Feeding Seedlings: Should I Fertilize Seedlings (2024)

FAQs

Feeding Seedlings: Should I Fertilize Seedlings? ›

All the nutrients that are needed to sustain these cotyledons are contained right inside the seed. But once the second set of "true" leaves appear, you should begin feeding your seedlings with a dilute fertilizer solution. Mix the fertilizer at half the recommended rate and apply it twice a week.

Once your seedlings have emerged, water them with a common water-soluble fertilizer at ¼ regular strength. Repeat this once every week or so, gradually increasing the concentration of the fertilizer as the seedlings grow more true leaves. Water all other times with plain water.

Simply mix the formula with water and apply to flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, transplants, and seedlings. The solution not only stimulates root growth for faster blooms compared to unfed plants, it also helps prevent transplant shock. Grow stronger plants with Miracle-Gro®. Mix 1/2 capful in 1 gallon of water.

High-nitrogen fertilizers are known for causing huge growth in plants, which is why many types are rich in nitrogen or include it as the main component. Fertilizers high in nitrogen will also restore bright green hues to your foliage.

Seedlings do not need fertilizer from sowing through the first week after germination because the cotyledons, which are pre-formed inside the seed, have all the initial nutrition needed to sustain seedling growth. A week after germination, seedlings require a small amount of nutrients, mainly N, P and K.

The seeds do not actually need fertilizer for the first few weeks of their life. It would be a seed sowing mistake to feed too early as germination can actually be hindered if there is too much fertilizer in the soil.

What Type of Fertilizer to Use on Seedlings. Look for an all-purpose fertilizer that contains an even balance of nitrogen (N) to phophorous (P) to potassium (K). An all-purpose fertilizer will help young plants develop a sturdy root system and lush, healthy leaves.

Too much fertilizer (applied too often or too much) can burn or desiccate roots, ultimately killing the plant.

Too much fertilizer may inhibit germination completely, which results in a loss of stand. In other instances, too much fertilizer placed with the seed may simply delay germination, or it may result in weak seedlings with poorly developed root systems.

MG is so strong that if used incorrectly, the fertilizer will actually burn the leaves and roots of your plants (you may have already experienced this). Imagine what it's doing to the healthy bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes that are working so hard to provide the nutrients your plants need.

When should I start feeding tomato seedlings? ›

In a similar way, start feeding the tomatoes when the flowers appear, perhaps every two weeks, moving to every week as the plant grows in vigour and twice weekly when the fruits are plentiful. However, tomato feed does vary in strength, so check the manufactures' instructions.

Just add half a cap of Miracle-Gro® Quick Start® Planting & Transplant Starting Solution to a 1-gallon watering can, and again a week later, with regular watering in between.

It's important not to fertilize seedlings too early. To ensure healthy growth, begin fertilizing your seedlings with a mild dose of fertilizer designed for young plants once they develop their first true leaves.

Light, light, and more light

Rotate the pots regularly to keep plants from leaning into the light. If seedlings don't get enough light, they will be leggy and weak. If you're growing under lights, adjust them so they're just a few inches above the tops of the seedlings.

Many container nurseries that grow native plants use artificial growing media such as peat moss and vermiculite. Because media are essentially infertile, nurseries either incorporate a starter dose of fertilizer or start liquid fertigation (irrigation water containing liquid fertilizer) soon after germination.

At about 4 to 6 weeks after the seed germinates fertilize the lawn with a high quality turf fertilizer that is predominantly nitrogen. Once turf is 4 to 6 weeks old or older, nitrogen is the most important nutrient for a healthy, attractive stand of grass.

Too much fertilizer can potentially cause a chemical burn on the roots of your plant. In severe cases, it can also cause the whole plant to wilt and die. This is something that you might see happen within a few days of fertilizing.

Trees, for example, begin to wake up and grow in early spring, and typically are fertilized once in February or March. Most shrubs make active growth in the spring and early summer, so we tend to fertilize them once around March or April.