What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
  #1  
Old 02-20-2024, 06:38 PM
Orchid grower Orchid grower is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Mar 2017
Zone: 8b
Location: West Coast
Posts: 80
What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Question What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?

Hello everyone! I live in canada and am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the options, whatever is available in the US doesn't seem to be available in canada.

I can't find kelpmax/kelpak in canada without having to pay a high cost in shipping/duties.
I have a bottle of superthrive from 2020 but from my research I don't think it's usable anymore.

I'm looking something available in canada - I found something called sea-k but it's in a powder form and I read that powder isn't as effective?

Please tell me what the Canadian growers are using! Thank you

My main use of this is for reporting my neglected orchids. Whenever I used superthrive while reporting I noticed none of my orchids died. These orchids have been severely neglected and i want to make sure I won't lose them during repot.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-20-2024, 08:33 PM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,181
What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada? Male
Default

I'll agree that Canadian shipping is ridiculous, but shipping into Canada is even worse.

I don't know your situation, but back in the days when I did a lot of shipping to Canadian folks, the preferred and cheapest way - IF the individual was close enough to the US border - was for me to ship to one of those "package services" in the US. Then the individual would travel into the US, pay them a nominal handling fee and just take stuff home after a day of shopping.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-20-2024, 10:07 PM
thefish1337 thefish1337 is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 403
What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchid grower View Post
Hello everyone! I live in canada and am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the options, whatever is available in the US doesn't seem to be available in canada.

I can't find kelpmax/kelpak in canada without having to pay a high cost in shipping/duties.
I have a bottle of superthrive from 2020 but from my research I don't think it's usable anymore.

I'm looking something available in canada - I found something called sea-k but it's in a powder form and I read that powder isn't as effective?

Please tell me what the Canadian growers are using! Thank you

My main use of this is for reporting my neglected orchids. Whenever I used superthrive while reporting I noticed none of my orchids died. These orchids have been severely neglected and i want to make sure I won't lose them during repot.
If you live near the coasts I would find a place where you can collect fresh, living coldwater brown seaweed (there is no substitutes) in the early summer and do an osmotic extraction using brown sugar. Simply mix finely chopped kelp with equal parts by weight brown sugar. Fill your container 2/3s full with mixture. Cover but do not make airtight. Allow to extract for 5-7 days and then separate the liquid from the kelp. Supersaturate the solution with brown sugar by adding more until it no longer goes into solution and you have a small amount of undissolved sugar on the bottom. In korean natural farming tradition this would AT least be applied with rice vinegar or raw natural vinegar, both at 8mL per gallon.

I have tried this with sugar kelp, and bull kelp. The active constituents in brown kelp which promote plant growth are phlorotannins (what makes them brown), plant growth hormones (varies depending on the species and when you harvest the kelp), micronutrients, unique sugars, betaines and amino acids. This will not create something that is necessarily better than kelpak but it is a plant sap extract that can be made easily and cheaply by coastal folks that has a lot of the same benefits of a commercial kelp product.

Some may think that this is crazy but there is a lot of horticultural methods we are not exposed to in our "western bubble".
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes Orchid grower liked this post
  #4  
Old 02-21-2024, 01:25 PM
Canadienne Canadienne is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 52
What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Default

Hai, I use marinis seaweed concentrate from rubicon. Available at Canadian tire and Home Depot.
It seems to work fine, have been using it for years. Use Wilson’s liquid ( gel) for root stimulation, now that works great! However I don’t use it regularly, only on root challenged orchids. Available at home hardwares and likely at some other big box stores.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes Orchid grower liked this post
  #5  
Old 03-01-2024, 02:23 AM
Orchid grower Orchid grower is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Mar 2017
Zone: 8b
Location: West Coast
Posts: 80
What Kelp/Seaweed extract are you using in Canada?
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadienne View Post
Hai, I use marinis seaweed concentrate from rubicon. Available at Canadian tire and Home Depot.
It seems to work fine, have been using it for years. Use Wilson’s liquid ( gel) for root stimulation, now that works great! However I don’t use it regularly, only on root challenged orchids. Available at home hardwares and likely at some other big box stores.
Thank you! I'd never heard of this - I got another brand off Amazon before I saw your post but this is a much better price for 1L. I will try this next time. Thanks again

---------- Post added at 01:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:21 AM ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by thefish1337 View Post
If you live near the coasts I would find a place where you can collect fresh, living coldwater brown seaweed (there is no substitutes) in the early summer and do an osmotic extraction using brown sugar. Simply mix finely chopped kelp with equal parts by weight brown sugar. Fill your container 2/3s full with mixture. Cover but do not make airtight. Allow to extract for 5-7 days and then separate the liquid from the kelp. Supersaturate the solution with brown sugar by adding more until it no longer goes into solution and you have a small amount of undissolved sugar on the bottom. In korean natural farming tradition this would AT least be applied with rice vinegar or raw natural vinegar, both at 8mL per gallon.

I have tried this with sugar kelp, and bull kelp. The active constituents in brown kelp which promote plant growth are phlorotannins (what makes them brown), plant growth hormones (varies depending on the species and when you harvest the kelp), micronutrients, unique sugars, betaines and amino acids. This will not create something that is necessarily better than kelpak but it is a plant sap extract that can be made easily and cheaply by coastal folks that has a lot of the same benefits of a commercial kelp product.

Some may think that this is crazy but there is a lot of horticultural methods we are not exposed to in our "western bubble".

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I may give this a go next time I'm by the water!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
canada, orchids, powder, reporting, superthrive


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Neo shopping in Canada skhan Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia 25 09-05-2017 11:13 PM
Project 6 -Project Plant Suggestions cb977 Member Projects 508 03-25-2008 05:48 PM
Project 6 - Plant List shakkai Member Projects 8 03-24-2008 10:36 PM
Project 4 - Tentative Plant List cb977 Member Projects 1 07-20-2007 06:45 PM
Happy Canada Day! Oscarman Orchid Lounge 9 07-02-2007 02:21 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:12 PM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.