Has anyone tried this with KLN ?

[HighSeas]

I recently bought a quart of KLN. The little voice in my head kept saying "get a smaller bottle" and while I usually listen, this time I said GO AWAY!

KLN has a very unstable shelf life and it's recommended that you keep it in the fridge. You can't keep the stuff in your garage...your greenhouse...or anywhere that doesn't offer stable cool temps.

So here I am with this quart of KLN, which isn't cheap. At a tsp. per gallon going into a pot every month of so, I would imagine that I'm not going to make it through that quart in a years time. I started giving it to a Bismarck Palm, a Camphor tree, a Bonsai and some Plumaria with great results but I'm never going to get through this quart....I'm the thrifty type who hates to waste anything. SO...I was thinking.... My husband cringes when I do that.

KLN contains NAA (Naphalene Acetic Acid), IBA (Indolebutyric Acid) and vitamin B1 (Thiamine). So no wonder it's so unstable. I'm not a chemist...I'm a nurse with a minor in Chemistry BUT no chemist! That said...

I can understand why you can't apply heat to these compounds....BUT....these compounds are frozen all the time! The question is....has anyone tried it with KLN?

I wonder what would happen if I put a tsp in each slot of an ice tray, fill the rest with pure water and freeze? I could then, pop the cubes out of the tray and suck pack batches in a food saver bag. When I need a tsp., I could just throw in a cube or two and be done with it. No measuring!

Does anyone have any input on why this wouldn't work while maintaining the integrity of the compounds of KLN?

[tucker85]

I like the concept but I have no idea how it will affect the compounds in the product. Good luck.

[Ray]

Are there any "Do Not Freeze" warnings on the label? If not, I doubt it would be an issue.

[HighSeas]

I read an article about Thiamine deficiencies in Iguana's who eat nothing but previously frozen vegetation. Apparently there is some breakdown of the B1, not as it's frozen....but as it thaws out. Apparently an enzyme (Thiaminase) is activated during the thaw which breaks down the B1 "to some degree" which over time, can cause deficiency since B1 is a water soluble vitamin.

I assume by that paper, that some B1 is delivered but not the full dose. Makes me wish I knew more about plant physiology....Or maybe I should take that deterioration into account when I dose the plants? Sounds like I need a guinea pig or two! (And some ice cube trays)

Nothing on the label about freezing. It does say not to get it on your skin. I do that all the time! Does that mean I'll grow roots?

[silken]

Could you contact the manufacturer and ask? It sounds like a good idea to freeze it.

[HighSeas]

Silken...that was something I have considered. I think I'll give them a call and see if they have done any tests on the frozen variety! I'll let you all know what they say.

Does anyone know if you can buy NAA or IBA? Of course you can easily purchase Thiamine. In the dry form, the shelf life is longer. Hmmmm......

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by HighSeas

....but I'm never going to get through this quart....I'm the thrifty type who hates to waste anything. SO...I was thinking.... My husband cringes when I do that.

ahhh... U gave me a good laugh!

That sounds brilliant! Please do get back to us... 'cause, even with the smaller bottle, I don't think I'll use it up in one years time... I don't like to waste things either! Oh, and thank u for thinking! (lol, even if it does scare ur husband )

[HighSeas]

Island Girl....I'll give them a call Monday and see what they say!

[gerneveyn]

It sounds logical. We do that all the time with things in the lab...It's called aliquoting. Each ice cube would be an aliquot. You will have to consult with manufacturer.

[Andrew]

While I'd be surprised if it couldn't be aliquotted and stored frozen, I'd recommend storing it in closed containers rather than an ice cube tray. Otherwise, if you've got a frost free freezer, you'll probably find the ice cubes evaporate over time.