Messenger

Don, has Messenger for sale in the Classifieds for a good price. Now ya know!
Caren
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/820003/

I've not ever used Messenger...what is it and what effect does it have on plants?

I tried it on my MGs and couldn't tell a difference. It may work better for other plant families.

It supposedly makes the plants more disease resistant in the long run, but I don't know for a fact.. there is a lot of information on the co-op forum regarding this product. I still have several packets and plan to use it on our fruit trees in hopes that the worms do not find my apples..lol also, it is supposed to make your plants healthier and bigger.

I've sent some out to several people on here and hopefully they will report to see how it did on their MGs.

I am going to use Messenger on my morning glories (and my salvias) this season.

It comes highly recommended by perennial growers and in trials and for all the work my little seedlings require to get started, I may as well give them regular doses of this 'tonic' of harpin protein and see what comes of it.

(I read in one of the JMG links to a Japanese site that the Japanese use various 'treatments' on their MG vines, and maybe Messenger is similar to one of those...just a guess though.)

Although, Gourd, I don't exactly see how it would keep worms away from your fruit trees...?

I thought MG's did not like nutrient rich soils. I know last summer some seeds got away from me and covered a 12 square foot area of VERY bare rocky desert dirt, all they got was water!
I'd agree w/ Beth on that, but on other plants, as MGs aren't perennials...might be great!
:D

I believe Messenger is a harpin protein complex not 'nutrients' or N P or K.

As I understand it this harpin protein will keep the plant 'strong' and maintain its defenses, not really 'feed' it in the sense fertilizers do.

A forum search will bring up a number of threads about the benefits of Messenger.

Well, It is supposed to work on the immune system of a plant, make it stronger, thus, making less prone to infections, and making it less desireable to bugs, pests (I think). Several fruit growers use it on their orchards so I thought I'd try it on ours. Hopefully I'll get it sprayed on soon.

Ah, I see. Thanks.

Would Messenger affect the blooms and nectar? If so, could it poison Hummingbirds and butterflies?

I wouldn't think so, if it is used on fruit trees that need pollination, the farmers would not use it.

fernman23-Darren - There are many species of Morning Glories which are perennials

Perennial species of Morning Glories include but are not limited to the following
Argyreia - all species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Argyreia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Calystegia - all species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Calystegia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Convolvulus - many species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Convolvulus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Evolvulus - most species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Evolvulus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Ipomoea - many species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Ipomoea&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Merremia - most species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Merremia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Operculina - all species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Operculina&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Stictocardia - all species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Stictocardia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Turbina - all species
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Turbina&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Hope that helps,...

TTY,...

Ron

Ron-- your list is interesting. I knew some morning glories were perennials, but I had no idea there were so many. Thank you.

i again bow to your knowlege. seriously i had no idea there were so many. I get lucky and sometime one of mine over witner. I will copy you list and lookaround. Real quick, possibly too generala query, are they Tender P.'s?
fernman23

I'll have to try messenger on my confederate rose and hibiscus .. I'd sure like to find something that discourages white flies .. I tried the worm castings .. it sort of worked, but not enough for me.

X

X, you can make your own yellow sticky traps which attracts the whiteflies
and they get stuck and can't get free. I made my own and coated them with
Vicks vapor rub, all I had at the time. They still flew to the traps.
Another method is to grow shoo fly plant, Nicandra. It attracts and kills
the whiteflies. Seeds available from Mr Hudson, seedsman.

I tried the Anti-stress 2000 for my Brugs and a few others this year mainly for mites and wilting but I have not had any WFs either. Here is a thread from the Brug forum about the product. I have not used it on MGs but I will give it a try next time I mix it up.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/770336/
Caren

I use Messenger on everything, and have for the last 3 years. I'm convinced it does something, though I'm not sure what. I rarely have bugs on anything unless I let them dry out. (I have an all-container garden.) My plants have never looked better. My morning glories did fabulously well last year, although the leaves looked crappy later in the season like everybody else's MGs.

I've used Messenger for 3-4 years now. .it came to me then from a report aimed to cotton growers .. increasing yield and minimizing the ferts needed.. and as aresult of a Green award from some governmental comission..
From what I understand it is indeed a harpin protein.. what this is about is in plants..they naturally make a harpin protein.. increased levels are made by the plant when the plant thinks it is under attack from desese.. or outside attack..fungus.. or insects perhaps.. you've heard of a plants natural defences... the awareness of the need for these spurs the plant to make more of this.....this protein strengthens the plant.. and spurs it to progress right away with it's biological goals..more leaves perhaps... flowering for sure steam development.. to support the new leaves...oh.. underattack... get that fruit ripenng.. so it's use is great to get to see flowers.. and makeing healthy plants..over all...
The Cornell scientist which figured this out died a few weeks ago.. what a gift...along with his countless new rice types..
so it's compleatly safe for every part of the environment.. human consumption.. bees birds... as it's in plants anyway .. gets plants kicked in to gear with fewer ferts.. that was the point of the cotton report.. fewer ferts.. increased insect resistance...
Spray - n-Grow is another addative ( Spray ).. I've used and have recomended for the past 25 years..( Unscientifically ) it works by getting the plants to concentrate on flowering... right away.. they awake in the morning.... and think... God.. yes.. I've got to start flowering.. right..away.. you're right ... Ya.. big ones.. I'm on it....
Gordon

Gordon,
How old of a plant can we start spraying, could we with seedlings with just a couple of leaves? I'd like to start using it too. Thank you for explaining it the way you did..

A.

That's incredible Gordon! I bet you are the envy of your neighbors!

X

Fascinating! Thanks GordonHawk!

I found this informative website review of this product:
http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/gr/Messenger.htm

Gourd... the seed treatment is effective and not harmful... for seeds..Personally, I'd await a plant being big enough for ferts.. like the first few leaves.. for me.. Messenger makes a plant work faster... so I'd not want to tax something real tiny..
Xeramtheum... Well I imagine I am... but since no one is in a building higher here...so few ever can see it... cept for invitees...and my friends here... Thanks..
Becky... nice site.. thanks...I do differ slightly in my thought of it.. from the author.. I think the protein is the defence spur.. it doesn't trick the plant.. other than have it think because of the increase in the defence protein it should work stronger.. it always does that...on it's own.. as the responce to the attack which is when it makes the increased protein naturally. ...
yes.. I spray every few weeks... alternating with the SNG..the link suggests as CON:
My thought about it... Is if you sit inside the house and imagine how wonderful everything in the garden looks.. you can go out and find it actually does.. Good idea...I'll use it to spray everything inside today
Gordon

speaking of addatives.. has anyone aside from top.. used this one
http://www.toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/cultivation/epin.htm
I know.. yet another too good to believe addative.. now I'll have three of them..
Gordon

hmmmmmmmm~i think i am ervous about this one. Something left over from Chernyobyl? i know i spelled that wrong, and its actually in the Ukraine, but i see russia, i think radioactive & mutations...which are not always bad in plants obviously~but, i dunno~
fernman23

I sprayed every seedling here this morning... they all have at least 3 leaves or more.. It's been a few hours and they still look good.

I add so much to my fertilizers when everything is about 2 months old, I feed them anything from bloombooster to MG, to my hokus pokus mix, (that is what my DH called it)..

Gordon that is a GREAT picture, i cannot wait now!!!! ...I am gonna try the messenger on my Rosemary hedge, whichalways gets soe punky fungus that is white each summer. I always used Schultz 3 in 1, maybe this'll "beet" the whatever it is to the punch....i just checked on all my seedlings and all look happy :)
fernman23

Thanks fernman.. OH.. I think I'd spray some with something for the fungus if that plant is prone to getting it there...something like funginex (sp) before... it prevents fungus.. but after the plant/leaf gets it.. it's of no good..it has to be before.. then the messenger can improve it from there.. I hadd a reocouring bout on my honeysuckle. and with the fungicide early applied it kept it away..come to find out there is a particular fungus called honeysuckle fungus for them...
Gordon

ooooh, Honeysuckle fungus. ICK i have four of those halls var. and i am in a DRY climate so i get lucky. The white stuff shows up mid-to-late summer, so a trial on one this year AND REGULAR FUNGICIDE on the other. They just get a lot of shade in the afternoon & i think they dislike that (the Rosemarys). Good luck w/ your honeysuckles, they bring so many butterflies and hummers here its great~i am gonna use it on a variety of things and let you know wassup.
fernman23