Osmocote vs Nutricote

[veer]

Im curious to know if anyone has used both and has seen a difference? I pitcher feed with osmocote (14-14-14), and see a big difference in size and speed of growth. But some people say osmocote relies on temperature for release, while nutricote relies on water, making the latter a "true" slow release?

 

[31drew31]

I've never tried osmocote but I just got some nutricote last month and started testing with it recently. I'd also seen some reports about osmocote killing off Nepenthes pitchers earlier than normal, have you noticed that? So far I haven't seen any issues with nutricote, even on tiny pitchers where the prill barely fits in.

 

[Avery]

I quit using osmocote because I’ve had it melt or damage too many nice pitchers! I’ve wanted to try nutricote but I can’t find it for a decent price.

 

[Joshu]

I use osmocote and find that you have to time it to make sure it doesn't ruin a pitcher. If i put it too early it usually kills the pitcher

 

[Avery]

True. It seems good for older, half-dead pitchers.

 

[Jake Chickenbark]

Looking at the price difference, I'm fine with a couple of burnt pitchers

 

[Shoggoths]

You could look at the ingredients too.
I read somewhere that osmocote don't contain calcium so could be better for people who use it in the media.
I have not yet confirmed this information
I don't know if nutricote contains calcium ...
Could that have an impact on pitchers, I can't say.

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

I use the tetra colour bits for all pitchers and they seem to work with minimal, if any damage.

 

[veer]

I've never tried osmocote but I just got some nutricote last month and started testing with it recently. I'd also seen some reports about osmocote killing off Nepenthes pitchers earlier than normal, have you noticed that? So far I haven't seen any issues with nutricote, even on tiny pitchers where the prill barely fits in.

It's been a mix. I think it really depends on the plant. I fed an almost 1 inch lowii pitcher a pellet about 10 months ago, and its still alive, no blackening. Whereas my glandulifera x (lowii x veitchii) never holds more than about 2 live pitchers, so i wouldnt really know regardless.
However I have noticed with the plants I have fed osmocote to, they tend to keep the bottom half of the pitcher alive for a while, while they kill off the top after a few weeks. That's about the extent that osmocote has caused increased pitcher die offs for me. I figure the plant does this as it has "caught" enough nutrients, and focuses its energy to process the "prey" caught, instead of wanting to catch more.

 

[Avery]

It can be a fine thing, esp for tougher plants. Here’s an inermis that I fed a tiny osmocote pellet to, a day or two later… so it’s species dependent, for sure! I should have known, as inermis is a fairly delicate species. Totally fried the pitcher and leaf!