Humic Acid

Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own, better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus" after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

We sell lots of Humic AND fulvic acids. Some people swear by them. Fulvic is the same group of organic acids, anything with a molecular weight higher than X is humic and anything lighter is fulvic. They supposedly act as organic chelating agents and help plants take up nutrients easier. I have alway assumed that ST contains them. We sell several brands of B-1 and although people like them we get far better feed back from ST users. There is real reasearch out there that supports adding humics and fulvics. I do use them on my orchids but everything gets everything, or ussually everything gets nothing. I've fertilized twice this year already!!! I'm a big believer in the theory that orchids thrive on neglect. BTW the kelp was probably acsophyllum nodosum. Contains cytokinins which helps branching/rates of cell division/ect. AG Canada HATES anything that says humic acid on it. If you think the EPA is hard on the head you should try dealing with those powermad yahoo's.