Slow Release Fertilizer

‘What are the little blue things in the compost of my bought houseplants?’ I have been asked. Well it is most likely that they are slow release fertilizer.

Uses of Slow Release Granules

• I now add   slow release granules when potting on and particularly for plants destined for the house.
• Compost, particularly cheap multi-purpose compost, has very limited nutrients which are exhausted in a few weeks. Slow release thentakes over the fertilizing job  .
• Acid loving plants can now get slow release specially formulated for there needs.
• I augment the slow release during periods of rapid growth with an occasional liquid supplementary feed.

Fertilizer Brands

• Miracle-gro has become one of my staples for fertilizer. The picture is of the slow release fertilizer It feeds for up to 6 months and includes NPK 17-9-11 with magnesium and trace elements
• ‘Osmoform is a slow release fertilizer. The working principle is not based on a coating around the granules like with Osmocote, but on long nitrogen chains breaking down slowly. This process is influenced by temperature, micobiological activity and humidity. Osmoform contains NPK, magnesium and a package of trace elements’. Osmocote is NPK 15:4:9
• Fisons   Ficote   14N-3.5P -6.5K is now sold as nutricote, Multicote 8 and Planta cote are other horticultural products.
• Chempack also do a range for hobby gardeners that I use on occasion.
• Terralit is a slow release fertilizing medium providing optimal nutrient supply for aquatic plants via the aquarium substrate
• Phostrogen is another brand that now produces a six month slow release formula