Not meant to be a sales pitch, but will be construed as such by some.

[Ray]

OT - you and I agree on all points! That last point especially. If we do everything perfectly, the plant will perform to its genetically-programmed maximum. Anything we do that's less-than-ideal detracts from that potential.

When I first got a sample of the stuff (it took 6 months of email and telephone hounding to get the manufacturer to give me the US distributor's contact info), I tried it on my vandas. It was mid-spring, when they typically started "waking up" after the winter doldrums, but that hadn't quite started. I treated them twice in 2 weeks, and about 2-3 weeks later, they started throwing roots like mad.

The typical root growth for me was about a half-dozen new ones each spring, but the average that year was about 40, consisting of new roots plus lots of branching of existing ones.

Interestingly, the response plants have to KelpMax goes far beyond what the small auxin content would lead one to expect. Apparently the rest of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, amino acids, alginates and other polysaccharides and other growth regulators are directly usable by the plants, supplementing what they would naturally produce by themselves and by the microbes living in the rhizosphere, multiplying the effect.

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by Ray

Interestingly, the response plants have to KelpMax goes far beyond what the small auxin content would lead one to expect. Apparently the rest of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, amino acids, alginates and other polysaccharides and other growth regulators are directly usable by the plants, supplementing what they would naturally produce by themselves and by the microbes living in the rhizosphere, multiplying the effect.

That's why I firmly believe in using organic boosters and fertilisers once in a while, there are so many things salt based products can't replicate!
Kelp extract is a good example, aloe vera has been proven good for plant immune system, and even rice cooking water contains water soluble proteins and vitamins that can be used to fertilise.

In in vitro culture, there are literally thousands of papers supporting that banana pulp and coconut water drastically enhance growth, and yet the exact reasons why are unknown.

"The reasons for the beneficial effects of coconut water are not clear. Plant hormones and
related substances, hexitols (Pollard et al., 1961; Ge et al., 2004, 2005, 2006), and
some or many other substances may be reasons for these effects. A fortuitous combination or interaction between several of the different compounds in
CW may also be a reason." (Micropropagation of Orchids - Yam, Arditti)


If someone has ungodly amounts of coconuts in their garden, you know what to do