GARDEN SAFE Take Root hormone for rootless phal?

[lisaxaphona]

I purchased this Garden Safe brand "Take Root" rooting hormone from Lowes, I didn't see any Superthrive or other root hormones for that matter.Has anyone used this, or think it will work to encourage new roots for a phal that only has 3 roots, or should I return it and keep looking?:dontknow:
Can you tell me what brands you have used?

---------- Post added at 03:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:19 AM ----------

[Nexogen]

Amazon.com : Plant Revolution PRPSGW01 Great White 1 Ounce : Fertilizers : Patio, Lawn & Garden

[estación seca]

The label shows it contains indole-3-butyric acid, which is a rooting hormone. It is hard to read but it may be 0.1%. Look up to the maroon menu bar at the top of this page. Towards the right there is a Search tab. Click this and put indole-3-butyric acid in the box, and hit Return. You can read about other people's experiences.

[lisaxaphona]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The label shows it contains indole-3-butyric acid, which is a rooting hormone. It is hard to read but it may be 0.1%. Look up to the maroon menu bar at the top of this page. Towards the right there is a Search tab. Click this and put indole-3-butyric acid in the box, and hit Return. You can read about other people's experiences.

Thank you for your great suggestion. I have read a couple of threads so far regarding the subject. Appearently the hormone is just fine for orchids, there was a lot of info about it being in KLN. However, some people have mentioned that powder form (which Garden Safe is) would be most likely WAY too concentrated, as opposed to the liquid which is diluted in water. Garden Safe is in fact 00.1%. Here is the main part of what this person said.


IBA and NAA are the two most common synthetic rooting hormones on the market, but in order for them to have a practical use in orchid culture, they must be water soluble, which they are mostly not in their pure form, requiring that they be compounded with other cationic species to make soluble salts. That is why you will see what appear to be traces of fertilizer on some labels - K-L-N, for example, is listed as a 0.009-0.011-0.006 fertilizer - insignificant, but required by some state laws.

With-, or without a surfactant, a rooting hormone in powder form will not be good for orchids, AND, they tend to be in a lot stronger concentration than the liquids, which can be damaging.
Then it is asked what the concentration of IBA is, which the person replies as .0004%, and the next response is...

I'd say it would be safe to use, but I would absolutely not use it at the concentration they recommend! It is primarily a fertilizer, and that application rate will give you 550 ppm N!!! I would stick to less than 1 tablespoon per gallon, as 1 Tbsp/gal is about 160 ppm N.

So I think I'll do some research, I might send a message to the person with the above information and see what they have to say, or possibly just return the Garden Safe and get a liquid form.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by lisaxaphona

So I think I'll do some research,...

I went back and read all the threads on the search I suggested. The most readily-available products seem to be liquid Super-Thrive, which is extremely expensive, liquid KLN and various liquid kelp extract products. All these can be diluted in water so they are easier to apply to orchid roots.

I can't see how extra vitamin B1 would do anything for plants. Plants make it themselves. I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Backyard Gardener - Vitamin B-1 and Root Stimulators - March 26, 2008
So for years it's been my opinion SuperThrive is just a very expensive scam. I know people who think it works.

A lot of people on this forum use kelp products as periodic treatments to stimulate root growth, especially after transplanting. I bought some KelpMax from First Ray's; the proprietor posts to this forum. You can read more about it on his site, and there is a lot of information on the Internet about various kelp extracts.

My conditions are poor for Vanda and I've killed adult plants before - quickly. My past experience has been Vanda don't make new roots if the ambient humidity is low. I used the kelp extract as a drench on some Vanda seedlings according to directions. I soaked them on arrival and then once per month with the kelp solution. After two months and three treatments, some have begun making new roots and some have not. They all look healthy and are growing leaves.

I don't know whether the product worked or not: I did not use a control group that didn't get the treatment, so it is impossible to attribute anything to the treatment. And had I done so, I wouldn't have a large enough number of plants to draw any statistically valid conclusions.

[lisaxaphona]

Originally Posted by estación seca

A lot of people on this forum use kelp products as periodic treatments to stimulate root growth, especially after transplanting. I bought some KelpMax from First Ray's; the proprietor posts to this forum. You can read more about it on his site, and there is a lot of information on the Internet about various kelp extracts.

On another forum website I had some people suggest kelp and seaweed as well. I looked up Kelpmax on Google shopping, nothing came up but kelp powder did. It looks reasonably priced as well. I'll look up more about it. I never realized how much Superthrive is! What a jip. I think I will return this Garden Safe product and go the natural kelp route. This Garden Safe hormone is a bit scary, it says all over the container to wear gloves and not to let it touch you, be careful not to inhale, and not to let it get in water or to wash utensils off with water and to just throw them away. It seems pretty scary and in my own opinion, I'd rather be safe not being contaminated by this stuff than to save this orchid.
thank you again for your suggestions though! They have been very helpful and I am glad I came to this comclusion. I have already treated the Orchid once with the hormone, so it may help it. I'll be sure to post any updates.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I commented on your earlier thread about this plant.

Just my but you probably don't need a rooting hormone. If you really still want one, I will say that KLN does work pretty well. I have also tried http://www.walmart.com/ip/Grow-More-...0-1.5/19241055 and it also seems to promote root growth.

I would avoid the Superthrive based on the wild claims alone.

[silken]

I have used both KLN and SuperThrive. I have always read various comments that most store bought rooting hormones other than those 2 can be too strong. Both of them worked, but since I have switched to seaweed (kelp) both in powder or liquid form, I have had the best results. I have used various brands and they all seem to work well. They are fairly easy to find also. Hydroponics stores usually carry them.

[campchi]

I got myself a small bottle of seaweed from hydroponic store. and healthy. Been using for a month, I like the result.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by lisaxaphona

I looked up Kelpmax on Google shopping, nothing came up but kelp powder did.

KelpMax has been scientifically shown to be the most effective root-growth stimulant out there. First Rays is the sole North American distributor of it. It is not available on Google shopping, but was available on Amazon, but I pulled it down while I was away on vacation and could not fulfill orders. I just reactivated their availability.