Superthrive

I can't recall if I read about Superthrive in the threads or not. I recently purchased Growing To Show by Pauline Bartholomew. I was hoping to find help in keeping my violet adiction under control. (Which I did.) In one section she mentioned Superthrive (vitamins). I purchased some and used it for the first time yesterday. This morning I could hardly believe my eyes. The leaf colors and blooms colors are already more vibrant and some of my plants that have been suffering from salts build up have begun to relax and are not so stiff. Have any of you had experience with Superthrive? It really seems to be a wonderful product.

I have read so many things about SuperThrive that I don't know what to think about it. There have been several others, like you, who swear by it and say they see an almost immediate improvement in their plants. Others have conducted their own mini scientific trials and have concluded it is snake oil. I have gone back and forth with myself so many times about whether or not to try it. I've seen pictures of your violets, though, and if you can see a difference, then I think that is enough for me to give it a try. I didn't think your AVs could get more beautiful! I'm going to get a small bottle, though I'll have to order it because no local stores carry it. If it doesn't do anything for my plants, I'm not out much and I have satisfied my curiousity. If it improves my plants, then all the better and it will be worth what it costs.
Thank you for posting this! I do love to hear others' opinions about products like this.
I also want to try out Elenor's VF11 (I think that's the right name) as I've heard lots of good things about it, too.

I got my sample of VF11 and have been using it about 2 weeks. So far so good though I am not sure I have seen a huge difference from any other fertilizer.
I may give this superthrive a shot also..I have never tried it!

I used Super thrive and did not like it sorry.
I love Eleanor's Vf-11 and it must be used alone. Eleanor's VF-11 . I would not recommend using all these together. You'll end up over fetilizing and have problems. I would flush and wait a month before using something new. Don't fertilize dry plants and don't fertilize plants that have been bug treated...for a few months.

Don't fertilize dry plants? I always have fertilizer in my water.
Right now I am trying the VF11.
I also use neem oil to treat for bugs. I do it once a month. I never changed my fertilizing schedule..Maybe I should rethink thanks

Lorry, I believe the idea behind not watering with fertilizer when a plant's soil is dry, is that often the roots will 'drink' up the fertilizer and can cause the plant to 'burn' both roots and new tips. If you just pre moisten and then fertilize as normal, you should be ok.

Yes if the plants have gone stone dry. As African violets like it evenly light moist..but if totaly dried out could burn roots. To be Honest using Vf-11 I never worry as it's gently and you can't use too much and it won't burn the roots.
Now if you have had a sick plant , damged badly gone threw treament , then wait until it's healthy.
Neem oil is fine to use.

Nana,
I use it and had the same results the first time. It is recommended in several articles in the AVSA mags& other books, too.
It gets my vote.
Another thing to consider with All the information you get is if a particle method is working for you & your AV's then that's the answer for YOU, but may not be for everyone's growing conditions. Water, soil & temps etc are different for eveyone as well as differ from plant to plant.

I use 10 drops to a gal of my fertiler every month.

MsC

I found this thread interesting and googled the product. Here is what I found that I thought would add to this discussion. Now I have a question. Do you use this in conjunction with your regular fertiziler or instead of? http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/houseplt/msg0112565011644.html?pp_user=anitabryk2&pp_ticket=ivjYoBA4Ak.TQ

~Anita

Yes a grower couple years ago picked me up a bottle and she said use only tiniest amount one drop per gallon and she had hundreds of Av's and said her bottle last for years :))

Good info Anita. I say if your suing Vf-11 just use that nothing else. Becareful not to double fertilize. If you like it use it. It was not good for me.
Maybe on outside plants it would do well but with Av roots are more delicate. If you have not used it before I'd try it on a few plants for a few months first and test it :))
Allison

I add 10 small drops to a gallon of fertilizer and only do this about once a month.
I also use epson salt on occasion and it is very contraversional too mostly because of the salts associated with it,but it does work for my conditions.

MsC

my experience has been that ST...superthrive is best for starting cuttings..seeds..that kind of thing...for example...with my plumeria seeds...i soak them overnight in ST...one drop in quart of water....i would be very much against using anything when roots are dried out....too much of a risk to burn the roots....ST..as you know has lots of vitamins...if i was going to use only one thing..i would use SNG...spray n gro...perhaps even with a light watering of bill's perfect fertilizer........OR perhaps even some VERY LIGHT waterings of fish emulsion...(ie Alaska one works well).....and on the vf11...one should use it alone..is my understanding..

The article I read said to use 1 drop in a gallon of water. With fertilizer if plant is otherwise healthy and with water only if the plant needs reviving.

Interesting discussion!

but in the end...what works for YOU>..is the answer

Now that is interesting...lol
I use 10 drops and the instructions say to use 1 drop...lol
Mmm, wonder if that's why my plants are HUGE??? Hubby always says they look like they are on steriods...
I'll post a pic if I can find the silly thing in this computer of mine..lol


MsC

there are, from what I hear, ST in different concentrations, so please do read the label.

Beware of using too much of it, because it can cause deformed flowers on some plants (it does on some orchids for sure).

Be especially careful of overdosing plants that don't get watered as frequently.

And maybe someone already said this - ST is not a fertilizer so you'll still have to fertilize. It does overlap with rooting agents, so probably no need to add more rooting compound to the mix.

I use it on anything that needs a boost, but I only add it to my water (for all plants) once or twice a year, if that. The gessies probably get the least ST from me.

MsC - you're probably fine because you water well. If I did the same thing, I think my plants would object. (Keyring's growing area is a desert.)

You're right Keyring..and that's probable the best point of all...what works for one person doesn't always work for another...lol

here's the pics I was joking about-if nana doesn't mind it being posted to her thread???

This thing is at least 14 inches now...and still just a baby.
The plant saucer it is sitting in is a 12 inche saucer!!
It may need a shelf or ROOM all it's own..lol

MsC






This message was edited Jan 19, 2006 6:26 PM

Duh...pic...

wow how wonderful...a great looking plant

That's beautiful.

Beautiful plant MsC.

I use 1 drop per gallon each time I water. You said 10 drops once a month. Probably works out to the same thing.

Oh Ms.C that sure is beautiful!

I am a big fan of Superthrive- but I think everybody has different experiences and opinions.

hmmm...it might help out my orchids...I'll have to post a question over there too. Maybe I'll pick up a small bottle.

Anita - it can help orchids but will cause deformed flowers in some. Use sparingly is the advice I usually give and hear. It will promote root grow on phals etc.

thanks keyring