Quantum Orchid - probiotics and Microorganisms for Orchids (Yogurt for Orchids)

[Orchidhound56]

Quantum™ Orchid is probiotics for orchids (like yogurt is for people) with natural microorganisms for superior health and growth. Has anyone tried this product from Repotme?
Quantum-Orchid is an organic, natural and chemical-free probiotic growth enhancer to increase orchid quality and health. Significantly reduce your fertilizer and fungicide use while adding beneficial microbes that perform multiple key functions to enhance orchid growth, blooms, vigor and health.

This mixture performs multiple key functions for orchid enhancement and growth including:
• Photosynthetic strains that “feed” plants by producing sugars,
thus providing energy for growth to the orchids.
• Nitrogen fixing microbes that take nitrogen from the air, fertilizing orchids naturally.
• Multiple Bacillus strains (including subtilis and pumilus), beneficial bacteria that produce natural growth enhancers and increase orchid health, helping plants naturally resist pathogens and disease without chemical use.
The benefits of using Quantum-Orchid include:
• Increased blooms with brighter colors.
• Increased root growth and thickness.
• Promotes lush growth.
• Safe for use around people and pets.
• It's organic and good for the environment.
• Helps orchids recover from damage by disease and environmental stress.
Quantum-Orchid is easy to apply:
Quantum-Orchid can be used with your normal watering or treatment schedule. Use at a dilution of 1 teaspoon per 6 cups of water (1 capful = 1 teaspoon). Pour or spray on the roots or the foliage. Quantum-Orchid can also be used at the same dilution for root dips. For best results, apply every 14 to 21 days.

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[WhiteRabbit]

[TOMMYMIAMI]

no clue but interested to hear from someone who uses this.

[burz]

I wish they had a list of what microbes are present in the product somewhere. Unless I didn't see it.

Has anyone read the book TEAMING WITH MICROBES? I'm close to finishing it but I'm sure I'll be going through it again more than once (was not really the easiest read, loads and loads of info). It's the best gardening book I've read and there is a follow up called TEAMING WITH NUTRIENTS that is first on my list of need to reads.

I'm using "Great White" by Plant Success they have a listing of what spores and species it contains. Also I use "Voodoo Juice" and "Sensizym" by Advanced nutrients once and a while which also has a list of species and there counts. I use "Sea Green" by Primordial Solutions and it contains micro life as well.

I have not done any side by side comparisons so I'm not sure how much I'm benefiting. But I'm pretty certain re-potting should be more often than not seeing that the microbes and enzymes are meant to break down the potting mix.

I'm curious to know what types of fungus and bacteria benefit orchids and the mixes we use for them, oppose to soil, ponds, and other plants. If it matters or makes a difference.

[ALToronto]

I'm interested in more information - what types of orchids benefit the most from this supplement? Does it help orchids that grow in inert media? What about orchids that need a dormancy period? What about slippers, which can have completely different culture requirements from, say, oncidiums or cattleyas? How does this supplement interact with fertilizer?

Looks interesting, but many of us have heard this song before - some 'miracle' product that really doesn't have more than just a placebo effect. Please, Orchidhound, we need more details before we buy in. And do you offer small, trial-size containers?

[JungleMel]

I'd be interested to hear responses from people that have actually used it too. I found a review on a vendor's site from someone that actually grows in my area. The review spoke very highly of how much better his orchids grow with the addition of Quantum, but has anyone done any kind of study on it? I'd like to see at least one controlled study before I spend money on something that sounds good in theory.

I know quite a few people that use Trichoderma species on Heliamphora and other types of plants. Howver, there have been studies done on Trichoderma, how it helps and why. I'm wary of products that boast how great they are, but don't list the actual names of everything in it so we can at least do our own research into it.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Orchidhound56, thanks for bringing this to our attention, but consider me a cautious skeptic. I see a lot of product claims above (quoted from their advertisements) without any justification by Quantum proving this would be of any benefit.

If Quantum has some peer-reviewed, published science to back up the claims, it would be worth a read. I see in their promotional material online that they have a testimonial and some photos, but that is not the same as scientific testing under controlled conditions.

---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:09 PM ----------

One more thing to add. Bacteria have incredibly short lives. The two Bacillus species listed are soil bacteria. Are they even adapted to living in orchid medium (bark, LECA, etc.)? These 2 species are aerobic (better adapted than anaerobic for orchid media), but there is no guarantee that they would even live long enough to be of benefit, if there is a benefit. These species of bacteria are ubiquitous, so I suspect that if they are able to live in orchid medium, they probably are already there if a plant is established in the medium for any length of time. Can't know anything about the bacteria that are not listed, of course.

I suspect that after inoculation, bacterial populations probably revert to whatever was present before innoculation.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I suspect that after inoculation, bacterial populations probably revert to whatever was present before innoculation.

I have no doubt that's correct.

Working in the petrochemical industry, I got to see some first-hand work with the "superbugs" that eat oil from spills. They would introduce the oil-eating bacteria, and they would chomp away for a very short time until the population died.

A far more effective clean-up methodology (proven on the Exxon Valdez spill) was to spray an emulsion of olive oil and high-nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen sparks the growth of the indiginous bacteria, who find the olive oil super easy to consume, and when that supply dwindles, they go to work on the heavier oil in the spill. I have used that to remove an oil stain from a concrete garage floor, too.

If someone developed an additive that caused beneficial micro-organisms to grow, now THAT might be worth having.