Millet, I have read and re-read many of your previous (and very informative) messages regarding fertilizers. Sadly, I do not have a mind for math. Additionally, I am not assembling a potting mixture as I only have four container trees at this time.

I last fed my trees in July (when they were still outside) w/Whitney's citrus & avocado fertilizer. Plants liked it fine, but it's messy. Plants are now inside under lights and it's time to feed. I'd like to try the Osmocote/Stem method. Can you just tell me how of each that I should give to each tree? The sizes of the four trees are: persian lime - 2 ft high, meyer lemon - almost 3 ft high, variegated pink lemon about 2 1/2 ft high and a volkamariana seedling lemon that almost 6 ft high.

Is there a measurement like............for each foot of tree height use 1/4 cup? That I can understand! Thanks so much, Stephanie in MD

Hi Steph, sorry it took me so long to answer your questions. I have been away for a week at the Citrus Expo in Virginia, and visiting various citrus locations. Here is the rate for slow release fertilizer. The rate is not determined by tree height, but by container size.
Medium strength Heavy strength
1-Gallon Container = 9 grams 15-grams
2-Gallon Container = 19 grams 32-grams
3-Gallon Container = 34 grams 56-grams
5-Gallon Container = 54 grams 90-grams
7-Gallon Container = 78 grams 130-grams

STEM = 8-grams per one gallon container spread EVENLY over the container surface. Apply every 3 months.

Steph, the slow release fertilizer rate is basied on a fertilizer with a nitrogen content between 17 to 19 percent. What formula of slow release fertilizer are you using? Take care, and good luck. = Millet

Okay, I bought the Osmocote 19-6-12 and the stem. I understand about going by the container size not plant height. The Osmocote jar gives the amount to use by the diameter of the container as opposed to volume/gallon size. So........do I just follow those directions?

If not, could you please give me a unit of measurement like teaspoons/tablespoons, etc., per 8 inch, 10 inch container, for example. That would be a huge help instead of grams. Same with the Stem product. How much in teaspoons/tablespoons for the containers......I understand from your response that I need to spread it on the top as opposed to mixing in water and then watering tree with it which is what was written on the package.

Thanks for all your help, very much appreciated, Stephanie

BTW, I made lemon bread last weekend w/my meyer lemons. My first time getting to use my own "home-grown" citrus. How great is that??? I noticed today that my Persian lime has buds on it.

Steph, dissolving the STEM in water and then pouring it on top of the soil is also a good method. One LEVEL teaspoon of STEM weights 5-grams. The various trace elements that make up STEM are sulfates, and are therefore highly soluble. What makes STEM a slow release trace mineral that applies nutrient over a two to three month period, is that as the micronutrients are poured over the medium, the absorption capacity of the medium is stronger than the absorption capacity of the plant. Consequently, the first micronutrients released are quickly bound by CEC to the medium until some saturation point or "threshold" is reached beyond which micronutrients are increasingly available to the trees. In the case of STEM micronutrients, the water soluble sulfate forms of micronutrient elements react with the growth medium with the first watering to create a slow release micronutrient complex, readily available for plant growth. You can apply STEM either way, perhaps dissolving it in water first would be the better application. Applying Osmocote, you can follow the directions by the diameter of the container as shown on your jar of Osmocote. After applying the Osmocote to the top of the soil, scratch it into the medium so that as you water your trees all the fertilizer beads do not float and pile up in a few low spots. The Meyer Lemon bread sounds great, I'll have to try that. It sounds like your trees are doing just fine. Good for you. Applying a little to much STEM would not cause any problems. Because of the slow release mechanism STEM is a pretty safe product. Take care - Millet

Thanks for taking time to post back such an informative response. Just what I needed. Thanks again, Stephanie