Fertilizer comparison
Comparing Plumeria Fertilizers: Excalibur vs Other Options
The fairest comparison is not simply N-P-K number against N-P-K number. Plumeria fertilizers differ by release method, micronutrients, salt risk, labor, plant stage, and whether they are meant as a base feed or a short bloom push.
Apples to apples
Compare by job, not just by label number
A controlled-release fertilizer, a granular high-phosphorus plumeria food, and a water-soluble bloom booster all behave differently. One may feed for months; another may act quickly and need repeated mixing. One may be complete nutrition; another may be mainly a bloom-season supplement.
This guide groups common fertilizers by how they are actually used, so you can decide what belongs in the main feeding program and what should only be used as a targeted supplement.
Best short answer
Use Excalibur as the base plumeria fertilizer when you want slow, steady, plumeria-focused nutrition. Use liquids or bloom boosters only when you are willing to manage timing, concentration, salt buildup, and plant readiness.
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Comparison chart
Representative plumeria fertilizer options
Labels and formulas can change. Always use the current product label and current seller/manufacturer page before applying any fertilizer. Florida Colors currently lists Excalibur BOOST as 10-12-14 in the Excalibur category page, while some older product-page text still shows earlier formula language.
| Product or type | Typical analysis | Delivery | Best use | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur VI | 11-11-14 | Controlled-release granular, about 6 months | Main seasonal feed for a defined warm growing season | Plumeria-focused, low effort, balanced base nutrition, micronutrients | Not instant; should be applied when plants are active and warm |
| Excalibur IX | 11-11-13 | Controlled-release granular, about 9 months | Main feed for longer warm seasons | Longer release window, fewer applications, complete seasonal foundation | Too long a release window may not fit short-season climates |
| Excalibur BOOST | 10-12-14 on the Florida Colors category page | Shorter controlled-release granular, about 2-3 months | Rooting, repotting, grafting, transplanting, bloom support, and recovery support | Useful establishment formula when the plant needs momentum | Not a substitute for VI or IX as the entire seasonal plan |
| Osmocote products | Examples include 14-14-14 and Plus 15-9-12 | Controlled-release granular; longevity varies by formula | General container and landscape feeding | Widely available, easy to use, some formulas include micronutrients | General-purpose, not plumeria-specific; release and formula vary by product |
| Nutricote / Florikan Total | Often 18-6-8, 180 day versions are common | Controlled-release granular | Professional nursery or landscape feeding where higher nitrogen is desired | Predictable controlled release, complete package with micronutrients | Higher nitrogen and lower phosphorus may favor foliage over bloom balance for plumeria |
| Nelson NutriStar Plumeria | 5-30-5 | Granular, bloom-focused | Growers who want a plumeria-labeled high-phosphorus product | Plumeria-specific branding, easy to understand bloom positioning | High phosphorus; repeated use can be a poor fit where balanced nutrition is needed |
| Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro | 9-3-6 | Liquid concentrate | Precise liquid feeding for active growth and foliage/root support | Complete macro and micronutrient profile; useful for growers who like liquid control | Requires regular mixing; not a slow-release product and not bloom-focused |
| Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster | 15-30-15 | Water-soluble | Short-term feeding for flowering plants | Easy to find, quick acting, simple for general garden use | General-purpose bloom product; high phosphorus and soluble salts require care |
| Jack’s Blossom Booster | 10-30-20 | Water-soluble | Short bloom-season push for actively growing plants | Includes micronutrients and is widely used by flower growers | Needs repeated mixing; better as a tool than a complete plumeria season plan |
| BR-61 or Ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting | 9-58-8 | Water-soluble | Very targeted high-phosphorus bloom/root push | Strong bloom-booster positioning and quick availability | Very high phosphorus; high overuse and imbalance risk if used routinely |
| Grow More Hawaiian Bud & Bloom | 5-50-17 | Water-soluble | Late flowering or bloom-focused tropical feeding | High phosphorus and potassium, trace elements, soluble application | Very high phosphorus; should not replace a balanced base fertilizer |
Price comparison
Excalibur price comparison: before shipping and shipped package price
This table separates the fertilizer price from the shipped package price. For Excalibur, the fertilizer itself is $15.00 per 4 lb bag before shipping. The Florida Colors package prices you provided include shipping: 4 lb $26.50, 8 lb $42.00, 12 lb $55.00, and 16 lb $70.00. In-nursery pickup is a separate purchase path, and the 50 lb bag is available only for in-nursery pickup.
Price snapshot checked June 25, 2026. Retail prices, stock, shipping, and package sizes change often. Use this table to compare order-of-magnitude value, not as a permanent price guarantee.
| Product or package | Package compared | Price without shipping | Shipped or pickup price | Unit price without shipping | Unit price with shipping / pickup | Fair comparison note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur BOOST, VI, or IX | 4 lb package | $15.00 | $26.50 shipped | $3.75/lb | About $6.63/lb shipped | Best for trying a formula or feeding a smaller collection. |
| Excalibur BOOST, VI, or IX | 8 lb package | $30.00 | $42.00 shipped | $3.75/lb | $5.25/lb shipped | Better value than a single 4 lb bag for growers using the same formula across more plants. |
| Excalibur BOOST, VI, or IX | 12 lb package | $45.00 | $55.00 shipped | $3.75/lb | About $4.58/lb shipped | A stronger per-pound value while still staying in smaller 4 lb bag units. |
| Excalibur BOOST, VI, or IX | 16 lb package | $60.00 | $70.00 shipped | $3.75/lb | About $4.38/lb shipped | Best shipped package value in the listed 4, 8, 12, and 16 lb options. |
| Excalibur 50 lb bag | 50 lb pickup bag | $165.00 pickup price | Not shipped; in-nursery pickup only | $3.30/lb pickup | Not applicable | Best bulk value, but only practical for local pickup or high-volume growers. |
| Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 | 50 lb bag | $152.75 | Shipping / handling added at checkout | About $3.06/lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Professional controlled-release option with minors; not plumeria-specific. |
| Nutricote / Florikan Total 18-6-8 | 50 lb bag | $133.27 | Shipping / handling added at checkout | About $2.67/lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Professional controlled-release option with strong coating technology; higher-nitrogen profile than Excalibur. |
| Nelson NutriStar Plumeria 5-30-5 | 4 lb jar; 25 lb bag also listed | $31.99 for 4 lb; $80.99 for 25 lb | Shipping depends on seller checkout | About $8.00/lb for 4 lb; $3.24/lb for 25 lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Plumeria-labeled granular fertilizer, but bloom-focused and not the same category as coated controlled-release. |
| Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 | 1 qt. or 1 gal. liquid | $18.99 per qt.; $57.99 per gal. | Shipping depends on seller checkout | About $0.59/fl oz for qt.; $0.45/fl oz for gal. before shipping | Varies by checkout | A complete liquid feed; useful, but labor and mixing frequency are part of the real cost. |
| Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster 15-30-15 | 1.5 lb container | $10.49 | Shipping or pickup depends on seller checkout | About $6.99/lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Quick, general bloom food; not a season-long plumeria base fertilizer. |
| Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster 10-30-20 | 1.5 lb tub | $11.99 | Shipping depends on seller checkout | About $7.99/lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Professional soluble bloom booster; compare as a supplement, not as a low-labor base program. |
| Ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting 9-58-8 | 1.5 lb package | $9.99 | Shipping or local availability depends on seller checkout | About $6.66/lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | Very high-phosphorus soluble product; useful only as a targeted bloom/rooting tool. |
| Grow More Hawaiian Bud & Bloom 5-50-17 | 1.5 lb retail listing; 25 lb grower listing | $10.95 retail listing; $83.57 for 25 lb grower listing | Availability and shipping vary by seller | About $7.30/lb for 1.5 lb; $3.34/lb for 25 lb before shipping | Varies by checkout | High-phosphorus soluble bloom product; better compared with other bloom boosters than with Excalibur VI or IX. |
Sources include Florida Colors Nursery, A.M. Leonard, Nelson Plant Food, Greenhouse Megastore, Scotts/Miracle-Gro, Southern States, Hermansen’s Mill, and Hydrobuilder product listings.
Ingredient and coating comparison
What is actually inside the fertilizer?
Check marks mean the feature is listed on the checked product or seller page. A check mark does not automatically mean one product is always better; it means that feature is part of the public product information.
| Product or type | NPK listed | Micronutrients listed | Controlled-release coating | Plumeria-specific | Quality signal to compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur VI / IX / BOOST | ✓ 11-11-14, 11-11-13, 10-12-14 category listing | ✓ Enhanced micronutrient package | ✓ Moisture/heat/osmosis-style release | ✓ | Custom plumeria formulas with separate release windows for establishment, 6-month feeding, and 9-month feeding. |
| Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 | ✓ | ✓ Minors listed | ✓ Polymeric resin encapsulation | — | Strong general controlled-release technology; useful benchmark for slow-release coatings but not tailored to plumeria. |
| Nutricote / Florikan Total 18-6-8 | ✓ | ✓ NPK and micros in every prill | ✓ Special resin and release agent | — | Professional-grade coating precision and predictable release; formula balance is higher in nitrogen than Excalibur. |
| Nelson NutriStar Plumeria 5-30-5 | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | Plumeria-labeled granular fertilizer with sulfur, bone meal, and multiple nitrogen sources; bloom-forward rather than coated-release. |
| Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 | ✓ | ✓ Complete macro and micronutrients | — | — | Complete liquid nutrition with strong micronutrient disclosure; quality depends on correct dilution and regular use. |
| Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster 15-30-15 | ✓ | ✓ Label lists several minors | — | — | Fast, general bloom feeding. Helpful for short-term use, but not a plumeria-specific controlled-release foundation. |
| Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster 10-30-20 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | Professional soluble bloom formula with published micronutrients; best compared as a bloom tool, not as seasonal controlled release. |
| Ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting 9-58-8 | ✓ | ? Not shown in checked retail listing | — | — | Very concentrated high-phosphorus soluble product; ingredient quality comparison should start with the physical label. |
| Grow More Hawaiian Bud & Bloom 5-50-17 | ✓ | ✓ Trace elements / chelated micros listed by sellers | — | ~ Flowering tropicals, not plumeria-only | High-phosphorus soluble bloom product with trace-element positioning; useful as a supplement category, not the same job as VI or IX. |
For coating quality, the fairest comparison is controlled-release versus non-coated soluble products. Excalibur, Osmocote, and Nutricote belong in the controlled-release category; liquids and bloom boosters belong in the soluble supplement category.
Release testing and real watering
Why test conditions matter for plumeria growers
Controlled-release fertilizer is not just a bag analysis. Its real behavior depends on coating quality, moisture, temperature, and how often the root zone gets watered. That is why Excalibur’s plumeria-specific testing conditions matter.
| Fertilizer or rating style | Release-duration conditions being compared | What that means in a plumeria pot | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur VI, IX, and BOOST | Plumeria-specific benchmark: about 85°F with Florida-style rainfall / watering patterns. | Closer to the warmth and frequent watering many container plumeria receive during active growth. | The release window is easier to trust because it is framed around real plumeria culture, not only cooler idealized conditions. |
| Generic national comparison benchmark for other controlled-release products | Broader comparison conditions: commonly discussed around 70-75°F with national or average rainfall records, unless a specific product label states otherwise. | A product that lasts a certain number of months in cooler average conditions may release faster in hot containers or under heavy irrigation. | This can make a general-purpose product seem comparable by the label, while behaving differently once it is used in warm, frequently watered plumeria pots. |
| Water-soluble liquids and bloom boosters | No long release test is involved; nutrients are available quickly after mixing and watering. | The grower controls timing, concentration, and frequency every time the product is mixed. | Useful as a short-term tool, but it does not provide the same steady release curve as a coated fertilizer. |
The practical advantage is not just that Excalibur is slow release. It is that the release expectations are closer to how plumeria are actually grown: warm soil, active roots, repeated watering, and seasonal rainfall. That makes the feeding curve more stable for plumeria growers than a generic comparison based only on N-P-K.
Osmosis in plain English
How Excalibur releases nutrients through moisture
Excalibur prills are coated so water can move through the coating gradually. When the soil is moist, water enters the prill and begins dissolving the nutrients inside. Because the dissolved fertilizer inside the prill is more concentrated than the water outside, osmotic pressure builds inside the prill.
That pressure does not force fertilizer directly into the roots. Instead, it helps move dissolved nutrients out through the coating and into the soil solution. Roots then absorb those nutrients as they take up water and ions from the root zone.
In simple terms: moisture starts the process, the coating meters the release, osmotic pressure helps move dissolved nutrients outward, and active roots do the absorbing.
What changes the release rate?
- Warmth: warmer soil generally increases nutrient movement through coated fertilizers.
- Moisture: consistent moisture supports release; dry soil slows the process.
- Watering frequency: frequent watering keeps the system active, which is why plumeria-style watering is important in comparisons.
- Coating quality: better coatings create a smoother release curve instead of a sudden nutrient dump.
- Root activity: fertilizer works best when the plant is awake, warm, rooted, and actively growing.
Category view
Which type fits your goal?
Controlled-release base feeds
Excalibur, Osmocote, and Nutricote-style products are closest to an apples-to-apples category. They are applied as prills and release nutrients over time.
Excalibur advantage: the formulas and timing are explained specifically around plumeria stages and season length.
Liquid complete fertilizers
Products like Foliage-Pro can work well for growers who want precise liquid feeding and are willing to mix regularly.
Tradeoff: you gain control, but you also take on more responsibility for frequency, dilution, and salt management.
Bloom boosters
Products like Jack’s, Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster, BR-61, and Hawaiian Bud & Bloom are best treated as targeted supplements, not the whole nutrition plan.
Tradeoff: they may help in the right moment, but overuse can create imbalance.
Where Excalibur compares strongest
- You want one main fertilizer system instead of a stack of liquids and boosters.
- You grow in containers and want steadier feeding with less frequent handling.
- You want plumeria-specific guidance for season length and plant stage.
- You want bloom support without relying on extreme phosphorus as the main strategy.
- You prefer to buy from a plumeria nursery that also provides grower education.
Do not compare by stacking full rates
The PlumeriaCareGuide comparison material makes an important point: two slow-release products can both look reasonable on their own, but using them together at full strength can create redundant nutrient load, mismatched release behavior, and salt buildup in containers.
If you are testing Excalibur against Osmocote, Nutricote, or another controlled-release fertilizer, compare them as separate base programs. Do not apply a full rate of each and call that a fair trial.
A cleaner test
- Use one base fertilizer per plant or group.
- Keep pot size, soil mix, sun, and watering as similar as possible.
- Track growth, leaf color, bloom timing, salt buildup, and ease of use.
- Use bloom boosters only as separate, clearly timed supplements.
Where another product may make sense
You need instant correction
A liquid fertilizer may be more appropriate when a grower is correcting a known deficiency and needs rapid uptake.
You enjoy precision feeding
Some growers prefer mixing nutrients every watering or every few weeks because it gives them more hands-on control.
You are doing a short bloom push
A bloom booster can be useful for mature, active plants when used sparingly and with a complete base program.
Simple decision guide
| If your priority is… | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low-maintenance seasonal feeding | Excalibur VI or IX | Controlled release and plumeria-focused season choices. |
| New roots, repotting, grafts, or stress recovery | Excalibur BOOST | Designed as establishment and transition support. |
| General, widely available slow-release feeding | Osmocote products | Easy to find and broadly useful, but not plumeria-specific. |
| Professional controlled-release nursery feeding | Nutricote / Florikan type products | Predictable release, but formulas may be less bloom-balanced for plumeria. |
| Precise liquid feeding | Complete liquid fertilizer such as Foliage-Pro | Good control, but higher management burden. |
| Short bloom-season supplement | Bloom booster used sparingly | Useful only when plants are mature, rooted, warm, and actively growing. |
Reference links
Florida Colors Excalibur details
Compare Excalibur at Florida Colors, read the advanced Excalibur guide at Florida Colors, or go directly to VI at Florida Colors, IX at Florida Colors, and BOOST at Florida Colors.
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PlumeriaCareGuide comparisons
Use the deeper guides on Excalibur vs. Osmocote, Excalibur vs. BR-61, and IX vs. VI vs. BOOST.
Slow-release alternatives
Review Osmocote Plus and Nutricote 18-6-8 180 day details.
Liquids and bloom boosters
Compare examples like Foliage-Pro, Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster, and Jack’s Blossom Booster.
PlumeriaWay readiness framing
Before adding stronger products, use PlumeriaWay’s growth-or-bloom decision page and Fertilizer & Nutrition Field Books to confirm the plant is ready.
Bottom line
Excalibur is strongest as a plumeria-specific base fertilizer system. Other fertilizers can still have a place, especially for growers who want liquid control or a short bloom push, but they should be compared by release method, completeness, risk, and workload, not by N-P-K numbers alone.