Vitamin B1 is that miracle drug that makes all plants grow bigger especially after transplanting. It is added to several different kinds of fertilizer and plant additives. Guess what – it doesn’t work.
Photo Source: Farmer Fred Rant
The history of this myth is quite interesting and told in detail here. In 1930 a scientist noticed that vitamin B1 stimulated root growth in a petri dish in the lab. A few more tests and people started becoming convinced that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. In 1939 Better Homes and Gardens published a report that showed vitamin B1 resulted in huge rose flowers and giant daffodils among others. The myth was launched and fed on itself; after all if Better Homes and Gardens says it is true – by golly it is true!
By 1942 even the original author of the study admitted that vitamin B1 had no positive effect on plant growth and said “It is now certain, however, that additions of vitamin B1 to intact growing plants have no significant or useful place in horticultural or agricultural practice” But it was too late. The public knew it worked, and manufacturers were selling it like hot cakes.
Products still contain it today even though the science community has known it does not work for over 70 years.
Don’t be duped.
To quote the OP:
“In 1930 a scientist noticed that vitamin B1 stimulated root growth in a petri dish in the lab……By 1942 even the original author of the study admitted that vitamin B1 had no positive affect on plant growth and said “It is now certain, however, that additions of vitamin B1 to intact growing plants have no significant or useful place in horticultural or agricultural practice””
So, while B1 does nothing for mature plants it still may help seedlings or cuttings grow roots, then? Which is all I am interested in it for (as well as transplant shock which does not involve “intact” plants either, as the roots have been disturbed).
I don’t believe the original study looked at whole seedlings – they were just pieces of root. They did not test cuttings.
okay so before this goes any further, while the op is correct Vitamin B1 or thiamine has no actual recorded effect on woody plants that are fully established. In this sense they do not “spontaneously” generate growth. However the plant does produce it’s own vitamin b1 for it’s own growth cycle, this is created in the chloroplast in the leaves. Due to this plants send the vitamin from the leaves to the roots and not the other way around. Meaning they absolutely can not absorb vitamin b1 at the rooting level. But rather it can have an effect on the bacteria in the soil. But, this would only include bacterium only of varieties that do not produce their own vitamin b1, as plants do this and animals do not. This would dissinclude the following: Erwinia, Pectobacterium, Pantoea, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Burkholderia, Acidovorax, Xanthomonas, Clavibacter, Streptomyces, Xylella, Spiroplasma, and Phytoplasma. I’m not entirely familiar with which or what families of bacteria, eukaryotes, and fungi that are beneficial or detrimental to a plant. But I hope this information can help. As yes plants and animals both utilize the vitamin we do so in very different ways, and by means that are astonishingly opposite of each other. By means of intake we can absorb and do absorb thiamine but plants do not at the root level. Simply put they have no need to, as they produce their own vitamin b1 in sufficient quantities. As far as I’ve ever heard a plant can’t be deficient in thiamine. If it’s alive it’s producing it in excess, some plants more than others. Us humans get most of our Thiamine through plants but we can become deficient and it’s one of the most common deficiencies for an animal, especially humans, to have. So instead of worrying about your plants Thiamine levels, make sure you aren’t deficient yourself 😉 but links below 😀 lots of info sorry.
links:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1176421/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1176421/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3020362/
https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/vitaminb1androotstimulators2015.html
https://dyna-gro.com/vitamin-b-1-myth/
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/vitamin-b1.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982216301294
Special!!: Haven’t fully read this one, it was a new discovery when i ran across this page here while getting those links. But PNAS seems to hint toward advancement in some science may lead to a possible way of availability of adding thiamine of some form to a plant. But alas I’ve only skimmed it as of this message so further reading is to be done there.
https://www.pnas.org/content/104/49/19637
I wish not to offend anyone etc only that I noticed that the links being posted back and forth had in some cases miss information and in others, were just thrown out due to being “unrelated” when they are related just circumstantial. The fact that thiamine had a recorded effect on an established plant, potted or not only goes to show that there’s more research we need to do into this to figure out why that was. Not just dismiss it as misinformation because its not in a field. It is after all the 21st century and last I checked our capabilities for vertical farming are now exceeding our own expectations. So potting/aeroponics/ebb&flow/hydroponics seems to be the way of the future for plant production for us. Rather than, say open field planting.
Just your average amateur horticulturist with regards,
eta235
Hi All
There is a very intresting chap on You Tube Called Harvey Smith. he is very well imformed and his resurch said Vititim B does start the natural Phyto elisitors in the plant to help defend itself againest diseses. You may not see a groth responce but do you see a plant with better all rond heath.
i work in Amenity turf and have spent the last 14 years studding soil and plant heath. My system is based on SAR Systemic Auqired Resistance. This is the holistic approach relying on natral heath and phytoelicitors.
Ill be trying as part of a IPM stratergy this would be applied to the turf to induce systemic resistance with phosphite and products like Chitosan and Rhizo Bac.
If you look into what vitermin B does in the human body it seems intuitive that it would support a plant. look at how much DNA we share with plants
What it does in humans has nothing to do with what it does in plants.
A Youtube video does not qualify as research.
A. Robinson: Here is a research link to support your valid Vit B-1 viewpoint. I have posted it here before, but as it is contrary to the long-standing and ill-informed extreme negative bias promulgated by this website’s editorial bloviation against its merits, it may be “accidentally” erased as it was previously. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1176421/
1) This work was done with potted plants – not in the field, so it does not show it is effective in the field.
2) The Vitamin B1 was sprayed onto plants. The original post deals with using it as a fertilizer and applied to soil. The two are not related.
So does it means that Fit B1 may benefit to plants if spraying to the leaves?
No.
Instead of asking the moderator of this site (who has his own agenda); you might consider googling the topic yourself. Here is one example you might find: https://bigbudsmag.com/vitamin-b-complex-for-marijuana-plants/ .
Alternatively, you might also consider buying some yourself — is it really sooo expensive that you can’t afford to discover for yourself how good it is!
1) You will notice that the link you provided does not have a single reference supporting its opinion.
2) You can’t “try it yourself” and find out if it works unless you also set up controls and a proper number of plants.
If you really believe it works – show us a link to a scientific study that says it works.
A. Robinson, google this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1176421/
Thank you! You saved me a lot of guess work and $$$$! !👍
I strongly disagree. I have used a single capfull on numerous occasions (in the springtime) dating back several years. On EVERY occasion, if you can wait patiently for up to 5-7 days, new growth WILL occur — and occasionally, the results are astonishing. The caveat is that I have only used it on ficus bushes, and “avocado” plants which I have sprouted from their pits. Still, your adamantly negative stance is profoundly unwarranted.
Disagreeing is of little value. Do you have a reference to show it works?
Here you go!
You might have googled it yourself, but finding something contrary to your pre-cemented bias probably doesn’t offer much motivation for you.
http://npk-industries.com/plant_nutrition_b_vitamins.html
Congratulations – you were able to find a commercial site selling all kinds of useless products – say something positive about Vitamin B1.
Now lets see a reference to an actual scientific study that shows any benefit for B1!
The primary link to debunking information, “http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6369” is not working. I tried it in two different browsers (Chrome and Mozilla Foxfire). I also searched “vitamin B1” on the site and found nothing relevant.
Please let us/me know if it is available at a different URL, or if you know of another equally useful online article, study or report with comparable information.
Many thanks,
Robert
many of the ucanr.edu links are broken unfortunately.
what can be used to enhance health for avocado trees and roses..and how often should be used?
For potted plants use any kind of soluble fertilizer with a ratio close to 10-3-3. In the garden fertilize based on a soil test, or just mulch with a bit of compost.
I have started my own Vegetable garden and my corn leaves are turning yellow. The gentleman at the nursery said it was either too much nitro in the soil, not enough, or too much alkaline. He told me to use the Western State Vatamin B-1 because it would take care of whatever is going on with my corn. Any suggestions? I really don’t want my corn to die.
Never speak to that person again – he knows nothing about gardens or plants.
Before you do anything, have your soil tested. You can’t guess at a problem without knowing the facts. Yellowing leaves can be an indication of low nitrogen levels and corn is a nitrogen hog. A soil test usually does not give you nitrogen levels, so you could try adding some high nitrogen fertilizer.
I am a gardener and I want to know how to use vitamin b1 for plants?
Don’t use it – plants can not absorb it so it does nothing but waste your money.
I’m glad I found this before I went out and wasted money on nothing. My wife and I are planting our first rose garden this year and wanted to make sure they are successful and healthy plants. Thanks for the information. Dave N
Thank you so much for this very enlightening info that save a lot of peso