Another question.....

Do any of you use Super Thrive on your av's or streps?

Yes--when I'm being a good violet mom. I do not add it every time I fill the wicking trays--just when I think of it--but then, I am not growing to show.

i have used it occasionally, did'ent really notice a difference, maybe i did'ent use it enough.
bonnie

I have used it, though not consistently enough to know if it helps or not. I've been told it's especially great for starting cuttings and leaves, but I can't personally attest to that either. My bottle is sitting in my kitchen windowsill...maybe I'll put some in the water today and try to actually use it enough to tell if it helps.

Do you use it or were you just wondering if you should start? ^_^

I was just wondering if I should start. I use it on other plants. Just want to give babies a boost without harming them.
Thanks all!!
Melanie

On the 'Pittman Way of Growing' disc, it states they use 10 drops of Superthrive to 1-gallon of water for newly separated babies.

I use a couple of drops in each gallon with my fertilizer.

Thank you. I am going to give it a try. I will let you all know how it goes.

I used it consistantly one growing season. Saw no difference at all.

But Meagan, you are sticking new leaves...........be careful.............

Just my HO,
Babies don't really need much of a start.They will usually grow a nice strong root system and great leaves,then bloom when they are ready,even if they are planted in soiless mix with little to no fertilizer.

I am not going to stick anymore like I did a lot of big containers...........because it takes too long..........but all I used was 1/4 peat and the rest perlite.............the babies are just coming up everywhere........

I have noticed that they come up much quicker in a mix with more soil less mix than what I used..........but you never get a rotten leaf that way............i would rather lose a few and get babies quicker.

Rooting hormone I have never used on either streps or avs...........

Gail this is not for my new leaves....no way. LOL!! I have a couple of duplicate av leaves and just thought that I would give it a try and see if there would be any difference.
I am also glad that you answered the question about rooting hormone. I still a newbie remember.
Melanie

Melanie, no one has all the answers. Some people use rooting hormone successfully. I vote 'do whatever works for you'..........I don't know why I always 'have to have' an opinion.^_^

Melanie, I try anything I can think of that might work. If you have extra leaves, experiment with them! It's fun and you can learn a lot. You can start them in your regular mix, in pure perlite, in pure vermiculite, in water, or any combination of the above. You can cover them, half cover them, put them in a ziploc bag, or in a roasting pan with a plastic cover. Use rooting hormone or don't, or use the gels or liquids instead of the powders. Fertilize or don't. Literally any way you can think of to start them, try it and it won't take long til you figure out the best way for you. At the very least, you'll find out real quick what *doesn't* work for you.

For me personally, I never use rooting hormone and I start everything in my regular potting mix in solo cups. I put it in either a ziploc bag or in a cheap, disposable roasting pan from Walmart with the clear plastic lid. And I put in waaayyyy more water than most people do, but I rarely lose anything that I'm actually trying to keep alive. I go through spurts of just not taking care of stuff like I should, but if I'm putting forth any effort, most things survive just fine. I don't fertilize near as much as I should, but I have started putting about three Osmocote pellets halfway down in the pots with Sinningias. A good friend told me she did that a year or two ago, and I'm just now starting to do it. And I repot everything I receive into my own mix as soon as I possibly can. Mine is way lighter and fluffier than everyone else's. I have to repot more often because it seems to break down faster, but that's okay.

The main thing to remember is that what works for everyone else may not work for you. Just have fun with it til you figure out exactly what works for you. ^_^

I did an experiment using rooting hormone, hi-fresh, and nothing - one leaf each cup. Each leaf had the same amount of babies . . . well, 1 or 2 difference, but that's it. Babies were all about the same size.

Interesting, Nichole! I thought hi-fresh was supposed to be a really amazing product. Thanks for posting that. I love to experiment!

Lots of people love Eleanor's VF-11 and say they can't grow without it. It burns everything I use it on, even though I use it at half strength. All I can figure is that it must react with something in my water.

I have heard of Eleanor's VF-11 but have never used it. What's it supposed to do?

It's a fertilizer. Supposed to be a "green thumb in a bottle!" LOL I don't find it to be so, like I said, but others certainly do. Here's a link to read about it. http://www.vf-11plantfood.com/

Gail, didn't you used to use a lot of Eleanor's VF-11? Do you still? What's your opinion of it?

I still have bottles of it because I ordered a case...........what a waste of money!! I can't see any help at all.......just me!

There is very little actual fertilizer in Eleavnor's VF-11 I have decided............

I have to go clean out the fridge as I have company coming in tomorrow.............ugh!!

i agree with gail, it's just allright,nothing to write home about.