The kelps....

There's many species of kelp, are there any differences between them, nutrition-wise?
I noticed my kelp meal bag doesn't specify, and folks seem to have a real hard-on for nodosum....
My only real concern is that kelps from the Pacific might have taken in radioactive isotopes from Fukushima... Too paranoid?

Miyagismokes said:

Fukushima... Too paranoid?

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Yes.

You want the Norwegian sea kelp meal. Thats what I use.

Dmannn said:

Yes.

You want the Norwegian sea kelp meal. Thats what I use.

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Sure, that's the "go-to" type, but why?

Miyagismokes said:

Sure, that's the "go-to" type, but why?

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Because the Norwegians and surrounding nordic countries and Amsterdam have been harvesting it for food and agriculture for a few centuries now.

There has been plenty of Side by side comparisons done with organic vegetable gardening to show the benefits of Kelp nutrient for plant growth.

I usually mix mine in a top dress before the plants are transplanted. I will add some kelp extract Mid veg, and several times pre and during flower. It works. Buy a gallon and try it out! You wont be disappoint!

Good luck!

Dmannn said:

I usually mix mine in a top dress before the plants are transplanted. I will add some kelp extract Mid veg, and several times pre and during flower. It works. Buy a gallon and try it out! You wont be disappoint!

Good luck!

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I already use kelp regularly, much in the same pattern.

But, I also reflexively accumulate free samples. I noticed one kelp extract was made from nereocystis, whereas most companies choose ascophyllum ("Norwegian").
I've seen talk about sourcing good Norwegian kelp here, but I've been content to buy what the store sells me when I ask for kelp meal nonspecifically (I don't get picky when a guy lugs a 50lb bag from the back), and my own current bag is a plain brown sack, no details.

It doesn't have to be from Norway but it only grows in cold water. Maine waters and up. Ascophyllum

http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/slanalysis.html

A field guide to economically important seaweeds of northern New England.
http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/handbook.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascophyllum

NaturalFarmer said:

It doesn't have to be from Norway but it only grows in cold water. Maine waters and up. Ascophyllum

http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/slanalysis.html

A field guide to economically important seaweeds of northern New England.
http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/handbook.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascophyllum

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Ascophyllum clearly works well, but nobody seems to know if the others would work as well... I guess I'll just have to compare side by side.
This sample of nereocystis extract came from California, both the company and the source material. I'm not sure if nereocystis was shown to have a similar analysis, or if they're just monetizing an otherwise useless kelp. I get concerns because sometimes kelps can be toxic.
Even food grade kelps like kombu, which contains too much iodine to eat all the time (the kale problem).

I think its a matter of looking at the waters where they come from and the nutrient content of those waters. Other kelps would most likely work but pollution is also a factor. You should check out the link I left above on the other seaweeds if you hadn't already. Not west coast however.