It is an excellent product but for anybody to say it is THE only thing that will work, nah. I have big problems with declararations about the only product, the only soil mix, the only location. A gardener has options. HST, I favor superthrive when it comes to house plants.

It isnot necessary. As long as you provide the right nutrients, conditions, and light, your plants will thrive without it. Used to soak my cuttings in superthrive and water when they arrived in the mail. Now, it is just water and a tiny bit of sugar (like 1/4 c to 10-40 gallons of water, depending on what bucket I use) and about 2 tbsp. of FoliagePro. I even (gasp!) soak them in plain water. I have not noticed a difference in vigor, either way I do it.

Thanks guys. And I have also added stuff to my new arrival soaks, sugar and/or tappin roots. Have not noticed a difference either.

Thanks for the input, think I will stick with where I am at.

I tried a bottle a few years ago & found it did nothing for my plants. Whereas Eleanor's VF -11 makes quite a noticeable difference, either watered in OR as a foliar feed.

I wouldn't waste my money on Superthrive (or Superjive as Al Tapla calls it).

I'd rather spend my money on the plants. My 2 cents (& I've been growing Hoyas & on here since this Forum began).

Lena

Just stumbled on this thread via Google while searching for one of my other posts. I know the thread is old, but here's an article I wrote. It was published in Stemma, a now defunct online journal about Hoyas, in case you have interest.

Superthrive or Superjive?

The question regarding the value of Superthrive as a miracle tonic for plants is often bandied about in horticultural circles. Over the years, I had read claims that ranged from, “I put it on my plant, which had never bloomed, and it was in full bloom the next day.” to, “It was dead - I put Superthrive on it and the next day it was alive and beautiful, growing better than it ever had before.” I decided to find out for myself.

If you look for information on the net, you will probably only find the manufacturer’s claims and anecdotal observations, both so in want of anything that resembles a control. Though my experiments were far from purely scientific, I tried to keep some loose controls in place so that I could make a fair judgment of its value, based my own observations. Here is what I did, what I found, and the conclusions I made about any value the product Superthrive might hold for me.

On four separate occasions, I took multiple cuttings of plants in four different genera. In each case the group of cuttings were taken from the same individual plant to reduce genetic variance. The plant materials I used were: Ficus benjamina, (a tropical weeping fig) Luna apiculata (Peruvian myrtle), Chaenorrhinum minus (a dwarf snapdragon), and an unknown variety of Coleus. In each instance, I prepared cuttings from the same plant and inserted them in a very fast, sterile soil. The containers containing half of the cuttings were immersed/soaked in a Superthrive solution of approximately 1/2 tsp per gallon of water to the upper soil line. The other half of the cuttings were watered in with water only. In subsequent waterings, I would water the “Superthrive batch” of cuttings with a solution of 10 drops per gallon and the others with only water. The same fertilizer regimen was followed on both groups of cuttings. In all four instances, the cuttings that I used Superthrive on rooted and showed new growth first. For this reason, it follows that they would naturally exhibit better development, though I could see no difference in overall vitality, once rooted. I can also say that a slightly higher percentage of cuttings rooted that were treated with the Superthrive treatment at the outset. I suspect that is directly related to the effects of the auxin in Superthrive hastening initiation of root primordia before potential vascular connections were destroyed by rot causing organisms.

In particular, something I looked for because of my affinity for a compact form in plants was branch (stem) extension. (The writer is a bonsai practitioner.) Though the cuttings treated with Superthrive rooted sooner, they exhibited the same amount of branch extension. In other words, internode length was approximately equal and no difference in leaf size was noted.

As a second part to each of my “experiments”, I divided the group of cuttings that had not been treated with Superthrive into two groups. One of the groups remained on the water/fertilizer only program, while the other group was treated to an additional 10 drops of Superthrive in each gallon of fertilizer solution. Again, the fertilizer regimen was the same for both groups. By summer’s end, I could detect no difference in bio-mass or vitality between the two groups of plants.

Since I replicated the above experiment in four different trials, using four different plant materials, I am quite comfortable in drawing some conclusions as they apply to me and my growing habits or abilities. First, and based on my observations, I have concluded that Superthrive does hold value for me as a rooting aid, or stimulant if you prefer. I regularly soak the soil, usually overnight, of my newly root-pruned and often bare-rooted repots in a solution of 1/2 tsp Superthrive per gallon of water. Second, and also based on my observations, I no longer bother with its use at any time other than at repotting. No evidence was accumulated through the 4 trials to convince me that Superthrive was of any value as a “tonic” for plants with roots that were beyond the initiation or recovery stage.

Interestingly, the first ingredient listed as being beneficial to plants on the Superthrive label is vitamin B-1 (or thiamine). Growing plants are able to synthesize their own vitamin B-1 as do many of the fungi and bacteria having relationships with plant roots, so it's extremely doubtful that vitamin B-1 could be deficient in soils or that a growing plant could exhibit a vitamin B-1 deficiency.

Some will note that I used more of the product than suggested on the container. I wanted to see if any unwanted effects surfaced as well as trying to be sure there was ample opportunity for clear delineation between the groups. I suspect that if a more dilute solution was used, the difference between groups would have been even less clear.

It might be worth noting that since the product contains the growth regulator (hormone) auxin, its overuse can cause defoliation, at least in dicots. The broad-leaf weed killer Weed-B-Gone and the infamous “Agent Orange“, a defoliant that saw widespread use in Viet Nam, are little more than synthetic auxin.

Al

Great article. Scientific.

You know this is a byproduct from a vitamin manufacturing company?

I college (many, many decades ago) a professor went into great depth to show us how it was physiologically impossible for plants to uptake vitamin molecules. He also showed us how plant hormones worked. Remember, Superthrive does not contain plant hormones.

So I have always held this in the ”snake oil” category of products to myself. I did sell it, but was honest when a customer ask what I thought of it.

The active ingredients in Superthrive are vitamin B1 (its beneficence to plants very questionable) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), the NAA being one of the synthetic forms of the growth regulator/hormone auxin. NAA is very commonly called and used as a root-stimulating hormone.

Al

“The active ingredients in Superthrive are … and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), …”

Where is this information coming from? Usually a product with NAA needs to have an EPA registration and I could not find one for the flagship product, only ones for the root gel and KLN. Maybe if you have some you could post the number.

Info widely available via a net search and on the product label.

Al

EPA number ?

Sorry - while I realize you're just trying to save face after getting too far out over your skis again, I'm not feeling in any way obligated to do your research for you.

Al

I know even smart people sometimes get caught talking through their hat.

There is no NAA in Superthrive. Like I said, I have sold it for years. The label has no EPA number; it doesn’t need one.

Now, in 2013 the company partnered with Dyna-Gro to label two Dyna-Grow products as Superthrive products; these are KLN Rootng Concentrate and Root-Gel, both contain NAA and are EPA registered. As of 2022 both companies are owned by the same conglomerate. All the former Dyna-Gro products have been rebranded.

I called both companies today to confirm the above statements.

I sold vegetables when I was a kid, but that didn't make me a chef. I sold cars as a young man, but I'm not a mechanic. That you sold Superthrive doesn't make you an expert, and one needn't be an experts to figure out what's in the stuff. I'm not sure I believe you called anyone, BTW.

Click link and scroll down to "Features and Specs" to see the ingredients contained in ST HERE.

It reads - Active ingredients: Total Nitrogen 0.5% ...Water Soluble Nitrogen 0.4% ...Water Insoluble Nitrogen 0.1% Vitamin B-1 0.09% 1-Naphthyl Acetic Acid 0.048%].

Note it clearly shows 1-NAA content of 0.048%. Then, READ THE ACTUAL PRODUCT LABEL, which also confirms the site's boilerplate with ingredients, direct from Vitamin Institute.

EPA classifies 1-NAA as a pesticide, which is why some states ban use of Superthrive ..... due to the fact it contains an unregistered pesticide, per EPA.

Al

Superthrive beyond worth it, I'm a landscaper with 30+ years in the business. I first started using superthrive in the beginning trying to prove them wrong when they guaranteed results or they would pay $5000 if it didn't work. Never succeeded tried it on lifeless 2yr old mesquite tree with only 20% life roots only rest firewood, soaked every other day first month using superthrive then once weekly thereafter 3 months later revived new life actually grew 2yrs growth in first year, revived shrubs, vines, blooms all from dead twigs literally to massive beautiful plants nicer than nursery grown. Never got to that 5k but made plenty more by reviving more beautiful plants than before and selling them instead of buying, will always continue to use and know there's nothing like it's wonders not back then ,not now it's a cash cow in plants and profits. SUPERTHRIVE 💯

FWIW, I'm not the only person who thinks ST is based on hype.

The following is by Professor Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD, who is widely known for debunking of horticultural myths.

The following is by Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD, who is widely known for her debunking of horticultural myths.

"Superthrive and similar claims about products that tout the value of vitamin B-1 and or synthetic auxins as "tonics" that have value when used on a regular basis.

Applying vitamin B-1, or thiamine, to root systems of whole plants does not stimulate root growth. This is a myth that refuses to die, though it has been repeatedly refuted in the scientific literature. To understand why, it helps to think about this in a historical perspective.

Many decades ago the plant growth regulators called auxins were isolated and characterized. Auxins were found to stimulate cell elongation in both root and shoot tissues. Commercial preparations were developed that contained auxin and vitamin B-1 among other ingredients. Research in 1949 found improved root development in plants treated with one of these preparations (Transplantone, which contains both auxin and thiamine), but noted the importance of auxins in this response. Further research throughout the last half of the 20th century investigating the application of auxins to root systems suggested that auxins may stimulate root growth, but that vitamin B-1 on its own does not.

Indole butyric acid (IBA) is one of the most common auxin formulations especially in tissue culture. In cuttings, it has been found to increase the number of roots, to increase rooting percentage, to increase both parameters, or to do neither. IBA has had some success in root regeneration in transplanted trees; it may help redirect resources to the roots by suppressing crown growth.

Naphthylacetic acid (NAA) is also a commonly used auxin and often the active ingredient in commercial preparations. NAA tends to be toxic to seedling root development, as it inhibits primary root growth and enhances lateral root growth. This latter activity may account for NAA’s success in regenerating roots of transplanted and root-pruned trees. Like IBA, NAA apparently suppresses crown growth, which also may redirect resources to the roots.

Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) is an important component of tissue culture media, in which isolated plant tissues can be propagated. Its use for stimulating root growth in whole plants is not supported in the literature and one study reported that root growth was greater in the control treatment (water) than with thiamine. Plants in the field manufacture their own source of thiamine and it is therefore unnecessary to add any additional levels. Many fungi and bacteria associated with plant roots also produce thiamine, so it’s likely that healthy soils will contain adequate levels of this vitamin without amendment.

The Bottom Line

• Vitamin B-1, aka thiamine, does not reduce transplant shock or stimulate new root growth on plants outside the laboratory.
• A nitrogen fertilizer is adequate for transplanting landscape plants; avoid use of “transplant fertilizers” that contain phosphate.
• Healthy plants will synthesize their own thiamine supply.
• Healthy soils contain beneficial microbes that synthesize thiamine as well.
• Difficult-to-transplant species may be aided by application of auxin-containing products in addition to nitrogen, but read the label and don’t add unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals (this includes organics!).
• Adequate soil moisture is crucial for new root growth; be sure to irrigate new transplants frequently and use mulch to reduce evaporation"

Link to her comments re ST

Also: https://gardenprofessors.com/thieves-purr/

Al