I have begun using Messenger on some of my hoyas and have noticed good growth, strong new growth and everyone seems to want to bloom. I don't know how long I can keep it up as it is really pricey!!!
Carol
Messenger
Carol, Were did you get Messenger? Maybe if I tried that some of mine would start to bloom. :)))) Binky
Isn't that kinda like coloring your hair? You get hooked on it because it looks so good but it's expensive and yet hard to stop.....LOL
The protein involved is GOOD for the plants...from what I can understand. Many on the forum have used it successfully. At least, the roots don't showwhen you stop using it!!!LOL.
Carol
What is Messenger? I've never heard of it.
JesseK
Here's the link to the company....
http://www.edenbio.com/
I bought some last fall, but was told to wait until I see new growth in the spring to start with it. I figure I will start soon but things are still pretty much in a winter slow down here. Good to hear it works tho.
Marcy
I have been to the site listed above and cannot get any information or it crashes my internet. Could someone just give me a simple explaination about what it is. It has peaked my curiosity now.
JesseK
Messenger has a toll free number 1-888-522-5976
According to their website: "Messenger for the home and garden represents a fundamentally new approach to growing vigorous, vibrant, and healthy plants both indoors and outdoors. Now you can give every plant you grow an edge against quality and yield robbing stress brought on by destructive pests and challenging growing conditions. Messenger allows you to unlock the natural potential of plants around your home and in your garden to thrive and flourish."
"Messenger is based on proprietary harpin protein technology discovered at Cornell University. Hailed as a major scientific breakthrough by the USDA, Messenger was the recipient of the EPA’s prestigious 2001 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. When applied to the foliage of plants, Messengers naturally occurring active ingredient, harpin, “tricks” plants into reacting to a perceived attack from a disease causing pathogen. Plants react by activating systems that affect stress tolerance (both environmental and pest related), plant growth and reproduction. Activating these responses while plants are healthy and prior to a pest attack or other stresses yields positive benefits in terms of growth and stress resistance."
"Messenger exhibits a high degree of environmental safety. Once applied, it degrades rapidly and leaves no detectable residue on treated plants. Even edible crops can be sprayed right up to the day of harvest. Because of its essentially non-toxic nature, users can safely apply Messenger around the home without any special protective equipment, and people can safely re-enter treated areas as soon as sprays have dried. That makes Messenger a perfect product to use in sensitive areas where children and pets may play or when concerns about pesticide exposure to animals or the environment are an issue. Messenger also has a high degree of plant safety, and has never caused phyto-toxic burning on plants, even when tested experimentally at rates 100 times greater than labeled rates. Messenger simply alerts the plant to protect itself and exhibits a high degree of environmental safety with no direct effect on pests and pathogens. Messenger is easy to use and hard to abuse."
So there you have it - albeit in a rather loooooonnnnngggg post! :)
Got some here from a recent Co-op. Works great as far as I can see and now wish I had ordered twice as much as I did.
I'm using it on all my plants that are showing some active growth.
It appears that the new growth is indeed strong and bloom spurs are popping out like no ones business and fattening up nicely.
Same for other flowering plants I have used it on.
Coincidence? Not sure but everything looks really green, perky and healthy.
It is not cheap but it's a foliar application and goes a long way.
I ordered some yesterday. Sure hope it works on my plants. I wanted mainly for my Hoyas, but may also try it on my Cactus & Succulents. Is this ok? :)))))))
Works fine on my cacti and succulents binky.
Thanks Caron, Did you cut back on the amount to mixes? And did you see were it did help? Binky :)))
Just mixed as directed. Sometimes I mix the bare minimum of 1/8 tsp to 1 pt of water for a few select plants as it's only good for a few hours once mixed. The packets are only good for a couple of weeks after opening.
I did use it to water and mist some cuttings and they are going great guns too-especially the philodendron stem pieces I'm rooting.
Helped hoyas, cyclemen, amaryliss, x-mas cactus with additional blooms.
Everything else looks very green, perky and healthy!!
As far as I can tell, there are no "side effects" if and when you stop using it. they have a toll free number and are very helpful!!!
I hope to visit them when I am on the mainland in a week....save on the shipping!!!
OH - by the way - speaking of my trip...I will be gone for two weeks and will not have access to a computer except infrequently (I can't believe my son is not online!!!) so you won't have a lot of noise from me mid Feb.
Carol