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Container Gardening

root stimulator

lou_spicewood_tx

14 years ago

Do they really work? I was searching for some info but didnt really find anything useful like actual experiences from people using thise products (control vs experiment) on various products.

I am mainly interested in maximizing root growth, not top growth so they can be planted out sooner. I've read a lot of stuff but I don't really know which is really the best. I've used seaweed stuff in the past but I have no idea how much improvement they made on root growth.

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Comments (7)

puglvr1
14 years ago
Excellent question!!

I was given this product by a friend and I've been using it only when I repot my hoyas or other container plants. I use it only once right after I repot. Then I go back to my regular fertilizing program after a week or so... Not really sure if it really works. But, I can tell you that it doesn't hurt the plant. And it was (free), So I might as well use it.

Anyone else have any comments...be easy on us,lol...Al, JAG?

Here is a link that might be useful: Bonide Root and Grow
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years ago
It's really nothing more than a diluted high-P (bloom-booster) fertilizer. I'm not too sure it's at all helpful. I reason that plants use (on average) 6 times more N than P, and adding more P than they can use cannot possibly increase growth of ANY of the plant's parts (Liebig's Law of the Minimum), so how can it help any more than a fertilizer that supplies nutrients in very close to the same ratio plants use?

Al
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Depends on the specific product but by and large, no :-) Most contain some sort of growth hormone, some have B1 and other nondisclosed and rather mysterious additives (that may or may not do anything) and some are just a root booster fertilizer with a higher concentration of phosphorus, often sold as a 'starter' fertilizer.Of any of these I would opt for the starter fert first Here is a link that might be useful: root stimulators - fact or fiction
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Root stimulator comes in flavors/potencies that I am going to call low, medium and high. I would recommend using the low potency on azaleas/rhodies and the boxwoods as they are both shallow rooted. Too much root stimulator or too much of the wrong type could cause a problem as you describe but it would probably not be localized to just the top of the plant. The boxwoods may also be having a bad case of transplant shock and-or a moisture issue since it is quite warm nowadays. Make sure they are well mulched and that the soil is not wet and not dry. Test your clayish soil using the finger method... insert a finger to a depth of 4" and determine if it feels dry, moist or wet. You want to avoid wet or moist-dry periods. Do not fertilize this year if the potting soil came with those round fertilizer pellets (otherwise, use a 10-6-4 NPK Fertilizer). Applying too much fertilizer to these shallow rooted plants can also cause browning (or yellowing) of leaves but it would not be localized at the top of the plant either. There are a host of other problems like root rot which causes dieback from the top of the plant, vole damage, etc. By the way, some leaf loss is common when planting them; I do not know if in your case the amount of leaf loss would be considered a lot or "ok" though.
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You'll get best results if you trim off the damaged part of the root system so that a flush of new roots can grow. Avoid excessive fertilization that might promote top growth, which could be at the expense of root repair.
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Comments (8)
Very interesting information! I must admit I am brand new to the gardening world- learning as I grow! I purchased the root stimulator last year upon advice from an associate at a local and what I consider a trustworthy, family-owned nursery in town. That being said, I assumed he knew what he was doing and bit the bait! Thanks for the input that it is a waste of resources! I heard the same thing on the hydrangea forum. We purchased our home in Athens a year ago. I discovered multiple beauties growing in my yard once spring of last year hit! Hostas are very happy here under a canopy of beautiful white oaks! I had to relocate several of my friends this year. I learned the hard way that our neighborhood deer eat hostas like candy! So, it sounds like what I am hearing is to leave them alone as long as they are in happy soil and getting plenty of water? What should I fertilize with if anything?
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yellowthumb
14 years ago
There is this Canna Rhizotonic, sold in hydroponics stores which I have been using to root some Osmanthus cuttings. I have to honest that I don't know they are helpful or not, the cuttings all rooted. But I don't have side to side comparison. One thing is for sure, they are expensive.
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
14 years ago
Al,

I was really talking about plant hormones from seaweed liquid, alfalfa, etc. I had wondered if they really make any difference in root growth.
puglvr1
14 years ago
I figured as much. Al, do you think I shouldn't use it at all. Do you think its okay to use it once only like every year or two(just when I repot)? Thanks!!
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years ago
Hi, N. I can't imagine a set of circumstances where I might use it unless it was on a garden soil known to be deficient in P and blessed with ample amounts of N & K ..... not likely to happen. ;o)

The problem is, if you use it in containers, the high P levels are likely to cause a deficiency of Fe and/or Mn, the symptoms of which include a general chlorosis. You're going to look at your yellow plants (yellow from a N deficiency because it has too little N, + the Fe/Mn) deficiency) and fertilize again (to green 'em up), with the second application adding to the accumulation of P and STILL not supplying enough N, which will make the Fe/Mn deficiency worse, the plants more yellow, and will have you reaching for the fertilizer yet AGAIN .......... chasing your tail.

BTW - Scratch Max for me. ;o)

YPA
puglvr1
14 years ago
Thanks so much Al!! Appreciate the easy to understand explanation,lol...it will go into retirement in the shed or tossed out.

Sure Will...Max loves scratches :o)

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