Lighting question and superthrive

[boxerfan]

I've been doing some research lately and have found several places stating the CFP to add to ambient light. I found some with 1700 lumen and am currently using them. Any content or comment will be appreciated.
On the happy side, I found Superthrive on Amazon. Hope this helps. Currently, i have 6 in spike. May be a seasonal in my house. HO,HO,HO

[jsehorn]

From what I've read, there's apparently some controversy about the efficacy of Superthrive. I've tried it myself, and never had any noticeable results from it, but if you like it, and you feel like it helps, then go for it. Some people like me don't feel that it does much of anything, while others swear by it. Either way, it certainly doesn't hurt anything.

[vanda_obsession]

I use Superthrive and it is still kinda iffy to me... I do know that the mixture will go bad in a few days if left in a warm environment... and will get moldy and booyyyyy it stinkkks! I only make small batches so that I will use it up before it goes bad. If your plants are spiking they must be happy!

[Brooke]

There is no controversy over Superthrive - some people like it, some don't. The important thing to remember is no additive will do anything for your 'chids if the cultural requirements are not correct.

Brooke

[katrina]

Originally Posted by boxerfan

I've been doing some research lately and have found several places stating the CFP to add to ambient light. I found some with 1700 lumen and am currently using them. Any content or comment will be appreciated.

Maybe it's too early and I haven't had enough coffee yet...what is CFP?

[jayfar]

Originally Posted by Brooke

There is no controversy over Superthrive - some people like it, some don't. The important thing to remember is no additive will do anything for your 'chids if the cultural requirements are not correct.

Brooke

I don't know about that it being non-controversial. Even the manufacturer's office stationery screams snake oil:

http://www.hydrofarm.com/downloads/f...MSDS)_6809.pdf

[1joyceh]

The inventor of superthrive is definitely out there, but I have done side by sides...and the one using it generally wins...
the best example I can give....a few years back, I planted russian mammoth sunflowers to test it...same seed package, 2 sections ( in ground) 10 feet apart....same fertilizer, one with superthrive added....
A (without) grew 8-10 ft tall...biggest seed head weighed in at 10 lbs....
B (with) grew 10-12 ft tall...biggest seed head was just under 20 lbs...
was it the additive?....I am not a scientist...but will say I think that the stuff does something...

[Ray]

The following applies to all synthetic rooting hormones - SuperThrive, K-L-N, Hormex, etc.:

The hormones, indole butyric acid and napthalene acetic acid, do stimulate root initiation and growth, but as Brooke implied, they are no panacea to orchid culture.

I think that some of the problems people perceive, or maybe it's just apparent lack of efficacy, are due to misapplication or over-expectation. They are powerful chemicals, hence the reason they are in such dilute concentrations in the products, and are to be further diluted for use. Use the product, and it's like flipping a light switch on root growth. However, just like a light switch, pushing harder on it (i.e., a stronger dose), or flipping in on over and over (too frequent use) does not make the light glow brighter - or in this case, make the roots grow faster. Overdosing can actually have just the opposite effect.

Some use it instead of a fertilizer, and referring back to Brooke's comment, without the rest of the culture being in reasonably good shape, the plant won't have the resources to grow anything, no matter how much stimulant you apply.

Then there's the aging issue.

The hormones are quite chemically unstable, especially when exposed to heat and light. A fresh batch, kept cool and dark, will be good for about a year or so. Stored at room temperature, maybe 6-8 months. On a greenhouse or grow room shelf, or if mixed in a fertilizer concentrate tank, they degrade in a matter of weeks, if not days.

This thread was begun with the comment "On the happy side, I found Superthrive on Amazon". Great! Do you know how old it is? How it was stored? Some of the discount outlets are getting rid of old stock, so caveat emptor. Some vendors refrigerate the stuff.

Several years ago I concocted my own version of SuperThrive, but having more beneficial ingredients. I tried an experiment with three (~150 plants each) groups of the same hybrid seedlings: one got fertilizer only, one got fertilizer plus SuperThrive, and the third got fertilizer plus my stuff.

After 6 months, the two groups getting the additives were significantly larger than the fertilizer-only control group. Those getting my stuff appeared even bigger, but probably not statistically so.

The bottom line is that - if still chemically active - they DO work, but are not a remedy for poor culture.

[jsehorn]

Controversy: Disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated.

Some people swear by superthrive, some people say it is absolutely worthless. Some people are very passionate about their views on Superthrive, and it is frequently discussed in public forums, and this debate has been going on for many years. That is the very definition of controversy. There most certainly is controversy over the efficacy of Superthrive.

Here's a link with some controversial information about Superthrive:
http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq3600.html

[jayfar]

I sidestep the issue by using a little KLN now and again, particularly when in need of roots. KLN has a useful subset of the ingredients of Superthrive, i.e. Vitamin B and 2 rooting hormones, but not the sooper sekret wonder ingredients.

[Brooke]

Differing opinions of some method used to grow an orchid where you love it, don't see any advantage to using it or thinks it causes a problem , IMHO, is just a difference of opinion.

How many people swear sphag causes root rot but some people think it is fabulous? To me this is a difference of opinion.

Does this mean you and I are in a controversial conversation or are we having a difference of opinion?

Brooke

[jsehorn]

I wouldn't say our conversation itself is controversial, as you and I have only just engaged in this discourse, and the discussion hasn't gotten particularly heated. I'm not sure where exactly to draw the line between simple disagreement and controversy, but it seems that controversy is much more widespread than two people having a disagreement, and of course controversy is an ongoing disagreement over a significant length of time. Haha, I just love semantics!