As the old saying goes, everyone has an opinion. Over the years, I have tested a very wide variety of products and additives. As with many things, it’s very hard to see and prove actual results, unless you have two or more trees that are identical and you can perform a test keeping one tree as a untouched control to see if there is a difference. Even then, you won’t be totally sure of the affects of a given additive. When it comes to debating the effectiveness of mineral or vitamin additives, it’s like saying that “Superthrive” doesn’t work. Superthrive has been around for 60 years. Even John Naka has expressed how well it worked with his trees. It’s a well known fact that Superthrive contains vitamin B-1. So are we to doubt that Dr. Thomson is wrong? His product is used worldwide with excellent testimonials of its effectiveness.

The following is a response I received from Dr. Thomson concerning Superthrive versus other “rooting” solutions, additives and the comments concerning certain additives.

Hello Dave, Thank you for your inquiry.
In answer, I would point out that those who indulge in comments, questions, doubts, etc. about either of the ingredients disclosed on my Superthrive label are privileged to have all the commotion and flurry that they choose. I do not regard this as any responsibility of mine, one way or another. You’ll not notice any record of my becoming involved in any such.

In California alone, the last I checked, thirteen brands were for sale, purporting to provide a total of 1/2 of 1% of the total weight from sources of the two out of over fifty disclosed on my label.

It has been our experience that when such brands are sold, it may be routine for many persons to claim that their product is “just as good as Superthrive”.
Of course, this makes no sense. As I understand it, such brands routinely may contain only 1/2 of 1% total dissolved solids, in contrast with Superthrive, which, as the label says, has some 25% dissolved solids.

In other words, I don’t know why it should be a matter of concern how much good any one ingredient may be. My customers around the world, including huge numbers of Bonsai experts, are routinely admiring and buying Superthrive for each of its main purposes of Bonsai, that is, for salvaging an ancient plant in the wild for creating any other Bonsai, for transplanting them and then gently and mildly maintaining them.

I do not hear of any criticizing of the leading Bonsai masters in their teaching Superthrive as an integral part of their Bonsai protection program.
An outline of the tried and proven status of Superthrive is contained in a readily available letter written by the preeminent Bonsai teacher John Naka and also Richard Ota.

Sincerely,
John A. A. Thomson Ph.D., D.A.
Founder/President
Vitamin Institute

How about the additives that are used by hydroponics growers who add everything (including B vitamins) that a plant needs to its water? I’ve learned from them the value of using certain types of kelp derivatives. Ultimately, some are beneficial and some are not. In the case of B-1, it was studied By Gary W. Hickman, Horticulture Advisor University of California Cooperative Extension, Mariposa County. He found that it did show some benefit but, when compared to a test using plain fertilizer, the results were no better. So, in many cases, a supplement might be beneficial, but it may not increase the results over plain fertilizer or other nutrients & supplements. But, we do know most fertilizers have different amounts of trace elements when compared brand to brand. In my case, I will continue to use supplements and, as long as I don’t see any diverse affects, I will think I am helping my plants. As another thought, most tests done by private individuals, universities and the government are done while growing plants in the ground or in “typical organic type soils”. In our case, we grow our trees in a different soil, so does that make a difference? Our soil does not contain all the beneficial nutrient or bacteria that break down materials into a form the plant can use. If plants could manufacture vitamins, then maybe we should believe they can manufacture nutrients also.

Further testimonials on B-1 and plants
Many consumers assume that products on the store shelf must have been tested to prove their label claims. A good example is vitamin B1 (thiamine), often sold to “prevent transplant shock” and “stimulate new root growth” when planting trees, shrubs, roses and other plants. 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 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.

As I mentioned, in the case of Bonsai, our soil is totally different and we DO cut off roots In my research of B-1 most sites I found used about the same language about B1:
Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) is an important component of tissue culture media, in which isolated plant tissues can be propagated. Its use for stimulating root growth in whole plants is not supported in the literature, and one study reported that root growth was greater in the control treatment (water) than with thiamine. Plants in the field manufacture their own source of thiamine, and it is, therefore, unnecessary to add any additional levels. Many fungi and bacteria associated with plant roots also produce thiamine, so it’s likely that healthy soils (“dirt” not Bonsai soils) will contain adequate levels of this vitamin without amendment.
Everyone seems to be in agreement that in normal situations the B1 does no good, other than disease protection. But they all agree, if the plant is not getting B1 for one reason or another, it is beneficial.

We use soil depleted of most everything, therefor it does not provide a “normal environment.” so B1 could be beneficial to plants grown in the soil depleted conditions. Peat naturally fights fungi and bacteria, and that alone could cause a B1 problem.
I think the scientist agreeing that, when B1 is not present, the addition of B1 is beneficial helps my argument immensely. In Bonsai, our treatment of the plant and its soil conditions are totally different. It’s one thing to say a plant will create its own B-1 under “normal” conditions when it is grown in normal soil.
So, again, you should draw your own conclusions.—Dave Bogan