I have gathered that there are a fair number of folks in this forum that purchase flasks of plants, so I want to post this offer. First some background:
First Rays is about to become the sole US retail outlet for an OMRI-listed biological solution that acts as a "plant probiotic". (I actually have stock, but we're in the middle of finalizing the agreement with the Canadian manufacturer.) It's called Garden Solution, made by Inocucor in Canada.
Most of the work with it (McGill & Clemson Universities, hydroponic food operations in Ontario, and some farms in SC) have been done on food crops, where it has shown to increase seed germination rates and increase yields in stuff like rice, leafy greens, strawberries, broccoli, corn, etc.
As far as orchids are concerned, when applied to ex-flask seedlings, it has shown a marked improvement in survival and growth rate, essentially eliminating any damping-off. Holger Pernar has used the stuff to greatly enhance the survival of Paph. tigrinum, which is basically extinct in China, and known to be particularly hard to culture. Another of my customers said he has had very high survival rates on Paph leucochilum seedlings, and when he opened a newer flask of them, but ran out of the sample I had sent, said the losses were pretty high. I have used it on phal flasks, and have only lost one plant out of about 100 or so.
When applied to more mature plants, it enhances their innate resistance to pathogens, and does stimulate both root- and plant growth. It's not as obvious an effect as the rot prevention in tender seedlings, but it's still noticeable in the long run. Pot growers have commented that they see reduced internode spacing, so get stockier, bushier plants.
So, if you are deflasking plants pretty routinely, or are currently fighting a fungal issue, and would like to try the material, please send me an email ([email protected]) with full name and address, and I will send you a 500 ml bottle (typical usage is 1:100; can be used at 1:50) at no charge. All I ask is that you use it fairly soon and let me know how it goes. US only. I cannot even ship into Canada, where it is produced!
First Rays is about to become the sole US retail outlet for an OMRI-listed biological solution that acts as a "plant probiotic". (I actually have stock, but we're in the middle of finalizing the agreement with the Canadian manufacturer.) It's called Garden Solution, made by Inocucor in Canada.
Most of the work with it (McGill & Clemson Universities, hydroponic food operations in Ontario, and some farms in SC) have been done on food crops, where it has shown to increase seed germination rates and increase yields in stuff like rice, leafy greens, strawberries, broccoli, corn, etc.
As far as orchids are concerned, when applied to ex-flask seedlings, it has shown a marked improvement in survival and growth rate, essentially eliminating any damping-off. Holger Pernar has used the stuff to greatly enhance the survival of Paph. tigrinum, which is basically extinct in China, and known to be particularly hard to culture. Another of my customers said he has had very high survival rates on Paph leucochilum seedlings, and when he opened a newer flask of them, but ran out of the sample I had sent, said the losses were pretty high. I have used it on phal flasks, and have only lost one plant out of about 100 or so.
When applied to more mature plants, it enhances their innate resistance to pathogens, and does stimulate both root- and plant growth. It's not as obvious an effect as the rot prevention in tender seedlings, but it's still noticeable in the long run. Pot growers have commented that they see reduced internode spacing, so get stockier, bushier plants.
So, if you are deflasking plants pretty routinely, or are currently fighting a fungal issue, and would like to try the material, please send me an email ([email protected]) with full name and address, and I will send you a 500 ml bottle (typical usage is 1:100; can be used at 1:50) at no charge. All I ask is that you use it fairly soon and let me know how it goes. US only. I cannot even ship into Canada, where it is produced!
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