KLN or Superthrive.... who wins?

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by Ross

Consider this recent post where Ray describes differences

SUPERthrive vitamins-hormones mix

Thanks for the link Ross i'll give it a read

[stonedragonfarms]

There is an article about this in Feb. 08's AOS journal...it's quite interesting, and I've decided to give the method of use stated a try...let me know if you want details and I'll paraphrase.
Adam

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

There is an article about this in Feb. 08's AOS journal...it's quite interesting, and I've decided to give the method of use stated a try...let me know if you want details and I'll paraphrase.
Adam

Let it rip stone i'm all ears

[stonedragonfarms]

In brief, the article was about using supplements to fertilizer when watering. The authors noted that they use a fertilizer blend similar to the MSU type (mid level nitrogen, urea free), and that they add a supplement to the fertilizer in any given week. The three supplements that they use are S.T.E.M. (which amounts to a balanced macronutrient supplement), KLN (to promote root growth and root health in general) & superthrive (which contains a boost of micronutrients). The idea is that you water with a urea free fertilizer plus one of the three supplements on weekly rotations, i.e.: week 1 fertilizer & S.T.E.M.; week 2 fertilizer & KLN; week 3 fertilizer & superthrive; week 4 straight water only. The authors hold that you will see a vast improvement in the floral and vegetative characteristics of your plants. For those plants that are heavy feeders, a second, heavier round of fertilizer is applied after the initial drenching...
We'll see if there is merit to this routine, I'm giving it a go and seeing how it does. Perhaps anyone else who currently uses the formula or intends to will chime in as well?
Adam

[Ray]

Superthrive contains 0.04% NAA, 0.09% Vitamin B1, and a bunch of unlisted organic matter such as humic acid, kelp extracts, and the like.

K-L-N has 0.1% NAA, 0.05% IBA, and 0.025% B1.

Both have small amounts of N-P-K fertilizers, as the hormones are relatively insoluble in water in pure form, but the mineral salts are.

When I make up my fertilizer concentrate (I feed at every watering via a dosing pump), I make up 30 gallons of solution containing a 25# bag of MSU RO fertilizer, and add 1 teaspoon of STEM, which gives me a net of 3750 gallons of nutrient solution. In the Gerber article, they use a lot more, but do so monthly, rather than continuously. The STEM label recommends it be used at 1/2% of the nitrogen level on a continuous basis.

I don't use rooting hormones because my mixing tank is translucent, and exposure to light degrades them rapidly, so if I added enough to be effective, it would have to be just before watering, and then I would basically get a single treatment, then would lose the efficacy of the remaining addition.

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

In brief, the article was about using supplements to fertilizer when watering. The authors noted that they use a fertilizer blend similar to the MSU type (mid level nitrogen, urea free), and that they add a supplement to the fertilizer in any given week. The three supplements that they use are S.T.E.M. (which amounts to a balanced macronutrient supplement), KLN (to promote root growth and root health in general) & superthrive (which contains a boost of micronutrients). The idea is that you water with a urea free fertilizer plus one of the three supplements on weekly rotations, i.e.: week 1 fertilizer & S.T.E.M.; week 2 fertilizer & KLN; week 3 fertilizer & superthrive; week 4 straight water only. The authors hold that you will see a vast improvement in the floral and vegetative characteristics of your plants. For those plants that are heavy feeders, a second, heavier round of fertilizer is applied after the initial drenching...
We'll see if there is merit to this routine, I'm giving it a go and seeing how it does. Perhaps anyone else who currently uses the formula or intends to will chime in as well?
Adam

Well before i read this, i was actually watering my chids in almost the same fashion, excluding the STEM which i can't get my hands on here. 1st watering fert and ST, 2nd fert and KLN, 3rd fert and ST, 4th flush wth water!! Then in the next round i would start with the KLN and repeat. Since i've started doing that, i've noticed alot of newgrowth, even during the usual dormant times. The chids look alot healthier in general.

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by Ray

Superthrive contains 0.04% NAA, 0.09% Vitamin B1, and a bunch of unlisted organic matter such as humic acid, kelp extracts, and the like.

K-L-N has 0.1% NAA, 0.05% IBA, and 0.025% B1.

Both have small amounts of N-P-K fertilizers, as the hormones are relatively insoluble in water in pure form, but the mineral salts are.

Thanks alot for the info Ray , i was wondering how they differed percentage wise with the NAA and IBA. What does Humic Acid do?

[Ray]

I think the primary benefit of humic acid is to chelate magnesium and calcium ions, keeping them soluble so they can be readily absorbed by plants. I suppose it's a good pH adjuster, as well.

[Intruder]

Originally Posted by Ray

I think the primary benefit of humic acid is to chelate magnesium and calcium ions, keeping them soluble so they can be readily absorbed by plants. I suppose it's a good pH adjuster, as well.

and iron.
Ray, have you tested the addition of humic acid (potassium humate added to the fertilyser solution) as plant grow booster? Have you any informations about this subject?

[Ray]

Several years ago I concocted my own version of Super-SuperThrive. it was made with IBA, NAA, B1, several other vitamins my studies indicated were good for plant growth, chelated iron compounds, kelp extract and humic acid derived from peat.

I did side-by-side comparisons of flats of a single phalaenopsis hybrid - one flat each receiving Dyna-Gro "Grow" at 50 ppm N, one at that plus 1 drop per gallon SuperThrive, and that plus my concoction at the same rate.

After 6 months, there was no question that the flats receiving the supplements were significantly larger than the one that didn't, and it appeared that my own concoction was somewhat better than the ST batch, but even if they were the same, my stuff - buying the components retail - was much less expensive than ST.