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Copy link Controlled release fertilizers (CRF) include a special coating technology that helps releasing small amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and trace elements) over a longer period, matching the plant’s nutritional needs during its growth cycle.
Over 50 years ago, the first CRF ICL’s Osmocote® changed the industry, marking the start of a whole new principle of fertilizer application. Today, CRFs are used all over the world in ornamental horticulture.
Osmocote’s CRF technology is used in several ICL’s leading brands, the latest being Osmocote 5. For a long time, nursery stock growers have been relying on products from the Osmocote Exact Standard range, featuring different longevities and analyses for specific crop conditions.
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An organic resin coating covers each granule and acts as a sort of membrane that regulates the daily release of nutrients to the plant. |
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Each granule contains NPK, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn. |
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Water penetrates the coating and dissolves the nutrients inside the granule. |
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Nutrient release starts as soon as a part of the nutrients has dissolved. |
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Osmotic pressure releases the dissolved nutrients through the granule coating. |
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When all nutrients have been released, the resin coating breaks down gradually. |
Watch our video to learn more about the Osmocote controlled release fertilizer working principles.
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Highest nutrient use efficiency
CRFs are considered the fertilizer technology with the highest nutrient use efficiency thanks to the consistent controlled release of nutrients over time. In comparison, conventional fertilizers dissolve in the soil immediately after application, only providing nutrition for a short period of time. Multiple fertilizer applications are necessary to ensure that the plant gets the nutrition it needs.
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CRF: a sustainable choice
CRFs are an enhanced fertilizer technology that contributes to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way of fertilization. The consistent, controlled release of small amounts of nutrients over a longer period:
– lowers fertilizer input and applications
– improves plant health, resilience, and color
– minimizes leaching to the environment
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Matching the plant’s needs
Salinity, soil pH and microbe activity, water quality and rain do not influence the release of nutrients of a CRF. Only temperature affects the nutrient release and therefore also the longevity of the CRF. Granules work in temperatures above freezing, with the membrane regulating the daily release of nutrients. The pre-defined product longevities are applicable at an average daily temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures speed up the nutrient release and thus shorten the longevity. Lower temperatures slow down the release of nutrients, thus extending the longevity. This way, CRFs can match the plant’s need perfectly during its life cycle.
12 Brands found
30 Products found
Controlled-release, fully coated iron sulphate fertilizer for your growing medium, to increase your plants’ iron intake both efficiently and with ease.
Osmocote® 5 12-14M gives your crops the nourishment they need for at least a year after your early spring or winter potting, thanks to the latest controlled-release technology.
Osmocote® 3-4M is a short-term fertilizer providing a controlled release of NPK nutrients for up to 4 months.
Take complete control of your late spring potting with Osmocote® 5’s controlled-release technology. This 5th generation programmed release fertilizer technology provides your plants with sustained, safe, and efficient nutrition over a 5-6 month longevity period. Achieve the best possible plant color, health, and growth by optimizing the availability and uptake of trace elements with the OTEA-system.
Osmocote® 5 8-9M harnesses 5th-generation programmed-release fertilizer technology to help your plants achieve sustained, safe, and efficient nutrition over an 8–9-month longevity period.
There is one product in this range – Osmocote Bloom – its mid-sized granules are perfect for mixing into smaller pots and packs. Longevity is between two and three months.
Osmocote® CalMag gives plants plenty of calcium and magnesium, plus some extra nitrogen for the first few months. Suitable for potted or bedding plants, perennials, and container nursery stock.
Developed especially for slow-growing and sensitive crops, that stay in the same pot for more than one season. Osmocote® Exact Lo.Start 16-18M gets your young plants off to a healthy start, releasing nutrition over more than a year. Ideal for situations where a slow start is required, such as slow rooting young plants and early potting in tunnels. Osmocote Exact Lo.Start 16-18M is also suitable for warm climates. Your go-to precision nutrition solution to get slow-growers off to a flying start.
Osmocote Exact Mini 3-4M contains a full package of trace elements and magnesium.
Osmocote Exact Mini 5-6 months contains a full package of trace elements and magnesium.
Osmocote Exact Protect 12-14M is the ideal solution for your conifers and roses, plus bare-rooted plant and grafted material in autumn and winter pottings between mid-October and mid-January. Longevity is 12 to 14 months.
Osmocote Exact Standard 12-14M combines safety, consistency, and a patterned release, guaranteeing your plants’ longevity.
Osmocote Exact Standard 3-4M is ideal for late pottings with good growing plant material and short crop cycles.
Osmocote Exact Standard 5-6M is an exceptionally safe product, making it well suited to pot plants.
Osmocote Exact Standard 8-9M is perfect for pot plants thanks to its safety and consistency and various release patterns, tailored to your precise requirements.
Osmocote® Exact Standard High K 5-6M is great for pot plants needing high-potassium feed over 5 to 6 months.
If your pot plants call for high-potassium feeding, Osmocote® Exact Standard High K 8-9M delivers steady precision nutrition over 8 to 9 months.
Osmocote® Exact Tablets 12-14M ensure your plants get the nutrients for a whole year or even longer. Their cone-like shape means the tablet can be pushed down easily into growing medium. The water-soluble adhesive dissolves and the tablets break apart. The tablets have a longevity of 12 to 14 months at 21ºC and come in 5 g.
Osmocote Exact Tablet 8-9M has longevity of 10 to 11 months at 16º C, eight to nine months at 21º C, and six to seven months at 26º C.
Prepare your field-grown ornamentals for not one, but two growing seasons ahead of time with one single application of Osmocote® PrePlant. Safely apply this coated fertilizer directly into your plant holes and let nature do the rest. With this efficient plant nutrition, designed for easy GPS application, you will save on labor costs and improve your plants’ overall quality.
