Contents
Osmocote Plus Plant Food
Introduction:
Osmocote is a branch of a Multi-National Firm Scotts Miracle-Gro. The Scotts Miracle-Gro
The company is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, where
O.M. Scott began selling lawn seeds in 1868. The company manufactures and sells consumer
lawn, garden, and pest control products. In the U.S., the company manufactures Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho brands. The company also markets consumer Roundup.
History:
Scotts was founded in 1868 by Orlando M. Scott as a premium seed company for the U.S.
agricultural industry. In the early 1900s, the company began a lawn grass seed business for
homeowners, and in 1924, became the first company to ship grass seed products directly to
stores. Prior to 1924, Scotts products were only available through the mail. By 1940, Scotts’s
sales had reached $1,000,000 and the company had 66 associates.
In 1971, the private company O.M. Scott & Sons was acquired by ITT, an international business
conglomerate. Fifteen years later, in 1986, Scotts became an independent company again
through Leveraged Buyout. In 1992, Scotts went public for $ 19.00 per share and three years
later merged with the horticultural company Miracle-gro to form the Scotts Miracle-gro

Company.
Sale of bird seed in 2005-2008:
On January 27, 2012, Scotts Miracle-gro was found guilty in federal court and fined $ 4.5 million
for selling 73 million units of bird seeds between November 2005 and March 2008. I paid.
And fish. Pesticides were added to protect the product from insects during storage. This
includes Storzid II, which is clearly labeled as highly toxic to birds. According to records,
ScottsMiracle-Gro’s own experts warned of risks in the summer and fall of 2007, but sold the
product until March 2008. In 2008, ScottsMiracle-Gro also forged the pesticide
registration number required by the US Environmental Protection Agency for its products.
Orders by a Federal Court:
On September 7, 2012, a federal court paid Scotts a $ 4 million fine and ordered social service
for 11 criminal violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Insecticide Act (FIFRA).
In another agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, Scotts agreed to pay a fine of
over $ 6 million and spend $ 2 million on environmental projects. According to the
Justice Ministry, both criminal and civil settlements are the largest ever under the FIFRA.

GM Grass:
Scotts has developed several genetically engineered types of grass, including herbicide-tolerant
Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass. In 2007, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture found DNA from genetically modified bentgrass in related plants of the same genus
(Agrostis) and other native grasses up to 13 miles (21 km) from the test site. Occasionally,
Scotts Miracle-Gro was fined $ 500,000.
Peat bogs in the U.K:
In 2001, Scotts was involved in a major dispute with conservation authorities and the British
government about the future of several peat swamps in northern England. Under pressure from
the European Union, the British Government has declared a number of
peat bogs covering 1,658 hectares (4,097 acres) of Yorkshire and Cumbria as Special Areas of
Conservation, and Scott harvests peat for garden products. Ended the ability to do. In the
course of the conflict, Nick Kirkbride, then Scotts’ UK Managing Director, described the
peat swamps as “no more protection benefits than cultivated land.” The peat swamp
was eventually saved from further destruction when the British government paid Scotts £ 17m
in compensation for the loss of the right to extract peat.

Lunar Subscription Service:
In July 2018, Scotts partnered with BuzzFeed Inc. to develop a subscription service
called Lunarly that mails crystals, foliage plants, and other wellness items based on the lunar
calendar. BuzzFeed’s collaboration with Product Labs, backed by advertising agency Mullen
Lowe U.S. provides a way to promote gardening among millennial women and reach young
consumers to companies with a history of more than 150 years. It is an attempt to provide. Self-care box reviews were mixed, but as of May 2019, they have repeatedly sold out
with additional sales of over $ 1 million.
Mergers and acquisitions:
• 1914 – The O.M. Scott & Sons Company was incorporated
• 1992 – Scotts acquired Republic Tool & Manufacturing Company
• 1993 – Scotts acquired the Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company
• 1995 – Scotts merged with Miracle-Gro Products, Inc.
• 1997 – Scotts purchases Miracle Care Garden Ltd.
• 1997 – Scotts acquired Emerald Green Lawn Service, which would become Scotts Lawn

Service in 1998.
• 1997 – Scotts purchased privately held Levington Horticulture Ltd.
• 1998 – The company acquired 80% ownership of plant breeding company Sanford
Scientific, Inc. (SSI).
• 1998 – Scotts acquired Rhône-Poulenc Jardin
• 1998 – Scotts acquired the Shamrock brand of U.K. and Irish peat products from Bord na
Mona, Ireland.
• 1998 – Scotts enters into collaboration with the Monsanto Company
• 1998 – Scotts completes an acquisition with ASEF
• 1999 – Scotts completes agreements with Monsanto Company for exclusive U.S.,
Canada, U.K., France, Germany, and Australia agency and marketing rights to
Monsanto’s consumer Roundup herbicide products and for the purchase of the Ortho
and related lawn and garden businesses.
• 2000 – Scotts acquires Substrate. Scotts also purchases Smith & Hawken
• 2005 – Scotts acquires the Morning Song brand.
• 2014 – Scotts Miracle-Gro sells wild bird food line to Global Harvest Foods Ltd.
• 2015 – Scotts Miracle-Gro buys General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics to move
into the marijuana market, under the name Hawthorne Gardening Company
• 2015 – Scotts Lawn Service merges with ServiceMaster’s TruGreen
• 2016 – Scotts acquires Blossom, a California manufacturer of Internet-enabled sprinkler
systems.
• 2016 – Scotts acquires a minority share of Bonnie Plants.
• 2017 – Scotts sells its European and Australian operations and brands to Exponent

Private Equity LLP.
• 2017 – Scotts acquired Can-Filters, a Canadian-based carbon filter manufacturer and fan
wholesaler under their Hawthorne Gardening Co. brand.
• 2018 – Scotts Miracle-Gro announced its plan to acquire Sunlight Supply Inc., a
hydroponics supplier, for $450 million in cash and stock.
• 2019 – Scotts sells its minority stake in TruGreen for $234 million.
• 2020 – Scotts acquires AeroGrow International lnc., a hydroponics maker.
• 2022 – Scotts acquires Luxx Lighting Co., A horticultural lighting maker.
Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Plant Food:
Its 14-14-14 NPK analysis balances active upper growth with active root development. This
makes it suitable for both annuals and perennials, seasonally. With
a balanced analysis, Osmocote Flower & Vegetable is perfect for garden vegetables, tomatoes,
melons, and berries. See the product data sheet for more information.
• Summary:
A balanced formula promotes top growth and strong root development, making it ideal
for perennial and vegetable fields. Each granule is coated with a unique resin that
controls the release of nutrients, so plants get what they need, when they need it. All-
in-one granules contain all three major nutrients (NPK) that are essential
for plant nutrients.

• Available Sizes:
Available in 1.25-pound and 3-pound waterproof bottles, an easy-to-use 4.5-
pound shaker pack, and a 10-pound resealable bag.
• How to Use:
Sprinkle evenly across areas to be fed and work into the top 1-3 inches of soil or mulch.
• When to Apply:
Apply spring and autumn to perennials around your home and on your flowerbeds and
borders. Applies to vegetable fields early in the season when crops are planted.
• How Often to Apply:
Repeat every 4 months.
• Where to Use:
Apply regularly to young trees and shrubs. Great for tomatoes, garden vegetables,
melons, and berries.
Osmocote Outdoor & Indoor Plant Food:
Our classic offer. The four-month 15-9-12 formula has become the industry standard
for sustained-release vegetable foods. Often imitated, but never equal. Feed outdoors and
indoors throughout the active growing season of the plant, without the risk of chemical burns.

• Summary:
Each granule is coated with a unique resin that controls the release of nutrients, so
plants get what they need when they need it. All-in-one granules contain all three
major nutrients (NPK) that are essential for plant nutrients.
• Available Sizes:
Available in water-resistant bottles of 1.25 lb. and 3 lb. and in a re-sealable 10 lb. bag.
• How to Use:
For outdoor use, sprinkle evenly over the feeding area and incorporate into the top 1-3
inches of soil. When transplanting or replanting annuals from shallow soil, mix the
annuals with the soil and substrate at the bottom of the hole before planting. water.
• When to apply:
Apply to outdoor plants every 4 months during the growing season. It can also be
applied to indoor plants every 4 months throughout the year.
• How Often to Apply:
Reapply every 4 months.
• Where to use:
Confidently apply to indoor or outdoor potted plants.
• Coverage Area:
Established annuals and perennials: Sprinkle 3 tablespoons per 2×2 foot area. Work on
the top 1-3 inches of soil or root covering.
• Cautions:
You can re-enter after watering the product and the part has dried.
How Does Osmocote Work?
Osmocote sustained-release fertilizers have formulations suitable for vegetable fields, and indoor
and outdoor plants. Nutrients are surrounded by biodegradable resins. Once the
granules enter the soil, osmosis pushes nutrients out of the granules into the soil.
Tip:
Osmocote fertilizer works by releasing fertilizer through the resin coating by the process of
osmosis. The release rate depends on temperature and coating thickness.

Controlled Release Technology:
Osmocote contains all fertilizer nutrients and uses water-soluble nutrient prills. Prills, called
pellets, are coated with an alkyd-type resin. The translucent coating of flaxseed oil advises
Planters Place that it will allow some water to pass through and begin to dissolve the
fertilizer inside.
After dissolution, the fertilizer solution leaves the pellet by infiltration and enters the soil where
the roots can absorb it. Since the resin is biodegradable, it does not remain in the soil. The rate
at which fertilizer is released depends on the thickness and temperature of the resin coating.
Example:
If the soil temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, 14-14-14 Osmocoat fertilizer will last for 4-
5 months, the National Gardening Association advises. As the temperature and plant growth
increase, so does the rate at which fertilizer is released. When the temperature reaches 70
degrees Fahrenheit, the osmocoat lasts for 3-4 months, and when the temperature reaches 80
degrees, the osmocoat lasts about 1-2 months.

Osmocote Product Options and Benefits:
Osmocote is a sustained release fertilizer, not a sustained release fertilizer. This means that the
release of nutrients is much more predictable, so it can be more accurate when feeding plants,
advises the University of Delaware. This reduces the risk of burning fertilizer in sensitive plants.
Compared to other sustained release fertilizers, Osmocoat releases the most nutrients into the
soil at lower temperatures. Osmocote has another advantage that was developed for
commercial cultivation in the 1960s decades ago. Field testing has been
conducted for decades and the formula has been proven to provide consistent quality and
safety, Planters Place advises.
Osmocote offers two major formulations for home use. Osmocote Plus Outdoor and Indoor
Plant Food is a 15-9-12 fertilizer that advises Planters Place to nourish plants for up to 6
months. Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Plant Food is a fertilizer of 14-14-14 and is an ideal
choice for vegetable fields and perennials, Planters Place advises. Both formulas contain
micronutrients needed by plants, such as copper, iron, manganese, and zinc.
How to use Osmocote:
Follow the packaging instructions to use Osmocote at home or in the garden. Sprinkle 1 scoop
of fertilizer every 4 square feet of the garden and gently mix the fertilizer into the top layer of
soil. Add fertilizer every 4-6 months. Depending on the plant and crop, and
the temperature during the growing season, some fertilizer may be needed.
Planters Place advises that applying Osmocoat as a top dressing without mixing it with the soil
provides the nutrients needed by the plant, but it is not effective because the nutrients are not
released near the root system. When planting new seedlings or flowers, you can put the
recommended amount of osmocoat in the holes, cover it with a thin layer of soil, and put the
new plants in the holes above the fertilizer. It’s called dribbling.
Store Osmocote in a cool, dry place. When the fertilizer gets wet, it releases nutrients and
leaves less in the granules when later added to the soil.

Difference Between Osmocote & Osmocote Plus:
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has been manufacturing plant-based foods since 1914,
and the two most popular products in the field are Osmocote and Osmocote Plus products.
Both strains are sustained release fertilizer formulations designed to extend the time that
plants can benefit from their nutrients rather than releasing them all into the soil violently.
The Osmocote and Osmocote Plus packs contain the same amount of nutrients, if not exactly
the same, and each formula is made of small beige grains. These small “balls” of nutrients are
coated with a coating that slowly breaks down over time and releases the nutrients in small
increments. It may look the same at first glance, but there are some important differences
between the products, so if each is a better option, the time and situation will be different.
A difference in NPK nutrients:
Fertilizers are usually evaluated using three different numbers, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, in this order. Manufacturers often refer to this as
the floor NPK value. Nitrogen helps to make proteins, which are the building
blocks needed for plants to grow. Potassium helps plants generate and store energy
during photosynthesis. Finally, phosphorus helps the plant’s immune system and
supports crop yields by reducing the number of plants that die before harvesting. It also
helps them develop strong roots. The NPK values for Osmocote and Osmocote
Plus are slightly different. Scotts sells Osmocoat plant-based foods in a variety of
formulations. For example, Scotts Classic Osmo Coat and Scotts Flower &
Vegetable Smart Release Plant Food. They have NPK ratings of 19-6-12 and 14-14-14,
respectively. On the other hand, Osmocote Plus has an NPK rating of 15-9-
12, but in some cases, it can also be found with a rating of 14-14-14.
Plus Other Nutrients:
Osmocote mainly provides nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, but Osmocote Plus
contains small amounts of other nutrients. These nutrients include, among other things, boron,
copper, and magnesium. Overall, Osmocote Plus 11 provides additional nutrients, while other
products tend to provide fewer nutrients.

How long do they last?
The outer resin of Osmocote and Osmocote Plus products
is designed to have different lifespans depending on the intended use. The resin is made from
natural vegetable oil. Although they are safe, manufacturers recommend that users wash their
hands after handling them. Osmocote Plus releases nutrients for 6 months, while the regular
Osmocote brand usually lasts for 4 months.
The Right Food for the Right Job:
In most cases, the Osmocoat fertilizer label will indicate if it is made for a particular crop
type. However, this is not always the case. For example, the 14-14-14 Osmocote brand is
suitable for tomatoes, vegetables, melons, berries, perennials, trees, and shrubs. Osmocote
Plus formulations are suitable for hanging baskets, annuals, indoor plants, stilt plants, and more.
What Forms Do They Take?
Osmocote and Osmocote Plus are available in a variety of forms in gardens and home
improvement stores. Both are available in different weight sachets or PET bottles to
suit different needs. However, Osmocote Plus is usually granular. The usual 14-14-14 Osmocote
formula is included in many other products. Scotts sells potting compost with smart release
plant-based foods for flowers and vegetables. Similarly, Scotts has released a line of “Pot Shots”
plant-based food nuggets with an NPK rating of 15-8-11 and containing six additional nutrients.
Final Thoughts on Scotts:
The company’s Osmocoat plant-based food line has grown since it began more than 100 years
ago when the Osmocoat name first appeared in stores. Although the Osmocote name
is trademarked, it is also a specific brand of sustained-release vegetable foods. The 14-14-
14 blend is an excellent general-purpose fertilizer, but other brands in the Scotts series can
fill certain niches. Products from other manufacturers may also work better under
certain circumstances.

Can Osmocote be used with edible plants such as vegetables, fruits, and citrus?
yes. In fact, Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Plant Food is precisely formulated for these
purposes. Each granule contains essential phytonutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium. Nutrients are slowly released into the soil, so the plant is properly supplied as it
grows. Osmocoat granules are coated with a resin made from vegetable oil, so they can be
safely handled on bare skin. Of course, it is always advisable to wash your hands after handling
gardening supplies. It is also advisable not to ingest the granules directly or to see
them after handling them.
Can Osmocote be used to prolong the life of cut flowers?
Osmocote is not recommended for cut flowers. This is a sustained-release product that
works in the root system of plants. However, the life of cut flowers can
be extended by combining the following methods.
• clean the container daily but do not use soap or detergent,
• re-cut the stems (they may become clogged),
• replace the water with fresh,
• store cut flowers in a cool place during the night,
• display cut flowers away from the heat during the day (that is, avoid windows, TVs and
other electronic devices, radiators, kitchen stove, etc.).
What is the effect of Osmocote on the environment?
Osmocote is a manufactured product meaning, essential plant nutrients are formed into
individual granules and are then encapsulated so that nutritional release can be controlled to fit the
pattern of nutrient uptake in the plant that it feeds.
Because excessive nutrition is not released into the soil, the environment
benefits in two ways:
1. plants will not be overfed (that is, “burned”)
2. overwatering or heavy rainfall will limit the washing away of nutrients into streams and lakes.
Do plants receive nutrients immediately after application?
No, that’s the point of a sustained release plant-based diet. Instead, the nutrients in
Osmocoat is released into the soil and replaces the nutrients that are drawn into the
root system of the plant. Soil temperature controls the rate at which plants absorb nutrients
and the rate at which nutrients are released from osmocoat granules. The warmer the soil, the
faster the nutrients will be released. Conversely, as the soil temperature drops, so does the release of nutrients.