SuperThrive Controversy

gnosis

ok i have heard alot of different opinions about using SUPERthrive before. there are bonsai shops that sell the stuff but other say not to use it. other people say u could use it but nothing will happen to your tree. what do you guys say about using SUPERthrive?

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Scientific types say "Baloney".

Enough experienced bonsai masters swear by it to make me use it.

RonMartin(deceased)

At one time I used it. Mostly because everyone else did and I figured it must be the right thing to do if they did.
Over the years I have watched the cost of the stuff go up and up. Finally it just got a bit too expensive for my tastes so I quit.
Funny thing is that I have noticed no difference in my trees since I stopped.
Not sure if the Superthrive really worked or I just got better at taking care of my trees. I do suspect that the latter is the real truth.
I no longer mention Superthrive in my classes. My students seem to get along just fine without it.
Some of the other professional bonsaiest I know still use the stuff. But not many. I do visit a lot of bonsai shops in my travels and I still see Superethrive in about 20% of those stores.
Every now and again the subject comes up on the bonsai forums. Seems to get some pretty some lively conversations going. But I am really of the opinion that is just about all Superthrive is good for.
The best answer I can give to your question is that I know a lot of people that used it at one time. But very few that still do.
Does that mean the stuff works or not. I'm not sure. I just don't seem to need it anymore.

Adam_MA

I bought a little bottle, and was using it between fertilizing. Once I stopped I didn't notice much difference. I did use a few drops in the water I soaked the sphagnum moss in when I started an air-layer. And when I re-pot a tree I put a couple drops in the water I use to soak the pot in. I don't think it hurts, and I'm sure it helps a little bit.


Adam

bnsaijim

That about sums up the "debate"...

I also religiously used it because "everyone" else did. No visible difference between plants it was and was not used on. No decrease in the health of my bonsai when I stopped 3 or 4 years ago. It certainly does not meet the claims of the snake-oil propaganda on the label.

I've had much better success paying closer attention to:

watering frequencies
not overtraining
using a proper fast draining soil mix
routine fertilizing through the entire season
paying closer attention to light/location and pot/soil
temperatures.

Using SuperThrive is a victimless crime. It does not hurt to use it but using it DOES condone dissemination of valueless anecdotal drivel.

After endless debate over the last decade and a half on a dozen forums, NO ONE has bellied up with even reasonably acceptable evidence. I'm not even expecting "rigorous scientific standard", just mnore than "it don't hurt" or my plants SEEM better.

No one has shown a difference on a macro scale nor is there anything to suggest changes on a micro scale.

Not even the "Doctor" who developed it. Nor will he say what's in it. Trade Secret. I'd say fine if the secret actually clearly worked... suspect in this case...

I think folks could do better spending the money on slightly better material, a little more fertilizer, or a new pot.

Jim Stone
Galveston

BonsaiMon

I concur with Jim... LOL on the dissemination of valueless ancedotal drivel...... I also used to add it to the water when repotting. It never hurt the plants.. but I can and do find many other uses for the money... another option would be to donate to this forum. Money well spent with noted results!

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peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

denny

i think its the placebo effect.
i got some as a gift and i find i feel a little better when i do a full root pruning when i can put a little potion on it rather than nothing at all,except water.
so maybe the tree dont feel better but i do.
i dont think ill refill the bottle tho.

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Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
So.Cal.

gilbycantu

I feel the same way. I started using it because everyone at local nurseries swears by it. Everyone at my club sprays it on the roots when repotting. I use to used it quite often but I have never noticed a difference before of after using.

I guess it doesn't hurt and it's probably better than nothing but I wouldn't call it a miracle product.

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Gilbert Cantu

www.gilbertcantu.com

pdbbonsai

This is one of those topics that shows up annually. In fact just below this thread in the "related topics" you will see this thread.
Superthrive and some others as well...


Paul

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