Osmocote, my favorite plant food - easy peasy, complete

[Old Uncle Ben]

I have used Osmocote Indoor-Outdoor Plus, 15-9-12, both the 5-6 month and 8-9 month feed on many a plant material for many years - 10,000 or so tree seedlings both field and pot planted, large bearing greenhouse tropical fruit trees, new vineyard planting, veggies, and now cannabis. No other food is needed folks.

Faves never looked healthier. All I do is water the pots. They get all the necessary macros, secondaries and micros fed on an even, constant basis the way momma nature intended plants to be fed.

Just dried/cured and smoked some Cannacopia Lapis Mtn. indica. Kept up the watering schedule to the end. Smoke is very smooth, nice sweet flavor, fine high.

I buy it by the 50# bag from A.M. Leonard taking advantage of the free shipping promo quite often.
Not a bad price from Amazon. 2 years ago this 8# was selling for $11. Inflation has taken its toll over the last 2 years. This 8# bag will do 100’s of 3 gallon pots.





Osmocote1041×1460 301 KB

Maui Wowie, turned out to be male. Will post pix of my pure indicas later.



Uncle Ben

 

[Dequilo]

Uncle Ben if that is indeed your name

Osmocote is a good product overall

all the best and if it is you

Dequilo

 

[dugzy]

This stuff revolutionised container growing in commercial nurseries over a quarter of a centuary ago.

Somewhere around back then, I had access to simple peat/mag lime/osmocote custom mixes for nursery stock and it grew fine plants under 600w lighting with exactly your method.

They were Sensi Seed Bank Skunk crosses and they all came out tasty and smooth, plants never looked overcooked in growth.

Good to see you post this info because I think people on a budget could make really good use of it.

 

[Dequilo]

This stuff revolutionised container growing in commercial nurseries over a quarter of a centuary ago

that it did did hundreds of field Mums in 10 inch peat pots for fall plantings

be safe and grow well

S_M

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

Uncle Ben if that is indeed your name

Osmocote is a good product overall

all the best and if it is you

Dequilo

Wow, how in the hell are you? I remember your pet buzzard.

Yeah, it's me. Still crazy after all these years, albeit in my 70's so the crazy stuff takes twice as long and is a lot harder to accomplish LOL.

Will have to keep in touch,
Tio

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

This stuff revolutionised container growing in commercial nurseries over a quarter of a centuary ago.

Somewhere around back then, I had access to simple peat/mag lime/osmocote custom mixes for nursery stock and it grew fine plants under 600w lighting with exactly your method.

They were Sensi Seed Bank Skunk crosses and they all came out tasty and smooth, plants never looked overcooked in growth.

Good to see you post this info because I think people on a budget could make really good use of it.

I have used it on about 10,000 field grown seedling trees, vineyard, 65 shrubs and trees around the house, greenhouse grown tropical fruit trees, etc. Need to post some cannabis pix tomorrow when I get on another computer.

Folks need to save their money and heartaches that cannabis specific foods and their con artists are known for.

UB

 

[Dequilo]

Wow, how in the hell are you?

living the dream

I remember your pet buzzard.

Buddie was the best grow partner

Will have to keep in touch

for sure

started working under LEDs inside this January a bit of a learning getting shit dialed in

grow environment wise

they work well and the savings an the power bill is great but you cannot beat the sun

and G_d pays the bill

all the best and be safe

Dequilo

 

[hamstring]

Guerrilla growers best friend.

 

[Old Piney]

I'm sorry but I got to disagree, it fine for ornamentals but it's just straight-up chemical fertilizer. To add to that is super long - term time release making it impossible to to ease up on or flush during flowering.

 

[Dequilo]

I'm sorry but I got to disagree,

and that is a good thing

it fine for ornamentals but it's just straight-up chemical fertilizer.

it is at that

To add to that is super long - term time release

somewhat it is

Guerrilla growers best friend.

that is

used as it should it is a tool to grow plants

all the best and grow well

S_M

 

[BuckeyeGreen]

I'm sorry but I got to disagree, it fine for ornamentals but it's just straight-up chemical fertilizer. To add to that is super long - term time release making it impossible to to ease up on or flush during flowering.

I’ve also used Osmocote in my outdoor gardening for decades. I never used it with cannabis because when I started growing the bro science as that JJ grows too fast and Osmocote releases too slowly for such a fast growing plant. Big Ben proves that’s not true.

Osmocote breaks down slowly over time, so I’ve found after about three months or so, some of my flowers need to be fed. The way Osmocote breaks down so that the plants uses up more and more until there is nothing left. So easing up the feeding is already done for you.

If you put the right amount of Osmocote in your pot in veg., veg. for a month and then flower for two months, the Osmocote would be gone anyway. I think the six months feeding stated by Osmocote would be for plants that are very light feeders. I’ve found that most fast growing, big, vigorous flowers use it up in 3 months or so. It says on the front of the Osmocote package that it feeds (UP TO) six months. What that means is Osmocote is so mild that it will feed even slow, light feeders for six months.

So Osmocote can handle bigger feeders and light feeders at the same time and not starve one or burn the other. That it can feed (UP TO) six months does not mean the nutrients are always there for six months. For light feeders yes, for big feeders no. The six months is the maximum amount of time it can feed SOME plants, not all, not most in my experience. Trust me when I tell you after using this product for decades that it does NOT feed all plants for six months!

Besides you can’t flush out of the plant what is already in the tissues. I think harsh, bad burning dope has more to do with bad drying and storing practices than anything else.

I followed Urban Remo on YouTube and he and his Canadian buddies were always harping on flushing. They would go to cannabis shows and smoke a bunch of different bud and judge how well they thought it was flushed. Then Urban does this grow using 55 gallon trash cans as containers. He grew giant plants. He flushed and flushed and flushed those plants. Taking them out on his driveway and running his hose full blast into the pot and water ran down his driveway. He put many, many gallons of water through those pots and he did it several times.

They were all testing the bud he grew in those pots saying how smooth it was, how white the ash was and how well it was flushed. When he as getting ready for his next grow he decided he should run some water through the pot and get a ppm reading before putting another plant in his pot. He got a runoff reading of 1600. So they were praising the smoothness of his well flushed bud and the soil still had a reading of 1600 after all of his flushing.

Also the, it’s chemicals, stuff is getting old. Organic materials break down to the exact same nitrogen, phosphorus etc. as with products like Osmocote. I’ve never found the use of Osmocote to harm the soil or the plants that have been growing in my gardens for 10, 15 and 20 years. It is the ultimate in microdosing. A like bit is released very slowly over time.

Chemicals is now a trigger word that sets off most people. Like it‘s an insulting curse word. Better watch out for those {CHEMICALS} in that organic soil though because they are there in abundance. Chemicals, like all things, can be used beneficially or harmfully. Not all good and not all bad.

Nature breaks down matter into CHEMICALS to be used by plants. The problem is people think fertilizers can push plants and that they are like steroids. Plants can only uptake what they need and then no more. Fertilizers can make it so the plant has a luxury supply of nutrients when needed. If you use them too often and too much then they can make the soil toxic. Used as directed, no problem.

What I want to know from Uncle Ben is how much Osmocote does he use for a given pot size for cannabis? I also use it for large containers for roses and I’ve seen charts stating how much to use for a given pot size. I follow that recommendation and it has always worked perfectly. Cannabis isn’t really different from most plants when it comes to nutritional needs so you’d probably use the same amount for cannabis but I want to know what Ben uses.

I put 2 tablespoons of it my flower plant holes when I plant annuals each year. Last year I grew 75 Zinnia plants from seed and put the 4 inch tall seedling into 75 different holes and the Osmocote was in each hole. Neighbors and even passersby would stop and tell me how beautiful my garden was. The plants were very strong and healthy.

I’m not the least bit surprised Osmocote works beautifully for cannabis. It works great for everything else.

 

[Lester Beans]

I have used it on about 10,000 field grown seedling trees, vineyard, 65 shrubs and trees around the house, greenhouse grown tropical fruit trees, etc. Need to post some cannabis pix tomorrow when I get on another computer.

Folks need to save their money and heartaches that cannabis specific foods and their con artists are known for.

UB

It is excellent fertilizer for sure. Been using it in the nursery since Burger King was a Prince. Just for ornamentals and nursery stock. Too much nitrogen for cannabis as evidenced in the first plant pic you posted.

Fine for vegging plants but lots of folks like organics these days.

 

[hamstring]

I put 1/2 cup per outdoor hole, which are in the ten gallon range. I have also used it in 5 gallon buckets for swamp grows. Never had any issues with too much N.

I can carry in a small/medium size bag of Osmocote and a shovel into the bush and thats all I need to carry. Hard to beat that. I love organics but there is a trade off with all things.

 

[Cerathule]

I have used Osmocote Indoor-Outdoor Plus, 15-9-12, both the 5-6 month and 8-9 month feed on many a plant material for many years - 10,000 or so tree seedlings both field and pot planted, large bearing greenhouse tropical fruit trees, new vineyard planting, veggies, and now cannabis. No other food is needed folks.

Faves never looked healthier. All I do is water the pots. They get all the necessary macros, secondaries and micros fed on an even, constant basis the way momma nature intended plants to be fed.

Just dried/cured and smoked some Cannacopia Lapis Mtn. indica. Kept up the watering schedule to the end. Smoke is very smooth, nice sweet flavor, fine high.

I buy it by the 50# bag from A.M. Leonard taking advantage of the free shipping promo quite often.
Not a bad price from Amazon. 2 years ago this 8# was selling for $11. Inflation has taken its toll over the last 2 years. This 8# bag will do 100’s of 3 gallon pots.





Osmocote1041×1460 301 KB
Maui Wowie, turned out to be male. Will post pix of my pure indicas later.
View attachment 18825380

Uncle Ben

Hello is it normal that the plant is droopy like this and has these typical signs of overfertilization when using Oscmocote? I heard alot of advertisement lately bout this stuff (in another forum) and wonder how if I should give it a go and how much to apply into a conventional potting mix?

And how do the flowers come out using this stuff?
Thanks

 

[BuckeyeGreen]

You can use too much for a given size container and have problems as you would with any plant you over fertilize. That’s why I wanted to know what container size and how much fertilizer was used.

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

I'm sorry but I got to disagree, it fine for ornamentals but it's just straight-up chemical fertilizer. To add to that is super long - term time release making it impossible to to ease up on or flush during flowering.

Flushing is a myth. The smoke is smooth.

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

Took a few pix. Just a note, I don't grow, nor smoke like I used to in the old days. An ounce lasts me and my girlfriend for months.

Sativas have been my main stay as you old timers know (O. Haze, Zamal gifted to me by Gypsy, Dalat vietnamese, old school sativa Mexican).

Being a fan of Ace Seeds I bought some mind bending, psychedelic sativas recently via Mandala.

I just now got into PURE indicas to try something different. Harvested a 18" tall Cannacopia Lapis Mtn. indica. Love this smoke. Got 94 grams or 3.3 oz. off this little plant.

What I'm learning is PURE landrace type indicas take a long time - in veg, while sativas take a long time - in flower....take your pick.

Am now re-vegging the Lapis and growing 3 indica Deep Chunk type seedlings - 1 Cannacopia Choc. Chunk, 1 original Deep (Freak) Chunk, 1 Hazeman Monkey Balls. All got upcanned to MicroKote treated 2 gallon pots Feb. 28.

The foliage is VERY thick, so much that it's even hard to find the trunk using my fingers. NO, I don't defoliate. That's a self defeating forum drill.

Have one 15" tall Monkey Balls (Tom Hill's Deep Chunk F2), been 3 days in 12/12. She's a girl! Am getting a bit of stretch, not much.

As is the case whenever I use a slow release prill, am real happy with the results. I dug in about a TB. of the prill into the last top inch when I upcanned in Feb. @BuckeyeGreen.

I usually water with rainwater which I collect in huge tanks, like 3,000 gal.

Back under the lights with the other indicas.

As an aside, during the latter days of flowering for the Lapis Mtn. indica, the smell was so overwhelming from this ONE plant that I couldn't stand to be in the same room with. Cross the stench of diesel, lemon and skunk and that's what you have. I let it go 8 weeks flowering.

Deep Chunk male (from Kwik Seeds) in Jan. As fate would have it from 9 seeds sown, all turned out male but one. All afghani type stuff - Sensi Hindu Kush, Cannacopia Lapiz Mtn. indica, Tom Hill’s (Freak) Deep Chunk and 1990 Master Kush X Afghaan 90.

Grow hard,
Uncle Ben

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

You can use too much for a given size container and have problems as you would with any plant you over fertilize. That’s why I wanted to know what container size and how much fertilizer was used.

It's VERY forgiving. Via a friend we have bought and used this stuff by the pallet when putting in a new vineyard. I have never had any issues with it. The NPK and micros are a perfect nutrient profile for cannabis.

Uncle Ben

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

Besides you can’t flush out of the plant what is already in the tissues. I think harsh, bad burning dope has more to do with bad drying and storing practices than anything else.

Bingo. You can't flush out nutrient ions. A harsh smoke is usually operator error, genetics, or a case of both.

I have a big greenhouse and only use Os. 15-9-12, 8-9 month on large bearing citrus, avocado, mango, annona, pitayas. Also herbs, maters, pineapples and such. I add just shy of a # to my citrus trees come Feb. of each year. They are in large bottomless RootBuilder pots. Production is overwhelming of very rich, delicious fruit. I got 223 Meyer lemons off one tree this year for example. Am harvesting 100's of oranges including bloods. I graft all this stuff from the best varieties my friends give me. Must have harvested 1,000 Key and Persian limes last year.

This 8-14 oz. hit lasts me thru the active season when the trees need it the most. Most trees shut down come the low 30's we get come Nov. in the greenhouse. Here's another NPK if you want some fast growth @BuckeyeGreen .

It's my Man Cave, complete with an easy chair, cold Lone Star and latest edition of Penthouse.

Uncle Ben

 

[Old Uncle Ben]

It is excellent fertilizer for sure. Been using it in the nursery since Burger King was a Prince. Just for ornamentals and nursery stock. Too much nitrogen for cannabis as evidenced in the first plant pic you posted.

Fine for vegging plants but lots of folks like organics these days.

Evidenced by what? That foliage is in perfect health, very green and *productive* with plenty of rich chlorophyll.

Problem with most growers is they fall for the cannabis hawks who sell low N, high P foods which aren't bueno. Cannabis is a FOLIAR plant. It needs sufficient N, and very little P (like most crops). I cringe when I see noobs get suckered in and hit the old bloom foods and sacrifice the very unit that produces bud (and roots) - leaves.

BTW @BuckeyeGreen, you nailed the Points, one by one. I can tell you are a seasoned horticulturist that is driven by botany as opposed to forum hype and the never ending cannabis paradigms.

Happy gardening,
UB