Technaflora Soluble Seaweed

[Kyle]

There is not a lot of talk about this product on the forum but I'm thinking about trying it out.  I'm a little confused because I thought for potassium to be effective it needs to have nitrogen with it to act as  fuel for the hibiscus. Since this potassium booster is 1-1-16 does that mean the bush will not grow as tall?   Technaflora Seaweed also contains 60 trace elements but none are listed.  I would like to know what I'm actually giving my hibiscus. At work I have access to some high tech equipment in our analysis lab so I may be able to identify what these trace elements are and their %  by doing a scan if our software database contains the trace elements.
Since I'm already  giving my hibiscus kelp in their diet, I'm not sure if my hibiscus will benefit from more trace elements  and growth hormones or will they just build up in he soil.  
There are other potassium boosters  like NPK Industries Raw Potassium for horticultural 0-0-50 but it's 100% potassium sulfate.  
If anyone uses Technaflora Soluble Seaweed please share your experience.  
 
Kyle

[Kyle]

Technaflora Soluble Seaweed Extract is derived from Kelp aka  Ascophyllum Nodosum a brown Algae.

Ascophyllum Nodosum contains the Following:
Alginates – Complex polysaccharides containing align acid (align) and sodium align as the major components, iodine, fucoidan and laminarin (sulfated polysaccharide esters)
Vitamins – A , B1, B2, B3, B12, C, D, E, K, Carotene, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin
Carbohydrates – Anginc acid, laminarin, mannitol
Naturally Chelated Minerals – Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium
Digestive Enzymes – Amylase, Lipase, Cellulose, Protease
Natural Preservatives – Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid.
Trace Elements:
Acid, Iodine Silver, Boron, Iron, Barium, Carbon, Selenium, Calcium, Copper, Fluorine, Zinc, Cadmium, Tyrosine, Serine, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Titanium, Praline, Silica, Molybdenum, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Cylices, Sodium, Sulfur, Strontium, Zirconium, Bromine, Cerium,Cesium, Gallium, Indium, Platinum, Palladium, Thorium, Rhodium, Bismuth, Beryllium, Chromium
Nickel,Lanthanum, Osmium,Tellurium, Thallium, Silicon
Niobium, Tungsten, Hydrogen, Germanium, Antimony.

Amino Acids:
Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic acid, Cystine, Glutamic acid
Glutamine, Glycine, Histidine, Hydroxproline, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Proline
Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan, Valine.

Growth Stimulation – kelp contains almost every micro-nutrient in readily available/plant usable form, along with an abundant amount of natural plant hormones; all of which stimulates plant growth.

Kelp is also rich in several carbohydrates which serve as plant building material.  These carbohydrates also provide a food source for beneficial microorganisms in the root zone.

The hormone cytokinin mobilizes nutrients in plant leaves for improved chlorophyll content, increased foliage, nodules and budding sites.  Moreover, kelp effectively supplements any nutrient deficiencies and promotes additional budding sites when applied as a foliar spray once flowering begins during the bloom period.

Kelp Increase Nutrient Uptake – certain compounds including the mannitol in seaweed help facilitate the chelation of nutrients, making them more available. Thus, the inclusion of a kelp-based additive into a non-chelated nutrient solution will measurably enhance nutrient utilization.

To further increase nutrient uptake, expert gardeners typically employ a combination of humic acid and kelp-based additives.  Humic and fulvic acids effectively chelate the nutrients contained in seaweed, significantly increasing nutrient uptake

What does all this mean?  Kelp is basically a floating garbage can filtering ocean waters.   When extracted and ground into a power the shelf life is indefinite.  For thousands of years kelp has been used as a fertilizer.   Use kelp with your regular fertilizing program to enhance your nutrients and you can be more conservative with your fertilizers.  Often times you here me talk about benificials and why they are so important to be in the soil.   The carbs and enzymes in kelp feeds the beneficials in the soil so that you have this constant back and forth feeding action between the roots and the benificials.
The information listed above does not guarantee this is what's in Technaflora Seaweed Extract, but it's made from Ascophyllum Nodosum.    
The information used in this article is credited from New Age Nutrients. Use fertilizers and nutrients at your own risk.   Kelp is not a  complete fertilizer and should only be used with your regular fertilizing program.
In early Jan 2016 I have scheduled time with our analysis equipment at work and I will prepare of sample of Technaflora Soluble Seaweed for a composition study.
Technaflora Seaweed has no shelf life but it can ferment within 1-2 days after mixing it with water.   You can sieve some kelp power into your potting media before transplanting, use it as a foliar spray, or water it in directly to the roots.
Kyle

[Kyle]

The S.E.M. scanning electron microscope is a device that shoots a really tiny beam of electrons at the atoms of a prepared sample which then displays it's topography and composition.   When the beam of electrons hits the sample it excites the atoms which then emits an X-Ray.   Inside the SEM is an X-ray detector.   The X-ray given off from the sample can then be used to  identify the composition and measure the abundance of elements in the sample with computer software.     An SEM can magnify at 500,000 magnification or 250,000x more than the best light microscope.
The kelp extract is mainly organic.  Our SEM is not designed to do organic stuff.  When the beam of electrons hits the kelp it will burn some of it up and those gases/dust can contaminate the inside of our SEM.   If that happens the SEM will then need to be serviced and cleaned.   Our SEM cost about as much as a Ferrari FF and I don't want to be responsible if anything bad happens to our SEM so I can't proceed with the scan.      The analytical  engineer who is helping me with this  said she knows a way to test organic samples in the SEM.   She can coat the kelp with silver oxide so the organic material doesn't burn up but I don't want to jeopardize damaging the SEM and to much of her time.  I was also informed that the % of the minerals in the kelp extract is likely so low that our SEM won't be able to pick them up.   Or we might be able to find that the kelp contains calcium, but we won't know if it's calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, ect.   

I wanted to mention that it came to my attention that Technaflora is a trusted and reliable source.  I have reached out to Technflora and asked about obtaining a copy of what's actually in the kelp extract.   Technaflora has offered to give me the information requested and I'm  patiently waiting from their reply.
Kyle