Gibberellic Acid experience

[swisscharrd]

Any one use this and if so under what circumstances. I bought some once to enhance seed germination but never got around to using it. Does it have a shelf life and is there any place to find the ratios etc.? I think my label is not intact.

[plantsnobin]

I haven't used it myself, but JL Hudson sells it, and there may be some useful info on their site.

[canadamike]

I am planning on using it next year. I have used it in the past, and do use it indirectly with Sonic Bloom. You need to be precise with it. The difference between a dose that will boost male flowers and one boosting female flowers is narrow. The dose for general growth is even smaller. Here is the link to the cheapest giberrellic acid.It is in Canada. I think it is ten times cheaper. I might be wrong, do not remember exactly but there is an order of magnitude in price differences that is surprising. It might be wise to buy ONE gram doses and match them to water according to the desired dose, as it is easier to measure large quantities than milligrams.

They also give links to the best info... I much prefer JLHudson as a seed place, but for the GA, no better price than here:



www.rarexoticseeds.com/Acid_Gibberellic_Powder_GA3_Poudre_Acide_Gibberellique_Smoke_Seed_Primer.html

[lavandulagirl]

www.jlhudsonseeds.net/GibberellicAcid.htm#GA-3%20Information%20Sheet

Pretty sure the shelf life is at least 2 years.

[michaeljohnson]

Be very careful in using it at all, as any plants you use it on will become badly stretched and elongated, as it has this effect on them, you could end up with ten foot tomato plants with no fruit on them for the first five foot,
It was first discovered years ago as a fungal growth on rice plants in Japan, these plants were elongated and stretched to almost twice their normal growth pattern-best not to use it.

For much better germination results on almost anything- take some 4x6 poly zip seal bags, and place in the a single coffee filter paper, and wet them thoroughly with a mixture of cold tea and a very small pinch of miracle grow-1/2 a tea spoon full in a litre of water and stir up the mix and put in a warm place 73 degrees F, germination is 50% better in most cases -especially on old seeds.
there is a very good reason for using coffee filter papers rather than folded kitchen roll tissue etc, as with this the roots when germinated will try to penetrate the tissue and be hard to remove,-with coffee filter papers they dont do it as much.

[canadamike]

Michael is right, it's got to be done properly otherwise you end up with freak plants. That's actually how it was discovered. And how it is manufactured, as rice plants are inoculated by the fungus that makes it, then it is extracted from them.

There are a lot of giberellic acids, the most commonly used is GA3.

That's why I recommended to buy by gram and then dilute it in a measure of water. Much easier not to make mistakes. GA3 is also used as a germinative on very hard to germinate seeds, old of else.

[swisscharrd]

Well now I know the old stuff has to go, it is WAY older than 2 years. Great idea about the coffee filters, I have used very strong paper towels but occaionaly have had the roots intertwine into them.

I agree with ya CM, I love JL Hudson and think that might be who I first bought it from. I like the price better where you suggested and better yet the advice about about by gram. I like freaky but not THAT freaky and not a beanstock you have to climb to get the beans!

I originally thought it was just used for very tough shelled seeds.....was thinking of feeding my chickens the seeds, having them poop and then planting the poop.........but then - ahhhh
nah!

I just ordered three jars of 1 grm. each.

[sammyqc]

Haven't used it, (GA), but I was just thinking, why would the paper towel be a problem? It degrades, just plant the little seedling with the paper towel, no? That way there is no damage to the roots by trying to separate them from the towel. I guess if you are germinating a lot of seeds, it could be a delicate operation, but a little paper towel isn't gonna hurt.

[canadamike]

Nov 28, 2008 10:12:51 GMT -5 swisscharrd said:

a beanstock you have to climb to get the beans!

You mean '' high on acid'' ?

[swisscharrd]

I may climb a beanstock if I knew there was some golden eggs but not for any acid....I can buy the GA3 - and do not need the other with you around!