Understanding Seasol

Share your ideas on re-potting, potting mediums and fertilisers.
User avatar
Ray M
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1403
Joined: November 5th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Favorite Species: Figs, Junipers, Maples, Elms, Pines, Banksias
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
Location: Winston Hills NSW
Been thanked: 15 times

Understanding Seasol

Post by Ray M »

Hi all,
I have decided to put this post together to hopefully help explain a little more detail about Seasol. I'll propose some questions followed by answers. The questions come from actual questions directed to me and others.

Q: Is Seasol a fertilizer?
A: No. Seasol state very clearly that Seasol is not a fertilizer. Seasol, (the company), have a very good Frequently Asked Questions section on their WEB site. FAQ

Q: Can I premix Seasol and store it for later use?
A: The answer to this question is not a simple Yes or No. I have been asked this question many times and have always said, mix what you need and use it. This is also what Seasol recommend. However, I wanted to know in more detail why this is so. I instigated an email conversation with a representative of the company to see if I could find out more detail. The following is the conversation I had with Seasol.

Ray:
To whom it may concern,
I am a teacher at the School of Bonsai. I have always advised people to only mix the amount of Seasol they need and then use it. I note that this is the advise that you provide. I am often asked why?? Could you please give me the reason why you advise to use within a 24hour period?

Thanks for your help.

Regards Ray


Seasol:
Hi Ray,
Thank you for your email. The reason we advise this is when the solution is mixed in an open container such as a bucket, it is exposed to air, surfaces, airborne microbes and other pollutants that could lead to contamination therefore it is always best to use the fresh mix as soon as possible.

Hope this helps.


Ray:
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. Considering what you have explained, what if the mixed solution was put into a sealed container immediately after mixing. Would the mixture be okay for a "period of time"? If so would you still put a time limit on the mixed solution?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Regards Ray


Seasol:
Hi Ray,
Yes you could premix and keep it in a sealed container, I couldn't give you an exact time as every time you open and use it you are exposing it to potential contaminates. Regular shelf life is around 5 years from date of manufacture, however we have had bottles much older that have been fine to use.

Kind regards,


NOTE: Regular shelf life is around 5 years from date of manufacture, however we have had bottles much older that have been fine to use. (This statement is referring to unmixed Seasol, not mixed Seasol).

Q: What do you use Seasol for?
A: I use Seasol for a number of situations.
  • * Repotting: I will give the tree, ready for repotting, a good drink of Seasol for a couple of days prier to repotting. After the tree is repotted I use Seasol to encouraging new root growth before using fertilizers.
    * Air Layers: After removing an Air Layer I will only give it Seasol until I see new growth and then use my fertilizing regime.
    * If a tree has suffered from heat or missed being watered I will use Seasol to try and rehydrate the root system. I would tend to soak the tree in a tube of Seasol for several hours.
    * Field digging trees: After digging a tree on a digging adventure I will soak the tree for several days in a tub of Seasol before potting. I empty and refill the tube about every 24 hours. After potting I will continue using Seasol until new growth has been established.
My conclusion. Considering the information I have been able to obtain I will continue to only mix what I need at the time and use it.

Hope this information may be helpful.

Regards Ray
User avatar
Jimbomelville
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 70
Joined: October 27th, 2013, 7:44 pm
Favorite Species: Banksia & ficus
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Nepean Bonsai Society
Location: Sydney NSW

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Jimbomelville »

Thanks Ray.
I recently made up a batch in a tub for soaking after repotting. Left it in the tub for two days thinking I would continue to use it.
When I checked it was full of mosquito wriggles. So the grass is now looking much better for it...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
The Surgeon
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 142
Joined: July 21st, 2009, 8:15 am
Favorite Species: Pinus & Figs
Bonsai Age: 11
Bonsai Club: Geelong
Location: Portarlington
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by The Surgeon »

Thanks Ray,

I have never considered soaking/bathing my digs in Seasol. Have you seen a marked improvement in the success rate of survival with this method?

Thanks for the info - much appreciated
User avatar
Ray M
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1403
Joined: November 5th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Favorite Species: Figs, Junipers, Maples, Elms, Pines, Banksias
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
Location: Winston Hills NSW
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Ray M »

The Surgeon wrote:Thanks Ray,

I have never considered soaking/bathing my digs in Seasol. Have you seen a marked improvement in the success rate of survival with this method?

Thanks for the info - much appreciated
Hi Surg,
To this point I haven't lost a "dug" tree using this process. If you are in a fortunate position where you have time when doing a dig, example your yard, you can dig a trench around the tree and throw a couple of buckets of Seasol in the trench. You may do this a couple of times, over a few days, before removing the tree.

If you have a look at a post I did on Olives you will see some trees soaking after the dig. My Unusual Raft

Regards Ray
Last edited by Ray M on December 30th, 2016, 2:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
The Surgeon
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 142
Joined: July 21st, 2009, 8:15 am
Favorite Species: Pinus & Figs
Bonsai Age: 11
Bonsai Club: Geelong
Location: Portarlington
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by The Surgeon »

Thanks Ray, Interesting read
Max
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 587
Joined: April 14th, 2016, 2:05 pm
Favorite Species: all
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: grow chop snip
Location: Taree
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Max »

does prolonged use promote leggy growth?
User avatar
Ray M
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1403
Joined: November 5th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Favorite Species: Figs, Junipers, Maples, Elms, Pines, Banksias
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
Location: Winston Hills NSW
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Ray M »

no idea wrote:does prolonged use promote leggy growth?
Hi no idea,
To be completely honest I don't know the answer to this. My personal opinion at this time would be no. It doesn't have the same effect as using a fertilizer. I'll try and source some more information on this point.

Regards Ray
User avatar
treeman
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2836
Joined: August 15th, 2011, 4:47 pm
Favorite Species: any
Bonsai Age: 25
Location: melbourne
Has thanked: 28 times
Been thanked: 571 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by treeman »

Ray is correct. If anything it will have the reverse effect because it has more K than N. But twice per month is about the limit :imo:
Mike
User avatar
Ray M
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1403
Joined: November 5th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Favorite Species: Figs, Junipers, Maples, Elms, Pines, Banksias
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
Location: Winston Hills NSW
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Ray M »

Ray M wrote:
no idea wrote:does prolonged use promote leggy growth?
Hi no idea,
To be completely honest I don't know the answer to this. My personal opinion at this time would be no. It doesn't have the same effect as using a fertilizer. I'll try and source some more information on this point.

Regards Ray
Hi no idea,
I have had a reply back from Seasol. As I suspected, and also the reference to Nitrogen that Mike made is the key to this answer. I have received some information back from Seasol.

Ray:
31 December 2016

Hi,
I hope you had a lovely Christmas. All the best for the New Year.
I have had another curly question put to me. "Does the prolonged use of Seasol promote leggy growth?"
Thanks for any help you can give me on this matter.

Regards Ray


Seasol:
Hi Ray,

Thanks for the email, sorry about the late reply.
No, Seasol will not promote leggy growth as it contains virtually no nitrogen.
Hope that helps.

Cheers,


Regards Ray
Max
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 587
Joined: April 14th, 2016, 2:05 pm
Favorite Species: all
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: grow chop snip
Location: Taree
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Max »

treeman wrote:Ray is correct. If anything it will have the reverse effect because it has more K than N. But twice per month is about the limit :imo:
wow here i was believing it was the best form for N....Thanks Mike for the heads up

Ray....you have gone above and beyond....Thank you
Fertilizing is such an important topic
regards Max
Sumo Savage
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 15
Joined: July 16th, 2017, 5:14 pm
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of QLD
Location: Brisbane

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Sumo Savage »

Updated link for Seasol FAQ - http://www.seasol.com.au/home-garden/faqs/
User avatar
treeman
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2836
Joined: August 15th, 2011, 4:47 pm
Favorite Species: any
Bonsai Age: 25
Location: melbourne
Has thanked: 28 times
Been thanked: 571 times

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by treeman »

I've found another manufacture of kelp extract. Apart from the info on the video, the other good thing is that it's fermented and not alkaline extracted like seasol so it's pH if much better (lower). There are many seaweed extracts better than Seasol on the market and it's only because of the aggressive marketing that they are the most popular. I still use it but I would rather use a natural product if it was easier to buy. I've ordered a lt of natrakelp to trial it. It's not cheap though.
The manufacturer tells me that it's auxin levels are 6 times the cytokinins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whgi_pF2CSU
Mike
User avatar
Lane
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 323
Joined: November 2nd, 2015, 12:14 pm
Favorite Species: Undecided....
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Lane »

My mate is a golf course green keeper and they use a kelp extract product.

I've been meaning to ask him who the supplier is, I will get on it.
Jdceng
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: June 8th, 2011, 11:22 am
Favorite Species: All
Bonsai Age: 30
Location: New South Wales

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Jdceng »

Hi There

Thought that I would join in on this and state in my 30 years of enjoying this fascinating hobby I have never used seasol.

Have a read through this link there is a topic on it under the heading Vitamin B1 Extracts.
ofbonsai.org/the-last-page/editorials/de...-the-myths-of-bonsai
JC
Jdceng
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 217
Joined: June 8th, 2011, 11:22 am
Favorite Species: All
Bonsai Age: 30
Location: New South Wales

Re: Understanding Seasol

Post by Jdceng »

Hi

Just in case I stuffed up the link in the last post.

http://ofbonsai.org/the-last-page/edito ... -of-bonsai
JC
Post Reply

Return to “Repotting, Soil and Fertilisers”