and hopefully did ok. Please let me know if I need to alter this recipe or if my Brugs may die.
I used most of Kaufmann's recipe, except that I don't have agriculture molasses (only regular stuff, which I used once before and it didn't hurt anything) nor do I have Superthrive.
This is what I did:
I diluted in water 1 tablet of Oyster Shell Calcium & Magnesium (equivilant to: 250 mg calcium & 155 mg Magnesium.
I added that to a gallon jug.
Then I added:
1 Tablespoon Peroxide
1 Tablespoon Liquid Kelp
2 eye drops Pure Tea Tree Oil
1 Tablespoon Miracle Grow granules (the old, regular kind)
Filled the rest of the gallon up with water and shook well.
Why the tablets? I've been watching alot of posts, and many of them say Brugs and Tomatoes alike do well with added calcium and magnesium. Since I take these tablets for knee joint pain, I decided to just give it a try, since they are about as natural as you can get, without putting eggshells on them.
I made up two gallons, used one tonight, and have the other saved for the next feeding in a week or so.
I also finally put my 2 larger Karyn Riggs out for the night. (first time). Funny, I felt like a mom sending her child off to camp for the first time! Sure hope they do ok! I have them in a nice protected place, close to the house and out any wind that could come up. Also placed them to get the first rays of morning sun. :)
Welp - that's my brug check for the week. Will keep you posted on whether they croak or not!
Karrie
I Tried Something New
I am sure they will be fine. I doubt the pill will affect them one way or another. Without knowing how it is comparable, I will hazard a guess what you gave them was a minuscule amount.
Are we watering with peroxide too? I thought some sprayed it on the foliage???
I know what you mean Karrie, they are our babies!
the peroxide was in Kauffman's recipe - I haven't sprayed anything on the leaves.
Yes, Kell -- the H202 helps oxygenate the soil, or so I've been told.
Karrie -- somewhere I was told not to use regular molasses -- can't remember why... I don't think any of the stuff you gave them will hurt them, other than you're cancelling out all the good organic stuff when you use the MG. The salts in the MG kill all the good organisms in your soil that you are trying to feed with the organics. Also, do a soil sample before arbitrarily adding micro nutrients. Plants need these in such small amounts, that you are better to withhold them, rather than overdose them before you know for sure that you need them. Hope this helps :) Gretchen
Gretchen,
Yes - the problem with the soil testing kit that I have, is it only tests for pH, Nitrogen, Potash & ? (something else, can't remember, but it isn't calcium or magnesium, I know that for sure).
As they are in plain old potting soil and not outside in regular earth, I figured they could use the extras, as they are not getting it from God's great earth.
We're going to Lowes today, maybe I can talk my DH into getting that super thrive. I can't find the ag molasses anywhere. Does it, by chance have another name? I think the difference is that ag molasses has sulfer in it, and the kind we use in cooking has had the sulfer removed. (but don't bank on that, this is something I am recalling having read somewhere, and could be wrong.).
Well - I'd better go outside and see how they survived their first night outside! :)
Well - Brugs handled the evening outside just fine. Today I went to Lowes and bought some of that SuperThrive, and also two large (hopefully the last graduations) pots for my Karyn Riggs - decided not to do the "paint" thing on old black ones for these, as I plan on keeping these two in my livingroom this winter, and want the pots to look good indoors or outdoors. Now - if I could just find agricultural molasses, locally.
HEY!!!!
don't be putting me out for the nite!!!!!
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!
:) Karyn!!!!! You handled camping out just fine!
You are correct, the sulphur has been removed in food grade molasses. Here is what I use, and am amazed that its available by mail order (Garden-Ville is a local company), although I'm not familiar with the re-seller.
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/ama/cgi-bin/dc.pl?html=full&data=data&key=MOLASSES&keywords=sng
Karrie: if you're going to leave them in pots, it probably matters not whether you stay organic or use salts...
Gretchen
lol! I just went out and bought the SuperThrive! Oh well! It actually looks like very good stuff - to use on many other plants, trees, etc. as well, so I don't regret the purchase! I just sent that company's sale's rep an email, asking if there are any distributors of that molasses in my area. Hopefully there is. Thanks for that link!
This message was edited Jun 1, 2004 3:18 PM
Oh shoot, I would definitely use Superthrive on everything. It is not a fertilizer!!! Its a supplement. Kind of like we take vitamins to supplement out diets. You're very welcome!
That concoction I feed is just a mixture of stuff that's good for the soil and plant. Just makes it easier to mix it all up and feed at once. I am also using a new organic fert that I really like: Medina Hasta Grow. The brug people won't like it though, cause it has a high phosphorus count. I'm using that in addition to everything else, and some of my January seedlings have y'd and have buds...
wow! that is very cool! Can't wait for mine to bud!
Feed and Grain suppliers in your area Karrie....one of them should carry the AG molassis.
Moren Garden Ctr
(509) 448-6159
3715 E. 55th Ave
Spokane, WA
Spokane Seed Co.
(509) 535-3671
P.O. Box 11007
Spokane, WA
Kountry Kritters Farm & Feed
(509) 292-0703 31422 N Newport Hwy
Chattaroy, WA
Inland Feed & Farm Supply
(509) 276-8070 220 S Main St
Deer Park, WA
I'll call the Moran Garden Center first - they are on the South Hill like me. Thanks for the info, Marc!
BTW - do any of you that handle the tea tree oil end up with a really icky, soapy like taste in your mouth? I got an eyedropper to stop that, but oil had dripped on the label, so just handling the bottle does it to me. YUCK!
Believe it or not, I gargle with Tea Tree Oil mouth wash -- its a great, organic product. I'm not crazy about the taste, but it definitely leaves my mouth feeling "minty clean"! And, I know I'm weird, but I like the smell of the oil. I think its a real clean scent.
ugh!
Well, tonight as I was getting ready to put my Brugs in their final place for the night (to catch early rays tomorrow morning) I checked the bottom/side holes again for rootage, as I'd been noticing a little bit. I'd put them on the grass, during the afternoon. I saw these tiny little brownish black bugs crawling around! YUG! So......... I grabbed two "holeless" flatholders, placed them in them, and then grabbed that extra tea I'd reserved, but added some dishsoap to it, shook it well, and bottom watered them, as the bugs were at the roots (and obviously had come from the grass - I'd never noticed anything like that until then). Think that was ok? Is there something else I should do to keep the bugs off of them? The tea had the mixture I'd mentioned in the first post, plus dish soap. I am never putting them on the grass like that (open) AGAIN!
The two big pots I bought at Lowes today have bottoms to them (thank goodness) so I can feel more comfortable placing them wherever they can catch sun once I transplant them. I want them to get just a little more rootbound before I do that. I watered them tonight with just water/superthrive (1/4 tsp per gallon) and have a feeling I might be transplanting them this weekend.
Was doing some thinking on all these ingredients.
Kelp (Seaweed extract) - known as a wonderful fertilizer.
Peroxide - known to all to help prevent spread of bacteria - and just learned tonight, helps oxygenate the soil (I can see that, the way it bubbles)
Ag Molasses - contains sulfur, unlike the molasses you buy for cooking. Sulfur was used way before the days of antibiotics to help stop bacterias in humans from spreading, now they have antibiotics called "sulfas" that are derived from that. Personally, I have found they work for me better than other types of antibiotics, and request it. Some bodies do not tolerate it. Mine does, and it nips the problem wonderfully.
SuperThrive - Full of vitamins & hormones. Contains no fertilizer, insecticide or herbicide. Just packed full of vitamins that are great in soil.
Tea Tree Oil - Used commonly by people for fungus problems (like athletes feet or psoriasis). I can see how this would work to help prevent fungal disease on a plant. It also stinks like crazy and who knows, might scare bugs away as well!
Water - the MAIN ingredient - one of the most essential things you can give your plant (unless you like to watch things die, lol) Just had to add that.
Good recipe. I received some good feedback regarding the ag molasses and will probably have it in hand by the weekend, in time for their next feeding.
Just wanted to share with you all why I thought all of those ingredients made sense. I think the calcium and magnesium I gave was a good idea too - but now that I have the SuperThrive, I doubt that I will need to do that again.
Karyn - you are a very daring girl tonight. I put you out by the fence away from the house so you could get HOURS of morning sun. It's a calm night, no wind, and fairly warm. You'll be just fine! :) Call home for me to come get you only if it's a real emergency!
CC - you two are coming in tonight, and staying indoors all of tomorrow. Why? The weather is beautiful!
The Senske guys will be here sometime tomorrow to spray the grass, and I don't want you anywhere near them. Sometimes they accidentally overspray. They got one of my tomato plants last time, so I want to play it safe.
OK
I'm calling
Its an emergency!
GET ME OUT OF THAT YARD!!!!!!
You are safely home, tucked in, dear! :) Night Night!
The only vitamin in Superthrive is B1, to my knowledge, the ingredients list vitamin B1 and one of the rooting hormones. I do think it is good stuff, but it is just really concentrated B1 and a rooting hormone.
I looked for the ingredients, and it didn't list them. Where did you get this information so I can look as well?
I had read a couple of years ago that Vitamin B1 did nothing. LOL.
Gretchen, do you make that mouthwash or do you buy it? Is it supposed to be good for your gums? I wonder if it kills tartar.
eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww my mouth is already tasting bad just thinking about it!!!!!!!!!!! Ya know - it probably does kill tartar, lol! No offense, Gretchen, I just know that touching that tea tree oil really does leave an sticky icky soapy taste in my mouth that brushing and rinsing won't get rid of - takes time.
Kell: I buy it at the health food store. Its just a good, natural anti fungal, anti bacterial mw. I don't know if it helps with tartar, but my last dental checkup was good...
'Ol Jerry Baker sugests the use of B-vitamins and iron tonic in all his old books.
=)
I find TT Oil at Wally_World and K-Mart
This message was edited Jun 3, 2004 9:04 AM
Amazing what you learn on here! LOL. Gretchen, I will try it!! You really are an organic girl! Good for you!
Gee Scoot, I hope your 'Ol Jerry Baker was not talking about a mouthwash! LOL
I found pure TT oil in our grocery store, near the pharmacy, in one of the aisles. Expensive, but since you hardly use any, it goes a long ways. (I use an eyedropper to measure better, and to avoid overspill).
Let me tell you one thingy re tea tree oil, I use it with my Goldens and other dogs that I work with. Tea tree oil is VERY drying, it will clear up something so well that it will cause the same thing it was used for to prevent. If you understand what I'm saying - like many meds and natural treatments, the use of the product will cause the original symptoms, that you are attempting to prevemt. Example: Dog gets a hot spot, TT oil clears it up so good that the dog continues to scratch and another hot spot is the result...used sparingly, TT oil is excellent, I use TT oil in my doggy shampoo (purchased and well diluted) and it is WONDERFUL!!!
Oh for crying out loud, C.C.!
I called the Senske guys today before they came out, to tell them they'd done some damage the last time they were here, (burnt the lawn in some spots, killed one of my tomato plants, etc.......) so the guy knocked on my door (as I'd asked) before he sprayed.
He saw the damage, as I walked him through the yard, and he took some plugs of the grass/soil to see what was going on underneath. Turns out I was right, they've been using the wrong stuff and it DID need to be re-evaluated (duh - why pay someone to burn your lawn).
So they are doing their best to rectify that. I am glad I called and "nicely" informed them there was a problem before they sprayed again. They are coming back tomorrow and not using a herbicide at all, just a granular (instead of spray) fertilizer since we don't have any weeds in the grass.
He showed up at about 2:00 so I brought you and your twin out. (I call them the Karyn Twins, and I don't care about the naming convention, lol, they are just the Karyn Twins as far as I'm concerned). Well - didn't know if you knew this, but the twins have a younger sister. And younger sister is spending the night out on the front porch with the twins tonight. She's a lively one - seems to me she's trying her best, though 1 1/2 months behind in birth, to catch up!
Isabellas are slower, and someone told me they were "naughty" - not sure what that means. Dare I ask? Would that be opening up a whole new can of worms? lol!
You've been great C.C. You have a great sense of humor. I am priviledged to get to meet you and have something in my yard that you created. :)
Karrie
Stop,you're making me blush......
Here ya go, right on the bottle, 0.09% Vitamin B1, 0.048% 1-Naphthyl acetic acid (which is one of the rooting hormones frequently used in rooting gels, powders, etc.)
I love the stuff! I wonder what the other 99.86% is.
Actually, the bottle I got doesn't have that one it!
BUT - I can tell you, especially based on spices I have bought, that if they are not "required" to list certain ingredients, they won't - it is their secret, until a government agency tells them otherwise.
The amounts of those were small, according to what I saw, per volume.
The other stuff that ISN'T mentioned is the stuff that people like.
I've tried this on a few things now, and I am amazed, after just 2 or 3 days how they've lifted. It is a GOOD product.
As far as the 99.86% is - it isn't ALL water. That is obvious. And they don't legally have to give their recipe, as long as the other ingredients meet FDA standards (and possibly agricultural standards as well, hello).
Everything I have fed this stuff to, since I bought it the other day HAS thrived.
I made 2 gallons of kelp and superthrive with water for Dee across the street to feed to this little garden she's trying to get going, under a pine tree. We are hoping it will help it root.
She knows I talk to you guys all the time. So I ask questions for her, sometimes, but am encouraging her to join us.
Graduated all my Brugs this afternoon. I think I only have one Isabella. The other one marked Isabella looks WAY too much like the Suave. (hee hee, catch that guys?)
Isabella is a Suave......
did I say that?
no - this is the first I think I've heard that.......
I believe you did :)
crestedchik
West Monroe, NY
Zone 5a
Jun 02, 2004
8:21 AM
Karrie20x,The seeds you have are suavenolens crosses I think...
so you can refer to them as Suavenolens X's or Suave X's or even Karyns's X's,or CC's seedling's if you like
But to refer to them as Karyn Riggs's means the brugs that were crossed were named Karyn Riggs...which they were not....It will confuse people,many of us are blond......
There is no brug called Karyn Riggs.....
YET
When some one breed's the first everblooming Purple Double brug, with pink picotte edges I'm hoping they will name it after me...LOL
Karrie20X, I have an old bottle of Super Thrive ( I don't know how old), it says use 3 drops per gal. water. Did you say that your new bottle says to use 1/4 tsp. May be a different concentration. Donna
Ruth,
It says for frequent feedings, to use 2 to 3 drops, but for monthly feedings, to use 1/4 teaspoon. The recipe that Kaufmann shared says 1/4 teaspoon per gallon, mixed with other stuff. Brugs are supposebly heavy feeders. I feed mine once a week.
Kaufmann,
lol! Yes, I am informed (for a few days or so now) that these Brugs aren't called Karyn Riggs and that they are a Suave cross. I just call them the Karyn twins & lil' sister because it is in my head now, and it helps me remember what they are. Everyone else seems to understand that now too - those that have read these threads about them, anyways. It was quite the laugh - someone even brought up something about CC's peacock feathers. :)
Karrie