I found SUPERthrive (4 oz.) at Wal-mart yesterday for $7.42 + tax. I had seen it on line, but at higher prices.
Do any of you use it on your hoyas or other plants? If so, please post details; ie., how do you use it; how often; strength/dilution rate; results of its use; etc. The label gives directions for mixing, but I would like to hear from actual users. Is it the panacea one is led to believe by reading the label?
Thank you.
Shirley
SUPERthrive: Pros & Cons
i use it when i remember and i luv it....i notice a difference if i use it like i should, which has been at every water......we have lots of amish around here that have beautiful g/h's and they use it, that is where i bought my first bottle
i use an eye dropper and use 3 or 4 drops per gallon of water...now if can just figure the ratio to use with my inline thing for watering...lol
cindy
Cicada...me too...I use it when I remember! But I faithfully use it when propagating and I do use a locally made fertilizer with contains ST along with seaweed extracts, chicken manure and "stuff".
By the way, I am told that Hormex is the same product, one additional beneficial ingredient, and it is less expensive. The patent on ST ran out so it is fair game....
When first transplanting, I water with 3 drops per gal. With subsequent waterings, and if foliar spraying, I use one drop per gallon. I also use it around the gardens...when planting trees and such...and give the hole we dig a good gallon of water with the ST in it. It seems to relieve transplant shock...
Shirley I will get back to you by email, but superthrive for me works,but I have noticed that I kept a bottle in my repotting room and one insde and the one outside turned brown and the one inside is still the color it was when I bought it.Now I don't know the affects this will have and have not noted any change..I no longer root in water I use it tho to water my cuttings everyday and they are all thriving.I find we all tend to add a few drops more, but last year only a drop in a gallon of water was being used and they all grew for me with no problems.
Dianne
Cindy, Carol, and Dianne- thanks for the input. Shirley
Shirley,
I use Superthrive and Hormex just about each time I water.....or should I say, each time I think about it. If you can find a health food store that sells essential oils for making your own potions, they will likely also sell small glass bottles with eye droppers. I keep both chemicals handy in those bottles, which makes it easier not to add too much. I use a drop or 2 of each to a gallon of water.
The hormex is also good to use to dip cuttings before planting them. Our Wallmart finally got Superthrive, although, I think I am the only person in this town who has purchaced a bottle!
Well, I'm certainly not an experienced Hoya grower but bought a bottle of this online mid summer.
WOW!!! what a difference. Everything has exploded in bloom and just hoping they're not on their last legs and flowering like mad, lol.....
I'm curious tho, I use about 10 drops per gallon-now that I think about it I can't remember where I got that amount from since the packaging is long gone. Too much???
HUMPH, as I recall when I first learned about Superthrive, there were different ratios of the homone to water. My bottle says one drop per gal. I'd say though, if you are getting all those blooms, you must be doing EVERYTHING right!! After 2 plus years of collecting Hoyas, I am just starting to get blooms. I would not change anything that is working that well!!!
Mel
I am not familiar with Hormex. Is it a plant food (liquid or powder form)?
Shirley
Hormex is available here as a growing "additive" and a rooting hormone power (can do both)...comes in both liquid and powder form.
Carol
Which kind of Fish Emulsion do you use, Susan? I have been using the no nitrogen type. (Can't remember the exact name) I am certain I make a different potion every time I water, but, stick with superthrive and hormex in the winter.
Dose anybody know the web site for Super thrive? I can't find it here in Tucson. AZ I would like to get some for my Hoyas. Thanks, Binky :))))))
Here is the website for it:
http://www.superthrive.com/
Sandy
Hey, Binky...
I can send you some - do you want a big or a small bottle? Can get the prices Monday.
Carol
Let me start out with a small bottle. let me know the price for it and what the shipping. Thanks Carol, you are a life saver. Binky :)))))))
OK - will write you privately after Monday....Carol
Thanks, Will wait to hear from you, Binky
I've been using Superthrive for about 40 years --- long before it was available in any stores --- one had to buy it directly from its manufacturer.
Superthrive is not a fertilizer and fish emulsion is not a substitute for Superthrive. Fish Emulsion is a fertilizer. Superthrive is a mixture of vitamins and hormones. The only comparable substitute for Superthrive is a birth control pill and a Vitamin B complex tablet, dissolved in water. You can find that documented in numerous horticultual publications, both recent and from years back.
Directions for use are printed right on the bottle --- I know because I checked every bottle in the entire case I have in my storeroom.
Unless they have changed formulas and labels since they mailed that case to me, the recommended dose is 10 drops per gallon of water the first time you apply it and 3 drops per gallon of water thereafter.
When I get cuttings sent from a long distance I always soak them overnight in water with the recommended 10 drops per gallon. I water new rooting cuttings with the recommended 3 drops per gallon of water. After that, I do not use any Superthrive at all and never would I use fish emulsion. Even with my aged nose and its dimished smelling capability, that stench just won't go away!
Binky, have you checked Walmart or Home Depot? I'm sure if they carry it in the Mesa stores, your Tucson stores should carry it also. It cost $7.49 at Walmart and $9.48 at Home Depot for a 4 oz bottle.
Blessings,
Awanda
I love it had a lot of trouble getting in OK. they would not put ingredients on bottle so had to bootleg it in{ PSST want Super thrive ]it was like propitiation all over again
Awanda, I found Super thrive at our Home Depot !! After going to 2 wal-mart. asking and them telling yes they have it but just out right now. Now to try it. Will let you guys know how it goes for me. Thanks for letting me know. All I ever did was look! Binky :))))))
GREAT for you Binky. I wrote all the prices down and can't find it here on my disaster of a desk!!! BTW - Hormex has the same incredients as ST, with an added chemical so you can use it for a rooting dip.
Thanks for letting me know. Wont be doing anything till Sunday. Taking the grandchildren home tomorrow will be coming back sat. night.Its been wonderful having them this last 2 weeks. But is time for them to go home to Mom and Dad. LOL So I can get back to doing what I do. My plants! Been going thu withdraws hehehe. Binky :)))
I think Superthrive is a good supplement to fertilizer! I'd definitely follow the directions on the label though! (as hard as it may be to read)
I think there are two different formulas.
I had been told by someone to use 1tsp per gallon. I didn't read my label and used the 1tsp. per gal.
Yes things REALLY took off but, my 'Krinkle 8' started getting BIG leaves and morphed into 'Krinkle10 & 12'. Before overdosing it with SuperThrive it NEVER had more than 8 dimples per leaf even though it was a large plant.
A couple of the vines got such big leaves they lost the deep dimpled effect and can barely be recognized as 'Krinkle 8'
Luckily I was only using it on a few plants.... I now stretch it and use 2 drops per gallon for watering.
I use alot more when soaking cuttings overnight after getting them in the mail!
LOL....Lesli...you must have felt like the guy in "Little Shop of Horrors" FEED ME SYMORE! Can you image if you had used it on ..say...a latifolia or glabra? Ha.
I have had a large krinkle 8 plant throw out whole vines of unkrinkled (almost look like it reverted to carnosa) leaves.
Hey, when you soak these cuttings overnight, do you soak the WHOLE cutting submersed? I have soaked them for a little while, but never overnight. I was afraid of rotting them.
Marcy
Too funny Marcy! Feeeed me! Oh geeze, If I'd ODed those two I'd need a separate room for them alone!
Yes, my last two orders from David Liddle I trimmed the cut end of each cutting and soaked them overnight in the bath tub with a big splash of ST.
They all went through the transition well.
Mel got them first and did the same thing. Exept she left them in the wholey plastic bags David uses (like grapes come in at the grocery store), she soaked them a few hours put them in her mini greenhouse to dry out and then sent them on to me!
You'd never known they hadn't been cut that day with the exeption of a the thinner leaved varieties!
I would love to see your pictures, Lesli.....please share?
I am with Lesli on soaking new cuttings. When I received our order from David Liddle, I used the bath tub to soak the cuttings overnight, then put them in my mini-greenhouse (after blocking light from coming in). I let them dry in nursery flats with holes in the bottom and allowed the moisture to drain off and then mailed them on to their new owners.
David was kind enough to not only carefully label each cutting with both the person who purchaced it, the plant name and IML#, but also separated the orders. His cuttings are so large that they are often wrapped around each others! I was thankful that I did not have to disturb them too much before shipping them on.
I simply could not get over how generous his cuttings are. I had minimal loss from both my spring and fall order.
I also imported plants from Thailand this year and I learned a heck of alot about what NOT to do when importing. If any of you decided to go in a Liddles orders, I will me happy to share my experience and give you some tips. If you want your plants to arrive in a timely manner, you have to stay on top of APHIS. Once a Liddle Order arrives in the US, David is out of the picture and it is really important that the importer stays on top of them!
I've missed this, somehow. How does one get in on a Liddle order?
Also, other than Superthrive, what do you soak the cuttings in?
Mary,
Good Question:
You get a group of friends together (and I would suggest it be people who you trust) and one person will have to obtain an Import Permit through the USDA. (Application can be found through USDA web site...Look for APHIS on USDA site)
You submit your application and APHIS will send you rules and regulations on importing as well as a permit and Import Cupons. You then snail mail David a cupon for each box you anticipate he will send. (The man was incredibly helpful and patient with me on my first consignment.)
The reason you might want to consider ordering with a group of friends is that David has to get a Phytosanitary Certificate for each package he sends. Add the shipping and handling fees and you are looking well in excess of $100.00 at the minimum and even for a small order. Also, he has to travel quite a distance to have the plants inspected and mailed.
David recommends shipping in the spring, which would give you plenty of time to form a group and pick a person to do the importing.
Yikes! Thank you, Mel. I don't think I'm quite at that level of collecting, yet!
Where is David Liddle?
I can concur with what Mel said. Our spring is better for ordering from him also because it is the end of their summer and the plants have put on a lot of good growth. I was there in their Spring and brought back my cuttings...and I got to go thru the entire process with AQUIS (Australian Agriculture) in person with David. Simply the cutting and cleaning of the cuts to send is awesomely thorough.
christmascactus
Feb 02, 2005
I'm new at this-Where do you find(buy) Hormex?
CK, I've seen Hormex at plant nurserys rather than the big box stores. You might want to call some in your area.
Blessings,
Awanda
I am using Hormex for dipping my cuttings before starting them. I save that liquid when finished and use the saved stuff to add for watering. Saves a bit on the money....LOL.
I can never find Hormex locally, so I bought it on E-bay.
christmascactus
Feb 02, 2005
Thanks ladies-I will check around.
Hello All - I am new to DG, and I have been trying to catch up on all the threads in the Hoya forum! I have found them very interesting - everyone is so knowledgeable & friendly! I have a new small collection of 16 hoyas and 1 very large H. carnosa that I have had for YEARS and very excited about them! I have a few questions regarding the Superthrive & Hormex - are these products that should be used year-round? I realize they are not fertilizers, but hormones/vitamins. I had read Mel's entry about using ST & Hormex in the winter, so I just wanted to make sure I read this correctly, and I should be using this throughout the year. Also, I have read about the Eleanor's VF-11 and/or Spray-N-Grow in some of the threads. Are these to used in place of either the Hormex/ST or in addition to as a fertilizer (and not to be used in the winter)? I did not want to give the hoyas too much of something, etc. - they seemed similar. Is there a recommended fertilizer for hoyas if these products are to be used only as additive's to a fertilizer? Sorry for all the questions, but it gets just a bit confusing to someone new to this!! :-)
Thank you to anyone that has advice to share - it would be greatly appreciated as I would like to get a good solid start on taking care of my hoyas! Awanda has already put me in the right direction with my H. lacunosa whose leaves were turning yellow and dropping... so far so good!
Kind regards,
Terri