Hmmmm. The guaranteed analysis of the primary macro-nutrients (NPK) in Eleanor's is Analysis: 0.15 - 0.85 - 0.55 This is less than 1% of ANY of the majors. 1/8 of 1% N, 7/8 of 1% P, 1/2 of 1% K. This is EXTREMELY low in fertility. Since I cannot find the rest of the analysis, I'm going to guess the rest of the nutrients are probably nonexistent or nearly so. I haven't used this potion (VF-11), but then, you don't need to ride the bus to know what makes the wheels go round & round. Forgive me for being somewhat skeptical or even cynical, but when vague claims are made like: ... and mildew is eliminated because VF-11 changes the pH and creates a condition where mildew can not grow. Once again, isn't it amazing? I wonder why there isn't something specific in the claim. Changes the pH of what? Soil? Cellular pH? Leaf surface pH - for how long? Hmmm I also wonder at: VF-11 builds so much strength and health that plant cells 'harden' and 'seal in' the amino acids which aphids feed on. You have merely eliminated their food supply. And you have done it without the use of poisonous systemic or pesticides. Pretty nice...huh? Don't aphids feed on sap. How does this product make the sap unavailable to aphids? Does it somehow make cells so hard that they cannot be penetrated and dry up all the intra-cellular plant water/sap? Should I/we be saying GMAB here? There's more, but you get the drift. I wouldn't say that this product has no benefit, as it may very well have some, but I am of the general feeling there is almost surely no panacean value to products like Superthrive or this elixir, and it's a good bet it's not the magic potion some may think it to be. I don't trust advertising that is known to be false and this alone is enough to fuel the skepticism in me. One thing additional: The claim that "you cannot overdo", means there could only be extremely minute (almost immeasurable or nonexistent) amounts of any micro-nutrients in it because micro-nutrient overdose produces toxicity at even low levels and over-doing would reveal readily visible symptoms quickly. Like I said, I wouldn't argue that it has no value, but I do know that I would invest in a good, known source of micro-nutrients and an appropriate fertilizer before I'd trust plant vitality to a product labeled with insubstantial claims. Al

LOL, Lenette! I am lucky to get a huge load of composted chickie poo myself this year, for my veggies and for my brug seedlings. Hope to have more blooming (seedlings)this year. Last year's cool summer was not good for that! Karyn, sorry you did not have a good trial for the product you mentioned. This is the second year I am using mychorrizae on the brug seedlings, to really get them going outside with a good root system. And I water it in once a season on my potted mature brugs. I have noticed a definite difference with my seedlings, not so much my other brugs. So, I will continue to use it on my seedlings only. I have heard that michorrizae is not good for some plants but can't remember off the top of my head what they are.

PMB, I don't know if you are simply on a rant about these "industries", or want to know what is in VF-11 because you are interested in trying it out. If it is the former, please go to the Hot Topics forum. If it's the latter, Hawaii50 posted this from her conversation with Eleanor. So as Denise said, she is very sweet and will tell you what the ingredients are. This quote from Hawaii50 (on a post here) lists a bunch of the ingredients: "Eleanor said that for best results VF-11 should be used regularly by itself without any other fertilizer. It may be used solely as a foliar spray. It may also be used on roots by watering, though I inferred from what she said that this would result in higher costs that might not be worth the added benefits. VF-11 balances the nutrients that plants obtain. It also hardens plant cells and seals in amino acids, thereby frustrating insects such as white fly. The N-P-K is .15 - .85 - .55 (hundredths). She got the formula from a "cantankerous" elderly chemist who grew healthy plants, including tomato plants that were 30 ft. long with the formula. She originally marketed it for houseplants, but now farmers are interested in it. VF-11 does not fit into any of the categories of plant products used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so, for example, she could not call it "plant food." Instead the label says it is "for plants." Also, she is not allowed to list the ingredients. She was once fined $35,000 for saying something like it "gets rid of bugs the natural way" because, to the Department of AgricultureÂs way of thinking, this would make it a pesticide. "VF" means verticillium/fusarium, signifying that it creates disease resistance. "11" signifies it has eleven ingredients. These ingredients include iron, boron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum (I couldnÂt write fast enough to get all of them) in an electrolyte balanced solution." Gabi

In the meantime, if you serch for Eleanor's, somewhere on that site is listed their location where one can write (w/ $3 for shipping) & they send a smaple bottle (not small, let me check, 8 oz.). Many of my Hoyas are bursting w/ new growth: Obovata, oldest Kerrii + its 2 progeny, Lacunosa, DavidCummingi, several Crassipes. No sign of bloom yet, but I'm hopeful! My Ceropegia woodii just had its first bloom, pretty, odd bloom, not super exciting, but I'm hoping the Hoyas will have seen the bloom & get inspired!