Has anyone tried Potassium Nitrate "Boosters" for Hibiscus?

I was checking out some products online to try to help my hibiscus bloom more and I'd love to know from a disinterested party if these things really work. If so, I don't mind spending a little. But I'd hate to waste money on the experiment. The ones I am referring to are

(1) the HVH Hibiscus Booster http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/booster.htm

Hibiscus Booster technical data:
· Potassium Nitrate - KNO3
· Chloride Free
· NPK formula: 13.5-0-46.2
· 13.5 percent Nitrate Nitrogen (N)
· 0 percent Phosphorus
· 46.2 percent Potassium Oxide (K2O) ­ supplies 38.4 percent elemental K (potassium)
· Manufactured in Israel as a greenhouse quality chemical

AND

(2) Growth Enhancer Super Nova http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/growthenhancer.htm

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: 1-1-1
Total Nitrogen ... 1%
Available Phosphate P205 ... 1%
Soluble Potassium K2O ... 1%
Derived from: Ascophyllum Nodosom

And one more question. If the growth enhancer NPK formula is 1-1-1, isn't that the same as 13-13-13 which is a standard flowering plant fertilizer? Since the numbers represent percentages, doesn't that make 1-1-1 and 2-2-2 and 3-3-3 comparable and then quantity is the measuure we should change depending on the plant? Just wondering. I'm a total newbie to plants and don't know what is what yet. Thanks for any help!

The SuperNova isn't a fertilizer--it has vitamins, amino acids, hormones, etc in it. The N/P/K content is listed because there is some N/P/K that comes along coincidentally as part of the other ingredients, but it's not intended as a fertilizer and by the time you dilute it according to their instructions, the amount of N/P/K that the plant is getting is very minimal and would not in any way take the place of fertilizing.

Ditto, and to add.... You are correct in that the NPK numbers are percentages and the amount (and/or frequency of application) is what you would change depending on the plant. That is pretty good for a newbie!

Floridagirl,

I've been offline for quite a while, but I grow tropical hibiscus (a few - or maybe a couple hundred) here in Southern California. During spring/summer/fall, I religiously (at least try to) use both the HVH Bloom Booster and the HVH fertilizer - I use them together every other week, and have had fantastic results - as a matter of fact, I swear by them and don't use any other brand.

Good luck,

amarantha

Thanks everyone. This all makes sense. I'll give the HVH products a shot and see what happens!

When you say you do it "religiously", are you using my method? I do it, then start praying it will work...

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 4:01 PM

LOL