Garden foliar sprays

[brianw]

I went to Savill Garden this afternoon. Not been into the garden for some years, although I go to the annual Plant fair when it does not clash with my Malvern Show visit. That is held in the car park. Not terribly interesting other than some fine trees, shrubs and herbaceous etc. but the raised bed area which used (may still) to have the only significant alpines was roped off for spraying. (Not specifically the alpine bed) Later I spoke to the gardener who wanted us to vacate another adjacent area to spray that and found they were using "Plant Invigorator"; presumably this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plant-Invigorator-250ml-including-postage/dp/B003G11IGA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441913704&sr=8-1&keywords=sb+plant+invigorator+250ml
Anyone tried such a thing?
They were spraying very large open garden areas with a power system so must have used quite a lot.

[Giles]

Brian,
I use it regularly. In particular for red spider mite, for which it works very well.
It only works by direct contact, so 100% coverage of upper and lower leaf surfaces is required.
It has no residual activity, so spraying has to be repeated to keep infestations under control.
Giles

[arisaema]

What exactly is in it? I'm always a little skeptical of sprays that promise to be everything without listing a single ingredient...

[Maggi Young]

Hmm, yes, a bit difficult to find out exactly what's in it.
Safety data sheet seems only to mention Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate - which is found in lots of soaps,  shampoos  and toothpaste and which may contain dioxane.
http://sbproducts.co.uk/safety-data/concentrate-safety-data/
"SECTION 16. OTHER INFORMATION

Comprehensive research has shown that the pesticidal activity of this product is achieved by a physical means. Physical modes of action are classed as non-biological and non-chemical for which no specific active ingredients are identified within the product.

The safety data sheet is prepared in accordance with Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Annex II/UN GHS &EU CLP guidelines.

The data in this safety sheet is provided in good faith and to the best of our knowledge and belief is accurate based on latest available information. It is intended only to give health and safety guidance on the substance to which it relates. It is not intended to provide information on product use for which purpose the product label and any other technical information should be consulted. Recipients of our product must take responsibility for observing laws and regulations. "



Another page lists
CONTENTS

    Foliar Lattice
    Linear Sulphanate
    0.074% w/w Iron Chelate (Fe)
    1.914% w/w Nitrogen (N)
    natural products   
     

[arisaema]

1-3% Sodium laureth sulfate is very little, so that must just have been added as a surfactant/emulsifer. It's clear, so clearly not diatomaceous earth. Wonder what the red colour comes from? Isn't neem extract reddish?

I hate that they only have to declare this as "natural products", nature is full of poisons... Rotenone is a fully natural product/pesticide, and has been shown to cause Parkinson's disease in humans.

[brianw]

Chelated iron will be red. Same as in Sequestrene. At Savill they also told me it was a weak foliar feed but Savill is on Bagshot sand I assume and already acid, so surprised they would use it for that purpose.