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Messenger®, by Eden Bioscience
Messenger is an natural protein called Harpin that exists in nature. When recpetors on the plant (leaves, stem, roots) detect the Harpin protein they respond by ramping up their own immune system and growth reponse. Messenger is not a fertilizer or an insecticide. Messenger is for use on plants that are growing. Apply every three weeks; stop application one month before the plant goes dormant.

What does Messenger do?
  • Stimulates a plant's defense and growth mechanisms
  • Boosts overall growth, vigor and production
  • Aids in the management of disease
  • Improves the plant's ability to grow and protect itself from stresses caused by adverse environmental conditions
I highly recommend visiting the Eden Bioscience web site for Messenger (messenger.info). You can also view their FAQ page (here).

Most nurseries will carry the consumer oriented 9-gallon blister pack, which contains 3 foil packets of Messenger that each makes 3 gallons. Messenger should be mixed with 3 weeks of opening the foil packet, and the mixed solution should be used within 4 hours. The 9-gallon pack retails for about $20 ($19.95 at the nursery up the street from me). I wanted to avoid waste so I chose to buy the 1-gallon packets. I don't know how often I'll need 3 gallons all at once!

The 1-gallon packets retail between $3 and $4 according to the Eden Bioscience web site. Assuming a price of $3.50 I priced my product so that 5 packets plus $5 shipping would be slightly cheaper than paying $3.50 retail. That works out to $2.45 each when bought 5 at a time. If you're ordering plants or other items at the same time, Messenger can be bought singly for $2.65 each. The reason shipping is $5 is that I don't trust the postage machinery not to damage the packets in an envelope, so they'll be mailed in a box by Priority Mail. (I'm covering my costs plus a few cents for the significant investment in inventory. There's virtually no profit in these prices.)
 
Messenger for sale
(Ordering details)
 
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$12.25 per 5-pack ($2.45 each), makes 5 x 1 gallon   

$2.65 per 1 gallon packet   

Labels
Like most of us, your plant collection grows bigger and bigger every year! Naturally, that's a good thing, but somehow you need to keep track of the names of all your plants. Nobody can remember them all, not even me...

The labels below have proven to be extremely UV resistant. I've personally used the 3" by 3/8" yellow labels for several years outdoors in full sun - and they have never broken. The surface has just the right texture for writing on it with a pencil. Both sides are textured for writing so you should be able to fit as much plant info on the label as you need. I often write the name on both sides, that way if one sided gets smudged or very dirty I don't lose the name. They're also erasable. I reuse them all the time.

You may wonder to yourself, "Why would I ever need so many labels?" Believe me, you'll use them.
 
Labels for sale
(Ordering details)
 
(Click picture for larger image)
$4 per 100, white, 3" x 3/8"   

$4 per 100, yellow, 3" x 3/8"   

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$5 per 100, white, 4" x 5/8"   

(Click picture for larger image)

 
$5 per 100, white, 5" x 5/8"