Seaweed Extract for Potassium

[Darkhorse]

I've been considering buying the seaweed extract offered by HVH to use in place of the Hibiscus Booster.  I've been experiencing salt burn on a few of my plants-- I fertilize according to directions but have been adding a little booster to almost every watering.  Not going to do that anymore. 

Anyway, am I correct in remembering that with an organic product such as the seaweed extract, there is no risk of salt burn (other than overuse of HVH special blend)?  I know it is nitrogen that one must be most careful of.  Is the extract as effective as the HVH booster in getting larger, more colorful blooms?

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Jordan,

Ive been using the seaweed extract in place of booster and just ordered booster to compare the two.  I got really good coloration using the sea weed extract and its nice not having to worry if you put too much in.  Word of caution, seaweed extract water will stain everything, I spilled it on my white carpet... not good.

[Darkhorse]

Thanks Chris.  Do you use the seaweed extract in small amounts with every watering?

[helixturnhelix]

Hey Jordan,

I use it whenever I fertilize, which was every watering in the winter.  Now that its alot warmer and I have to water more I give it every other watering with a dilute solution of orchid fertilizer (why i needed to order HVH fert)  I am going give some CVs HVH booster and some Sea Weed and compare them.  Though this would be best if I was using the same variety around the same age, but I would like to see if there is a difference. 

[Charlie]

The effects of HVH Booster (potassium nitrate) last for about 2 weeks after feeding it to the roots so I suggest using it twice a month in that way. Some people prefer to spray it on the leaves which gives a quicker response that does not last as long. You have to use it carefully on the leaves, although some have suggested that regular use conditions the leaves to it and it can be used at higher levels after that. Somewhat dangerous to experiment with in that way, could cause leaf drop - beware.

Charlie

[Darkhorse]

Chris, I like that experiment.  I had thought about doing the same thing to compare the booster and the extract.  Maybe use booster for a few months on a specific plant, flush the pot and wait a month, then switch over to the seaweed extract for a few months?  Far from perfect because the seasons will be changing... ugh... too bad you don't still have your two Space Oddities!



Thanks for clarifying that Charlie.  I'm using the booster much less often now and haven't had any new cases of fertilizer burn.  Interestingly, all affected plants were plants that I had overwintered.  I didn't water much over winter and fertilized even less, but perhaps the stress of very low light for 6 months exacerbated the problem. 

[jpiper82]

Charlie, Hib Booster, I use 1/8 teaspoon per gallon of water everytime I water, along with 1 teaspoon of HVH Fert, and an 1/8 teaspoon of 6% Iron.  Is this ok?
John

[Charlie]

John, you can use that formula long term and should get good results. To use the booster to give a real bloom boost, use it at 2 teaspoons per gallon just one time and see if you see a result within a week or two.

Charlie

[Darkhorse]

Charlie, what is the appropriate amount of seaweed extract to use along with HVH fertilizer and growth enhancer w/ each watering?  Is it 1/2 teaspoon per gallon like HVH special blend?  Thanks!

[Charlie]

Jordan, the seaweed extract can be used at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon occasionally but for regular use only 1/4 teaspoon per gallon is needed.

Charlie

[Darkhorse]

Thanks, Charlie!  I've been putting 1/2 tsp per gallon in the past few days.  Good thing this product is organic.  I should have some bright blooms to show soon as I am using the seaweed extract w/ every wqatering and the booster 2x a month at 2 tsp per gallon.

[Charlie]

You should be fine with this program. I can't wait to see the results!

Charlie

[blupit007]

Charlie,  I use your recipe of HVH booster, fert, super nova, vinegar, peroxide, & soap.  I have a 7 Lt. watering can and put 1 teaspoon HVH fertalizer, 2 teaspoons Super Nova, 1/2 teaspoon HVH booster, 2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon peroxide, & a drop of dish soap.  I do this once a week.  All the plants look big green and healthy. 

I have not had any blooms since I sprayed with the All Seasons Hort oil for the spider mites (which I stopped a week ago, with 4 sprayings at 3 day intervals)  I now have buds on Saffron, Belle, & Cindy's Heart.  I noticed one leaf each on CH & Saffron that has fert burn (only one leaf).  Do I continue this fert program?  I think the lack of buds are a combo of really hot days, mites, and the hort oil.  But I am getting excited for the upcoming blooms.   Do I mix it up a bit from time to time, or do the hib's like routine?  I'm OK with making up this recipe each week, but I didn't know about the burn. 

[motherof4]

charlie...I did not know about the peroxide..vinegar and soap....what does this do..and how much per gallon of water??...lynette

[blupit007]

Also, My Belle took a beating with the spider mites, so it looks a little naked, although there are 2 buds on it.  Could I add a dose of Super Nova to give it a lift?

[blupit007]

Ma,
 
  Here is where I found that recipe on Charlie's site...

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/houseplants.htm

[motherof4]

thanks

[Darkhorse]

Kristen, I was getting salt burn too, and have since changed my feeding program for what I hope is the better.  I feed w/ every watering:  1/2 tsp per gallon HVH special blend, 1/2 tsp per gal. supernova, 1/4 tsp per gallon seaweed extract, 1/8 tsp per gal iron chelate.  For plants wJ buds I skip fert. for a day once every 2 weeks and water w/ 2 tsp/gal booster.  So far so good...  they do like routine so best not to change it up.

[Cindy]

Hi Kristen, Jordan, and Lynette,

The houseplant formula is one I developed over many years in the cold northern mountains to keep my flowering houseplants growing and flowering in cold and low-light situations, to prevent root disease which happens so easily in cold weather, and to prevent gnat infestations, etc. Charlie and I have since honed it and tweaked it and have actually changed it since I put that formula on the website, so I should probably take it down. We started using it for sick hibiscus about 3 years ago when we turned out house into our hibiscus hospital and I became the hibiscus doctor. The basic idea is that hibiscus that are sick or live in a house are under stress, so we've tried to create a formula that takes minimizes stress, pumps up the plant's natural immunities and optimizes growth.

So here's the scoop on the current formula:

Houseplants need less nitrogen than outdoor plants in our experience and will burn more easily than outside plants because all the water is caught and taken back up by the plant - none of the nitrogen is lost. Plus spider mites seem to like nitrogen. Plus I usually don't want my houseplants to grow too huge. But houseplants need MORE potassium because it's so much harder to build flowers indoors. So the formula we use now provides 3/8 t of the Special Blend Fertilizer and 3/8 t of Booster per gallon of water - which is mild enough to use with every watering for years without burning the plants. (I've tested it on plants that I've kept like Bonsai plants in tiny 4" pots for 3-4 years, using the formula on them with every watering, and they stay healthy, grow enough to stay healthy but don't overgrow, keep blooming, and don't burn.)

-Iron Chelate and Magnesium Chelate: We've added both of these since I put that formula on the website, which is why I should maybe take the formula down. There's a hefty dose of both to help build chlorophyll and maximize photosynthesis in low-light situations.

- Super Nova (1 t per gallon of water) is in the formula already. If your plant is sick, you can safely add another teaspoon to give it a big boost. The 1 teaspoon in the formula is good for maintenance of healthy plants in stressful situations, like inside a house.

- Hydrogen peroxide is the first line of defense against root disease.

- Detergent, and old Farmer's Almanac trick, is the first line of defense against gnats, flies, the larval stage of thrips, and anything that burrows into the soil.

- Vinegar is just to get the right ph for hibiscus with tap water that is ph 7.0 or even a bit higher in many places. Ours can be as high as 7.5 at times.

Does this answer all your questions?

My newest quest is to find something I can add to the formula to prevent or deter spider mites!!!!!!!! So we're still tweaking with that goal in mind. Maybe a pipe dream, but one can always hope!!!! :-))))

Cindy

[Darkhorse]

I agree Cindy...  I will sing and dance the day someone comes up with something like a systemic miticide drench.

[blupit007]

Thanks Cindy,

  So, by houseplant, you mean in a pot.  Because all my pots are outside for the summer.  Also, I need to tweak my recipe a bit.  I need to get this Iron and Magnesium Chelate to add?  How much?  And I was only adding this formula once a week.  Not at every watering.  I must say, I have been giving this to my Vera Purple bougainvillea and it wont stop blooming!  As well as every other week to my small desert rose that I just got which was originally bloom-less, and it now has 2 beautiful flowers and looks so healthy.  It is the only watering that gets.  Attached is a photo of my bougainvillea.

Thanks for the advise, and also for talking with the weather gods last weekend.  Beautiful weather, beautiful day!
Kristen

[motherof4]

cindy....should i add vinegar if i already use the acid blend....and how much iron?>,,,lynette

[Cindy]

Hi Lynette and Kristen, Sorry I'm so slow to answer!

You don't need to use vinegar if you use the acid blend fertilizer. They serve the same purpose.

The current houseplant formula contains the equivalent of a little less than 1/8 teaspoon per gallon of water - just a small pinch. A little iron goes a very long way.

We've been trying to find a magnesium chelate to put in the Online Store, but haven't found one yet. What I use comes is the type Charlie uses in the greenhouse that comes in big drums. Maybe we could sell it in small bottles like the houseplant formula size. You only use a teeny bit of it! You could use it on your houseplants a couple times a year to keep them very healthy. So a small bottle would work.

Once a week is fine for your hibiscus, Kristen. When they're outside they need a lot more watering than inside plants do, plus they photosynthesize a lot more outside in summer sun. The formula is designed for use about once a week, so that's perfect. I don't think you really need to tweak anything though. Just keep doing what you're doing.

I'll try to change the formula on the website this week to match what we're currently doing. Sorry I let it get outdated! I'll see what I can do about a magnesium chelate too.  Magnesium is the central atom in chlorophyll, so boosting it does give houseplants a good green boost.

I hope this helps!
Cindy

[motherof4]

cindy...one more question...how many plants do you water with 1 gallon of water?...right now I am doing around 4....but I really dont know...and I also am looking forward to the open house on saturday!