Kelpmax in Netherlands

[Ray]

Please share a link to that recommendation.

Never mind - found it

[Ray]

OK - I finally heard back from the technical director.

Their entire website and information database is created to support large-scale farmers, not “little folks” like us.

The “use in 3 weeks” advice is given because such operations often leave packages open, and in not particularly clean environments, so there is a strong tendency for fungal growth in the open container, leading to clogging of equipment spray nozzles.

For us (he’s an orchid grower, too), the best approach is refrigeration in a sealed bottle.

[Fuerte Rav]

My thanks to all who tracked down and posted info re obtaining Kelpak in Europe. My order arrived today which considering the hit and miss nature of our postal deliveries (so much just never arrives!) was a great relief. Postage cost as much as the product but that's a postal issue, not Besgrows'. Besgrow gave amazing customer service.

[Fuerte Rav]

Quick Q re Kelpak.
I was expecting a dark brown liquid (don't know why!) but what I've got is like dirty dishwater. Is this normal?

[Ray]

It can vary from that to a greenish color. It does “brown” with age, but that has no impact on its performance.

[Timinnl]

Is this the the KelkMax you were looking for?

kelp 500: Amazon.nl

---------- Post added at 06:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 AM ----------

Is this the the KelkMax you were looking for?

kelp 500: Amazon.nl

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Timinnl

Is this the the KelkMax you were looking for?

kelp 500: Amazon.nl

---------- Post added at 06:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 AM ----------

Is this the the KelkMax you were looking for?

kelp 500: Amazon.nl

No. Entirely different product.

[Orchidtinkerer]

I got some to try this year too. Used it twice so far.

Not sure what to think yet. Mainly I haven't seen much results. One orchid died - however I was expecting it to die but it croaked it very fast after an application of Kelpak.

Another one that was producing a pseudobulb but then started struggling - sprayed it and within 2 weeks it started producing a second pseudobulb which I was not expecting.

I will be spraying my phals next. I really wasn't expecting any miracles and still not entirely sure the bottle was worth it...

When I mix it up it comes out at 300ppm (4ml/l) which to me seems very high for seedlings for example..

I think that is why the orchid that croaked it did croak as I was only feeding it 60ppm up till then.

Fuerte and Camille, what are your impressions so far?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

I got some to try this year too. Used it twice so far.

Not sure what to think yet. Mainly I haven't seen much results. One orchid died - however I was expecting it to die but it croaked it very fast after an application of Kelpak.

Another one that was producing a pseudobulb but then started struggling - sprayed it and within 2 weeks it started producing a second pseudobulb which I was not expecting.

I will be spraying my phals next. I really wasn't expecting any miracles and still not entirely sure the bottle was worth it...

When I mix it up it comes out at 300ppm (4ml/l) which to me seems very high for seedlings for example..

I think that is why the orchid that croaked it did croak as I was only feeding it 60ppm up till then.

Fuerte and Camille, what are your impressions so far?

I'm been using it it monthly since July. My experience with it has been rather positive, and I started seeing the first effects about 4-6 weeks after the first application. As a note, I don't spray, but soak the pots in the kelpak solution (Like I would do anyways for watering/fertilizing). I think the plants take up a whole lot more than way. I use 4ml/L, for all my orchids inclduing seedlings.

My best example is this Phal, which I've been struggling to nurse back to health for the past 2 years because it just wasn't putting out many new roots. Nearly all the roots visible in the photo (except for the 2-3 stained ones on the left side) all started growing about 6 weeks after application 1. So something like 6 simultaneous new roots!



Overall what I do notice is generally more vigorous root growth than before. Nothing as 'WOW' as that first Phal, but definitely a noticeable difference.

This is my Phal gigantea, repotted in the summer (repotted = left the plant in the pot but plucked out all the old nasty bark and replaced it with leca). It filled the pots with roots rather quickly!



And my Phal lueddemanniana is another example of multiple new roots starting


I also have 2 paphs in ICU, that have put out a spectacular amount of roots in 2 months. As a scientist I know it's hard to draw definitive conclusions without a proper control group, but I have been growing orchids in this same setup for 7 years and have a good sense of what is 'normal' for my plants. While I can't quantify the effects, they are certainly there.

[Fuerte Rav]

Like Camille I dunk my orchids that are in bark for watering/fertilising, leaving them in for about 30 minutes. They have had this treatment twice now with Kelpak. (4ml/L) All are growing lots of strong roots but best of all one that I had been delaying repotting, which it desperately needed, has grown 4 good roots in the last few weeks, giving me the confidence to do the repot.
2 new roots on this side and 2 hiding on the other.



Out of bark and soaking in Kelpak prior to repot.

My ones in S/H get a plain flush and then a refill of the mix. All doing great roots.

The only one I spray is a vanda in a glass vase. It takes 10L to cover all the roots so instead I allocate half a litre in a spray bottle and work at it all day. When the bottle is finished I then top up/fill the vase with plain water and let it soak overnight

I'm delighted with the Kelpak.

It all gets a second life in my garden for seedlings, cuttings and new plantings!