There is another product that is starched based, and has slow release also. I have used it and found that my potted plants whose emitters have accidentally fallen off, are able to survive longer. The starch based product can aborb more than ten times its weight in water.

It is called Zeba (not the animal, the spelling is right, without the "r").

It is quite too pricey for me for practical application. It is priced so that whatever water savings or yield increase you get, the money savings goes to the inventor and manufacturer instead.

But if you can afford osmocote, you can certainly afford Zeba, after all, the retail market for the hobbyists and collectors think that price will never be an issue, only how the effects will produce the best looking plants, and for that, the hobbyists pay.

These are technologies and products, that because of pure monetary greed, will go into oblivion. The cost of production of zeba would be less than $0.10 per pound, but they sell for $10.00/lb. My regret is that although this has the potential to help stave off hunger worldwide, greed will prevent its widespread usage.

Joe, world hunger problems and poverty will be with us until the end of time. -I would make the following comment about slow release fertilizers, When I pay a higher price for Osmocote, what I am really paying for is my reduced labor, and a more or less even and constant nutrition program for my container citrus. Millet

wow, this conversation about world hunger reminds me of my trips to africa (my grandparents live there). It really changes the way you think once you see the starving children there in person. T.V. doesn't do it justice. Yet, they are the happiest people I have ever met.

Joe you have valid point. However, when I purchase Osmocote, I really don't care if it helps others or not. Capitalism is certainly not perfect, but it the best thing out there. Anyway, this is getting way off the point of the original thread, so I don't plan to respond further. Take care. - Millet

No problem Millet. The Zeba product is really worth looking into if you can readily afford osmocote, it does even better in that you have better water absorption and holding capacity and greatly improves whatever potting media you have.

Just have time to check them out:

http://www.zeba.com/

They have a retail product called Zeba singles available at Orchard Supply Hardware stores. Those contain slow release nitrogen fertilizers, to keep this discussion on topic.

Thanks,I might look for it and give it a try. - Milllet

Harvey recommended Zeba to me, and of course, I am a skeptic, but would try new stuff to see for myself. I was surprised that it worked as claimed, but your mileage could vary.

I checked at HD this afternoon when I was there-- The 18-6-8 is polymer coated and derived from ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, calcium phosphate and ammonium phosphate. I still don't know if it is released by heat or water.

Skeet, to complicate things some more, sometimes these are also broken down by natural enzymes or catalysts found in the soil.

The one I checked (18-6-8 ) did have trace elements-- I just listed the chemicals that were used to derive the NPK formulation. Dynamite has many formulations-- I saw some that were 13-13-13 and one that was 8-8-8-- I do not remember if those had trace elements.

just got back from HD and the only one i could find that was even close was Osmocote 19-6-12
derived from coated ammonium nitrate, phosphate , calcium phosphate and potassium sulfate.

any thoughts on this formula?

Osmocote 19-6-12 is a very common Osmocote formulation, and is commonly carried by most all outlets. Osmocote 19-6-12 is double coated. The first coating allow a quick initial release of nutrients, then the second coating slows the nutrient release over a period of mounts. Therefore, a little more cation is required to follow the label rate of application when using 19-6-12, to avoid any fertilizer burn from the initial quick release. 18-6-12 formulations, at least Osmocote brand, have a coating the restricts the initial release of nutrients for a time, then after a couple weeks slowly releases the fertilizer with a gradual rate of release. Therefore this formulation is the only formulation (WITH NO EXCEPTIONS) used in seed germination and cutting growth mediums. The mode of 18-6-12 release coincides with the phase of seed germination and the rooting of cuttings. - Millet

Scott's describes their various fertilizers here:

http://www.scottsprohort.com/

Ned