Kelpmax question

[2Barefeet]

How long does Kelpmax last once it's mixed with water? I have a Vanda that's not doing well and I have it soaking in a Kelpmax solution overnight. The instructions say to use Kelpmax for the next two watering and I was wondering if I can reuse the solution it's currently soaking in or if I need to mix it up fresh each time.

[Ray]

I would recommend not storing it for more than a day or two before use.

[2Barefeet]

Thanks Ray for the response.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by Ray

I would recommend not storing it for more than a day or two before use.

I have been mixing up a gallon jug with the recommended 1tbs per gallon of water, keeping it on a shelf, and using it once a month on my orchids. So the jug sits for about 3 weeks...Is this ok? If not, what happens to it? How could it affect my phals?

[dounoharm]

I think if you keep your mix in a cool and dark place (paint your jug black) you can use it for a week or so...I have done something like that from time to time....once a chemical is mixed with water in a dilute solution, I think it breaks down pretty fast...that week old stuff cant be expected to perform as well as fresh....

[fishmom]

But the Kelpmax as we buy it is a mixture of kelp extracts and water, presumably. How is this different from a mixture made up at home?

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by fishmom

But the Kelpmax as we buy it is a mixture of kelp extracts and water, presumably. How is this different from a mixture made up at home?

Yes that is my thinking too. If what is in the bottle can be stored, why can it be stored in a jug? Mixed with water?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by fishmom

But the Kelpmax as we buy it is a mixture of kelp extracts and water, presumably. How is this different from a mixture made up at home?

KelpMax in the bottle is 36.5% kelp juice, about 2% natural preservatives, and the balance water. in the recommended use concentration, that becomes roughly 0.15% kelp juice and 0.008% preservative, so I don't know how that could preserve anything.

I don't know that longer-term storage is a significant issue, but being a natural biological product, fresher is always better.

[fishmom]

Thanks, Ray.

[greenpassion]

YES. Thank you Ray. Rather than having the jugs made up so far ahead I will just make up what I need at the beginning of the week that I will be using it.