Using Organic Based Nu-Film 17, Nu-Film P and Thermax 70
Organic Surfactants and Their Comparisons
Surfactants and stickers help organic sprays cover and cling to apple foliage, and products like Nu-Film 17, Nu-Film P, and Therm X-70 can significantly improve efficacy and rainfastness when used correctly and in line with organic certification rules.[1][2][3]
What surfactants and stickers do
Surfactants lower spray solution surface tension so droplets spread and wet waxy or hairy plant surfaces instead of beading and running off. Stickers create a thin film that binds the pesticide or nutrient to the leaf, improving rainfastness and protecting residues from UV degradation and mechanical wash-off. Many modern adjuvants combine both functions as “spreader-stickers,” which both improve initial coverage and extend field life of contact materials like sulfur, copper, kaolin clay, and biologicals.[2][4][5][1]
Why they matter in organic apples
Organic programs often rely on protectant, contact materials that are only as good as their coverage and persistence. Studies and grower experience with organic apples show that pairing sulfur or other contact products with a spreader-sticker like Nu-Film can hold material on leaves longer and through light to moderate rains. This is especially valuable for sulfur, Bt, clay films like Surround, and biologicals that otherwise wash off quickly, forcing more frequent re-applications.[6][5]
Nu-Film 17: pinene extender-sticker
Nu-Film 17 is a non-ionic spreader-sticker based on pinene (terpene) polymers that is labeled as a “sticking-extending/deposition aid” for agricultural chemicals. It forms a tacky, flexible film on foliage that encapsulates the spray deposit, markedly reducing erosion from rainfall or overhead irrigation and shielding residues from UV degradation. University work and grower reports indicate that this kind of pinene polymer technology can significantly lengthen the effective life of contact pesticides, which is why it appears in tree-fruit spray guides as a suggested adjuvant.[7][4][8][3][9]
Nu-Film P: organic-listed spreader-sticker
Nu-Film P is a closely related pinene-based spreader-sticker that is specifically sold and labeled for organic production and is OMRI listed for certified organic systems. It improves wetting and adhesion of foliar sprays and forms a soft, elastic film that tightly holds sprays on leaves while reducing wash-off by rain or irrigation and slowing UV breakdown. Organic suppliers note that Nu-Film P can significantly increase the duration and performance of biological insecticides such as Bt on foliage.[5][1]
Therm X-70: yucca-based surfactant
Therm X-70 (also sold as ThermX 70) is a natural wetting agent and spreader-sticker derived from yucca (Yucca schidigera) containing about 20% saponins. Saponins act as natural surfactants that improve water penetration, act as a spreader-sticker for fertilizers and pesticides, and help plants cope with water and salt stress. Organic suppliers recommend Therm X-70 to improve foliar nutrient uptake and pesticide performance and to help hydrophobic media and heavy soils accept and move water more uniformly.[10][11][2]
On apples, Nu-Film-type products are typically added at low rates per 100 gallons of water (always follow the current label for tree fruits and specific tank-mix partners). Commercial descriptions emphasize adding Nu-Film products to improve adhesion and staying power of fungicides, insecticides, and biologicals, often extending intervals between sprays in conjunction with weather and disease pressure. Therm X-70 labels and product literature recommend it as the last ingredient in the tank mix to minimize foaming and note its dual role in improving foliar spray spread as well as water penetration into soil and plant tissues.[4][11][2][5]
Fitting them into an organic program
For a certified organic program, Nu-Film P and yucca-based Therm X-70 are marketed specifically for organic systems, but actual use must be checked against the current OMRI listing and your certifier’s rules for each lot and label. For any spreader-sticker in an organic apple block, you would typically reserve them for key sprays—early-season scab/sulfur applications, primary infection periods, and critical insect or thinning sprays—where improved coverage and persistence yield the most benefit per added cost and residue.[12][11][6][7][1][2]
How does Thermax70 compare to these?
ThermX‑70 is a different animal: it’s a yucca‑saponin nonionic wetting agent that behaves more like a classic surfactant and less like the long‑lasting film that Nu‑Film 17 / P create.[16][17][18][19][20]
· ThermX‑70 is concentrated yucca (Yucca schidigera) extract with about 20% saponin, a natural nonionic surfactant that lowers surface tension and improves wetting and penetration.[17][18][19][21][20]
· Nu‑Film products are pinene/pinolene polymer “resin” adjuvants that polymerize to form a flexible film on the surface, functioning as a sticker/extender more than a penetrant.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
Functional differences on apples
· ThermX‑70 will give you better initial wetting and spreading and can help get materials into rough or waxy canopies; it is also used to condition soils and media because of its effect on water infiltration.[18][19][28][16][17]
· Nu‑Film 17/P are about deposition and persistence: they reduce wash‑off and UV loss, effectively “locking” fungicides/biologicals on the surface and stretching intervals.[19][23][24][25][26][29][22]
Organic status and typical use
· ThermX‑70 is marketed as an OMRI‑listed natural wetting agent/spreader‑sticker, widely used in organic systems with foliar feeds and pesticides.[30][31][20][17][18][19]
· Nu‑Film P fills the “organic‑friendly sticker” niche; Nu‑Film 17 is more often used where a stronger film/longer persistence is desired and a 30‑day PHI is acceptable.[24][25][26][27][29][19]
Rates and practical program fit
· Typical ThermX‑70 foliar rates are in the ballpark of 4–8 oz per 100 gal as a wetting agent/spreader‑sticker, and much lower rates when used primarily as a soil wetter.[20][17][19][30]
· Nu‑Film 17/P are usually run at similar low ounces‑per‑100‑gal, but the intent is to build a film that persists multiple days and through light rains, so you feel their effect more in interval length and residue “hang‑time” than in immediate wetting.[23][25][26][29][19][22][24]
Here at Royal Oak farm Orchard, we choose to use Thermax70 due to its versatility and its wetting agent ability. And since we use an Advanced Ecological Agriculture fertilization program, we tank mix our foliar fertilizers with fungicides and/or insecticides and Thermax70 is the better product for for use with foliar feeds and pesticides.
References:
1. https://ohioearthfood.com/products/nu-film-p-spreader-sticker-omri-listed-gallon
3. https://www.millerchemical.com/products/adjuvants/nu-film-17
4. https://www.organicapproach.com/p-3809-nu-film-17-non-ionic-spreader-sticker-spray-adjuvant.aspx?CatID=104 5. https://www.7springsfarm.com/products/miller-nu-film-p-spreader-sticker-2-5-gallon
6. https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/686/Growing-Organic-Apples/
7. https://polk.extension.wisc.edu/files/2014/02/Tree-Spray-Guide-2014-A3314.pdf
8. https://www.fbn.com/direct/product/attach-non-ionic-spreader-sticker
9. http://fs1.agrian.com/pdfs/Pinene_S_Extender__Sticker_(022108)_Label.pdf
10. https://www.bghydro.com/therm-x-70-natural-wetting-agent.html
11. https://fedcoseeds.com/ogs/thermx-70-soil-conditioner-natural-wetting-agent-8714
12. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/pdf/integrated-orchard-management-gu/2025-02-07/AG-sible_250121.pdf
13. https://www.millerchemical.com/products/adjuvants/nu-film-p
14. https://growingfruit.org/t/need-help-developing-a-regiment-for-my-fruit-trees/62755
15. https://bluerooforchard.com/OrganicAppleProductionInHighTunnels.pdf
16. https://soundhorticulture.com/products/thermx-70
19. https://fedcoseeds.com/ogs/thermx-70-soil-conditioner-natural-wetting-agent-8714
21. https://www.bghydro.com/therm-x-70-natural-wetting-agent.html
22. https://www.solutionsstores.com/nu-film-17-spreader-sticker
23. https://www.millerchemical.com/products/adjuvants/nu-film-17
24. https://www.fertrell.com/nu-film
25. https://azelisaes-us.com/product/nu-film-17/
26. https://greenearthagandturf.com/products/nu-film-p
27. https://soundhorticulture.com/products/nu-film-p
28. https://growitnaturally.com/products/thermx-70-yucca-extract
29. https://www.store.harmonyfarm.com/nu-film-17-spreader-sticker-1-gal/
30. https://www.kisorganics.com/products/therm-x-70
32. https://extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-198-W.pdf
33. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/pdf/integrated-orchard-management-gu/2024-05-20/AG-sible_240513.pdf
34. https://americanextracts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ThX70-Label.pdf
36. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20030053424/downloads/20030053424.pdf
37. https://growitnaturally.com/collections/stickers-spreaders-sterilizers
38. https://www.griffins.com/pdf/catalogs/2023-Griffin-Grower-Supplies-Catalog.pdf
https://veseris.com/default/t-o-vegetation/deposition-aids-spreader-sticker?p=2
This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registration, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author assumes no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.
Backyard Orchard Management @ Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Backyard Orchard Management @ Royal Oak Farm Orchard is a blog for the home fruit tree grower providing information about fruit tree management, fruit tree pruning & training and Integrated Pest Management from the IPM Specialist and Certified Nurseryman at Royal Oak Farm Orchard, a 22,000 tree apple orchard and agri-tourism operation located in Harvard, Illinois.
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