Osmocote question and Vandas

[Miller]

I purchased so Osmocote from a member of our local society. I put a teaspoon in 50 nylon stocking sacks and placed them into my orchid baskets. My question is about the Vandas. How high up on the Vandas should I tie the fert bags?

thanks.

[Ron-NY]

You are planning on tying the bag of Osmocote directly to the Vanda? I would be afraid of burning the foliage with a wet bag of fertilizer against it.

[stateless]

I tie mine at the top, thinking that it will run down the leaves and then to the roots.

[Miller]

During some of my reading about the product it was noted that it did not burn plants. Also, I found this in the FAQ's about the product

"Should Osmocote be used with water?

It's important that Osmocote be applied dry. Do not pre-mix the product with water before applying. Further, it's not necessary to water plants immediately after Osmocote is added in order to reduce the potential for chemical "burn." Osmocote has a resin coating that encapsulates the nutrients. Direct contact by the product with plants is not a problem" I guess we/I will find out soon enough.

Miller

You are planning on tying the bag of Osmocote directly to the Vanda? I would be afraid of burning the foliage with a wet bag of fertilizer against it.

[max]

Osmocote is a good product, its slow to release due to its polymer coat and comes in several formulations for various applications, and I've never heard of it burning plants. I will be interested to hear how it works for Vandas.

[stateless]

I have never had any burn, I do not use Osmocote, I use Dynamite which I believe is supposed to stand up to higher tempetures and not break down as fast, for the rest of my plants I just sprinkle it on top of the potting mix. My vandas also get lots of supplemental spraying.

[katrina]

Given your high temps and humidity in Houston, you will experience a faster release of the nutrients/faster break down of the product. Osmocote's nutrient release is based around temps and the warmer it is (above 69 degrees)...the faster it releases.

I use it w/no trouble but I have a friend who while she was growing in NC experienced some root burn and while she wasn't 100% sure it was the Osmocote...she switched to Nutricote. W/the Nutricote she has no root burn.

Will you get root burn or any burn? Hard to know for sure...but, you will experience a faster break down of the product w/your high humidity and temps.

[Miller]

Sorry guys, made a mistake in the naming of the product! It is Nutricote that I am using.