KELPAK

[Ray]

I sent the Kelpak folks a summary of my own experiences, and asked about the continuous/periodic question, as well as their thoughts on continuous application at higher levels (1:300 or thereabouts). I'll report back when I get a response.

I dug up an old email from them, and they had the attached file, which I added to my Kelpak page. You can view or download the PDF by clicking HERE.

[camille1585]

I was reading some scientific literature on seaweed extracts back when this thread started, and I do remember reading somewhere that at low doses (I think it was also 1:500) it promotes root growth, and at a high dosage (don't remember what it was) then it no longer promotes root growth, BUT stimulates the foliage instead. I can look it up again if necessary.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Ray

I sent the Kelpak folks a summary of my own experiences, and asked about the continuous/periodic question, as well as their thoughts on continuous application at higher levels (1:300 or thereabouts). I'll report back when I get a response.

I dug up an old email from them, and they had the attached file, which I added to my Kelpak page. You can view or download the PDF by clicking HERE.

Thank you Ray, I saved your PDF document.
On the other hand, I acquired a new Oncidium (Cambria) today, and want to move it to Semi-Hydro, I removed the old medium and dipped it into a 1% kelpak solution as tested on bulbs in your PDF document, I will keep it in that solution for 18 days as the test showed and will take pictures and share with everyone.

My only question is, will i be able to place it in semi-hydro after that period?

[Ray]

Here is the response from the Kelpak technical manager:

The reason why we recommend the 14 day interval is based on the responses we see. The effect to the roots in many plants we start seeing after about 7 days and the effect to top growth at about 14-20 days. The plant clearly is going through a series of responses and we would like to see the cycle completed, before we take the plant through that cycle again. The flush in roots is causing an increase in natural cytokinin production (as these hormones are produced only in root tips). The improved nutrient uptake, together with the higher cytokinin levels now promote shoot growth, flowering. If you keep applying an auxin dominant product such as Kelpak, you are not allowing the cytokinins to become dominant. So with appropriate time once the cytokinins was allowed to become dominant and trigger their typical responses, you can start applying auxins again, to take the plant through the next cycle. We have often seen less good results with weekly applications as compared to biweekly applications. We normally apply 2 biweekly applications when we want to boost the roots, then we would do two applications again when we want to initiate flowers and so forth.

The 1:500 dilution is what we found to be the lowest rate of Kelpak to cause a response in most plants. There are a few species that will respond to lower rates applied as a drench such as roses and here are a few species known that will need up to 1:300 to cause a rooting response. With flowers and especially herbaceous flowers we seem to get good responses with 1:400 to 1:300 dilutions applied as drenches.

As for trying a rate of 1:1000, we certainly have seen an effect on roses, but with several species we have had no responses. I think you must determine yourself which of your species will still respond to such a low level of Kelpak. The theory is that you need a certain concentration of auxins on the outside of the cell membrane to allow transfer over the membrane by diffusion, to enter the cytoplasm of the plant where it will trigger the response.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by empiref

Thank you Ray, I saved your PDF document.
On the other hand, I acquired a new Oncidium (Cambria) today, and want to move it to Semi-Hydro, I removed the old medium and dipped it into a 1% kelpak solution as tested on bulbs in your PDF document, I will keep it in that solution for 18 days as the test showed and will take pictures and share with everyone.

My only question is, will i be able to place it in semi-hydro after that period?

Based upon the response above, I would not recommend keeping the plant in the Kelpak solution for the 18 day period - soak them, and repeat at two-week intervals.

I don't think there is anything different about s/h culture - the plants get their chemistry from the solutions applied; very little, if any, comes from the medium.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Ray

Based upon the response above, I would not recommend keeping the plant in the Kelpak solution for the 18 day period - soak them, and repeat at two-week intervals.

I don't think there is anything different about s/h culture - the plants get their chemistry from the solutions applied; very little, if any, comes from the medium.

Thank you Ray for sharing the KELPAK email response with us. I used Kelpak 2 weeks in a row. my technique consists of the following; flush the S/H pot with water rapidly and then empty the reservoir completely, afterwards i fill the reservoir with a solution of fertilizer at a 100 ppm and 1:500 kelpak.

after your response today, i will use Kelpak again 14 days after the prior use.

I will keep updating on my results.

[Ray]

When my current concentrate tank runs out (it contains K-Lite fertilizer and Kelpak), I'll switch to a 2-week dosing, as well.

[bballr4567]

I just used it on my cherry tomatoes plant. I'm certainly interested in the results for it too.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

I just used it on my cherry tomatoes plant. I'm certainly interested in the results for it too.

Use it on some of your orchids and let us know what the results are.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by Ray

When my current concentrate tank runs out (it contains K-Lite fertilizer and Kelpak), I'll switch to a 2-week dosing, as well.

Hi Ray, do you think it is important to flush out kelpak from S/H or water culture after a few days?