root probs..need advice..nobody responded

[lara5170]

I know I shouldn't be asking the same question twice but when I asked about help getting roots to grow the first person said she couldn't help and the 2nd person to offer advice, instead asked a question and the rest of the people that responded answered her and forgot all about my question.It was kinda like I never asked so I figure in asking again it's really like I'm just asking....Please if somebody can give me advice on what to try . as I mentioned beforeI have heard about a tomato product but I don't know where to get it or haow to use it and I was really hoping someone could suggest something for orchids. I went to my orchid club meeting here at boca raton and dyna gro k-l-n was suggested with silicon solution superthrive and physan. please if anyone has tried any of these I would really appreciate some advice

[snowballsarebad]

Superthrive is great. I used it on a bunch of nearly dead orchids that had very few healthy roots, and some virtually none, and many of them have bounced back quite well. The small bottle is plenty, since you use very little (1 or a few drops per gallon).

[mayres]

Hi Lara -
I'm relatively new to superthrive, but since everyone seems to be "hot" on it, I've starting using it myself about three months ago and it certainly is not hurting. All of my phals are growing roots like never before! The other orchids are somewhat hard to tell as the roots are "underground" and I have not pulled them up to check. As noted - a little bottle is kind of expensive (like $8-9) but will last a LONG time at a drop or two per gallon. I have yet to see anyone report a scientific based test with plants under identical conditions with and without to see how much difference REALLY is made. At this point I'm optimistic without the facts to prove it. Good luck! mike

[jerrymeola]

Sorry I missed your question. I try to give everyone at least one answer.

I assume you were asking about rooting hormones for orchids.

Super Thrive has become very popular on this site since I mentioned that I have been using it commercially with noticeable growth improvements. I use it on all newly arrived seedlings and divisions (soaking for hours or days at a 1/4 teaspoon per gallon), and also add it to my fertilizer at the rate of 1-2 drops per gallon.

It is a hormone product whose packing looks like a snake oil salesman but it works. The hormones are packaged by other manufacturers under other names. Use a liquid product rather than the powders that are made for rootless cuttings.

There are scientific papers on the individual ingredients and its effect on rooting.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Hi Lara. In your first post, root probs-how do I get them to grow??? , you mention tomato set. I have to warn you that they appear to be made with either Cytokinin or Auxin, which have opposite influences. You want the one with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), an auxin. I am just beginning to use these two hormones for starting eyes (cytokinin) and root stimulation (auxin, like Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)), so can'y comment yet on their effectiveness. Cynthia