SUPERthrive is a plant hormone stimulant that is often used when transplanting seedlings or to kickstart growth during dormancy in plants.
The product is as old as history, with the first batch going into production 70 years ago. It is as per the company’s official website.
Its popularity can be gauged by the fact that it has an online approval rating of 4.8 out of 5.
However, we found out that some gardeners are apprehensive about the product. They are particularly concerned about reports of it burning plants.
Can SUPERthrive really burn plants? To find this out, we must first study the product’s chemical composition in detail. Let’s do that.
What Is SUPERthrive Made Up Of?
The company claims the product to be a vitamin solution. However, we couldn’t find any information regarding its ingredients on the official website.
The labeling on the product was confusing as well.
The only thing that made sense was the list of ingredients on domyown.com.
The exact chemical composition of the product as per the website is:
Total Nitrogen 0.5%
Water Soluble Nitrogen 0.4%
Water Insoluble Nitrogen 0.1%
Vitamin B-1 0.09%
1-Naphthyl Acetic Acid 0.048%
There seems to be some confusion regarding NAA. It is a known fact that SUPERthrive had this compound from the beginning. However, the current product label does not indicate its presence.
Maybe it is being kept as a trade secret, or is it that products containing NAA require registration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
The sale of SUPERthrive is prohibited in Wisconsin and South Dakota as an unregistered pesticide.
Did the company decide to do away with NAA to start selling the product in the above states?
Again, there is no conclusive evidence regarding this. For this study, we will assume that the product contains NAA.
So what effect do these ingredients have on your plant’s growth?
Effect Of SUPERthrive On Plants
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a critical element needed by plants for optimum growth and fruit production. It is a part of the chlorophyll molecules required for photosynthesis. It is also the primary building block for plant protoplasm.
Lack of nitrogen results in the yellowing of the plant leaves and stems.
However, if your soil is already rich in nitrogen, adding too much SUPERthrive over time can lead to nitrogen buildup in the soil.
Excess nitrogen buildup results in luxuriant growth, attracting pests and disease vectors.
Too much nitrogen can also cause nutrient burn in your plants leading to their early demise.
Look for early signs such as leaves developing a deep green color and turning brown at tips.
Vitamin B1
There is a lot of myth regarding vitamin B1 in the gardening community. Most gardeners hail it as the magic ingredient required for spectacular growth.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. Most scientific studies have already proved that vitamin B1 has no positive effect on plant growth.
Napthyl Acetic Acid
NAA or Naphthalene Acetic Acid is used as a synthetic rooting hormone. It comes in handy when transplanting plants or growing plants from vegetative propagation.
However, higher concentrations of NAA can cause burning or dehydration of the plant tissue.
Other symptoms include inhibition of growth, yellowing of leaves, and blackening of stems leading to the early demise of the plant.
NAA is also banned in many regions due to health concerns towards humans and other animals.
What To Do In The Case Of Excessive Application?
The company recommends flooding the soil with water to dilute the solution. However, overwatering can lead to other problems such as root rot, mold formation, and fungal infections.
We recommend pruning affected plant parts and repotting with fresh potting soil in case of excessive application.
Conclusion
We want to conclude with the fact that SUPERthrive can indeed burn your plants. However, this can only happen in the case of excessive application.
The product contains Nitrogen and 1-Napthaleneacetic acid, both of which can lead to the burning of plant tissue at higher concentrations.
We recommend doing a soil test before using any growth stimulant or fertilizer.
