With most seedlings I start fertilizing after the 2nd set of leaves form with diluted fish fertilizer. I smells, so do not bottom water with the fertilizer. Fish Fertilizer is absorbed thru the foliage as well.
Fertilize once a week.

Thank you for this information I really needed to know that one.

So you mist them instead?

I top water when I fertilize. I mist when the seedlings are very tiny, but once they are big enough for the fertilizer, I bottom watering only by then.

Thank you. This is a question I needed answered.

I use fish fert too. I bottom water until they're a pretty good size. I use the Alaska brand most of the time. Re: the smell, I just do it when my husband isn't around. I sterilize potting soil when he's not home, too. It stinks too!

Karen

I use compost tea until they are grown ups... Karen just so you know.. the grill did not work well to sterilize seed mix... almost set it on fire... LOL

Yikes! You know, I have wondered about that... to keep the smell outside. I usually use the microwave.

Karen

yeah I did that and he complained he was sick for 2 days from the smell... I was thinking now that I have a bigger grill.. maybe able to do indirect heat.. LOL

I usually cook it in the microwave, covered, then stick it out on the porch to cool. Then I clean the microwave with antibacterial cleaner and leave the door open for a while.

When my husband retires, and I don't have time alone at home, I'm not sure how I'll do this.

Karen

Half strength? Quarter strength? Do you use the same strength for the foliar feeding as you do for watering?

I bought a bottle of Alaska Fish Fertilizer (5-1-1), and the label says 1 Tablespoon per gallon for established plants . . .

If your seedlings are tiny, you could mix it 1/2 tablespoon for 1 gallon of water. If your plants are bigger and you have them in 2-1/2" or 4" pots then do the 1 tablespoon per 1-gallon. 5-1-1 is a low concentration of fertilizer, so it should be fine.

Thanks!

I use the Alaska brand fish emulsion. It stinks for a while when applied, but the smell seems to go away fast.

Karen

Hi! My question is regarding using hydrolized fish AND Seaweed fertilizer for my seedlings in 2 to 4- inch pots (Neptune's Harvest, 2-3-1). First of all, is this OK or would plain fish fertilizer (5-1-1-) be better, and second, would the 1 TBs to 1 gall. be a good proportion? That's what the label recommends for houseplants. Thanks in advance!!
My seedlings under lights are mostly all up but we're having frosts if you please at night on the Cape and I'm afraid to put them out yet. Do have some WS seedlings to plant fortunately, if I can bring myself to go outside in all the pollen.

Emily, I usually use one or the other, but not both together. I make it more dilute for seedlings but even full strength it probably wouldn't burn. Both are organic and generally gentle enough for seedlings. I don't even measure. I'm a pretty haphazard gardener. I just pour a little bit into the water.

Karen

Oooookaaay. This week, gardeners, we learned that if we do not intend to use an entire gallon of water for the seedlings, we should not mix up the whole gallon (even at half strength) and let it sit for two days in the closed-up house.

I came home from work and thought maybe I accidentally put some chicken trimmings in the kitchen trashcan.

Sheesh, what was I thinking?

ooohhh that could be bad

Opening the window did the trick, but I feel pretty stupid.

The same is true of hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide is H2O2. It's basically water- H20- with an extra 02 molecule. When exposed to light and air the extra oxygen evaporates and the solution becomes water. There is a reason peroxide comes in a dark brown bottle and says to keep in a dark space. So if you mix peroxide and water for your plants in a clear bottle and continue to use it for days, chances are you are just applying water.

Karen