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California Gardening

can i use Mircale grow potting soil with osmocote?

14 years ago

Hi

I am using Micracle grow potting soil which has fertilizer for 6 months, have also bought Osmocote last week....is it o.k to use osmocote with Miracle grow potting soil which already has fertilizer or should i wait for 6 months and then use osmocote after fertilizer in potting soil is used....but by then growing season will end. it is petunia that i m planning to grow.

thanks!

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Comments (9)

hosenemesis
14 years ago
I wouldn't. The petunias won't even last six months, so you might as well save your expensive osmocote for other plants.

Renee
gobluedjm 9/18 CA
14 years ago
I have to agree with Renee.
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> Soils for containers should drain 2 to 3 times faster than native soils. > Soils must drain quickly, but still retain a reservoir of water. > Commercial bonsai soil mixes are available and for the beginner with just a tree or two, this may be the easiest way to go. > If you wish to mix your own, keep in mind that good bonsai soil needs basically three elements: *Organic matter to supply nutrients, such as peat moss, or composted pine bark with all of the big chunks removed and the dust sifted out. *Inorganic filler such as coarse sand (swimming pool filter sand), chicken grit, turface, perlite or small, uncoated aquarium gravel. *Water holding material, such as compost, peat moss, untreated kitty litter, crushed brick or vermiculite. > Many enthusiasts incorporate a time release fertilizer, such as Osmocote, into their mix. > Preparing your own soil doesn't have to be complicated, and a basic soil recipe like 50 percent crushed granite or kitty litter or turface or pumice and 50 percent sifted pine bark mulch is easy enough to put together. > A slightly more advanced mix would be organic matter, inorganic filler and water retentive material in equal parts by volume. This mix would suffice for most conifers. > Custom mixes can be made by varying any of the basic elements. Many bonsai growers have their own special formula. One part of the mix given in #7 with one part of a good, commercial potting soil is good for all broad leafed trees and most tropicals.
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Laurel Zito
14 years ago
I found that too much fertilizer causes a burn that you can see on the tips of the leaves. So I would not use more then suggested by the company.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
I use a timed release fertilizer with all my container soil mixes. The timed release is dependent on temperature and little is active below 70 degree soil temperature. The total time for the fertilizer to be active is going to depend on temperature not the number of days or months. I also use as needed a water soluble fertilizer that is immediately available to feed the plant, not dependent on temperature. If the water soluble fertilizer is used as directed there is no danger of "fertilizer burn" Al
buddyben
13 years ago
Al,
I always appreciate your advice.
I just started using your 5:1:1 mix and using a water soluble fertilizer every time I water my container plants. Should I also be using a timed released fertilizer too? If so, what kind do you recommend? My plants are mostly California natives (milkweed, verbena, sage) plus lavender and privets. Thanks.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
buddyben do not confuse me, Al from Calistoga, with Al or tappa from Michigan. I fertilize all my container grown plants, but none grown in the garden. No California native plants need fertilizer unless grown in pots with a typical potting mix containing no plant nutrients. Al
wanda
13 years ago
"Milkweed, verbena and sage" are generic terms. Are they truly CA natives? However, I digress. If you are using a water soluble fertilizer every time you water, then you don't need a time -released fertilizer.
The important thing with container plants is that they get fertilizer. If you are judicious about fertilizing when you water, then another type of fertilizer is not necessary.
buddyben
13 years ago
Thanks Al and Wanda. The milkweed, verbena, and sage are California natives that I bought from the Theodore Payne Foundation.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
Here I will have between 300 and 500 nursery pots requiring regular water through the summer. I have automatic sprinklers to water on a timed schedule. To fertilize with a liquid soluble fertilizer I use a 15 gallon tank on wheels to fertilize each pot. Time consuming and not always done when needed most. I like the reassurance of each pot containing a teaspoon of timed release fertilizer included in the soil when potted. As the summer temperatures increase and the plants speed up their growth they also require more nutrients. The value of the timed release fertilizer is as the temperature increases more nutrients are released to the plant, just when needed most. As Wanda says, more than one type fertilizer is not really needed, but for me I think it worth the small added expense. Al

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