Per article:

FERTILIZING
"Citrus are heavy feeders, and they are most hungry while their leaves are growing. Fertilize citrus when the new growth first appears until the leaves become leathery, indicating maturity. During this growth period, feed once a month. We recommend using EB Stone Citrus and Fruit Tree food. Avoid time‐release fertilizers such as Osmocote because citrus has a specific window for fertilizer needs.
Citrus can suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Signs include yellow spots on leaves, or yellowing between veins. In this situation, use Tru‐Green Citrus growers mix as a foliar spray, or mixed with your fertilizer."

Not sure what that means, but those that recommend CRF as a sole means might be able to shed some light. I would love to know what that window means.
This is exactly what happened to mine when I depended on CRF only. For me that was easy, but didn't always deliver the goods properly for my trees.

It may be a way of covering their but and pushing their own product? lol
Like a forecaster that says there is an 80% chance of rain and if it doesn't, then you were in the 20% that did not receive rain. Hum

That is why I now use a good soluble one and a CRF as back up at times. I have no idea who to believe these days, but if anyone can prove that CRF do work and are reliable, then I am all for it. It would seem much easier for me to dump Foliage Pro as suggested by many here and take the easy way out, if it works just as well.

Dynamite is one of the best ones I would use if using CRF was my only option.

Mike

I would be interested in seeing if there is any data to support this. My feeling is that this is all guess-work.

I use Dynamite CRF as the sole fertilizer on my potted citrus and they are thriving. Someone should do an informal study where they compare CRF vs. Foliage Pro with every watering and see which does better.

-Brett

Brett:

Great idea! In fact, I have shut off fertilizing with FP on one of my many ponderosa lemons and I am going to use just Dynamite on it for the next few months through the summer.

It won't be scientific, but it will give me a sense of what works for mine anyway. I never relied solely on Dynamite, but have heard rave reviews about it locally with many ones using it for their annuals and there is plenty where this product comes from at HD

I can't wait to see the results. I will report:-)

Mike

A CRF might not have been a bad choice for me this spring since I've been going on just rain water for much of it. It's been so rainy that I haven't really needed to water thus haven't had a chance to fertilize.

Brett...

It should be interesting, then of course I am hoping that the my weather, plant needs, and the fertilizer all work in sinc. Let's see.

You will be the first to know. Have a great day:-)

Thanks

Mike

Hey, guys! Mike, I'll be following your experiment, too.

As you know, I include Osmocote when I first mix my soils, just as a back-up for when I fail
to fertilize with a liquid solution. I haven't refreshed any of my containers with Osmocote
this Spring, though, since I've been more fastidious in my fertigation.

Josh

Hi Mike,

Personally, I love the way FP works. The trees I use FP on look the healthiest by far vs. the CRF trees. There is no comparison between weakly-fert with every watering. But it's too much work for me, esp. during our dry summer.

I'm too lazy atm to lookup the downside of Osmocote, but I recall that it was too sensitive to irrigation, ie. humidity and an independent test showed it was dumping the N out too fast in the beginning.

Whereas Dynamite (Florikan technology) is first activated by irrigation but then only temperature based release method (reverse osmosis). So excessive humidity or excessive irrigation (in dry climates) doesn't wash the nutrients out of the prill itself. It can wash nutrients in the media out the bottom however ;-)

However, the downside I noted above for Osmocote was an older test of their 1st generation product. There are now 3 versions of Osmocote CRF: Osmocote, Osmocote Plus, and Pro (and Pro w/fusion technology).

Forget about anything you may have heard or tried in the past. 3rd generation Osmocote� Plus with Scotts Patterned Nutrient Release Technology� is the one grower solution to achieve practical and sustainable results.
---- Osmocote in the Greenhouse.pdf

They want you to forgot about how bad their first product was.

In another forum we were discussing blueberry CRF and I read through the entire Florikan packet and recall their later technology (Staged Nutrient Release) has a sophisticated release of specific nutrients at different times, trying to time the release when plants need them. For example, some prills will slow release N immediately over X days, but other prills with specific micronutrients won't activate until a certain temp is reached and yet other pellets won't release until X days AFTER the N or so.

Now Scotts has patented their own "Patterned Nutrient Release".

There are folks in the Fruit & Orchards forum who better know the technicals & business better and can tell you who patented what first and where the studies are.

I haven't used a CRF on my citrus yet, but I can say it's not helping other plants any.

I have Osmocote in my tomato containers and it is all they are getting right now. They are turning horrible colors! yellow in some areas and pale green in others, And dying. I've been forgetting to feed them with a liquid solution. :-(

Like Josh, I put it in as a back up. Josh, is now a bad time to tell you it's not a very good one. lol..

It may be O.K. as back up on a very short time frame, but not for several weeks at a time. I don't see where it will last the 4-6 months like the container says.

JoJo

More container grown citrus trees, container plants, and other types of container vegetation are grown with slow release fertilizers than any other type of nutrition program. Non slow release programs not come close enough to be in the top 3 or 4. Just about 100 percent of commercial nurseries use slow release fertilizers exclusively to successfully supply nutrition to their trees and plants. I have used water soluble and slow release fertilizers, both with very good success. The quality of the trees in a growers citrus tree collection, has much more to do with the quality of the grower than whether he/she uses slow release fertilizer or water soluble fertilizers. There is nothing wrong with using a slow release fertilizer as long It also contains trace minerals.

Slow release is going to be hit and miss.
My plants are proof of that.

No one said there is anything wrong with using it. The point trying to be made, is it's not always reliable.

I have one plant/tree showing signs of deficiency , and it's still in the growers medium. It too has slow release.

It may work for some, but not for all. There is no way of knowing when or how much it is going to release.

Some may choose to use it for the convenience of it. But I for one have no faith in it after looking at my plants the past few days.

I much prefer to keep with a liquid fert. that I know when and how much it is getting.

Things have been nuts around here, and i've been forgetful and the CRF I have in my containers has been a huge let down.

JoJo

I have my trees in teracotta pots,so they are watered very often.I use slow release all the time as using soluble would just get washed out two days later.Especially summer time.
It has worked the best for me....terocotta/free draining mix/slow release and elemental mag/gypsum combo with liquid blood and bone every so often.

JoJo, your certainly have the right to use any type of fertilizer you wish on your trees. You personally may not have any any faith in slow release fertilizers, and that is OK, and some people might agree with you, but untold millions and millions of growers do have complete faith in them, and experience great success with their trees. Not all people agree on everything, that is why they make both Fords and Chevrolet. Nevertheless, the facts are that most all problems that plague container citrus trees are due to the fault of the grower growing them.

Just read the article about slow release fert above...was quite good i thought.....So they were not saying "dont use slow release fert but just not time released(which is based more on temp).....what i think they might mean be citrus time window= Is refering to spring break when temps might not be high enough to encourage osmocote to give up its goodies....That is peak time for citrus and when they have the greatest demand for food...In fact i like to feed my trees 2 weeks before spring burst with high nitrogen to encourage growth...I often prune two to three weeks before spring too.I pruned my lemon hard last year as it was looking spindly but it went nuts when i did the above! As long as you feed when there is signs of growth,you will be fine.Soluble ferts just dont hang around very long for the tree to absorb...Little and often is better,hence slow release are great for sprinkle and walk away!

paul...the bit about flowering...some trees flower heavy one year and then not so much the next...also i have found with my satsuma if i let it hold a lot of fruit one year,then it wont bear as much fruit the next year...i think its called biennial flowering(spelt wrong) but you get my drift...so you are better to thin out some and go for quality not quantity...having said that my satsuma just produced heaps...so we will see what happens in spring bud break...Might be fewer flowers this time.

For what it's worth, a very well-renowned citrus grower here recommends Dynamite. That's what they use on all their citrus and their trees are green and lush and very healthy. I had called the nursery to ask some questions about their trees.

I'm new to citrus so I know nothing personally, but I thought someone might be interested in what I was told.

Vivian

There are many fantastic points made here!

I know what Jojo means because I myself have seen how unreliable CRF can be with my plants for years. I too was one of those that liked the easy way out by not having to water as often as I do with soluble ones. I can tell you they work fantastic mixed into my potted mixes for annuals, but that is because by the time I start mine going, the weather has warmed up dramatically to release them and make them available for my flowers. In fact, they thrive in this stuff. I might have the advantage of warm days under 90 and cool nights that stay above 50, who knows?

Sometimes I wonder if certain ones work best in climates where temps are warm enough to release the food to citrus during their peak growth, spring being one of them? Mine tend to bust out in new growth in early spring when the temps are just to cold to even activate the CRF until after they flush.
Then by the time the CRF is available, it is the middle of spring when temps are warm enough, yet when my trees slow down as summer arrives with extremely hot temps.

No one is saying or suggesting that one should not use these, but I personally am saying that one should be careful if relying 'solely' on them as I think Jojo and others have pointed out because of their negative experiences. Yet others are recommending that they be used. Did anyone here say they have great results relying solely on them?
If so, maybe you could please enlighten us on what time of year you use them, where you keep your plants most of the times, how much sun, how warm the temps are and so on. I don't think one size fits all.
That would be of great help to any that want to give it a shot:-)
I could never recommend anyone to rely solely on a CRF fertilizer, even if it was easier unless I know of their climate conditions relative to mine and or other factors. I would also teach help others to understand the factors needed to make them readily available when plants need the nutrition the most, especially citrus which can be a bit tricky, or as suggested above above, need to get food on that window of opportunity.

But I or anyone can recommend a soluble which works best for most in just about any climate at all times of the year as it will always be available on a consistent basis with the unneeded extra being washed out at every watering leaving no toxic salt residues behind, if using a well draining fast mix or course in which I also think we are all striving to use.

About Dynamite? Do anyone here use any particular kind? I saw some for just ordinary plants, a brown labeled bottle, and some for flowering ones. But I was told there is one specifically for citrus and palm, a yellow bottle, and I am wondering if that is what everyone uses?

The thing I love about this thread is that everyone sooner or later is going to continue, try something different, or change their fertilizer habits based on many good points brought out here and how their trees respond. I think we are all on the same page when it comes to encouraging good vibrant green colors, loads of blooms, and tons of fruit. Lovely!

Have a great day and thanks Josh, Jojo,Cebury,Bigtimber, Silica,Laidbacklord, Vivian, and most of all Paul for starting such a great thread. It's about time we get much action around here.

Mike:-))))

The man I spoke to didn't mention if the Dynamite was labeled for citrus. I didn't know to ask him, not knowing anything about Dynamite. I think I'd look to see if there is some just for citrus before I would get that brand.

This is a very interesting thread, though a little confusing to me because I'm so new to citrus. The trees are lucky I haven't killed them yet. :)

Vivian

I have killed many citrus trees in pots and the main reason was over enthusiastic watering and too much love Lol...I used osmocote in the early days which is a controlled release fert but now i just use plain "slow release fert"...There are a few things that make it ideal for me
1.Its cheap! The tub looks very plain and its price is not based on a fancy packet!Apply just before growth spurts in spring and Autumn.
2.It has both fast acting nitrogen to feed right now to get your plants off to a quick start and slow release Nitrogen to keep on feeding for up to 4 months with every watering
3.It has the ideal ratio of NPK 5:1:3 plus trace elements.This is the ratio that potted citrus absorb these nutrients...I think my fert is 19N P3 K9 plus MG,iron and trace elements.which is close to this ratio.
4.You sprinkle on top of the mix and with top soil and every time you water you feed=Idiot proof.
5.Citrus dont need much water to thrive...so avoid wet feet and never leave in a tray of water.
6.I am in Nz where we get plenty of rain,so terracotta is excellent for drainage and aeration of the roots...In your neck of the woods where it gets hot...plastic containers would suit more.I have mixed potting mix with perlite before,which is very good in plastic containers....for the terracotta i mix potting mix with Chunky pumice and that works a treat.I drill extra holes in the base of the pot...line it with mesh to keep out insects and put 1/2 inch of chunky pumice for drainage...some dont agree with this but i only do 1/2 an inch(no more)...I have faith in this.
I try to keep my mix moist at all times and they get a good soak according to weather(water comes out drain holes)...With the slow release you dont have to worry about burning the roots either(unless you overdo the instructions,read the box! for amount to size of pot)

Laidbacklord..lololol. Idiot proof!

Thanks for your all your input by the way.

Vivian. It doesn't have to be confusing.

You can use CRF solely, then walk away and watch how your trees react overtime.

You could use both. Mix some in your mix according to directions, then use a soluble as a supplement or vise versa and watch how your trees react overtime.

Or you could just use water soluble and be in control of all your plants needs which may require a bit more work and require a bit more time. For some this is relaxing, enjoyable, and the only away to go.
For others, well, each has their reason why they go with the CRF and don't use or like to use water solubles.

The key is to learn from those who use what you may choose, find out how they work to your advantage and that of your plants, know when to use them, know the pro's and con's, and read the instructions.

Have a great day everybody

Thanks Meyermike. My head is still spinning about the different fertilizers. What would you recommend for a soluble fertilizer that I could use with the CRF? I don't mind mixing up solubles if I know how to use them. The trees I got already had CRF mixed in with their soil and around their roots, so it's there.

What is the difference between CRF & Slow Release fertilizer? Are they both pelleted?

Thanks,

Vivian

controlled release releases its nutrients relevant to moisture,heat etc...basically the season....slow release, releases its nutrients slowly over time(usually specified on the tub)eg feeds for 4 months.Yes they are both pelleted.
As for your soluble fert...Try to find the 5/1/3 ratio of npk with trace elements if you can....change your soluble fert every now and then to avoid any trace element deficiencies and provide some variety.Citrus are more fussy in pots...In the ground it doesnt matter so much.I used to feed a small amount every time i watered but if you use soluble...I would feed one time and just plain water the next to wash out by products.Enjoy...Its an enjoyable learning curve but well worth it when you get the fruits of your labour.You shouldnt need to feed for a while,seeing as your plants already have it there.Good Luck.

A combination of slow release fert pellets,(not controlled release like osmocote), with feedings of soluble fert with a ratio of 5/1/3 NPK plus trace or as close as you can get would be ideal but dont over do it..Mike i am a laidbackdood not a laidbacklord LOL....Not yet anyway Haha
There used to be a guru on here a few years ago..aha,yes Millet i believe....is he still around?...Learnt heaps off him(much respect)

I looked for Dynamite for citrus - Amazon used to have it (not any more) and the Dynamite website mentions it, but I haven't been able to find it. Anyone know where to get it? It's been highly recommended.

RuthAnne

BTW, I've been using the Sunniland Citrus and Avocado food with good results in my potted Meyer lemons. Have loads of fruit this year.

Laidbackdood, Millet is on the other citrus forum.

Hi,Silica.....which forum is that please? thanks for that.

I would be careful about directing others to another forum here. Being ban from here for this would be a sad thing.

In private is a better idea.

By the way, Millet is missed. I learned tons from him too.

Mike:-)

"I would be careful about directing others to another forum here. Being ban from here for this would be a sad thing."...............................................
Are you serious here? LOL
These are social sites or am i wrong?If there is a rule like that here....then that is ridiculous!
I am pretty sure i used to go to this other site too...It was newly set up at that time(was a while ago now) but that wouldnt stop me from dropping in on this one too.
In fact i am a member of other social sites eg nz fishing forum,Facebook....never heard of anything like above before.
Sounds very insecure to me.No offence to you Mike.

I don't know what the policy is here about talking about other forums but all I did was do a google search of "citrus forum + Millet" and it was the first hit. Nice forum.

Hi Laidbackdood. I am glad you got a kick out of that one..lol

I am serious. I once knew a member that got banned for sort of doing the same thing. Who knows, maybe I am wrong but just looking out for others.
Offense not taken, in fact I take them very appreciatively:-)

I love this thread and everyone here has such a great sprit about it.

Millet is a very nice person and I hope you still get another view and many ideas from him as I did. Bgtimber has a great idea and was verity helpful. You could also do a search on these forums in the search box and type his name in. You might find many older posts by him.

Do you remember Malcolm? I miss him terribly. He was another gift here.

We still have another member here, Rhizo, and she could tell you just about anything you know about trees. She is well respected by me and many others. Thank God for this place!

Have a great night. By the way, I would love to see recent pics of your trees. Can you believe that the Ponderosa tree I saved is putting out blooms again with two different generations of fruit....I wish i knew someone that I could send all the fruit too. Such a waste to pick them and throw them out:-(

Enjoy your weather if it be warm today:-)

Sincerely ,

Mike:-)

Hi Mike...Thanks for looking out for me....I will take some more up to date pics of my trees in containers...They are still quite young but they seem to be going well....My satsuma and meyer lemon in the ground are going well...especially the satsuma(thats gone nuts)I will post a link after this.
No i dont remember malcolm in afraid...It has been a while since i have been back here but its a great place to share and learn...Its winter in nz now,so my fruits are coming! Cheers

Here is my link but these are old pics of container trees but an up to date one of the Dwarf satsuma in the ground.....Caused controversy by my theory of feeding elemental mag and gypsum plus my standard fert and its just produced tonnes of flowers and fruit.Will do the same come spring time.
http://s1026.photobucket.com/albums/y326/laidbackdood/

Thanks Dood, for clarifying the differences in the fertilizers.

Vivian

Meyermike, Dr. Malcolm Manners is also now on the other citrus forum.

Really?

Thanks Silica.

Much appreciated:-)

Mike

I remember the name of the other one now,so might catch you guys over there too..cheers Jon

I wanted to show one year of citrus growth using only Dynamite all-purpose controlled release fertilizer in the gritty mix. The picture below shows my potted oroblanco grapefruit in June 2010 (left) compared to June 2011 (right).

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