KELP FLAKES

TOP SOIL DRESSING, POT PLANT SOIL ADDITIVE & KELP TEA

Ecklonia maxima is a giant brown seaweed growing at the southern tip of Africa at the astonishing speed of up to 3 cm per day. One unique feature of Ecklonia maxima is its unusually high content of auxin in combination with a much lower cytokinin value leading to probably the highest auxin to cytokinin ratio known in plants.

The increasing use of seaweed extracts and seaweed based bio-stimulants in the fertilizer industry has been remarkable in recent years partly due to the increasing demand for food by our ever-growing world population taking into account that cultivation area is reducing and partly due to unfavorable growing conditions for crops as a result of climate change.

Being faced with these challenges as well as other crop production challenges, we are forced to look for innovative techniques to help us grow more food under unfavorable growing conditions with less cultivation area, seaweed extracts and biostimulants have been instrumental in the realization of this goal

What are Auxin and cytokinin

Auxin and cytokinin are two of the 5 major classes of plant hormones. In general, plant hormones control every aspect of plant growth and development. Plant hormones are produced in very small concentrations, but even a minute amount can have a profound effect. Reactions to plant hormones always depend on their relative concentrations compared to other hormones present. It is the hormonal balance that controls the growth and development of each plant. Auxin is the key plant hormone as it not only initiates different effects but also controls the action of all other plant hormones like cytokinin and gibberellin

Key effects are:

Cell enlargement and stem growth
Root initiation
Tropistic responses (gravity and light)
Apical dominance
Delay of leaf senescence
Delay (and promotion) of leaf and fruit abscission in some plants
Fruit setting and growth
Promotion of flowering
Growth of lower parts

Cytokinin is adenine derivate with the ability to induce cell division in tissues in the presence of auxin. Cytokinin is synthesized in root tips and developing seeds.
Key effects are:
-Cell division – in tissues after exogenous application in the presence of auxin, endogenous in gall tumours on plants. Present in actively dividing cells
-Growth of lateral buds
-Leaf extension by cell enlargement – adjustment of total leaf area to growth of root system
-Delay of leaf senescence
-Enhancement of stomata opening (in some species).
The other key plant hormones are gibberellins, ethylene, and abscisic acid.
Gibberellins are synthesized in young tissues of the shoot and developing seeds and initiate stem growth, fruit setting and growth (with exogenous application) and induce germination (instead of cold or light).
Ethylene is synthesized in many tissues in response to stress, and is the fruit ripening hormone. In particular, it is synthesized in tissues undergoing senescence or ripening.
Abscisic acid is synthesized in roots and mature leaves, particularly in response to water stress with the key effects of stomata closure, inhibition of shoot growth and induction of storage protein synthesis in seeds.
Additionally, many more plant hormones have been detected. Amongst others are polyamines, brassinosteroids, jasmonates, peptides, salicylic acid which all mainly play a role in plant defence mechanisms

Balance of auxin and cytokinin:

In the 1950’s a series of experiments showed how the ratio between auxin and cytokinin works. If auxin is added to a plant then the cells grow very large but they don’t divide. If cytokinin is added – and auxin is present – then the plant cells divide. Therefore, the ratio of auxin to cytokinin determines how the cells will differentiate.

In young plants, a surplus of auxin will initiate root growth. A higher concentration of cytokinin will support the development of shoots and shoot buds. If the concentrations of both are equal then the plant cells will grow but will remain undifferentiated.

The exogenous application of auxin will promote root growth and initiate the synthesis of cytokinin in the root meristem. These freshly produced cytokinin will signal the plant to grow more shoots, leading to a naturally balanced bigger and stronger plant.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

SOIL AMMENDMENT

General soil improvement

Use 25g-50g per square metre (m2)

Flowers & Shrubs

25g per square metre

Medium to Large Shrubs and Trees

150g to 250g per plant

Vegetables and Herbs

50g per square metre (m2)

Indoor and Outdoor Pot Plants

10ml (1 table spoon) per 15cm pot.

(1kg Kelp Flakes will cover up to 35m2)

TOP DRESSING AND TRANSPLANTING

Evenly spread 50ml of kelp flakes per square meter (m²) loosely around base of stem and water well.
Mix 5ml of kelp flakes to 1L of growing medium

WORM FARM FEED SUPPLEMENT

Evenly spread a generous amount of kelp flakes and cover with moist cardboard or other organic material

KELP TEA/FOLIAR SPRAY

Add 50 to 100 grams of Kelp Flakes per 1 Liter water of water and soak for 7-14 Days (Stir the kelp and water mix daily)
Dilute 10ml of the kelp tea concentrate with 1L of water (preferable de-chlorinated water or rain water)

USES OF KELP FLAKES AND KELP TEA

Soak seeds in the kelp tea for 1 to 2 hours before planting to boost germination
Use Kelp tea as a folia spray mixing 10ml Kelp tea to 1 litre water and spray generously onto the plants until run off and on the soil.
Use as a soil drench by applying to the soil after planting and to existing plants, shrubs and trees
Apply to the soil every 2-3 weeks to stimulate microbial activity
Use the dry kelp flakes as a natural repellant for snails and slugs by applying it to the base of the plant stem or tree and on top of the soil surface.
The diluted kelp tea liquid can be applied directly onto the leaves and soil. It can also be sprayed underneath the leaves
Use the kelp tea as a natural pest repellent
Spread a generous amount over the top layer of substrate which will Improve earthworm population, with early stage breakdown of kelp flakes to make nutrients available to the plants in the form of vermicompost and vermitea

BENEFITS OF SEED 2 HARVEST KELP FLAKES

Stimulates Microbial activity

Natural Pesticide

Build soil Humus

Effective saving water product

Will not burn your plants or lawn

Provides nutrients and vitamins to the soil

Shelf life of up to 2 years

Promotes leaf, root and fruit growth

Increases foliage production in plants

Increases the plants immune system

Contains natural growth hormones auxins and cytokinins

Increases nutrient uptake in plants

Kelp flakes release water slowly, once hydrated it has effective water retention capabilities

Suitable for drought stricken areas

Excellent worm farm feed supplement

ANALYTE MINERALS

Calcium

Iron (Fe)

Magnesium (Mg)

Phosphorous (P)

Potassium (K)

Selenium

Zinc (Zn)

Iodine

UNIT

mg.100g-1

µg.100g-1

mg.100g-1

mg.100g

RESULT

1650

3.3

845

357

8070

6.3

0.85

368

They CAN download these posters with a link attached to it (I will attach it also )