Superthrive…….Yes or no?

[Xraymond]

Hey OB, so recently I’ve been battling root loss because of overwatering orchids to the point where I’ve lost alot of roots and a leaf. I’m trying to encourage new roots to grow and found superthrive. I wanted to get your thoughts before moving forward with it.

Do you think it’s good idea or no?

If yes, how should I use it?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Due to some negative results posted by some trusted members here, I would use Kelpak instead of Superthrive.

[Xraymond]

Thanks! What were the concerns?

[Ray]

The active ingredient in Superthrive is naphthalene acetic acid, a synthetic (auxin) rooting hormone. It is effective, but there are a couple of caveats. The first is that you must get a freshly-manufactured batch, as the synthetic hormones are chemically unstable, so degrade relatively quickly, rendering it unaffective. How you determine the age is beyond me, as they don’t put expiration dates on the packages. Dyna-Gro KLN is a similar product containing two synthetic hormones, but they are smart enough to specify the expiration.

Be careful not to overdose them. Excessive hormones can result in deformed flowers or stunted growth. With extreme dosing, they can kill the plants.

A really effective root-growth stimulant is Mega Thrive. It is a urea-based foliar fertilizer containing “mega” doses of boron and molybdenum. That extreme dosing of those trace elements stimulates the plant into producing auxins which stimulate root growth. Like the synthetic hormones, those same overdosing issues exist, but on two layers - one is the effects of excessive auxins, the other is that large trace element doses can kill a plant. The one thing that prevents me from using it is the toxicity of the molybdenum, and the fact that treated plants are immediately toxic to birds and mammals, so any chewing critters, like cats, puppies, and grandkids, are in danger.

The Kelpak “Dusty” mentioned is a unique kelp extract out of South Africa. It is loaded with all sorts of beneficial phytochemicals that, when administered, act sort-of like a “plant IV”, to boost the plant in many ways, including root growth.

It is perfectly safe to use, and has a long shelf life. You can search here for more info, but these are tickets might be of interest:

growth stimulants

comparing seaweed extracts

Kelpak

[Xraymond]

Thanks Ray. So should I use it in my weekly waterings or once a month?

[WaterWitchin]

I'd use KelpPak. Water with it, wait a week, water with it again, then go to once a month. That advice is based on what I do, and it appears to work for me.

Do you know how you're going to solve your overwatering problem? Do you think it was a problem with the medium you were using? Or just too often and heavy a hand with the water?

[Xraymond]

Gotcha. Thanks you! Yeah I fell I have a better handle on it. I have switched my watering pattern to now I only water when needed. I also only give them 2 ounces of water when I do water them. I also have put them in a clear pot with many drainage holes. Which has helped with airflow also.

[Xraymond]

For some reason I couldn’t attach the pictures with the post.

[Ray]

OK.

The most basic key to orchid growing is balancing air and water at the roots, but water is the true driving force for growth, so you don’t want to be stingy with it.

By growing in sphagnum moss, too wet may become suffocating and kill the roots. If you use a more open potting medium, you can water more with greater impunity, while still allowing the roots to “breathe”.

[Xraymond]

I’ve tried using bark and had the same results but felt like I was still over watering. I feel like now I can put a little at a time because the moss is going to soak it up and then add more when needed. But what would you suggest or what has worked best for you. I do see how people use a mixture of both bark and moss. I’m just trying to provide the best environment for my orchids.