Hi Ray,
I use it by itself, but it can be used with fertilizer, STEM, or other additives.
I either mix it in a hand pump sprayer or through the dositron with a very fine Dramm misting head.
The white paper is a very interesting read!
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Most of their products contain Bacillus bacteria (Quantum-HSC), which I have used for years in another manufacturer's brand called Companion. It is difficult to see the effect of this bacteria except over long term use. It reduces the stress in the plant and as a result makes the plant stronger and more disease resistant over time. I have found the Companion brand produces measurable results when used over a year. It is a slightly stronger concentration than the Quantum products.
The other microbe they have is Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Quantum-Light™ is pure Rhodopseudomonas palustris, while their other products are the Bacillus or a combination of these two. I have never used this one.
This all was interesting since they are manufactured only 15 miles from my nursery and I had never heard of them.
The claims they make are all valid for these bacteria. They are harmless probably made from kelp. Since seaweed is edible the harmless claim is valid. I also find you can not overdose as they claim.
If I was choosing one I would try Quantum-VSC which is a combination of these two bacteria. All the other products are slightly different combinations of the bacteria and I do not see how using several products will do anything more than using just one.
There are many other products on the market such as Thrive that are the same bacteria.
Reports of conifer damage associated with the Imprelis, a new DuPont herbicide, started rolling in from the Midwest in early June. Spraying the trees with the brands I use Companion, Essentials and a third cleated micro-nutrients turned around even heavily damaged trees.
I should have mentioned not to use any of these with standard chemical fertilizer. Phosphorus kills microbes and these products are all microbes.
If you want to use chemical fertilizer as well do it on different weeks. And I have always recommended using low phosphorus fertilizers.
I do not find chemical fertilizer to be necessary for strong plant growth but the leaves become lighter green as the plant does not need as much chlorophyll. I started using Nitrogen again to green the leaves as my customers thought the plants were not as healthy. When used on different weeks I was satisfied with the results.
Last edited by orchidsamore; 08-23-2011 at 07:01 AM..