SuperThrive
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Does anybody have any experience with this stuff? I just found out about it and am thinking of trying it. Should I get some?
TIA, Bear
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(post #13705, reply #1 of 19)
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I use it all the time. It's standard advice from most landscapers around here (Santa Fe). What I can't tell you is if using it gets better results than not using it, since I always use it. I have had very good success with transplanting plants and fair success with seeds that I've started indoors. Try it and see what you think.
(post #13705, reply #2 of 19)
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What's in it?
(post #13705, reply #3 of 19)
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Ground up kittens. Works great!
(post #13705, reply #4 of 19)
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My cats shuddered when I read that to them. Vitamins mostly. I use it every time I transplant something (which I do a lot since I just started a couple small beds). The bottle also says it has hormones, but does not specify which hormones. (No, I don't know if it works on hot flashes and I'm not volunteering to try it and I don't suggest you do either!)
(post #13705, reply #5 of 19)
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Vitamines and hormones? What's the difference?
BJ
(post #13705, reply #6 of 19)
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Nobody got the answer?
BJ
(post #13705, reply #7 of 19)
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Check out superthrive.com
(post #13705, reply #8 of 19)
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Thanks bearmon, checked it out. A real horticultural Enquirer kind of experience there. The only list of ingredients I could find says 0.09% Vitamin B-1 and 0.048% 1-naphthyl acetic acid. They also have a nice "non-warranty" in the fine print, and suggest you add fertilizer and soil amendments for best results. The best claim regarding results is on the gallon label, which says "used by five US Departments to help win World War II." Overall, it reads a little like the back of one of Tony Avent's catalogs.
(post #13705, reply #9 of 19)
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Now, Karen, I read the site too, and you forgot that it has BioUSABLES! (TM). I think that that is really very impressive. It obviously enhances growth of exclamation points.
Actually, my eyes hurt from being print-yelled at.
(BJ, I know what you're up to and I'm ignoring you. So there.)
(post #13705, reply #10 of 19)
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I'm ignoring him, too. And biousables are ground up kittens.
(post #13705, reply #11 of 19)
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That must be the other 25% solids they refer to.
(post #13705, reply #12 of 19)
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OK, did you ever hear a vitamin?
Not BJ, I swear!
(post #13705, reply #13 of 19)
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You don't ignore easy do you.
(post #13705, reply #14 of 19)
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Don't say anything, it's really Luka.
(post #13705, reply #15 of 19)
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Re: Vitamin B-1 for plants
This is either a case of someone not understanding what was read, or an excuse for selling a product that really doesn't do anything useful. It is a misinterpretation of some research done by James Bonner of Cal Tech who was looking for a research project for his graduate study. It became an investigation of the various chemicals required to grow bits of root in solution in the laboratory. One of these required ingredients was B-1 (thiamine). The problem with translating this to gardening is that gardeners aren't interested in growing bits of root, but intact plants, with roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, and whole plants make what they need to grow. For those not involved in plant studies, graduate student Bonner eventually became a highly regarded professor of plant biology and chemistry. This story was included in his autobiography in one of the technical publications in the field.
[Breaktime editor: you may want to send this to Fine Gardening also, in case they haven't already investigated B-1]
(post #13705, reply #16 of 19)
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Always keep in mind if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
(post #13705, reply #17 of 19)
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Thanks for the background Milford. No problem with reading comprehension here. And I have no personal experience with the product, although I bet if I looked in my garage there is some seedling or transplant fertilizer with B1 in it (seems pretty common to include it). It is my understanding that thiamine is an important component of the media used for tissue culture, as you note, a whole different ballgame because they are starting with little bits and not intact plants (which I think make their own thiamine).
(post #13705, reply #18 of 19)
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I don't know that it boosts plants or fruit production or any of that. But I started using it last year fairly religiously along with a root stimulator (maybe overkill) and liquid seaweed and had excellent transplanting success. Not only did things move well, they took off growing well. But watering in with the SuperThrive and other stuff was all of it that the plants got.
(post #13705, reply #19 of 19)
It works great for reducing transplant shock, and IS MEANT to be used in conjunction with whatever you regularly feed your plants. I use liquid kelp and fish emulsion.
It also works well at the one drop per gallon rate for mail order plants and trees that come looking a litle travel weary. I use it on all my bare root trees as well for an overnight soak.
It does do what it says it does if used properly. If you read the literature / package it specifically states the over use can cause extreme distortions in your plants , trees , shrubs, and perennials. 1 drop per gallon. I think it's 15 drops per gallon for a soak. Just a thought.
Mike Nesmith's Mom invented " White Out while working as a secretary , and the first Frisbee was a Colllege pie plate. Weirder things have happened . Food for thought. --MM.