I use it if I remember to...lol! I have no documentation though that it really works or helps the plants.

I have a German hippie friend who just emailed me asking me if I use "Auxin" in my hippies. He does and said that they have improved the growth of his seedlings specially. I just don't know if the ingredient of Auxin is the same as Superthrive. I am soooo bad with Chemistry. Maybe sombody is good with it and let us know if Superthrive and Auxin are the same. Here is a link he sent to me about Auxin. I tried reading it. I got lost. :-O

Here is a link that might be useful: Auxin Info

I use Superthrive on a semi-regular basis... if I'm correct, it provides some micro-nutrients, or vitamins and hormones that might not be found in regular plant fertilizers that we use. I normally add a few drops to my watering can, or about a quarter teaspoon, or so, to a gallon of fertilizer water.

I have not done any experimenting to see if there's a marked difference in growth when it's used, but I do think it adds a little "oomph" to the growth of most plants I'm using it on. Since I'm not using it on a solid schedule or at full recommended strength, I don't think it's making a huge difference, but I think if I did use it as the label directs, I would definitely see a difference in growth.

If I think about it, I'll do an experiment next spring when I plant seeds. I'll use it full strength on one seedling, and grow another next to it, in a separate pot, without using Superthrive. We'll know for certain, then, whether or not it's a good product.

I do believe it helps, though... so, Ill continue to add it to my watering routine.

I forgot to say that I do put in a few drops of Superthrive in the water that I use to soak the roots of newly purchased bulbs before I plant them. If it really works? I don't know. I only hope so.

It will be interesting to see if there is in fact a difference. I figured I'd give it a try anyway.

As for auxin-- that's interesting! What form does it come in?

Auxin would be a useful tool in helping your plants-- but I imagine one must be careful with it. It is a hormone, and the whole idea behind hormones is what is known as the cascade effect. Granted, my bio degree is in human biology-- but the general idea is the same in all living things. When a hormone is released, usually by a stage of development or cycles, very little is needed as the receptors of that hormone will in turn causes two other receptors to activate and so on...very powerful!

Auxin is also used in produce...often, warehouses will hold unripe produce and will "gas" the produce with auxin until that fruit is needing in the stores-- and the ripening occurs enroute or in the store. Pretty smart actually, because the fruit is often able to hold its nutrients longer-- and look better-- when on the shelves in the stores. Auxin

Check it out.

Ryan

Hi Ryan,

I use Superthrive regularly.

Cheers,

Blanca

Blanca...great! So what are your thoughts on it- do you swear by it, or use it just in case? I'm trying to see the general consensus.

Ryan

Ryan,

Many years ago, I started using Superthrive on my cacti and succulent collection. The results were pretty amazing, so I have continued to add it to the water I give to everything I grow.

The important caveat is that I have never grown Hippeastrum bulbs without first rehydrating their roots with a solution containing Superthrive prior to planting and subsequently adding Superthrive to the water they routinely receive during active growth. This means that I cannot say what would have happened without the product. Therefore, my results are merely anecdotal and have absolutely no scientific validity.

A scientific experiment should be done, but I am unwilling to deprive any of my precious babies by randomly assigning them to the control group that receives no Superthrive.

Best,

Blanca

I'm very leery of products that contain anything which have had hormones used in their growth process. Case in point: Larry and I are veteran dog breeders, and we're very careful of the nutrition our dogs receive. We make our own feed, actually.

My Olde Bulldogge, Maia, has been fed our natural feed since she was conceived; her mother was fed our feed exclusively before and during her pregnancy and subsequent lactation. Maia's body is toxin-free, and free of any preservatives or growth hormones or any other chemical used in the manufacture of commercial pet feeds.

Several months ago, we ran out of a couple of ingredients needed to mix our home made feed, so I was forced to feed Maia commercial kibble for about 3 or 4 days... I noticed that her mammary glands swelled up, and most unevenly... a few on her left side, one or two on her right... and her energy level and attitude underwent small changes, as did her digestion, which I expected. She acted nervous, and just wasn't her usual self.

I immediately stopped feeding her the kibble, and we got in the necessary ingredients to mix our own feed, which she was put back on. Within a few days, her mammary glands were back to normal, which is flat and tight against her body, since she has never given birth or had reason to use them.

The mammary gland swelling freaked me out! She's a very young dog, and has only gone through one heat cycle! There's no other explanation that we can find, other than the meat products in the kibble, which I would bet contain growth hormones, and since she was not used to ingesting the chemicals contained in the kibble, her body reacted.

When commercial pet feeds are made, the ingredients can be anything. There's no real government regulation on pet feeds, so everything gets ground up together, and it's termed "meat by-product". This can mean animals that died with any type of drug or medication in their systems, including (but not limited to) antibiotics, growth hormones, drugs used to euthanize, etc... and then there are the fillers and preservatives... BHT, ethoxyquin, beet pulp, and in some rare cases, sawdust. I won't even go further! The crude protein mentioned on the label does not specify the actual source, so there's no way to tell what what used.

Getting back to plants... I definitely think growth hormones can help boost plant growth. While I prefer to garden naturally, using composted manures and manure teas, I think adding vitamins and hormones in small amounts to potted plants can be beneficial.

I haven't thoroughly read the label on the Superthrive bottle, but I do know it contains vitamins and hormones. I'd like to do an experiment with a control plant and a Superthrive fed plant, but I don't have any seedlings I could use at the moment. I can, however, plant a few wayward hipeastrum seeds that I have leftover from this past season... it might be fun and interesting to see if this stuff really works!

What I can say for certain is that feeding my dogs a natural diet, free from any chemicals or fillers, makes a marked difference in growth, health, and even in personality/attitude/behavior... I'm willing to bet that it plays a role in longevity, as well.

About cuttings in the fig forum, but interesting nevertheless - some valid points about Superthrive:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg031955499481.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Superthrive discussion

Thanks Anna...that was very helpful and interesting!

Super thrive is a great product. I use it on roses ,amyrillis, anything
It helped iris, and roses to thrive around dozens of gophers! Felicia B.

SuperThrive survives because no one can prove yea or nay whether the stuff really works.

I'm not exaggerating here -- I've used gallons of the stuff over the past 30 years. My conclusion is that ST seems to revive plants that are stressed. If your plant is healthy, ST won't have any effect.

I used it as a regular drench on newly planted large trees as a tonic to reduce stress on the relocated mature trees. I also used it as part of a treatment for old shrubs which I did not want to replace. Many of the trees and shrubs were planted in soil which had been disturbed, moved and reshaped. Mature plants which have been dug and relocated undergo a lot of root stress.

Still, I question whether the ST was helpful. I used the ST, as well as seaweed, microrhyzi, and fish emulsion.