Hi, everyone,

For those of you who have experience with time-release Nutricote-type fertilizer, here’s a question. Today, I pulled out some stray weeds from some potted daylilies (in a soil-less potting medium), and lo & behold: some small, round pellets of fertilizer were attached to their roots.

Do these round pellets *entirely* dissolve and disappear once they’re spent? I didn’t examine them closely, so I don’t know whether they were just a shell, but I was surprised to see any remnants at all. Could it mean that they may still have some active fertilizer in them?

Although, I love the idea of time-release fertilizer, Molly D once warned us on DG that it’s possible to over-fertilize daylilies with time-release fertilizers, if the soil is cool and/or dry. I’m not sure how many days over 70 degrees during the growing season I actually have in my pots (they're fairly heavily mulched), so I’m a little concerned about over-feeding the potted daylilies.

Thanks, all! : )

Elizabete

Elizabete, In my experience the little pellets don't always dissolve. Some will turn transluscent color and others will stay the same. If you take one and squeeze it a little you will find that it is probably an empty shell.

I've never heard of over-fertilizing in cool, dry soil. I suppose it's possible, but if it's cool I would think the time release would not release anything or release less. I know that here in Florida that the Osmocote can over-fertilize in our heat when it becomes too hot. It tends to explode, releasing all of the fertilizer. That's why we use Florikan products, it doesn't do that. I'm not sure about Osmocote, but the Florikan needs moisture to be activated before it will release with the temperature.

Other thoughts - learned from others

Nutricote is for the warmer climates.

I think it starts to release at 70 degrees, then 80, then 90 etc

That is soil temp.

Northern areas do not always get warm soil at the time the plants are starting to grow.

Osmicote is better for the north as is Plantone, manure, compost etc.

I know nothing about pellets.

I am also concerned about Milorganite but hear that it also helps deter deer. ???

I still believe there is nothing like lots and lots of farmer's gold!

Casshigh said:Hem-A-Roids!

Thanks, Michele and Bobbi! : )

I actually use Osmocote, but just couldn’t remember the name when I wrote the post. I’ll have to squeeze the pellets/granules to make sure that it’s just the outer shell when I come across it while weeding in the off season when blooms are sparse. (Michele, it's especially good to know that the outer shell of the fertilizer might remain!)

My concern for a while now has been how much of the fertilizer is released when we have a particularly cool season and temps only get up to 70 degrees for a few hours a day – if that. What Molly D was warning about was a build up of time release fertilizer under cool and/or dry conditions. According to something she sent me privately, it’s possible to create toxic conditions especially in potted plants in a soil-less medium, if time release fertilizer is added every year, and the previous years’ fertilizer hasn’t entirely been released. If during the next season it gets warmer, then the cultivar may get over-fertilized.

Thanks again! : ) - Elizabete

PS I have mixed feelings about using organic material – farmer’s gold – in potted daylilies. Sure, the mulch that I use that breaks down is organic, but that’s such an infinitesimal amount. The problem is that the pot doesn’t ‘breathe’ in the same way that soil does. Any thoughts about this?

Just to clarify for those who may not know: Nutricote is a Florikan product.

Oh I could see what she mean by that if it keeps getting added each year and not fully used in some years.

Sorry, for not being more clear initially! I really shouldn’t post when I’m sleepy. : )

Even so, it’s interesting to know that Osmocote can explode when it becomes too hot. There’s little chance of that here, unless global warming significantly changes the climate quickly. For what it’s worth, because of Fred’s or Lyle’s (or maybe it was Bob Selman’s) recommendation, when I was starting out with daylilies I searched the box stores and local nurseries, trying to find Nutricote. As far as I could tell it’s not even sold in this area, which is why I ended up using Osmocote. Good to know that we’re being protected from our own lack of knowledge. : )

All the best - Elizabete

I use Nutricote which is sold commercially under the Nutricote name. BUT most people don't know that you can find the very same thing sold by Home Depot called Dynamite. It is the same thing, it is sold in 2 pound green bottles for $9.00 I think. It is sold this way for retail customers. So "Dynamite" All Purpose Plant Food 18-6-8 180 day, is the retail version of Nutricote.

I found a place on Ebay that sells Nutricote in 50 lb. bags for $125.00 and free shipping. Just type in "Nutricote fertilizer" and it comes up. It is the 18-6-8 180 day formulation. I only have to use it once a year, I apply it in the fall to my pots.

I am also now using Milorganite as well as Nutricote.

Dot

I fertilize in the spring and late summer with Milorganite. In the spring I also apply a 21-8-12 slow release fertilizer with minor elements that I buy from the Farmers' Co-Op at $20 per fifty pound bag. I also apply alfalfa meal in the spring.

Thanks, Dot, for the heads-up about Nutricote being sold as Dynamite at Home Depot! : ) I'll look out for it, but am also taking Bobbi's warning to heart about Osmocote being more appropriate for 'northern gardeners.' (Trying to decide which type of garden I have is pretty weird. : ) There are never more than a handful of days with a couple hours per night of freezing temps in December, which automatically makes my zone seem far more southerly than it actually is. The actual growing season is relatively cool.)

Right now, I'm more concerned about how much of the Osmocote gets used by the potted daylilies in my growing season. I only re-pot when a daylily clearly needs to be divided. But, it might be a good idea to tackle all of the pots this season, if for no other reason than to put my mind to rest! : )

All the best - Elizabete

Casshigh do you disolve the epsom salt in water and then apply or how do you put it on the daylilies?

Daylilydreams, I use Epsom salt also and I do it 2 different ways. I either add it to my sprayer so it's dissolved in water and just spray the foliage or I sprinkle it around the plant and it gets watered in when we turn the sprinklers on.

Thanks Michele! I have some on hand so will use it this spring.

Betty, I just sprinkle it (use a good pinch) around the daylily or in the hole when planting a daylily. Did it today!

Doris