Any experience in using sea kelp additives on orchids?

[Ray]

Hi Terry.

Much of the early work with KelpMax did seem to indicate that it's stimulation of the auxin/cytokinin cycle was key, but more recent analyses have shown the product to be high in abscisic acid, brassinosteroids, and gibberllins, all of which have significant effects on plant growth.

What, how, and when the product should be used varies all over the map. A highly awarded winery in California sprays the vines immediately after fruit-set, causing the rachis to elongate, allowing fuller development of the fruit, and providing more space for the penetration of fungicides. The Phillies applied the product to their sod two weeks before harvest and installation at Citizens Bank Park after the NHL Winter Classic destroyed their turf, and then a month later in order to ensure that the grass was fully rooted and established in time for the regular-season. The experience with orchid growth is almost exclusively with us, but I'll be happy to describe my regimen (all treatments are at 1 tablespoon per gallon):

New transplants, and rescues: the bare root plants are soaked for several hours (sometimes overnight) prior to transplanting, in order to stimulate the emergence of new roots so the plants get established faster.

Normal routine: KelpMax is added to the fertilizer solution once a month, and plants and media are completely soaked.

Late winter, or early spring: KelpMax is applied at three waterings in a row in order to "wake up" root growth so the plants can "hit the ground running" as the weather improves.

I am primarily looking to enhance root growth, but considering some of the other potential chemical influences, it is possible to affect the plants in other ways. For example I have noticed paphiopedilums will have elongated flower spikes if treated just as they emerge from the crown of the plant. (At least I think that was the timing.) I suppose a similar approach might be used to affect flower size as well, but again, timing is everything, and that is very hard to judge.

About the only thing I know for sure is related to dosing: use the product at a ratio of below 1:500 (about 1.5 teaspoons per gallon) and it appears to do nothing; apply it too frequently at my regular concentration – every day for a couple of weeks, for example – and you'll end up with flower deformities. I presume the same would be true of the use of very high concentrations, but I've never tried that. Fortunately, that is reversible once you cut back on the application.

[terryros]

Great summary, Ray. A complex mix of chemicals and biologics. Certainly a transplanted or root deficient plant should get the Kelpmax, regardless of time of year.

I was picturing my mature, well rooted orchids getting shorter and then much cooler days as the trigger to shift over to reproductive mode but then getting a signal to start making more roots! I think this cycle I won't use the Kelpmax in the fall and early winter, but will use it for spring and summer.

[Ray]

It depends upon the plant. Most phals, for example, use temperature variation, and not day-length changes, to trigger flowering.

FWIW, with my monthly applications, I have not seen any flowering disruption with the use of KelpMax.

[terryros]

OK - I am going to give everything a dousing this month before much of anything has started spiking and see what I observe. You think 30 mL per gallon or 45 mL? I have seen you mention either one tablespoon or 1.5 tablespoons per gallon.


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[terryros]

My math mistake, Ray. 1:500 ratio would be about 1/2 tablespoon (7.5 mL) of Kelpmax per gallon of water (3,785 mL). 1 tablespoon (15 mL) would then be about a 1:250 ratio.

I don't think I have ever heard you write about 1.5 tablespoons per gallon before, which would be about 1:168 ratio. Do you think you vary the strength from 1:168 down to 1:500 at different times?


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[Ray]

Apparently your reading mistake, too. I stated that 1:500 is about 1.5 TEAspoons. It's actually 1:512, as that's half a tablespoon.

I always use it at one tablespoon per gallon - 1:256

[terryros]

Uggh. I would happily join the all-metric club! 15 mL per very full gallon jug it will be.


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[bil]

Originally Posted by terryros

Uggh. I would happily join the all-metric club! 15 mL per very full gallon jug it will be.

Yeah, metric is the way to go. I don't know why you guys hold out against it!

[estación seca]

Store clerks still wouldn't be able to make change without a calculator.

[Ray]

I have been known to mess with the minds of some of our grocery store clerks (especially the cute ones) - the total is on the order of 76.23, and when asked if I want cash back, instead of something convenient like $20 or $40, I'll ask for $27.19. I let 'em off the hook once their faces go blank...