Osmocote Plant Food

What is Osmocote?

Osmocote Plant Food is the premier garden fertilizer, for both amateur and professional users. Created 40 years ago, Osmocote effectively initiated the coated slow-release fertilizer concept. Commercial growers of potted plants immediately benefited. They benefited because the technology virtually eliminated the risk of plant damage common to ordinary, fast-release fertilizers. Additionally, the technology enabled growers to feed plants with a single application for periods ranging from a couple of months to more than a year. Most importantly, Osmocote provided container plants with a continuous supply of nutrition, eliminating the "feast and famine" pattern that characterizes ordinary fertilizers.

The Osmocote technology consists of a unique, resin coating that encapsulates a nearly perfect sphere of NPK - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These elements provide the nutritional foundation of plant life. A granule of Osmocote, once applied to the soil, absorbs moisture when soil temperatures are greater than 50 degrees. Unlike brittle coatings that are sometimes used in cheaper "slow-release" products, Osmocote's coating is sufficiently elastic that it can swell as moisture is absorbed into the granule. The Osmocote granule absorbs just so much water, but no more, even if submerged in a pool of water for days. Once inside, the trapped moisture mixes with the nutrients and forms a rich gel of life-enriching material. Via the process of osmosis, the nutrient mixture releases through the wall of the granule and into the surrounding soil. This matters greatly because during the growing season, plants take nutrients out of the soil. Osmocote's technology uniquely replaces the soil's nutrients. This extraordinary process makes fertilizer "burn" nearly impossible. And, it ensures that plants have what they need, when they need it.

Over the years, amateur gardeners learned about this amazing professional product from retail nurseries and industry experts such as county agricultural extension agents and Master Gardeners. In the early days, gardeners had to buy it either in 50 lb bags or from a friendly dealer who repackaged the product in a more convenient quantity. Today, knowledgeable gardeners across the United States can find Osmocote at fine independently owned garden centers, major home centers such as The Home Depot and Lowe's, at mass merchants like Wal*Mart, Target and Kmart, and at the Ace, TruServ and Do-It-Best hardware co-ops. There are three "flavors" of Osmocote, one for Outdoor/Indoor use with annuals, perennials, woody ornamentals, potted plants, hanging baskets and indoor, tropical plants. A second flavor is formulated for vegetable gardens and fruits such as tomatoes, melons and berries. The third member of the Osmocote family is for low pH-loving plants such as evergreens, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, gardenias, ferns, orchids and rhododendrons. In addition to essential NPK elements, these plants require soil acidifiers.

Osmocote display at Wal*Mart, May 07

The Sierra Chemical Company originally developed and manufactured the Osmocote product. Sierra Chemical was later purchased by W.R. Grace to form Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company. In 1994, The Scotts Company, of Marysville, Ohio, and the world's leading lawn and garden company purchased the brand and related technology to further enhance its professional business. Today, Bloomington Brands LLC under contract from The Scotts Company markets Osmocote to consumers.

The brand team maintains two web sites:

http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/osmocote/

http://www.plantersplace.com/