other grades, but:
Even a 1-0,5-1 Ratio would work well, as a 1-0,4-1 ratio also will do!
Even a 1-0,2-1 ratio will work properly.

Problems occur only in to high phosphorus contents, because phosphorus will block clacium, magnesium AND several trace elements, like iron, zinc and manganese so very insoluble, less plant ready elements...
So ti secret for me is a very low phosphorus contenct, and not the rule of a special ratio!

so don't make to much head on! Dr. Wutscher once told me: "It's not the fertilizer, better a less good fertilizer than none!"

My thought was that 19-6-12 would calculate down to 4.75-1.5-3 by dividing all 3 ratios by the same number (4). Why am I off?

Your ratio is fine, but you do not have a basis of "1". Millet is using the standard ratio format basing one of the three numbers as one, which gives the 3.2-1-2 ratio. Yours is the same ratio, try dividing your numbers by 1.5 - you will get Millet's numbers. Barbara

I believe Steve has it right-- the trees do use at the 5-1-3 ratio, but K is so soluble that it does not accumulate in containers--N is usually the one in short supply so it gets used--that leaves P which does stay around--it does bind minerals and builds up in the soil and can cause excess salt problems.

Because phosphorus is the least used ingredient by citrus, and because phosphorus does not readily leach out of the growth medium, as does nitrogen, and to a lesser degree potassium, the element phosphorus builds up. Therefore when fertilizers like all purpose fertilizer 20-20-20 is used in containers, the phosphorus levels accumulate with each fertilizing. Because of the solubility of both nitrogen and potassium, the use of slow release fertilizers really help in preventing the loss of nutrition through leaching. - Millet