Starting fertilizer

luke · February 3, 2012

Opinions on starting fertilizer and when to use it.

I know it needs to be diluted, and I have used Jiffy starter mix which supposedly has some starter in it. After transferring my starts to larger cups, I intermittently add some diluted Miracle -Gro.

Any advice or opinions?

dice · February 4, 2012

Worm castings work well for me:

5 parts coir, 2 parts worm castings, 1 part perlite

Or:

6 parts seed-starting mix, 2 parts worm castings

I have also used a pinch of some granular organic fertilizer per
3" pot when potting up sprouted seedlings. (Bio-Tone is popular
for this.)

Finally, I have also used kelp solution, a pinch of kelp meal in each 3" pot,
a tea made from comfrey, alfalfa, kelp, nettles, and chickweed, clover
from the yard liquified in a blender, a pinch of guano, some tablespoon
per gallon mollases when the seed-starting mix already has a little
nitrogen and phosphorus, and various experimental things.

Miracle-Gro seems kind of harsh for seedlings, but at 1/4 teaspoon per
gallon of water it might be ok. It is easy to burn them with too much
fertilizer, so I prefer the slow-release organic fertilizers to the inorganic
chemicals for seedlings.

Since I have a worm bin, and the worm castings work well, that is my
preference.

amideutch · February 5, 2012

When you pot up use Fox Farms "Light Warrior". It has the ferts and myco's already in it. Ami

tgplp · February 5, 2012

I use a diluted mixture of fish fertilizer and liquid kelp. Works like a charm!

Taryn

rxkeith · February 5, 2012

i go with the fish, and kelp here too diluted 1/4 strength, but i don't over do it. they may get a shot or two toward the end before transplanting outside. if you over do the fertilizer, the plants may grow too fast, and get gangly if you don't keep the temps in the 60s. give them as much light as possible. if your planting mix has a slow release fertilizer in it already, they shouldn't need additional fertilizer.

keith

February 3, 2012	#1
luke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 177	Starting fertilizer Opinions on starting fertilizer and when to use it. I know it needs to be diluted, and I have used Jiffy starter mix which supposedly has some starter in it. After transferring my starts to larger cups, I intermittently add some diluted Miracle -Gro. Any advice or opinions?

February 4, 2012	#2
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Worm castings work well for me: 5 parts coir, 2 parts worm castings, 1 part perlite Or: 6 parts seed-starting mix, 2 parts worm castings I have also used a pinch of some granular organic fertilizer per 3" pot when potting up sprouted seedlings. (Bio-Tone is popular for this.) Finally, I have also used kelp solution, a pinch of kelp meal in each 3" pot, a tea made from comfrey, alfalfa, kelp, nettles, and chickweed, clover from the yard liquified in a blender, a pinch of guano, some tablespoon per gallon mollases when the seed-starting mix already has a little nitrogen and phosphorus, and various experimental things. Miracle-Gro seems kind of harsh for seedlings, but at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water it might be ok. It is easy to burn them with too much fertilizer, so I prefer the slow-release organic fertilizers to the inorganic chemicals for seedlings. Since I have a worm bin, and the worm castings work well, that is my preference. __________________ -- alias

February 5, 2012	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	When you pot up use Fox Farms "Light Warrior". It has the ferts and myco's already in it. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

February 5, 2012	#4
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	I use a diluted mixture of fish fertilizer and liquid kelp. Works like a charm! Taryn

February 5, 2012	#5
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,846	i go with the fish, and kelp here too diluted 1/4 strength, but i don't over do it. they may get a shot or two toward the end before transplanting outside. if you over do the fertilizer, the plants may grow too fast, and get gangly if you don't keep the temps in the 60s. give them as much light as possible. if your planting mix has a slow release fertilizer in it already, they shouldn't need additional fertilizer. keith