Help! Nightmare: superthrive overdose

[Eyebabe]

Originally Posted by PleuroPal

I'll bet anyone dollars to donuts it will be fine eventually if you lay off the Superthrive.

Then this most certainly is NOT a mutation

[bodaciousbonsai]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Someone can correct me who knows better, but I thought something like Superthrive could not permanently affect the genetics of the plant - could only produce a temporary effect.

UMMMMMM???? I think it says only one drop per gallon.

[catwalker808]

If your plant bloomed normally last year, the current bloom is probably crippled rather than a mutation. From your photo, the flowers do not appear to be identical, but have various degrees of crippling. The flower on the right has 3 petals & no lip, but 2 of the others appear to have distorted (crippled) lips.

This was probably caused by the overdose and/or overuse of Superthrive. However, it is most likely the misuse and not the product itself which caused the crippling. (don't want readers to think that Superthrive cripples or mutates plants). Overuse of fertilizers can also cause flower (or even plant) crippling. The plants usually outgrow the conditions and become normal. This will probably be the case with your plant.

There are some pesticides which can cripple flowers, even when applied at labelled rates, especially when temps are too high. But those things you learn from experience or the experience of friends.

Years ago, a hobbyist friend of mine used an excellent new liquid fungicide. He said it had burned many of his orchids and killed many of his juvenile plants. I already knew the answer, but I asked him the dosage he used. He replied that he used 2 tablespoons per gallon of water ... just like all the powdered fungicides he previously used. I told him to read the label. For one gallon, he should have used only a few drops of the liquid concentrate.

There are a lot of good products on the market which are safe & effective when used properly. Product labels are for user safety, as well as plant well being.

[Ray]

When I used a teaspoon per gallon on a regular basis = about 2x per week - I saw mutation in phalaenopsis, but nothing else.

The next flowering after stopping was normal.

[frostedeyes]

i think im going to overdose my orchids... weird looking ones are a standout... why have the same flowers with other growers.. collectors were looking for tetraploid orchids... lol.. cross with a walkeriana 'coerulea' and its going to be awesome!

[orchidsamore]

I switched to Essentials with which you can not overdose as it is naturally occurring in sea seed.

Superthrive is idyl-butic (IBA) which is not organic and does not dissolve in water. For use at 1-3 gallons drops per gallon it is diluted 1,000,000 to 1.

I use Essentials which is gibberellic acid at 10,000 to one (a teaspoon per quart). It is organic and grown from sea weed and soluble in water. I have overdosed at full strength by mistake without issues. It is even recommended to use at 4-1 dilution to root hibiscus cuttings.

here is a tutorial on some test results.
Organic health canre of orchids, Test results of Essentials growth hormones on orchids

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

I switched to Essentials with which you can not overdose as it is naturally occurring in sea seed.
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Hmmm I dont quite agree on that might be harder to overdose and take a massive amount but just being natural does not eleminate something possibly causing damage if used wrong ......poppies do produce opium after all and naturally at that .....rubarb stems are toxic ect

[nenella]

Interesting thread guys & gals! Thanks.
It's made me remember that a couple of years ago I used more ST and I had the flower (noid phal)blooming 'different' and thought oops I must have overdosed... I've never done it again... as it's too simple to count 'drops' & think oooh just a drop more... ... In fact if anyone knows the answer I'd love to know.. just how "big/ml' is a drop supposed to be exactly? Thanks.

PS: my noid phal rebloomed perfectly well next time it bloomed

[Chris147]

The answer to your question is no. The effects of superthrive are only temporary, but I would highly reccomend that you cut back on the amount of superthrive that the plant recieves. I would only give the plant superthrive once or twice a month at the most. Most likely the plant has all of the nutrients in its roots from the superthrive and is waiting till the time is right to use it. Usually to help with new root growth.

[Zozzl]

I have heard that the mutations are temporary also. The nursery growers use it for transplanting seedings, encouraging root growth, shock. Supposedly 1 drop per gallon does. A friend of mine who sells orchids says she only uses it on the new potted or plants without roots, struggling etc. She does not use it on all of her plants. I am going to try it on some perennial cuttings that are just rooting to see if helps at all and some newly potted orchids.