Worm Tea, Physan 20, and SuperThrive - has anyone tried combining the three?

[keithrs]

Snake oil effect came from old westerns movies...

In the old movies they had traveling doctors going around selling fake medicines with boisterous marketing hype.

I use sphagnum moss packed very light or orchiata bark(classic size). I soak them(seedlings) in 1/4 strength 4-12-4 fertilizer and a small amount of cold pressed seaweed for 30 min or so and let them air dry on paper towel. After potted, I use my standard fertilizer @50 PPM N or 1/4 strength once a week after that with 4-12-4 once a month. Use a bright corner in your house away from direct light add very good air movement(add a fan if needed). Air movement is very important and may solve many problems for you. Doesn't need to be strong just contestant . Humidity is just as important as air movement. 70% or higher is best. I do not use any physan, bleach, alcohol, peroxide, ect. It can do bad things.... I have lost almost every seedling I used physan on.... It drys out the roots and turns them into mush, Pits the leave, and turns them yellow after a month or so. Not to mention that I got zero growth.

Heres a link that may help you out...

Troy Meyers deflasking article

[samnkyle]

Glad to know. Thanks KeithRS.
I'll check out the link u sent.

[orchidsamore]

Samkyle

First if you are making what you think is worm tea from compost STOP.

It does not work on orchids.

Worm compost is a good fertilizer but does not seem to work unless mixed into soil. Orchids do not have soil. Even terrestrial orchids did poorly with compost until I learned to mix it into the soil rather than top dress the pots.

Vermi-liquid, called worm tea, is the skin secretion of the worm. It is a totally different biological process. It has millions of beneficial microbes in the product. Dry compost has lost all these and the only microbes is what comes in from the air - good- bad or indifferent.

Compare it to a cow. You can shake cow manure in water forever it will not turn into milk. Worm manure will not turn into Vermi-liquid.

For your original question everyone was correct Physan may kill the microbes in Vermi-liquid. Personally I think Physan is a waste of money. It is the same algaecide that is used to kill algae in pools. You can buy the generic product at any pool supply.

Superthrive is such a diluted product that it can be mixed.

I prefer Essentials (gibberellic acid from seaweed) to superthrive as it is organic and can not burn plants even when used at very high concentration.

I prefer Companion (Bracillus subtilis bacteria) to any fungicide. I do not believe anything kills fungus (except destroying the plant) and I have tried just about everything. Products like Companion are anti-fungal inoculates, which help the plants fight off infection. The best cure is to never have your plant get sick in the first place.

Both of these products are found naturally in seaweed, but grown to much higher concentrations. It is cheaper to use than direct seaweed. Also seaweed as a fertilizer is very low in NPK (as is Vermi-liquid). While it is a good food using it in high amounts gets to be expensive.

Since these products are all organic they mix together well.

[samnkyle]

Hi Jerry,
Just to clarify, you're saying forego the worm tea, physan, and superthrive and just use Essentials + Companion? Or can I just get the seaweed...if so, which brand.. and where do i buy it from?
Thanks!

[keithrs]

Jerry sells all it through his website..... You can also find it threw a quick google search.

[samnkyle]

Of course! I see it now. I'll browse through the website!
Thanks guys!