INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT: MAGNESIUM

To be successful, indoor horticulturists and greenhouse hobbyists must have a basic understanding of the three crucial stages of plant growth. These stages are the seedling/clone stage, the vegetative stage and the fruiting/flowering stage. Each stage has its own intricacies and many growers spend countless hours trying to master each stage. The seedling/clone stage is important because every plant starts from a seed or clone and competence in this stage is crucial for growers who are looking to operate perpetual gardens. A perpetual garden is not possible if the gardener falls short of a certain skill level in the seedling/clone stage. The vegetative stage is the stage when the majority of the plant growth occurs. For many plant species, this stage is when a plant creates green, lush growth and is also when the plant’s structural integrity is strengthened to support the forthcoming fruits and/or flowers. The vegetative stage is essentially the stage when the ground work for large yields is laid. The healthier a plant is during the vegetative stage, the better it will perform during the fruiting/flowering stage. Lastly, the fruiting/flowering stage is the stage of growth when the plant attempts reproduction by producing flowers and/or fruits. It is during this stage that the fruits of a horticulturist’s labor literally materialize. All three stages of growth are equally important for optimizing a garden’s performance.

Tappin’ Roots All Stages is a fertilizer comprised completely of botanical extracts. The patented blend of botanical extracts used in the Tappin’ Roots formula are wild harvested and carefully selected for their unique ability to stimulate healthy growth throughout a plant’s life cycle. This unique formula naturally triggers healthy growth while also aiding in the overall vigor of the plant. In other words, Tappin’ Roots All Stages provides benefits to the plants during the seedling/clone stage, the vegetative stage and the fruiting/flowering stage. It is not at all uncommon for a grower to visibly see impressive results within days of application. Tappin’ Roots All Stages’ powerful recipe of natural extracts (mainly kelp and willow) works synergistically to stimulate and regulate a plant’s natural growth functions. Tappin’ Roots All Stages fine-tunes all stages of growth and takes plants to a higher level of health and vitality. Tappin’ Roots All Stages is an effective alternative to synthetic rooting hormones and synthetic growth stimulators. Young, tender roots will never be adversely affected by Tappin’ Roots All Stages. In fact, it is impossible to burn plants with Tappin’ Roots All Stages. This means it can be used in stronger dilutions with zero risk of burning or nutrient lockout.

Tappin’ Roots All Stages can be used as a foliar spray and/or a root drench. Growers routinely see results in just a few days with either application method. Tappin’ Roots All Stages is compatible with all hydroponic, aquaponic and soil growing systems. It can also be used as a stand-alone fertilizer or in conjunction with any fertilizer regiment. Tappin’ Roots All Stages is pH neutral so it will not affect the pH of hydroponic systems or nutrient reservoirs. Tappin’ Roots All Stages is 100% natural, biodegradable, and completely safe for people, pets, and plants.

One of the most exciting sights for gardeners is the first sign of spring.  As the daylight grows and the soil warms up, the movement of flora and fauna awakens. Soft grass sprouts, bright green leaves emerge from dormancy, and swelling flower buds burst into colorful bouquets. Both birds and gardeners begin to sing!  Planting season is here!

Take a trip to your local Garden Center, and you’re instantly immersed in a vibrant selection of spring inventory. Trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, annual flowers – they all await a new home in your garden.

The B1 Myth

To get plants off to a good start, you’ll need a few items to ensure healthy transplanting and to stimulate new root growth. Once upon a time vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride) was the panacea for healthy transplanting. For more than 50 years it has been marketed as the go-to product to prevent transplant shock and to stimulate new root growth to tender plants. However, recent studies from U.C. Davis, Sunset Magazine and others have found that the transplant benefits of B1 have been largely exaggerated.

Where Did all the Hype Originate?

Robert Cox, Horticulture Agent at Colorado State University explains it like this:

“A study in the 1930’s provided the basis for such claims. Pea roots cut off from the plant were placed in a culture medium in the laboratory. The researchers knew that thiamine [B1] was normally found in roots, so they put thiamine in the culture medium and found that root growth did occur.  Vitamin B1 is manufactured in Plant leaves and sent to the roots, but if roots are cut off and placed in a petri plate, vitamin B1 stimulates growth of the roots when it saturates the culture medium. Planting trees in a soil environment, however, is vastly different from a laboratory culture.  Most important, gardeners aren’t in the habit of cutting off the root system when planting. Several studies using intact mums, apple trees, orange trees, pine, tomato, beans, pepper, corn, pear, watermelon and squash have failed to demonstrate that vitamin B1 treatments provide any type of growth response.”  Additionally, a Sunset Magazine article covering the B1 myth states: “The University of California research on vegetables failed to prove that B1 reduces transplant shock OR stimulates root development. Researchers found “no discernible differences in color or vigor among treatments”

B1’s claim to rooting fame is not all marketing, B1 does play an important role in root development, but the benefits are manufactured within the plant, naturally by leaves, and then sent to the roots to promote new growth. Unfortunately, there is no benefit when it’s applied directly to  the roots. When gardeners experience positive results from B1 products, it is because the formula most likely had additives such as synthetic rooting additives and fertilizers to pick up the slack.

So, What’s the Alternative?

The proper ingredients at time of planting can mean the difference between your rose bush going into shock and not growing vs. a rose bush that sprouts new roots in as little as 3 days and thrives from the get-go!

So, if B1 is bogus, what is the alternative?

There are various starting fertilizers that can help – a dose of rich soil and nutrients, especially phosphorus will definitely give plants a jump start. But one of the most gentle and effective products on the market today is Tappin’ Roots All Stages. This timeless recipe is handcrafted from 100% natural plant extracts in Occidental, Ca.

The Wonders of Willow

Tappin’ Roots is a rooting and all purpose fertilizer made up of botanical extracts, mainly willow tree extract. The Willow tree has been planted, grown, studied and revered for thousands of years all around the world due to its ability to adapt to any soil condition and its wide variety of uses which range from medicinal to horticultural.

The horticultural interest stems not only from its unusual pendulous limbs, but because willows have amazing growth capabilities. Cut a willow tree off at ground level and it will re-grow several new shoots. Place a broken willow branch in water and it will quickly produce new roots. A large piece of an old willow trunk placed in moist soil will grow an entirely new tree and branch cuttings planted upside down in moist soil will take root and also start a new tree! The secret to this amazing growth is due to the willow’s unique concentration of phytohormones and several other beneficial elements naturally occurring within the willow. These raw materials work synergistically to promote the tree’s desire to live and thrive under whatever conditions it may find itself in. This remarkable plant extract is the best, 100% natural root propagator and transplant shock aid known to man, and it’s one of the active ingredients in Tappin’ Roots All Stages. The extraction process plays a large role in the effectiveness of this growth tonic. We have a proprietary extraction process and patented formula!

Tappin’ Roots to the Rescue

Tappin’ Roots will care for cuttings, new plantings and even established plants with a variety of raw botanical extracts and micronutrients specifically selected for their natural ability to trigger growth and vigor. Tappin’ Roots offers multiple benefits to plants at any stage of development, but truly works wonders on new transplants. It is safe to use on all plants, won’t burn tender roots, increases propagation success rate and virtually eliminates transplant shock. After propagation and transplant, the natural ingredients will continue to help the plant grow strong with increased vitality. For gardeners looking to avoid the perils of synthetic products, Tappin’ Roots promises 100% natural ingredients that work fast, yet pose zero risk of burning. The ingredients are biodegradable and safe for plants, people, pets and the planet!  

Big benefits of Tappin’ Roots

• Promotes superior & vigorous root growth
• Promotes strong vegetative/foliage growth
• Promotes premium flowering & fruiting
• Promotes healthy plant growth processes
• Reduces transplant shock & stress
• High in essential micronutrients
• Can be used on any plant, any size, at any stage of growth
• Can be used in stronger dilutions with zero risk of burning
• Can be used alone or in conjunction with any fertilizer
• Safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, eco-friendly
• Visible results in 1-3 days

How to Use

Tappin’ Roots is extremely easy to use. Simply add to water and use as a root drench and/or a foliar spray. New cuttings watered and misted with a diluted Tappin’ Roots solution will sprout root nodes in as little as 24 hours and new root growth in about 3 days! Use on established plants for growth enhancement and ailing plants as a vitality booster. It can be added to drip, hydroponic and aeroponic systems too.  

Green Manufacturing

The ingredients in Tappin’ Roots are derived from clean, natural and organic sources. The company utilizes a proprietary & chemical-free extraction process to preserve the integrity of each ingredient. This approach to quality ensures a top-tier product that is safe and effective for all gardeners, while being kind to the planet.

Ingredients:  Willow extract, kelp extract, calcium.

Where to Buy

Tappin’ Roots All Stages can be found at local garden centers as well as indoor garden store locations across the country. To find the retailer near you, CLICK HERE

 

More great Products

Also look for Tappin’ Roots Dynamic Soil Amender. A 100% natural blend of 17 of the most sought after soil enriching ingredients on the market, composted together in one product! And our newest products, Essential Grow  and Solid Bloom !

In the world of soil amenders, biochar is one of the most sustainable, environmentally friendly, and effective supplements you can add to your soil. The addition of biochar will create a self-propagating system that will maintain a bio-active, vibrant, and regenerated soil. At Tappin’ Roots, we know biochar’s benefits to your garden are tremendous, and it can even knock your carbon footprint to below zero. This amendment is so important to life, your garden should not be without it. We offer this super supplement in our new Dynamic Soil Amender.

So what IS biochar anyway?

Biochar is produced by “carbonizing” biomass. What this means is the biomass (think organic materials) is subjected to high heat and enriched with carbon during processes called pyrolysis and gasification. This happens all the time in nature – forest fires and old soil management practices produced similarly enriched soil. This natural process is now being reproduced – aiding incredible benefits to the home gardener as well as the planet.

“To properly explain what biochar is, we need to return to the Amazon basin circa 450 a.d. Indigenous people didn’t practice slash-and-burn farming as they do now. They practiced slash-and-char agriculture, roasting wood and leafy greens in “smothered” fires, in which lower temperatures and oxygen levels resulted in the production of charcoal instead of ash. The charcoal was buried in fields where crops were grown.

But then, with the arrival of Europeans and their diseases, the Amazon civilizations, some with cities of more than 100,000 people, collapsed. Slash-and-char agriculture was forgotten, as were the fields of buried charcoal. But they weren’t gone. In the 20th century, huge expanses of black soil were rediscovered, although at first no one knew what they were. Then, in the 1990s, scientists determined that these soils were man made. They were dubbed terra preta  (“dark earth” in Portuguese). And they were extensive. Some estimates put the total acreage covered by the charcoal-enriched soil at twice the size of Great Britain.” – Jeff Cox

Why is biochar environmentally friendly?

As you keep reading, you’ll see how biochar is a key factor in growing impressive gardens. But biochar also shines as a method of lowering the carbon footprint. First, biochar retains nitrous oxide and carbon much more efficiently than your average Joe soil, potentially reducing the emission of these gases. Carbon in decomposing plants, which would otherwise escape into the air as greenhouse gases, is instead sequestered by the biologically active charcoal in the soil. Biochar also mitigates water pollution by storing runoff, and reduces the need for harmful chemicals. The biochar production method also produces oil and gas byproducts that can be used as sustainable energy. The held carbon in the biochar also provides a more fertile base for future plants.

This brings us to the next question…

Why is biochar helpful for a garden?

The absorption capacity of biochar provides significant benefits for any type of soil. Much like humas, biochar is colonized by a spectrum of beneficial life. Microbes, earthworms and other organisms produce carbon-based molecules that stick to the charcoal, gradually increasing the soil’s carbon content. The biochar in Tappin’ Roots Dynamic Soil Amender is porous and will soak up excess nutrients and retain water – this water retention aspect is vital for drought plagued areas of the planet. “Biochar also stimulates mycorrhizal fungi—those fungal symbionts that live on plant roots will scour surrounding soil for hard-to-find phosphorus, and deliver it back to their host plants. According to scientists studying the soils, microbial growth of all kinds is substantially improved. And so is the soil’s ability to hold nutrients until plants need them, then dole them out at the optimum rate for plant health.” – Jeff Cox

Did you know crops have been shown to grow 45 percent greater mass with biochar enriched soil versus poor soil fertilized with chemical fertilizers? This is a huge statement!

Along with over a dozen composted super plant food ingredients, Tappin’ Roots Dynamic Soil Amender  is brimming with biochar. Adding this ONE amender to your garden soil will create an incredibly decadent growing environment with a complete nutritional profile.

(If you water or foliar spray with Tappin Roots All Stages  (100% natural phytohormone extracts), your plant’s growth processes will be fine tuned to a perfect level of performance, bumping up your results even further.

We strongly suggest trying biochar; it’s a useful addition to all soil types. The fact is, healthy plants begin with healthy soil. Biochar will elevate soil health in a way you may have never experienced before. It will increase soil biodiversity, plant health and crop yields – while also putting your carbon footprint in the black!

-Tappin’ Roots

Just as important as oxygen is to life, plants need minerals! Minerals are both macro and micronutrients. While micronutrients are not required in large amounts by plants, they are essential for supporting optimal plant growth and function. Without the micronutrients, plants are not able to properly utilize macronutrients.

The absence of adequate minerals will create a huge disconnect in all the growing functions of plants. They are the very building blocks of life. For example, if Magnesium is missing, plants cannot photosynthesize. This single mineral is the precursor in a plants ability to turn light into food. And here’s a fun fact: the mineral potassium “activates” at least 60 different enzymes involved in plant growth.

Agronomist Rich Affeldt explains it like this,  “ …The flavor and nutrition in fruit, grains, and vegetables are based on the soil minerals available, not the amount or type of organic matter. If a needed mineral is missing, it is just that, missing, and no amount of organic matter will make up for it.”

The essential elements required in larger quantities for sufficient growth are the macro-nutrients. Nine minerals make up this group. Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. Eight other essential mineral elements are required and are the micro-nutrients. They include: Iron, Chlorine, Manganese, Boron, Copper, Molybdenum, Nickel, and Zinc.  While vital to plant health, micro-nutrients are only needed in small amounts. Plants actually only require about 0.01 percent or less of them.  

Plants are complex organisms and they simply cannot thrive without a variety of minerals. Deficiencies in these essential nutrients are common and can create a chain reaction of poor plant health. Tappin Roots All Stages  and Dynamic Soil Amender  contain macro and supportive micro nutrients in a form plants can readily use. Over 60 bio-available minerals are contained in our selected extracts.

In our next blog we will delve deeper into a few of these minerals to understand a bit more about their relationship with your garden.

What’s in a Name?

‘Tappin’ Roots All Stages’ is a fusion of wild and sustainably harvested plant extracts. Our proprietary formula is a results driven recipe that combines a powerhouse of naturally occurring bio-stimulants, organic growth factors, enzymes, and vital nutrients.

Within each of our plant extracts is a plethora of highly beneficial and powerful components. Each of these individual parts play an important role in plant health, but together, they work synergistically to yield impressive results, naturally.

Imagine a smoothie with an array of nutrient dense superfoods. It’s easy to understand that the smoothie as a whole is of great value to immediate and long term health and performance. Now, break that smoothie down into it’s individual ingredients. Let’s use kale as an example. Kale is comprised of a vast spectrum of nutrients and is responsible for many healthy functions. I offer this analogy in an attempt to demonstrate that Tappin’ Roots has selected powerful, natural ingredients; ingredients offered by nature and perfected by modern technology. So, to better understand these ingredients and subsequently the outstanding results derived from use of our formula, we’re going to take a closer look.

So, let’s break it down.

In the following blog series we will profile active ingredients and key components within our products. Each blog post will outline the overall value of such actives and then break them down into smaller pieces in an effort to illustrate a picture of performance.

(Look for our next post where we will highlight the importance of Minerals!)

Derived From:

Rock Phosphate, Feather Meal, Dehydrated Chicken Manure, Worm Castings, Bone Meal, Glacial Rock Dust, Oyster Shell, Greensand, Gypsum, Kelp Meal, Sulfate of Potash, Blood Meal, Fish Meal, Elemental Sulfur , and Bat Guano.  

Soil Amending Ingredients:

Biochar, and Zeolite.

Tappin’ Roots-Dynamic  Soil Amender is a high potency formula designed to improve the quality of your growing medium and encourage superior plant development. It is packaged for easy application and conveniently put into 2 & 5 Gallon buckets that treat an entire pallet to half a pallet of soil. Our formula is specially designed to contain many if not all of the key ingredients that play a vital role in plant functions and the dynamic nature of soil. For even more outstanding results, use in conjunction with Tappin’ Roots-All Stages Plant Fertilizer.

 

Ta ppin’ Roots-Dynamic Soil Amender works by retaining moisture and nutrients in the soil for slow release throughout the season, which is highly effective in times of drought or for water conservation and resource efficiency. This also decreases nutrients from leaching out of the soil quickly, increasing your plants nutrient uptake as well as increased resilience from adverse conditions such as heat and drought stress. Initial application of Dynamic  Soil Amender will improve mineralization (decomposition and release of nutrients), aerate the soil, and improve your soil environment quality. In addition to improving the physical components of the soil, Tappin’ Roots-Dynamic Soil Amender supplies nutrients that contribute to the essential functions and overall vigor of your plant, including photosynthesis, root production, respiration, plant development and growth, fruit and flower production, crop quality and yield. Regular use benefits plants particularly by providing decomposed organic matter that feeds soil microbes and supplying your plant with essential primary, secondary and micro nutrients. All of which are present in the Tappin’ Roots – Dynamic  Soil Amender in soluble form and readily available to your plant: the largest quantities being Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, and Iron.

 

Easy to use, Mix 1 cup Tappin’ Roots-Dynamic Soil Amender per 1.5 cu. ft. of soil for initial application then top-dress with 2-3 Tbs. every 7 days. For heavier application, mix 2 cups per 1.5 cu. ft. of growing medium then top-dress with 3-4 Tbs. every 7 days. Discontinue use 4 weeks before harvesting fruits or flowers. Works great for outdoor and indoor use! We recommend using in conjunction with  Tappin’ Roots-Natural All Stages Plant Fertilizer. Visible results can usually be seen in just a matter of days. It’s our goal to combine knowledge and convenience for our customers so they can focus on what they do best and grow the largest, highest-quality plant they ever thought possible!