How to tell if your seaweed extract is working

[ALToronto]

I know quite a few members here use seaweed products to promote root growth - whether KelpMax, Neptune's Harvest or something similar. And most will say that the seaweed is helping because they're seeing more roots. But how do you tell if the roots are growing due to the seaweed, or just good culture?

The most prominent indication of hormone-induced root growth is branching of roots even when the primary 'stem' root is not damaged. Here are some photos of orchids that normally send out single strand roots, but under the influence of seaweed, are producing branching roots.









The orchids in the first three photos are on my living walls, the fourth is in semi hydro.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Awesome, I use it and can't be happier, and it is true that I saw my Vandas has roots that are branching!

[KonaLady]

I agree! I learned about seaweed (I use Maxicrop) here on OB and root growth has been much enhanced and plants are all around healthier.

[silken]

I agree also. I have seen old but live roots putting out a new branch in the middle of the old length of root. My roots have gone crazy since using seaweed.

I usually use mine in conjunction with plant food. It is best to use it every few weeks, not all the time. It contains growth hormone and too much can cause strange growth habits and I also saw mentioned that it can lose its effect if used to often. As in the plant developing a tolerance for it.

[lotis146]

Glad i ran into this thread, ironically today I watered with KelpMax. I've not been so consistent with it which leads me to ask how often most of you use it? Do you use in conjunction with fertilizer/food alternate or...? My use is new this summer so I can't yet say for certain or what results I'm seeing.

---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------

And btw, AlToronto what are your general culture methods in addition to using seaweed? Those plants look super happy!

[ALToronto]

Originally Posted by lotis146

Glad i ran into this thread, ironically today I watered with KelpMax. I've not been so consistent with it which leads me to ask how often most of you use it? Do you use in conjunction with fertilizer/food alternate or...? My use is new this summer so I can't yet say for certain or what results I'm seeing.

---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------

And btw, AlToronto what are your general culture methods in addition to using seaweed? Those plants look super happy!

General culture? Humidity at least 60% year round, up to 80% in the summer. No air conditioning unless the temperature is pushing 30 degrees.

For plants in pots, I use RO water with K-lite fertiliser at 20 ppm N at every watering, no pre-wetting. Fish/seaweed fertiliser once a month, same N concentration, or sometimes KelpMax at 5 ml/L. Mostly inorganic media. Watering daily in the summer, every 2 or 3 days once the temperature drops below 20. Windowsill, shaded south facing window with supplementary lights.

For plants on living walls, I use PlantProd 25-10-10 at about 10 ppm N, every other day, with K-lite every other day. Fish or KelpMax once a month. 100% LED lights, homemade.

I think most people use way too much fertiliser. I'm getting good growth at about 1/20th of the label recommended concentration.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

General culture? Humidity at least 60% year round, up to 80% in the summer. No air conditioning unless the temperature is pushing 30 degrees.

For plants in pots, I use RO water with K-lite fertiliser at 20 ppm N at every watering, no pre-wetting. Fish/seaweed fertiliser once a month, same N concentration, or sometimes KelpMax at 5 ml/L. Mostly inorganic media. Watering daily in the summer, every 2 or 3 days once the temperature drops below 20. Windowsill, shaded south facing window with supplementary lights.

For plants on living walls, I use PlantProd 25-10-10 at about 10 ppm N, every other day, with K-lite every other day. Fish or KelpMax once a month. 100% LED lights, homemade.

I think most people use way too much fertiliser. I'm getting good growth at about 1/20th of the label recommended concentration.

Interesting. So if you don't mind my asking, do you have an RO system in your house? Ray from First Rays recommended using RO as well but at this rate that just seems to be an endeavor I'm not at a point to delve into, though it's not that i'm uninterested.

And you only use KelpMax once a month (or something similar)? I've wondered about that. When you use Fish or KelpMax do you also fertilize or does that sort of serve as such?

In terms of fertilizer I've been alternating between Monty's Root & Bloom (2-15-15, suggested 1/2 tsp/gal weekly, bi-weekly) & Miracle-Gro Orchid Food (20-20-20, suggested use monthly so I dilute). I've been diluting both of these however I realized I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that Monty's was already formulated to be used weekly or bi-weekly so last time I upped the concentration. I'm more of a newbie than my inventory of plants may suggest so I don't have a whole lot to compare to. However I have successfully rebloomed plants and bloomed several for first time. Also I don't fertilize at every watering or weekly for that matter but only because I'm still working out my methods and as you well know it tends to be easier to just use water when you're in a crunch (especially considering watering takes me a few hours) versus mixing up fertilizer. Heck my problem isn't so much my lack of feeding schedule as it is not watering enough! Which brings me to my next comment...

Seems you water quite often; what orchids do you grow? Is it fairly warm where you are?

Thanks for sharing!

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Originally Posted by silken

I agree also. I have seen old but live roots putting out a new branch in the middle of the old length of root. My roots have gone crazy since using seaweed.

I usually use mine in conjunction with plant food. It is best to use it every few weeks, not all the time. It contains growth hormone and too much can cause strange growth habits and I also saw mentioned that it can lose its effect if used to often. As in the plant developing a tolerance for it.

Where did you find it? Did you get it from somewhere in the city?

[silken]

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

Where did you find it? Did you get it from somewhere in the city?

I got two different kinds from hydroponics places when I have been in Edmonton for orchid shows. I did hear that Wilson's here carried some, but not sure what brand.