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Osmocote


Alexis

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Interesting thread, didnt think anyone was using osmocote for sarras.

Mike - is it just your psittacinas you're using it on?? I'd be very interested to know more.

Heather

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Hi

I tried a small amount of osmocote on a few of my Neps and they went into a fast decline only remedied by a complete repot and flushing through with water. I have read on this forum how sometimes osmocote can dump all its food at once rather than act as a slow release! And this seemed to be the case with the Neps. Bit cautious about using it again now! :D

cheers

bill

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In the pitchers, or in the soil Bill?

These were a small number in the compost. The plants quickly turned yellow and the growing tip went black! After repotting etc the green colour of the leaves came back and it resprouted several new growing points. I would say that it clearly overdosed on it, as growth now is coming back quite strong.

cheers

bill

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I reasoned that the pitchers were better setup for absorbing nutrients than the roots and you can always cut off a pitcher if it starts playing up thus stopping the supply instantly.

I've got a couple of identical hybrids and I put 1 small osmocote pellet in every other pitcher on 1 plant and leave the other untouched.

The latest pitcher on the osmocoted one is double the size of the untouched plant. They are both in the same pot as well, so same media and location. The osmocoted one has slightly bigger leaves now but the pitchers are much bigger.

Not brave enough to try a 'species' yet though!

.

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Wasted - I've never fertlised my neps fearing that I'd over do it but must admit I'm rather tempted. How big is the hybrid you tried it on and do you think the dose should depend on the size of the nep??

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Hi Heather,

I must admit I was a little concerned, expensive plants and all that.

I got a couple of the sanguinea hybrids from kew that were discussed a while ago, they are both identical and look like they may have come from the same tc flask (same size leaves, pitchers, height etc.)

Each plant was producing identical (more or less) size pitchers and leaves, I waited till both plants had produced pitchers in my gh so they had acclimatised (both were at the same stage and time) and started with the first 'homegrown' pitcher.

I'll take a pic tomorrow to show the difference and elaborate further Bit drunk right npw ;-)

Apologies for thread hi-jacking

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Interesting thread, didnt think anyone was using osmocote for sarras.

Mike - is it just your psittacinas you're using it on?? I'd be very interested to know more.

Heather

Hi Heather,

I am also using it on purp venosas. They go rampant. I am only using it in the soil.

here are 2 shots:

psitts2007a.jpg

purps2007a.jpg

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Hi Mike - many thanks for the info.

And great thread Alexis so thanks for starting this one!! Hope your psittacinas do well with the osmocote added.

Heather

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Well, it's 4 weeks later and the good news is that all plants have survived!

I can't say I've noticed any growth spurt and they're just pottering along as before. But, since the fertiliser is released over 6 months it could take a while for it to seep into the plants.

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  • 1 month later...
Not a bad start then, hopefully the growth spurt will be on its way! Looking forward to hearing more about the results over the next 6 months :tu:

Heather

Coming to this topic a bit late but after reading I decided to try osmocote on the Nepenthes that I take care of at my university greenhouse. I am uncertain of the species they were bought from a garden center years ago labeled as Nepenthes hybrid. I keep telling myself to take some photos for ID........

I will post my observations as things develop.

Blake

Update with nepenthes and others. All the osmocote was drop in the pitchers or the carnivorous leaf surface. I did not add any to the soil.

Unsuccessful

N. rafflesiana rejected the fertilizer within 24 hours. (odd color changes and softening of the pitcher)

N. ephippiata rejected the fertilizer within 5 days (base of pitcher and the connecting end of the tendril rotted)

N. muhlensis x lowii rejected the fertilizer within 24 hours (pitcher rapidly blackened)

P. ehlersiae x moranensis (entire leaf died within 24 hours)

Successful thus far at one week mark

N sanguinea

N. trucata (highland)

N. unknown hybrids x 3

S. purpurea

S. 'judith hindle'

S. leucophylla

D. multifida

Edited by CarnivorousBlake
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  • 10 months later...

I tried this osmocote experiment and its been about 3weeks now. None of the pitchers have rotted that I applied them to, which is a pluse! :confused: I cant say i've seen much of a difference but maybe time will tell. The only one I can tell is my S. 'Scarlett Belle' and the pitchers are only slightly larger. Just thought I would share with everyone!

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