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Post by daylilydude on Apr 7, 2019 6:36:54 GMT -5
Which seed-starter is better to use, the seed-starter with fertilizer or without?
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 7, 2019 7:30:03 GMT -5
I use the soil-less seed starting mix and I have not really researched what is available but I have not seen one with fertilizer.
Seedlings do not need any fertilizer until they get their first true leaves so I start giving them a dilute solution in their water once a week after that. The mix provides nothing other than a substrate for the roots.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Apr 7, 2019 9:05:34 GMT -5
I dunno as I don't use seed starter mix. I use jiffy pellets.
The potting mix I buy leaves a lot to be desired too and I'll tell you why. Because it's only half composted and you have to sift the twigs out of it. Sort of a pita, but I've tried all that's available near me.
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Post by octave1 on Apr 7, 2019 9:14:46 GMT -5
I used both and I did not see a discernible difference.
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Post by september on Apr 7, 2019 9:15:23 GMT -5
It doesn't make any difference to me, and I've never paid attention to if it's there. If you have very old seeds, one of the methods to wake them up is to pre-soak them in water containing some of the "blue" fertilizer. So I can't see where it would harm anything having a bit of fertilizer in the starting mix for fresh seeds, even though the seedlings won't need it for a while.
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 7, 2019 10:30:13 GMT -5
it's only half composted and you have to sift the twigs out of it. My potting mix usually has some of that too but I figured that it was there for aeration and to keep the mix from compacting.
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Post by paulf on Apr 7, 2019 10:31:02 GMT -5
I like soilless mix and a little fertilizer does not hurt.
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Post by paquebot on Apr 7, 2019 13:07:02 GMT -5
Jiffy Mix Plus has been my base for years. Just enough NPK in it to last the short time that the seedlings are in the starters. I do top off the starters with No Damp Off which has no nutrients.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by spacecase0 on Apr 7, 2019 21:12:20 GMT -5
I have been breeding my plants to not need any nitrogen to sprout. so far it seems to have worked for the zucchini
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 7, 2019 22:47:17 GMT -5
I use a soilless mix, and add a little worm castings to it, plus a little extra perlite, to make up for the castings. And I water with a very dilute fertilizer, made from my hydroponics mix for vegetative growth, and a litter silicate, also used in the hydro, for stronger stems.
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