Any experience in using sea kelp additives on orchids?

[peeweelovesbooks]

I'm a big advocate for this fert. I''ve used Maxicrop soluble seaweed with fantastic results!

[phsteve]

Great information on Sea Weed. Thanks.
Steve Hochman, Las Vegas, NV

[Joseia]

I've been using KelpMax from First Rays with great results.

[theloyalplum]

I use kelpmax and it is a miracle. The greatest difference I saw was during repotting. Transplant shock for my 'chids used to last a month or more, but with a soak in kelpmax, there's sometimes no shock, or there's a decreased shock period. And it even works for my passionfruits when I transfered from plugs to pots! I did two batches, one with and one without kelp and the kelp ones started growth again a week or two earlier than the other one. It's not a completely scientific experiment, but it worked!

[Jungeoma]

But the stuff smells so bad I can't use it in the house.

[ThePinkCucumber]

I use Kelpak with fertilizer every other week and then also as foliar spray every other week with great results, especially now in spring I've got tons of thick fat roots coming out. It has no smell whatsoever.

[Ray]

I don't think KelpMax smells bad at all. Reminds me of a day at the beach straight from the bottle, and once diluted, it's barely detectable.

[Leafmite]

I am using a seaweed product on my tropicals, orchids and potted strawberries. I am getting really good growth on the tropicals and plenty of strawberries. The rootless Angraecum sesquipedale hasn't suffered any leaf loss and is growing new roots. I am sold on the benefits of this stuff.

Here is a nice link I found:

Gardening Australia - Fact Sheet: Seaweed Fertiliser

[phsteve]

Love really like to talk to you about Maxi Crop. I just bought it and applied it. Would love to hear your in sights.
Sincerely,
Steve Hochman, phsteve1@aol.com
Greater Las Vegas Orchid Society
702-704-3400

[terryros]

I am another Kelpmax user. As Ray's data sheet shows, it contains a lot of stuff so you can see how you could look at it as a general fertilizer. However, I think most orchid people are seeking after the specific growth stimulators.

In particular, the auxins and cytokines in the product are thought important. Ray and others have explained how the auxins seem to stimulate root growth while the cytokines stimulate "top growth". The Kelpmax product is supposed to be heavier in auxins.

So, my question for Ray is whether he thinks Kelpmax is most beneficial at certain times of the yearly growing cycle AND are there particular times when he thinks it should be avoided? I am thinking that spring and early summer in the greenhouse or indoor plant room make good sense while I am very wary about using it right now as I am heading into the vernalization process with my plant room (shorter days and then a cool down period).


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