Hi, All -
I wanted to share my experience with a new technology and a product I heard about and tried for the first time this summer. The product is called Messenger made by company called Eden Biosystems. This is a product used as a foliar spray that contains Harpin Protein which activates the natural defense responses in plants and protects it from pathogens, disease, pests and also promotes growth. Yeah, I know it sound hokey - but it was recommended by a national gardening radio host who HIGHLY recomended it. It is a totally organic and non-toxic substance and was awarded the Green Chemistry Award in 2001 by the EPA. Well, I was having a real problem with my Daturas this year (grew 17 of them from seed) and they were all ailing after multiple attacks from four line beetles and the wet cool weather causing brown spots on all the flowers even before they opened. Most of the leaves were falling off and growth seemed stunted. So..I sent for some of the "Messenger" and two weeks ago I sprayed all my Dats with it. Folks..it actually worked. Within 4 days they all started throwing out new green leaves and flower buds. The buds opened with beautiful, crisp, spotless flowers. I was amazed! Now listen, I do not know these people and I'm not affiliated with them in any way but I do now recommend it - and next year I will use it on every single plant I grow. Here is a link to a few articles about it on the web -
http://southeastfarmpress.com/mag/farming_messenger_wins_green/
http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:o6uAviQY_uYJ:www.hos.ufl.edu/mooreweb/TissueCulture/reports/HOS%2520messenger-amy.doc+MESSENGER+HARPIN+PROTEIN&hl=en
Have any of you heard about this or tried this yet? My brugs also have put on several inches of growth in the last two weeks since I applied this. Really... I AM impressed.
Diane Krny
Cutting Edge technology can help your plants..
hmm..that second link did not copy properly - lets try again:
http://www.hos.ufl.edu/mooreweb/TissueCulture/reports/HOS%20messenger-amy.doc
Diane, where did you purchase it? I'm interested in trying it next year.
So am I Shirley -- check out this link:
http://edenbio.com/hg/hgmain.html
You can buy it from the manufacturer.
Oh Gretchen...did you see what I saw in there? It hasn't been approved for Iowa yet. This has not been my best day. LOL!
Wait a minute....that was for the Mighty Plant. I better go back and look some more.
This message was edited Aug 19, 2004 7:35 PM
I went to the website for the University of Florida Extension center. they tested it on some cotton and had a 41% reduction in disease when it was used 4 times in two week intervals. Definately worth looking into.
yep, that's where I got it from. I bought the packet that makes 9 gallons. The directions are VERY confusing at first -- That packet comes with three envelopes of the powder - each has .25 of an ounce in it and it tells you that you add it to 1-3 gallons of water. So which is it - I asked myself outloud 1 gallon, 2 gallons or 3?? Then last weekend Ralph Snodsmith - the host of The Garden Hotline radio talk show I listen to every Sunday morning had the manufacturers rep on there again last week talking about it and someone called in and asked about what the proper mixing ratio was. The rep apologized for what he called "their first feeble attempt at label instructions". The quarter ounce actually makes 3 gallons of solution. You can mix it at higher concentrations but he says that is just a waste because it will be no more effective than the .25 ounces to 3 gallons ration.
Now I racked my pea brain trying to calculate out how much to use to just make my small 1 quart sprayer's worth. After wrestling with my calculater for an hour I figured out that it is about 1/8 tsp to a quart of water. That quart sprayer goes quite a ways. I imagine if you mixed a gallon you could spray an entire garden. Because you are using such a small amount - it is pretty economical. Anyway, I am pretty impressed so far. Oh..also - I tried it on my strawberry plants I have in two large strawberry jars - they have been bearing fruit but at a pretty low rate and the berries were tiny. Two weeks after the application the fruits are at least 1 1/2 times to twice the size they were and the leaves are SOOO green and lush! I'm convinced that if I use it next year right from the start I will be able to avoid the things that plague me every year like black spot and mildew on my Phlox and Peony and bee balm as well as botrytis (sp?) on my asian lilys. I think the trick is to start application early as it does not cure an infection already there - it just helps the plant resist attack in the first place.
Diane
Diane -- thanks for the info on this! I can't wait to try it!!! Gretchen
Sounds like something I am going to try. Mighty Plant didn't sound to bad either! Thanks Diane.
Gee, could you imagine using just 1 product instead of 10?
I gotta pass on this news.
Thanks, Diane is right!
Diane, you should ask for a commission from Eden Bio - I just bought some too!
I just ordered and they do have the packets that make one gallon each. Someplace, one one of the sites, it tells how much to use to make small amounts, but once you open the packet, you only have a short amount of time to use it up.
Yes, Brugie - I see those packets that make 1 gallon - I'll probably buy those next time. And I did read that you should use up an open packet within a few weeks - not sure why. I rolled my partially used packet up real tight, taped it closed and put it back in the plastic "clam shell" it came with - I'm hoping it wll last longer if you are careful not to expose it to moisture in the air.
I have not tried the Might Plant - I might give that a go next Spring too - the two products together should be great. But my growing season is winding down now in the Northeast so I am anxious to start using this with new growth in the Spring. It sure is a fascinating technology...
Diane
That Mighty Plant is the stuff I can't get. It sounded pretty good too. Thanks so much for this information. I can't wait to try it and I plan on using it through the winter months inside. Heck, if the plants can fight the bugs better with this stuff, winter is the time to test it.
Just bought both of them too! Thanks once again Diane.
We used this for the cannas this season.
Really brings them to bloom quick and improves their vigor.
In this positive experience, it has my endorsement.
Alice
That is good to know Alice.
I placed my order! I'm excited to see how it does. Thanks for he link Diane.
Okay, I have a dumb question. Diane, do you mix in a gallon jug and then water with it or do you put it in a sprayer?
Terrie
Should have paid more attention when reading. What kind of hose-end sprayers do some of you use to ensure you are getting the right mixture?
This message was edited Aug 20, 2004 4:10 PM
Trunnels: I don't think this would work in a hose-end sprayer since its a powder (I think). They are disigned to be used with liquid concentrates. You would need to use either a spray bottle or a pump up sprayer that generally holds a gallon or more. Gretchen
Thanks, Gretchen! I don't know why I wasn't thinking of that. I'll have to look for a pump up sprayer at HD or Lowes. Placing my order now!
Terrie
you're quite welcome, Terrie! :)
Trunnels -
I used a small sprayer I bought at a local discount store - It holds one and 1/2 quarts - It has a pump on the top that you use to build up the pressure inside and then pull the trigger it sends out a fine mist. I just filled the container up to the 1 quart level, opened the packet of powder and measured out 1/8 of a teaspoon and put it in with the water. Then I rolled the packet up tight, put a piece of tape on it to be sure it stayed nice and dry and put it back in the plastic clamshell it came in. Then I pumped up the sprayer and started applying it. That quart did most all of the plants on my back patio as well as my brugs and 8 cannas and 2 strawberry pots...and if you saw the picture in the other thread I had going called "Brug Update" you know I have a LOT of plants on my back patio. OH - one more update on this - I sprayed my large container plant with my "new this year" Endless Summer Hydrangea in it. This has been doing nicely but only had 2 flowers heads all summer. Well..in the 2 weeks since I sprayed it - it has just exploded in new growth that is SOOO lush and green and I can now see FIVE baby flower heads forming across the top of the plant. I swear this stuff is like steroids for plants! It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow here..but if I get a chance I will take a picture of it for you and post it with a picture of it I took about 4 weeks ago so you can see the difference. Call me SOLD on this stuff!
Diane
Diane,
Yes, I saw your other thread. Absolutely gorgeous! Are you sure you don't work for this company? LOL I can't wait to try it and yes, please post your pictures when you can. We all love seeing your place!
Terrie
HEY GUYS! discount coupon 20% here:
http://www.gardeningclub.com/document.asp?dID=2837&cID=419
you have to be a member of the gardeningclub (which I am). membership is $15 and they send you some pruners for that so basically it's free membership. Lots of other bennies too.
Sandra
Sandra, sadly that offer for Messanger expired July 1 :(
I just ordered Messenger also. Thanks
I'll bet they are wondering what is going on to be getting so many orders in the last couple of days. I can't wait to try it.
How do you order it?
Do you call on the phone?
I didn't see a place to order online
or am I have more of those blond moments?
LOL cc....I had to look twice! Look on the left side for messengers. Click on it and then click product details.
ignore that...(one of my blonde moments) just click on online product purchased, then on product details.
This message was edited Aug 21, 2004 8:53 PM
I ordered the 19.98 one... lol we will see.. Lord knows I need all the help I can get!
found Messenger at my local garden store on sale for 15bucks - is that a good deal???
Gosh, I ordered on the 19th and got it in the mail today. They are really fast. Thanks Diane, for telling us about this product.
OK
I went all the way thru the checkout process
When it got to the credit card # it was not a secure site as far as I could tell......no little lock down at the bottom
so I am just going to place a phone order
Well, never let it be said that I didn't give something a try. Sounds like you can't go wrong. I found the fax order form and sent that. I'm going to try the MightyPlant too.
Diane, where did you learn about this? LindaSC
If you read some of their Testamonials on their web site, apparently they have ebbn endorsed by the American Rose Society for some time now.
Linda - originally I heard about this on a weekly talk radio show on Gardening - called The Garden Hotline. It is broadcast nationally every Sunday morning from 8:00am-10amEST. The host of the Show is Ralph Snodsmith. I love the show - people call in from all over the US and ask him gardening questions. Anyway...about 6 weeks or so ago he had one of his special guests on who was from Edenbio Systems - and he talked for an hour about this product. Ralph (the host explained how he had personally tested this product on his peonies and just loved it! That show got me thinking about my sad Datura plants (see my original post to this thread) and I decided to try it. The results have been phenominal! Here is a link to The Gardening Hotline web page on which Ralph posted a message to people about this product and a few more he recommends:
http://www.gardenhotline.com/msg.htm
Diane Krny
They are fast ... mine came today also. Thanks once again Diane!!
I'm anxious to give it a try next spring. My peony did the same thing he described in the article. Thanks for passing the info on. LindaSC
Mine also came today, wow that was fast! I need to get it open and get ready to use it.