Cutting Edge technology can help your plants..

Mine came today, too!

I had the same problem as crestechik with their website. However, I did get an e-mail today asking if I had problems completing my order. Nice to know that they care enough to contact customers who have tried to make a purchase on their website. I will call them tomorrow to place my order.

I ordered today, too! Sounds like it'll cure the myriad problems I battle daily in this yard! Hooray! Can't wait to get it on! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Jen

My order arrive today (31) Can't wait to get it on. Directions on pkg say to use every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.

This message was edited Aug 31, 2004 1:49 PM

I wrote to them about 5 minutes ago, asking about shelf lofe of unopened packets. Got almost an immediate reply!

"We have brought back product after 3 years in the field in unopened bags and the tests came back positive. The product still tested at our high QC standards of disease control and growth. That was the oldest product we could find, so beyond 3 seasons, I cannot say. It is mainly the opened packets you have to worry about. Hope that answers your question. "

Thanks for checking on that Darius. I had wondered after I bought so much of it, whether it would still be good next season. Guess I'm okay to go............

Great Darius. Thanks for sharing!
Terrie

I used mine last night... I sealed it back with the food saver. LOL I ended up using the whole packet anyway, but I wonder if that would preserve it for a little more that 24 hours.

Hi, Shelly - interesting..is the food saver the think that heat seals packages you have opened? I would think that would work. I just can't imagine needing 3 gallons of solution at any one time. So..I will be attempting to mix smaller doses and save the remaining. As a matter of fact I have been pondering how to measure just enough to use in my tiny little plant mister -- so I can use it on my seedlings I grow indoor under grow lights in late winter - if it's 1/8 tsp per quart - what would it be per cup?? One packet would go a LOONNNG way at that rate. LOL.

Those of you who are trying it for the first time - be sure to let me know what you notice. I began to notice improvements within 4-5 days of first application.

Diane Krny

Diane, I was just reading on the web site and it says to use opened packets of Messenger within 24 hours. Have you used it more than once and if so, does the unused portion appear to still work after being open for several days? I can see where this stuff would become too expensive to use in the house if the whole package had to be used in a 24 hour period. Thanks.

Hi, Brugie -

Yes, I used one packet over a 3 week interval. What I did was open the packet measure out what I needed then I rolled the envelope up really tight (trying to remove any air) - wrapped it with a rubber band and then put it back inside that plastic clam shell packaging it came in which snaps closed. 3 weeks after the first application, I opened it up again and used the rest. It appeared to work just fine. I think I will email them and ask why such a short shelf life on opened packets...I'll let you know what they say.

Diane

I talked with a lady there. She said use within 24 hrs after mixed with water. If kept dry and sealed and out of sun and heat it will be good for 3 or 4 weeks. The protein breaks down when exposed to air/light/heat. For houseplants, her recommendation was 1/4 t / quart (that's still a lot for houseplants).

I told her that their product was 'hot' on internet garden sites. My order should arrive today.

This is good news Linda. Maybe we will have to do a sharing thing this winter to use up a packet. LOL! At least you could spray three times in four weeks with what she told you and use up a fair amount of the package..

Hi, All - and Linda - I also emailed them today with my question about using smaller amounts and described what I had done (see above post). I got an answer in 1/2 hour (gee..I love responsive helpful companies!),,,here is the text of what she said (which is what the woman told LInda above):

Diane -
Our new mixing and dilution instructions that were introduced on our smaller packages (the 3 gal SKU) state directions in line with what you did. Once a package is opened, you just need to be very careful that you tightly reseal it and keep it from all exposure to the elements. Messenger is a natural protein that degrades very rapidly in the environment. Which is one of the reasons it is so environmentally friendly, but also why it cannot be exposed to air, moisture or light too long before the protein degrades. Use 1/4 teaspoon per quart of water and just as you did, tightly reseal the package. We give you 3 weeks with this method, but it is actually longer that it will last, we are just concerned about how well each person seals it and of course want everyone to have the highest quality product once they go to use it. For your indoor winter use, you may want to think about getting the smaller size which mixes to make only 1 gallon of solution per packet. There are still 3 packets to a "clamshell" but it would be less times you had to open and reseal the package. Thank you for sharing your experience with your fellow gardeners and with us, I am happy to hear you had great results. Feel free to write us or call 1-888-879-2420 with any other questions you may have.

Good info., Diane. Thanks!

Boy, I hope mine arrives tomorrow, I can hardly wait!!! Maybe i missed it, but how often should the plants be sprayed??? TIA!!

The link that Kaufmann posted at 6:50 PM on the 19th will give you all the info on this product, Sherry. I believe when it is ordered, it comes with much of the same info. I tried my first gallon this morning.

Thanks, yet again, Shirley!!!!!!!!!! Did you spray all 150 brugs - how did it go and how much spray did it take???

Diane,

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like magic--can't wait to order some tomorrow.

Posted a link to this thread on the Hoya forum on one of the threads about pests and how to get rid of them.

Karen

Sherry, I didn't get quite all of them with one gallon of spray. You are NOT supposed to spray to the point of run off, so it goes quite a ways. I'll let you know in a week if I can tell the difference in those I sprayed and those I didn't. Sometimes when I do something and think it is working so well, I find out that it was the normal growth pattern for them anyway. By leaving some without the spray, I should be able to tell the difference.

Thanks, and, yes, you are most correct, Shirley!! It pays in the long run to make sure what you see is real, rather than something that would happen anyway. I really like the bug thing and if that works, I'll surely enjoy using all that I bought, which was LOTS!! Always afraid I'll run out here in Arky...

This sounds like something I will be interested in using next year. I saved the link to my favorites and will order some in early spring.

Diane, would you mind if I copied your last response for my group? We just did a co-op on it and I'm sure everyone will want to hear this.

Again, thanks very much for posting, I really hope this will be a miracle cure for stress.

Vi

Viola bird - sure--copy away. :-)

Brugie - I'm glad you are doing a control experiment by only spraying some plants to measure the difference. I only sprayed some at first - and when I started seeing new growth in 4 days I did wonder if my eyes were deceiving me..but as another week went by my dats just looked SO good after a season of poor, bug plagued growth I got really excited and mixed another batch and sprayed everything in sight! And I am convinced that absolutely everything looks better today (now 5 weeks and 2 applications later). Now, I am continuing to apply Alfalfa pellet tea every 2-3 weeks as well, and I do think that is wonderful for the plants too, but this phenominal growth did not happen till Messenger. I went out and counted the buds on my Endless Summer Hydrangea this morning -- there are 19 buds! This from a plant that put out 2 blossoms since April. I wanted to post a before and after pic - but my internet service at home has been down since Monday and won't be fixed till Sunday so I'll try then..

Diane

Diane, you have given us so much good info. I copied the whole 12 pages on this thread. I am going to Wenatchee 2 1/4 hours away, tomorrow to try to get some Messenger at what they told me was nearest retail outlet. Am so eager to try it, I hope they have some on their shelves. Donna

Donna, unless you just want a nice drive, it seems a telephone call, and/or an internet order would be cheaper than the round trip gas.

I just ordered my messenger from the manufacturer...while on the site I ran into this article where you can get a free sample and become part of the test program for it.
Link follows:
http://www.edenbio.com/hg/hgmain.html

Do you think it is too late in the year to apply it now in zone 9? I am going to try it on all of my plants, including daylilies and brugs and datura and fruit trees.

Thank you for the info. Diane.
Margie

Thought that I would put the info here about the sample and testing of plants & messenger...
Testing Messenger

Join Home & Garden readers in running your own test of Messenger. You can order a free sample by writing to the address below. Share your results with us and we'll publish them in a future issue of Home & Garden.

Here's how to test Messenger on your plants:

1. Plant at least two or more identical plants in your garden or in containers. Keep them in separate areas (at least 10 feet apart) with identical growing conditions. Houseplants, annuals or vegetables are good plants to begin with.

2. Spray one group of plants with Messenger and leave the other group of plants as an untreated control for comparison. You can begin applications immediately after transplanting or when plants are actively growing.

3. Spray the Messenger plants at three-week intervals while leaving the other plants as the unsprayed control.

4. Continue all your other growing regimes, including fertilizing and watering.

5. Note the differences between the plants after several applications of Messenger. Look for foliage quality, disease and insect susceptibility, rate and timing of blooms or fruiting. On woody plants and perennial plants, you may not notice the full benefit of Messenger in the first growing period.

6. Let us know how your plants performed. Results will be published in a June issue of Home & Garden.

Obtain your sample by writing to:

Messenger Sample/Herald

P.O. Box 758

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Be sure to include your name, address, telephone and email so we can follow up with you.

Hi Margie!!! Hope you are having a nice summer, long time, no see. I hope my Messenger arrives today, I can't wait!!

Hi Sherry,
It is good to be back...yes, it has been a busy summer. My DH had a hip replacement the beginning of Aug. and I have been pre-occupied with caring for him. He is now doing great & I can take some time again to hang out on Daves! Good to see you too!
Margie

Okay- I'm totally sold on this now- I went to place my order, but them saw the place for the coupon code, so I called them and left a message asking where I could obtain this code... Hope it works. :) Will share if it does.


Susan McCoy

Hey, All - I will be out of touch from now till sometime late Sunday afternoon. I am leaving work now and my home internet service has been down since Monday. The technician can't come out to the house until Sunday. So I am leaving for a weekend of no access to email or the internet. I feel like the Apollo missions when they round the backside of the moon and have radio blackout till they reach the other side....LOL

See you all when my spaceship is fixed...

Diane Krny

Sounds almost too good to be true but I will soon find out - just ordered some this morning!! We still have several weeks of gardening left here in southeast Oklahoma so I am going to give it a try yet this year and start with a spraying program next spring and see what happens!!

Mine came yesterday and I'll work with it today. I still have about 2 months (maybe) LindaSC

Well, they must not like South Texas customers. I ordered mine on the 19th, the same day I first read the post and I still haven't received mine. Boo hoo.

Ordered mine today online then saw the post where it wasn't a secure website and am terrified since I put in my credit card number. I was just so anxious to get the stuff. Pray for me! Jenny

Jenny, I deliberately keep one credit card with a very low credit limit ($300) for my online purchases. Usually the most anyone can charge is less than half of that, and I have credit card insurance so the most I'd ever be out is $50.

Live and learn. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to get another card with a low limit for just such things. Just have to wait and see. Jenny

I also keep a card with a low limit ($500) just for internet purchases. And out of all the years I've made purchases I have never had a problem.

I'm so anxious to use this stuff, but it is so windy here for the last couple of days. Hopefully tomorrow it will die down.

This message was edited Aug 28, 2004 4:26 PM

Hopefully in will be in garden centers early this next spring.

"eyes"

darius, if I hadn't had other things to go to the city for I wouldn't have gone just for the Messenger, and it is a good thing as the place that normally carries the product has put all their garden things away or whatever, it is a grocery store, and didn't have any. but i had nice trip and came home in time to work in my garden even. Donna