Patent ID: 7320724

Claim:
A composition for a staged, controlled release of nutrients to at least one plant during various parts of the plant's growing cycle comprising a plurality of timed release particulate materials wherein said timed release is controlled by a semi-permeable resin membrane adapted to provide nutrient release tailored to a plant's nutrition needs over time, and wherein the plurality of timed release materials include: a) a particulate material that releases sufficient phosphorous for said plant's nutritional needs over an early time period of the plant's growth cycle, whereby the early time period ranges over the first months of root development of the plant; b) a particulate material that releases sufficient nitrogen for said plant's nutritional needs over a mid-term time period of the plant's growth cycle, whereby the mid-term time period ranges over the months of vegetation and foliation of the plant; c) a particulate material that releases sufficient potassium for said plant's nutritional needs over a late term time period of the plant's growth cycle, whereby the late term time period ranges over the months of flower set of the plant; and d) a particulate material that releases sufficient magnesium for said plant's nutritional needs over a complete crop-cycle, wherein magnesium constitutes at least about 9% of the composition by weight; wherein the composition is adapted such that one application during the plant's entire life cycle can deliver the staged release of nutrients and wherein the composition releases nutrients by osmosis through said semi-permeable resin membrane.