Seaweed fertilizer

[John in Andalucia]

I'm ready this year with a good supply of soluble seaweed fertilizer, purchased online from the UK. The majority of my seedlings have between 3 and 6 leaves now, so I want to feed them up as much as possible, and regularly. Can someone give me advice on how often to use seaweed fertilizer? I had it in mind to start bottom watering once a week starting next week, and a foliar spray, maybe half strength, every other day when the nights start warming up. Does that sound excessive? Would a foliar application in the mornings, starting now, be a better way to start, and root feed nearer to summer? My palms are going to love this stuff, I'm sure.

[Tyrone]

Seaweed fert does not have high NPK or strong salts, so burning the plant is not really the issue. What seaweed has is helpful plant growth hormones, organic compounds and trace elements that are plant available. You can use slow release fertiliser and seaweed and fish emulsions in unison. I find dramatic root growth with seaweed emulsions. Watering the soil in every few days with a weak solution will definitely result in strong plants. I personally don't believe that foliar applications of anything work, unless it soaks into the root zone. However I am able to be convinced otherwise if someone explains how foliar feeds actually work.

I did an experiment once with seedlings of Chamaedorea tepejilote. I used two sets of com pots. One was a pot with added heat at approx 30C, the other was an unheated pot but with a fish seaweed application added every now and again. The unheated pot probably sat between 22-24C. When I potted them up, the unheated seaweed and fish emulsion seedlings had around 3 times the root growth of the heated untreated seedlings, without any exaggeration. I was astounded. So I swear by fish and seaweed emulsions.

Hope this helps.

Best regards

Tyrone

[peachy]

I never plant or repot anything unless I give it a good dose of seaweed solution immediately afterward. In autumn I spray the delicate things weekly with it as its supposed to aid frost resistance. As a fertiliser on its own, it's not all that marvellous. I had it explained to me this way.....regular nitrogenous fertilisers are food for plants. Seaweed solution provides the vitamins !! My plants get both of course, food and vitamins. I also use it on small seedlings too. Doesn't burn and seems to give them a little boost.

Peachy

[Kris]

Dear John

Even i use seaweed based fertz heavily on our plants here,they work like magic when used with bone meal as top soil dressing.Since the one i use is granules based type.And easily avaliable in all fertilizer shop.

Here are few stills of that product !

. . .

Love,

kris

[joe_OC]

I am with Tyrone on this... I use a combination of cold pressed fish emulsion with seaweed extract. All my plants love it and I don't get any burn.

[MattyB]

I feed my plants sushi.

[John in Andalucia]

I need to find out about fish emulsion in Spain. Presumably it's a soluble powder, same as the seaweed fertilizer I've just purchased. Then you can blend the two 50/50? With the bigger seedlings; I have Chambeyronias at about 6th leaf stage, and Bizzies on 3rd and 4th strap leaves, I can also use NPK pellets at intervals with weekly doses of fish & seaweed solution?

[Bennz]

I personally don't believe that foliar applications of anything work, unless it soaks into the root zone. However I am able to be convinced otherwise if someone explains how foliar feeds actually work.

Hi Tyrone,

I suggest you apply roundup to the leaves, taking care not to get any on the roots. They should be fine!

[LJG]

John,

Kelp/seaweed regiments is an ancient Chinese secret. It truly does work magic. I have been using it for eons and eons. For as long as I have been growing palms (5 years ). I supplement my watering by going one watering with Kelp/seaweed, then one without in summer. Plants are a much richer green using seaweed. I do 1/2 dose foliar sprays once a month even though not sure how the plant uses it either. My Google machine is down so I did not research it either.

I use to use fish emulsions also but a knowledgeable (or at least I think) person told me it is a waste in pots since the organics in the pot are not high enough to break down the fish emulsions into useful elements. I would love to find out the facts there. I know my wife use to hate the smell of the greenhouse after watering with fish emulsions. My joke was to bring her in and shut the door behind and "show her a REALLY cool plant". Of course I could not find this plant and eventually she would ask what smelt (pun intended) really bad. Then I would laugh.

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks Len, maybe I'll just stick with the seaweed for now. My neighbour keeps a pile of chicken manure near to my greenhouse. That's something else in June!

[fan palm]

I know my wife use to hate the smell of the greenhouse after watering with fish emulsions. My joke was to bring her in and shut the door behind and "show her a REALLY cool plant". Of course I could not find this plant and eventually she would ask what smelt (pun intended) really bad. Then I would laugh.

love your style len.

I remember my old boss did an experiement with Seasol (readily available seaweed conditioner in liquid form) on petunias and the plant that recieved the seaweed was much greener, had twice as many flowers and much more branching, so that sold me on the use of seaweed conditioners

[Rafael]

Thanks Len, maybe I'll just stick with the seaweed for now. My neighbour keeps a pile of chicken manure near to my greenhouse. That's something else in June!

Hi John, could you tell me where online did you get that seaweed? Thanks

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks Len, maybe I'll just stick with the seaweed for now. My neighbour keeps a pile of chicken manure near to my greenhouse. That's something else in June!

Hi John, could you tell me where online did you get that seaweed? Thanks

Here's the link, Rafael: http://www.travena.co.uk/alga600.asp

If you buy the 3 for 2 you also get free shipping, so you save the equivalent of about 33 EUR. A really good deal.

[Rafael]

Thanks Len, maybe I'll just stick with the seaweed for now. My neighbour keeps a pile of chicken manure near to my greenhouse. That's something else in June!

Hi John, could you tell me where online did you get that seaweed? Thanks

Here's the link, Rafael: http://www.travena.co.uk/alga600.asp

If you buy the 3 for 2 you also get free shipping, so you save the equivalent of about 33 EUR. A really good deal.

Good deal no doubt.

I was already thinking and looking for it...Now i will!

Thanks a lot, and hope it works!

Edited March 25, 2010 by rafael

[merrill]

There is pretty wide agreement that there are some differences in availability of different forms of nitrogen. Nitrate is believed to be more available to plants than ammonium for example.

Best Wishes,

merrill

Edited March 25, 2010 by merrill

[Tyrone]

I personally don't believe that foliar applications of anything work, unless it soaks into the root zone. However I am able to be convinced otherwise if someone explains how foliar feeds actually work.

Hi Tyrone,

I suggest you apply roundup to the leaves, taking care not to get any on the roots. They should be fine!

Yes, but how does it get into the plant, through the stomata or by some other function. Stomata are generally on the underneath of the leaf surface, so technically when using roundup it's not getting through the stomata. Can you compare roundup to fertiliser in it's ability to get into the plant? I don't know. My thoughts with foliar feed is that the stomata are so small and underneath the leaf, so for foliar feeding to work, it has to be absorbed some other way, not through open stomata. Yet, most will talk about the stomata having to be open. I don't think it's physically possible, but I'm yet to be convinced if someone can explain it to me.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Bennz]

I personally don't believe that foliar applications of anything work, unless it soaks into the root zone. However I am able to be convinced otherwise if someone explains how foliar feeds actually work.

Hi Tyrone,

I suggest you apply roundup to the leaves, taking care not to get any on the roots. They should be fine!

Yes, but how does it get into the plant, through the stomata or by some other function. Stomata are generally on the underneath of the leaf surface, so technically when using roundup it's not getting through the stomata. Can you compare roundup to fertiliser in it's ability to get into the plant? I don't know. My thoughts with foliar feed is that the stomata are so small and underneath the leaf, so for foliar feeding to work, it has to be absorbed some other way, not through open stomata. Yet, most will talk about the stomata having to be open. I don't think it's physically possible, but I'm yet to be convinced if someone can explain it to me.

Best regards

Tyrone

Hi Tyrone,

I do apologise about that. I don't know how it works either. But it does, roundup does kill the plant by foliar application, and people who experience severe deficiencies in their crops have found a much faster fix by foliar applications than through roots. I've seen a banana plantation in NSW turn from yellow to green within 24hrs of foliar CAN application. True most people tend to think foliar application is less efficient overall (and certainly more expensive), but it clearly does work.

[happ]

I feed my plants sushi.

smarty pants!

[Tyrone]

I personally don't believe that foliar applications of anything work, unless it soaks into the root zone. However I am able to be convinced otherwise if someone explains how foliar feeds actually work.

Hi Tyrone,

I suggest you apply roundup to the leaves, taking care not to get any on the roots. They should be fine!

Yes, but how does it get into the plant, through the stomata or by some other function. Stomata are generally on the underneath of the leaf surface, so technically when using roundup it's not getting through the stomata. Can you compare roundup to fertiliser in it's ability to get into the plant? I don't know. My thoughts with foliar feed is that the stomata are so small and underneath the leaf, so for foliar feeding to work, it has to be absorbed some other way, not through open stomata. Yet, most will talk about the stomata having to be open. I don't think it's physically possible, but I'm yet to be convinced if someone can explain it to me.

Best regards

Tyrone

Hi Tyrone,

I do apologise about that. I don't know how it works either. But it does, roundup does kill the plant by foliar application, and people who experience severe deficiencies in their crops have found a much faster fix by foliar applications than through roots. I've seen a banana plantation in NSW turn from yellow to green within 24hrs of foliar CAN application. True most people tend to think foliar application is less efficient overall (and certainly more expensive), but it clearly does work.

No worries Ben. I thought the same about Roundup being absorbed through the leaves, but what I've been formally taught is that the only opening in a leaf is the stomata which can open and shut depending on the environment. However I've just been reading on the internet about leaves being able to absorb nutrients through the epidermis (skin) which is all over the leaf, top and bottom. I didn't fully understand it, but there are microscopic breaks in the epidermis which through osmosis can absorb nutrients, allbeit in very small amounts. However waxy leaves may absorb nothing, and succulents which are shut down all day, with very skins may not benefit either. So folair feeds are probably good for our soft leafed tropical plants. Experiments in the 1950's with radioactive isotopes showed that plants will absorb all nutrients through all leaf and stem tissue including bark. What's more, when a leaf absorbs nutrients, it goes into hyper drive (like steroids) and speeds the metabolism up, which increases transpiration and the drawup of nutrients from the soil. So I think I'm a beleiver again. However by the looks of it, you don't need to put much foliar feed on to get results. Maybe a misting of fine film onto the leaf at regular intervals will save fertiliser and money. Also the general concensus is that foliar feeds don't replace soil feedings, they just enhance them. They are also very handy when soil pH is all wrong and cause nutrient lockups. I'll go back to foliar applications now.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Wanderanwills]

The form of nitrogen in your fertilizer is very important, Ammonium (NH4)is not able to be be used by your plants, it needs to be broken down to Nitrite (NO2) and then Nitrate (NO3), in the nitrate form the plant can easily take it up. What you have got to remember is the size of the elements that your dealing with, we are talking down to the atomic size (atoms and molecules), so it will absorb into the leaves. Just like pesticide can absorb into your skin.

Natural type fertilizers are always good to add to your fertilizing regime as they add vitamins, minerals and the normal fertilizer elements. Foliar feeding is very quick reacting but you can over do it. Balance it with a slow release fertilizer at the base of your plants.

Hope this helps

Regards

Wanderanwills

[Wanderanwills]

In regards to pH and nutrient lock up from a the post before me, yes it will bi-pass the the lockup but it is better if you adjust your pH in the soil. Handreck and Black have a excellent book on growing media (Growing media for ornamental plants and turf) that shows a graph with a pH scale and which elements are available at what pH. Good to know if you have been having nutrient deficiencies.

Regards

Wanderanwills

[Walter John]

I used Powerfeed (Fish) as a foliar add with all my new plantings here. Also in the soil. I have combined seasol (Seaweed) with it as Troy from Tas has done. I don't make a study of this , I don't compare other methods of fertiliser, I just do it, Nike. I have sandy soil so I use Powerfeed. I also have sheep manure on top of the soil under the mulch and tomorrow I'm considering adding horse/cow manure on top of the existing mulch then add more mulch on top.

Seaweed and fish products work well on palms, sushi would work , with some trace elements of Koi and as long as you remove the wasabi first.

Johnny Swamp is a legend ! Oi !

[Tyrone]

In regards to pH and nutrient lock up from a the post before me, yes it will bi-pass the the lockup but it is better if you adjust your pH in the soil. Handreck and Black have a excellent book on growing media (Growing media for ornamental plants and turf) that shows a graph with a pH scale and which elements are available at what pH. Good to know if you have been having nutrient deficiencies.

Regards

Wanderanwills

I have that book and Soils Down Under from him as well.

[Rafael]

I'm ready this year with a good supply of soluble seaweed fertilizer, purchased online from the UK. The majority of my seedlings have between 3 and 6 leaves now, so I want to feed them up as much as possible, and regularly. Can someone give me advice on how often to use seaweed fertilizer? I had it in mind to start bottom watering once a week starting next week, and a foliar spray, maybe half strength, every other day when the nights start warming up. Does that sound excessive? Would a foliar application in the mornings, starting now, be a better way to start, and root feed nearer to summer? My palms are going to love this stuff, I'm sure.

John, will you apply it directly on the ground, root drenching?

I already got this product, but have my doubts about if it is advised, beyond foliar aplication, to water down the plant with it.

[John in Andalucia]

John, will you apply it directly on the ground, root drenching?

I already got this product, but have my doubts about if it is advised, beyond foliar application, to water down the plant with it.

Rafael - from reading the data, Alga 600 is marketed for intensive crop spraying, on the basis that "foliar feeding can be 8-10 times more effective than soil feeding". In that respect, it's quicker, cheaper and more effective than correcting the soil. It also contains antitoxins which as the data sheet says, "fends off bacteria, viruses and repels insects". That's especially useful for greenhouse growers. As for soil treatment, all my plants are seedlings in pots, so watering through once a week should stimulate the roots, and hopefully strengthen the soil too. The web page for Alga 600 mentions using it as a soil feed..

[Rafael]

Thanks a lot John, and hope lots of palm growing!