Fish/Seaweed Fertilizer users

[NYCorchidman]

I have been wanting to use the Naptune brand, but never tried any fish/seaweed fertilizers yet.

On the label of seaweed fertilizer, the only element marked was potassium. Fish fertilizer had low number for N, P, and K.

Now, if I were to use these product, do I have to compliment with something else for micro elements?
I thought seaweed had some calcium and other minerals, but I did not see them listed on the label of the product.

For those who fertilize their orchids with fish/seaweed thing, please share with me how you use them.

Oh, and do I need to rinse the pot or leave them to dry as I normal do with synthetic fertilizers? Do they stink bad even when diluted? I'm an indoor grower.

Many thanks in advance!

[jeremyinsf]

The seaweeds I use are for root growth stimulation, and are not a fertilizer.

I still fertilize with K-lite and then add the seaweed together at the same time to the water mix. Seaweed is about once a month, sometimes a bit more, and sometimes a lot less.

Different brands look and smell very differently from each other. I don't rinse, but I also don't leave a lot left to drain out and sit around in the nursery trays if I can avoid it.

(I too am an indoor grower, mostly)

Happy to answer anything else you want, although I'm only sharing my own perspective of course.

[kindrag23]

I use gro mor seaweed extract works wonders. I use it once->twice a month. Seen good and even great results. Does take a little bit of time to see the results but you will see them.

Not a overly fishy smell...Unless I put it in my sprayer and use it in July in my little greenhouse then I must open the vents Because it gets really smelly. ALL my plants are inside now and I only use it once a month; since it is so cold now. Even inside it is on the cool side and my plants have gone sleepy a bit.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Since I have only been using it for about 3 months I can not answer but only one question. I was very afraid to use it after I got it because of the smell but I did as you are stating diluted it. I could smell it some what when I use it but I didn't after that. I also am an indoor grower.

But I also live with 4 dogs so maybe am not so much picky about smell. But I really was surprised I didn't smell it more. Will be using it again soon. But I am also using regular fertilizer as well.

Edit: Oh and I am using the Neptunes in case that matters.

[MrHappyRotter]

I use the Seaweed only product. I like it. The benefits I see aren't anything miraculous or amazing, but I've noticed that after using it, I do get better root growth. That's good enough to keep it in rotation.

The seaweed extract is best treated as a once or twice a month supplement. In other words, I feed weakly weekly, and then once or twice a month I add in the seaweed extract. I don't think it's nutritious enough to use on its own, though I haven't tested that theory.

I have a lot of my plants in transparent pots, so when the roots are healthy and growing, I can see it. And based on that, I really do feel like seaweed products are worthwhile. Granted, I haven't always grown in transparent pots, and I can't control for other variables like overall experience in growing, changes in potting media, changes in growing conditions, etc. But, compared to products like Superthrive, which I use, the addition of seaweed extract seems to have a much more pronounced positive effect.

[Polarizeme]

I use seaweed extract as a foliar feed and to help with root growth about twice a month. I mist it on the mounted plants and on the foliage of everything else. It seems to help.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

I use seaweed extract as a foliar feed and to help with root growth about twice a month. I mist it on the mounted plants and on the foliage of everything else. It seems to help.

Thanks for sharing this. I haven't tried it yet but I've heard of others doing it. I also heard it can help create stronger spikes. I will try it next! How much do you dilute?

[Polarizeme]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Thanks for sharing this. I haven't tried it yet but I've heard of others doing it. I also heard it can help create stronger spikes. I will try it next! How much do you dilute?

It's a very weak solution to begin with. I follow the package directions, I think a Tablespoon to a gallon, I have to look at it every time I mix it up coz I can't remember! It lasts about 2 months in my greenhouse. I put it in a pump style sprayer, pump it up, and pull the trigger. It keeps my hand from getting tired. (Walmart has these for about $6 in the garden section)


This thing is awesome and a worthwhile investment!

[Ray]

I agree with Jeremy that seaweed extracts are not intended to substitute for N-P-K fertilizers, but are more for growth stimulation. However, if you get the right ones, they are LOADED with all sorts of other stuff that can benefit the plants, too. For example, check out the KelpMax analysis (units are ppm):

[ALToronto]

I use Neptune's Harvest, and it is a complete product (fertilizer + seaweed). I alternate with K-Lite and Dyna-Gro, but I'm leaning toward more NH than the other two.

Yes, it smells, but the smell dissipates quickly. You also cannot pre-mix it and leave it for the next day, and you must keep the bottle in the fridge. The N-P-K numbers are 2-3-1, and I don't know how accurate that is. I mix it up to about 20 ppm N, which means a bit less than 1 tsp/gal or 1 ml/L.

The orchids love it, but I do use the other fertilizers as well, just in case they offer something that NH doesn't. I'm pretty sure it has lots of Ca and Mg, though, since fish are a good source of these minerals, as well as Sulphur, Phosphorus, Silicon, Iron... There is no mineral analysis on the label, and I haven't tried contacting the manufacturer. The person who recommended this product to me (Pat Van Adrichem of Kingfisher Orchids) has been growing and breeding orchids for years, and he swears by it.