The Four Jobs Aptus StartBoost Is Doing at Once
Humic acid is the backbone of this one. It chelates elements in the medium and holds them in a form roots can take up. It also builds structure in the material around the root. High grade fulvic acid runs alongside it and moves more readily into plant tissue. Organic nitrogen comes chelated with L-amino acids rather than as a mineral salt, so the plant spends less energy assembling what it needs. A microbial biomass from controlled fermentation finishes the formula. Aptus position it as four tools in one bottle. It works as a root drench, as a foliar spray, as a seed starter and as a dip for the root ball at transplant. Each of those has its own rate and the spread between them is wide. Start feeding once a plant has put out its first roots and leaves. Carry on through the whole vegetative phase and into the first week of flowering. Two sizes are stocked here, at 250 ml and one litre.
Rates, and Why the Root Drench Is the Weakest of Them
Four rates, and getting them the wrong way round wastes a lot of product. Regular feeding runs at 1 ml per gallon, which is 0.25 ml per litre. Seedlings, clones and foliar work all go to 4 ml per gallon, or 1 ml per litre. A transplant dip is the heavy one at 40 ml per gallon, or ten millilitres per litre. The root ball is soaked once there rather than fed continuously. Cloning plugs can be pre-soaked at the seedling strength before a cutting ever goes in. The system caveats are the same as elsewhere in this range. Aptus advise against using it in deep water culture at all. In any other recirculating system, dose one day before a water change. The organic load then leaves with the old solution rather than filming the tank. Shake before measuring, since a fermented biomass settles. Keep the cap on tight and store it out of direct sun and away from heat.
Key Features
- Humic acid: Chelates elements in the medium and builds structure at the root
- Fulvic acid: A high grade fraction that moves more readily into tissue
- Organic nitrogen: Chelated with L-amino acids rather than supplied as a salt
- Microbial biomass: Produced by controlled fermentation and carried in the bottle
- Feed rate: 1 ml per gallon, which is 0.25 ml per litre
- Seedlings and clones: 4 ml per gallon, or 1 ml per litre, also used for foliar
- Transplant dip: 40 ml per gallon, or 10 ml per litre, as a one-off soak
- Timing: From first roots and leaves through to the first week of flower
- Deep water culture: Aptus advise against using it in that system at all
- Recirculating: Dose one day before a water change to limit biofilm
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Aptus Plant Tech |
| Product | StartBoost, the root and vegetative growth stimulant |
| Base | Humic acid |
| Also contains | High grade fulvic acid and a fermented microbial biomass |
| Nitrogen form | Organic nitrogen chelated with L-amino acids |
| Feed rate | 1 ml per gallon, or 0.25 ml per litre |
| Seedling and clone rate | 4 ml per gallon, or 1 ml per litre |
| Foliar rate | 4 ml per gallon, or 1 ml per litre |
| Transplant dip | 40 ml per gallon, or 10 ml per litre |
| Plug pre-soak | 4 ml per gallon before the cutting goes in |
| Start | When the first roots and leaves appear |
| Stop | End of the first week of flowering |
| Not for | Deep water culture systems |
| 250 ml | SKU APT-SB-250, barcode 670541796979 |
| 1 L | SKU APT-SB-1000, barcode 670541796993 |