Kelp

Labradors2 · March 21, 2019

Does anyone use (dehydrated) kelp when they pot up?

Linda

ginger2778 · March 21, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Does anyone use (dehydrated) kelp when they pot up?

Linda

Has to be beneficial. I can't see how it would hurt anything.

Ironwood · March 21, 2019

Absolutely!

Kelp is excellent for a soil amendment. Having a little nitrogen and a good amount of K, but the best part is the micro nutrients, 70+ types of minerals. Adding a little fish fertilizer along with the kelp helps to speed up the kelps availability to the plant by rounding out the NPK ratios. This is excellent for transplants to resume growth and result in an explosion of vegetative growth!

To go one better also add a tsp per gallon of quality molasses.

Labradors2 · March 21, 2019

Yeah! Thanks! I have some liquid fish fert. to add too.

Funny story about molasses. We bought a huge tote (to use as a rain barrel). It had held molasses in its previous life. Knowing that it was a fert, I didn't worry about flushing it, and the first watering cans contained a lot of molasses. I watered all my brand new perennials with it - and killed the lot!!!!! When we realized what had happened, we used it as a weed killer - sigh!

Linda

Ironwood · March 21, 2019

Oh my! I honestly would have done the same! Free molasses water!

Good to know too much can be harmful to plants.

bower · March 21, 2019

Ironwood makes a good point about the dab of fish to speed up the breakdown/access to kelpy goodness. I use as much kelp as I can get to amend my tomato soil in the containers before planting. I also use a kelp drink for the plants when they're about to be (or have been!) exposed to a cold stress.

The great thing about a drop of molasses in your liquid fish stuff is that it neutralizes the foul smell of the stuff. I mostly use the fish liquid indoors so molasses is ... heavenly!

Hey I read somewhere that pouring molasses-water on an anthill would get rid of them.. I never dreamed it would kill plants! Now I'm thinking it may be worth trying on the ants after all.

Labradors2 · March 21, 2019

Good stuff Bower! I'll certain use a little dab of mollasses to negate that fishy smell

Now what have those poor ants done to you?

Linda

Harry Cabluck · April 14, 2019

Kelp seemed to help blossoms set fruit in chilly Pittsburgh, Pa., when we gardened there. Used about half a cup of granulated kelp and rock phosphate in each hole. Molasses, indeed, gets rid of ants.

March 21, 2019	#1
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Kelp Does anyone use (dehydrated) kelp when they pot up? Linda

March 21, 2019	#3
Ironwood Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Upstate Ny Zone 5b Posts: 29	Absolutely! Kelp is excellent for a soil amendment. Having a little nitrogen and a good amount of K, but the best part is the micro nutrients, 70+ types of minerals. Adding a little fish fertilizer along with the kelp helps to speed up the kelps availability to the plant by rounding out the NPK ratios. This is excellent for transplants to resume growth and result in an explosion of vegetative growth! To go one better also add a tsp per gallon of quality molasses. Last edited by Ironwood; March 21, 2019 at 01:44 PM. Reason: Auto correct is out thinking itself.

March 21, 2019	#6
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Ironwood makes a good point about the dab of fish to speed up the breakdown/access to kelpy goodness. I use as much kelp as I can get to amend my tomato soil in the containers before planting. I also use a kelp drink for the plants when they're about to be (or have been!) exposed to a cold stress. The great thing about a drop of molasses in your liquid fish stuff is that it neutralizes the foul smell of the stuff. I mostly use the fish liquid indoors so molasses is ... heavenly! Hey I read somewhere that pouring molasses-water on an anthill would get rid of them.. I never dreamed it would kill plants! Now I'm thinking it may be worth trying on the ants after all.

April 14, 2019	#8
Harry Cabluck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 217	Kelp seemed to help blossoms set fruit in chilly Pittsburgh, Pa., when we gardened there. Used about half a cup of granulated kelp and rock phosphate in each hole. Molasses, indeed, gets rid of ants.