rohis
Well-Known Member
Hmm ... in the agricultural world, enzyme products have been available for at least half a century.
The truth about enzyme products is that their main active ingredients are not enzymes but rather plant hormones, auxins and other plant growth regulators that increase or decrease specific enzyme production in plants. In particular when you see "contains extracts of alfalfa, barley, seaweed" -- this tells you that the product contains one or more natural extractions of triacontanol, gibberellins, IAA, etc. Not only is dosage key to getting desired results, but also the product needs to have these compounds in certain ratios to each other -- or risk sending the plant mixed messages. The extraction process is not simple on an industrial basis so the price can be high and the results -- although food grade are not "pharmaceutically clean". You'll also notice on the label that the quantities or concentrations of these extracts are often not listed because fertilizing labeling laws don't require it. Rather, only substances that are considered plant nutrients (primary NPK, secondary and micro mineral nutrients) are required to be listed in the minimum amount present. So the numbers you see in "Guaranteed Analysis" represent the "nutrient" analysis of the extracts (which is not their primary function) plus any minerals the manufacturer might have fortified the product with. For example, the iron and zinc present in Grow More's Jump Start is probably there to provide vigor during the enzyme production. Further, you might find some "non-plant food ingredients" listed which are part of the extracts but might not be part of the product function. This can be either for advertising purposes or to distract would-be copycats from deducing the product contents.
That is one of the most informative things I've read on a forum in a long time. My knowledge of enzymes is growing every day. Cheers