Liquid Kelp Fertilizer
 

I got a small jug of it to aid in root development. I mixed up a gallon of it (its comes very concentrated) and I was just wondering how long the extra that I have is good for once its been mixed with water? I only used about a quart of it so I have quite a bit left. I don't want to throw it away but I also don't want to risk hurting the orchids if it is growing bacteria or something. I looked all over the bottle but it doesn't say anything about how long its lasts. Any ideas?

I've never read anything about the shelf life of those products once they're mixed. Using it in a week or two probably won't hurt anything but it may lose some potency. For a couple of years I would mix a gallon, just like you did, and then only use part of it. It finally occurred to me that the per gallon amount is just a ratio. Now I mix a half gallon or even a quart by using 1/2 or 1/4 of the amount of the product. In other words if the product calls for 1 teaspoon per gallon. I'll mix 1/4 of a teaspoon in a quart. The kelp product that I use calls for 1 ounce per gallon. An ounce is 6 teaspoons so I use one and one half teaspoons in a quart. By the way, the plastic spray bottles from Home Depot or Lowes, are approximately a quart.

Tucker, I have not used one of the kelp products.

What is your opinion, are they as effective as claimed in producing more root growth? What brand (or brands) do you use?

I use 'Maxicrop' seaweed mix and I use one capful (cap cover of the bottle) for one gallon water. Weekly but every other week in winter. The roots get robust and healthy.

Under my growing conditions in South Florida, kelp is very effective at promoting new root growth in most of my orchids. The one I use is called Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed. A couple years ago I used it every week, mixed in with my fertilizer, but I now think that was more than necessary. I now use it every two weeks. I mix one ounce per gallon with my fertilizer water but I grow outdoors in a sub-tropical climate, I think growers up North or growing indoors should probably use a lighter dose. Maybe 1/2 ounce per gallon. It's not a fertilizer so you still need to use a regular fertilizer. I think it's a good product.

I have always used MaxCorp Liquid seaweed too. When I started using it, over a year ago, I was astonished by the difference it made in my plants. (Do I sound like a cheesy commercial?) :blushing: Seriously? Why didn't I know about this stuff 25 years ago? :((

About three months ago, someone mentioned to me that all Kelp isn't equal in quality or effect so I embarked on some research of my own. I learned about a type of kelp (Ecklonia Maxima) that grows in large underwater forests off the coast of southern Africa. I read article after article...study after study...and decided to give it a try. Apparently, Ecklonia Maxima contains more auxins than cytokinins than any other type of kelp.

Auxins are chemicals, as such, that stimulate root growth, which in turn increases water and nutrient uptake. The new root tips release cytokinins which are transported up into the top of the plant and stimulates growth and the division of cells. Doesn't THAT sound exciting? :rofl: It gave me a thrill! :biggrin:

So....I searched and searched for Ecklonia Maxima and found KelpMax! I just started using it actually, so I can't report on it's effects quite yet. We shall see! :)

Thanks guys! I honestly wasn't sure how much I was going to need to spray each of my orchids so I just went ahead and mixed up a gallon. Now I know I could do 1/4th that much and have enough.

jocierk, with regard to your original question, here is some info. There are several plant hormones in seaweed extracts, and they differ quite a bit between different products. For example, KelpMax/Kelpak seems to have high amount of auxins (the hormone which promotes branching of roots). But other products like Maxicrop do seem to promote root growth in some vegetables.

Auxins break down with light. According to one experiment, if auxins are exposed to moderate light for 4 days (16hr/day, 74 micro mol/m^2/s, which is the intensity lower than what you use for Phal and Paphs), 50% of auxins are broken, and almost all gone after 10 days. If it is kept in dark, 70 and 30% or so of natural (IAA) and synthetic (IBA) auxins were lost after 30 days, respectively. Here is the abstract of this paper.

On the other hand, other hormones like Cytokinins (the main ingredient of Keiki paste) are more stable than auxins.

So keep the concentrate and working solutions in dark (and cold). It is unlikely that stored diluted solution will hurt orchids (it may not be effective, though).

Can someone tell me if kelpmax is available at lowes or home depot? Im gonna be making a trip to DFW so if there is a chance I could find it I am all for it. My old bottle of seaweed extract is almost out and i am all for trying better product.

You can buy Organicare Seaplex, cold processed seaweed, from Texas Hydroponic.
Texas*Hydroponics*&...
or any seaweed but is better Liquid Karma from Botanicare

http://www.growstorefinder.com/grow-stores-in-TX.php