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fertilizer Fertilizer question

Hey guys, so my plants are only like an inch tall but they have 3 sets of true leaves.. im just wondering when i should start giving them fertilizer? How much? and how often also what are some good fertilizers i could get in canada?

Thanks FF.
 
Do you have access to Fox Farm?  Their Big Bloom can be fed to seedlings.  I start their grow big as soon as I have first true leaves.  Fish emulsion is also a great organic option that will not burn the babies.
 
NeedsWork said:
Do you have access to Fox Farm?  Their Big Bloom can be fed to seedlings.  I start their grow big as soon as I have first true leaves.  Fish emulsion is also a great organic option that will not burn the babies.
people have talked about fox farm but i don't think you can get it in canada.
 
Be careful. I see alot of people over garden by thinking they need to do everything for their plants. Fertilizer isn't "food" to be fed to a plant every day, nor is it meant to be some kind of steroid that's going to turn your plant into a pod making beast. A plant synthesizes 98% of its make up from light, air, and water.  That only leaves 2% that it draws from the soil and that eventually needs replacing.  Water based ferts are just that, water so they easily leech from soils and create a fleeting effect which requires more fertilizer each time, eventually salinizing  the soil because most of the nutrients haven't been used up.  I suggest a granulated slow release fertilizer. I swear by espoma products, tomato-tone in particular for peppers.  The time to fertilize is when you see a slow down in growth/production or notice a nutrient deficiency.  I usually only apply fertilizer at transplant when the plants are about a foot high and right before fruiting (when growth stalls) like 2-3 months later.  Providing the foundations; good light, airflow, soil and proper watering are way more crucial to the over all health of a plant than fertilization. 
 
Topsmoke said:
Be careful. I see alot of people over garden by thinking they need to do everything for their plants. Fertilizer isn't "food" to be fed to a plant every day, nor is it meant to be some kind of steroid that's going to turn your plant into a pod making beast. A plant synthesizes 98% of its make up from light, air, and water.  That only leaves 2% that it draws from the soil and that eventually needs replacing.  Water based ferts are just that, water so they easily leech from soils and create a fleeting effect which requires more fertilizer each time, eventually salinizing  the soil because most of the nutrients haven't been used up.  I suggest a granulated slow release fertilizer. I swear by espoma products, tomato-tone in particular for peppers.  The time to fertilize is when you see a slow down in growth/production or notice a nutrient deficiency.  I usually only apply fertilizer at transplant when the plants are about a foot high and right before fruiting (when growth stalls) like 2-3 months later.  Providing the foundations; good light, airflow, soil and proper watering are way more crucial to the over all health of a plant than fertilization. 
 
↑THIS↑
 
FullersFire said:
Thanks everyone!! how often should you be fertilizing them though?
 
I fed every other watering last year and had great results.  Once they go outside in the garden it is up to the compost and other soil based goodies.
 
FullersFire said:
Thanks everyone!! how often should you be fertilizing them though?
When I pot up my plants from solo cups to 1 gallon containers, I lightly mix some dry organic fertilizer into the soil. This way, they are constantly fed from their roots, until I pot them up again, or plant them in the ground. I don't fertilize while in the solo cups, I don't think they really need it, since they are just babies at that point.

I used to use fish fertilizer, but I stopped using it in my house, because the fungus gnat situation gets way out of control with that stuff. As long as there are no fungus gnats in the house, my wife will let me have as many plants as I want, lol! I still use the fish emulsion outside though, but I have to watch out for my dog digging up the plants for a couple of days after using it. Dogs can't resist that fishy smell.
 
FullersFire said:
 
I haven't used any of them.  I've heard good things about GH trio, bloom, grow and micro, in hydro setups.   
 
I'd contact the store and ask if they carry fish emulsion or compost tea.  It will be easier on the soil and your budget.  Plus there is a larger margin for error.  Like Slim'sPepperCo. said, it does smell a little, but I had great results with plants bushing out.
 
http://www.amazon.ca/Seaweed-Blend-Fertilizer-Neptunes-Harvest/dp/B009HLVIY0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1455469443&sr=8-3&keywords=fish+emulsion#customerReviews
 
Amazon Ca also has the Fox Farm trio... but again more $$$ and less margin for error.
 
http://www.amazon.ca/FX14049-Fertilizer-Nutrient-Soil-Formula-32-Ounce/dp/B00572026S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455469713&sr=8-2&keywords=foxfarm
 
NeedsWork said:
 
I haven't used any of them.  I've heard good things about GH trio, bloom, grow and micro, in hydro setups.   
 
I'd contact the store and ask if they carry fish emulsion or compost tea.  It will be easier on the soil and your budget.  Plus there is a larger margin for error.  Like Slim'sPepperCo. said, it does smell a little, but I had great results with plants bushing out.
 
http://www.amazon.ca/Seaweed-Blend-Fertilizer-Neptunes-Harvest/dp/B009HLVIY0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1455469443&sr=8-3&keywords=fish+emulsion#customerReviews
 
Amazon Ca also has the Fox Farm trio... but again more $$$ and less margin for error.
 
http://www.amazon.ca/FX14049-Fertilizer-Nutrient-Soil-Formula-32-Ounce/dp/B00572026S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455469713&sr=8-2&keywords=foxfarm
   Why buy compost tea when you can brew it at home.
 
I use a very very dilute solution of Miracle Grow and ice cold beer once the plants develop their second set of true leaves.
 
When I water, I water with the dilute Miracle Grow solution.
 
I drink the beer.
 
Everybody has a different opinion and most from folks on this forum will indeed work.  
 
Enjoy and as always, don't sweat the little things  :P
 
Big Mike 
 
Thegreenchilemonster said:
When I pot up my plants from solo cups to 1 gallon containers, I lightly mix some dry organic fertilizer into the soil. This way, they are constantly fed from their roots, until I pot them up again, or plant them in the ground. I don't fertilize while in the solo cups, I don't think they really need it, since they are just babies at that point.

I used to use fish fertilizer, but I stopped using it in my house, because the fungus gnat situation gets way out of control with that stuff. As long as there are no fungus gnats in the house, my wife will let me have as many plants as I want, lol! I still use the fish emulsion outside though, but I have to watch out for my dog digging up the plants for a couple of days after using it. Dogs can't resist that fishy smell.
U can try letting your plants sit in an inch or so of water. (I use fish emulsion as well) For 3 seconds. I use a plastic bin that has a 4 to 5 inch depth. Make sure to not leave it in there too long!! The soil will eventually get evenly moist and the top soil will dry, thus killing the gnats. They love moisture. Do some trial and error tries with some plant-less soil  :P  
It is a cool little trick to rid of gnats. U can also feel how heavy it should feel when its watered and how much water is really needed. Gives a new meaning to over watering.
It really encourages young plants and their roots to stretchhhhh down and deep to get what they need. I use the under soaking method with my 4 inch pots, and even my 2.5 gallon pots. That's why I love basic black nursery pots with all the holes in them.
Lol. I have to put the dog inside when I work with the emulsion.
 
juanitos said:
yeah, good time to start. use half strength whatever is recommended on bottle. 
dyna-gro is good
Juanitos, do you recommend half-strength of the "maintenance" dosage(1/4 tsp/ga every watering so 1/8tsp?) or half-strength of the "Production" dosage (1tsp/ga per week so 1/2tsp?) 
 
Thanks
 
Malarky said:
Juanitos, do you recommend half-strength of the "maintenance" dosage(1/4 tsp/ga every watering so 1/8tsp?) or half-strength of the "Production" dosage (1tsp/ga per week so 1/2tsp?) 
 
Thanks
half the production dose. then ramp up to the production when you transplant outside or whereever.
 
Topsmoke said:
Be careful. I see alot of people over garden by thinking they need to do everything for their plants. Fertilizer isn't "food" to be fed to a plant every day, nor is it meant to be some kind of steroid that's going to turn your plant into a pod making beast. A plant synthesizes 98% of its make up from light, air, and water.  That only leaves 2% that it draws from the soil and that eventually needs replacing.  Water based ferts are just that, water so they easily leech from soils and create a fleeting effect which requires more fertilizer each time, eventually salinizing  the soil because most of the nutrients haven't been used up.  I suggest a granulated slow release fertilizer. I swear by espoma products, tomato-tone in particular for peppers.  The time to fertilize is when you see a slow down in growth/production or notice a nutrient deficiency.  I usually only apply fertilizer at transplant when the plants are about a foot high and right before fruiting (when growth stalls) like 2-3 months later.  Providing the foundations; good light, airflow, soil and proper watering are way more crucial to the over all health of a plant than fertilization.
fertilizer is like engine oil or vitamines for humans. they facilitate the complex biochemical reactions that make up plant life.

plants simply cannot exist without the nutrients. no they are not the bulk of the plant tissue, but so what? give your plants what they need and no more.

if you are growing in an inert medium you need to give your plants everything. organic soil? you need to give them less.

a properly fertilized plant will outgrow a shitty underferted plant in heavy organic soil not because its roided up, but because its properly fertilized and well cared for.

pepper plants are not particularly sensitive to fertilizer contrary to popular belief.

"water based ferts", are not water based. thats like saying bleach is water based... just because its in solution with water.
they are aqueous solutions of salts. the rates at which they leach from the soil has little to do with the fact that they are soluble in water, and more to do with ionic interactions between the nutrients and the soil particles.

soils heavy with clay tend to hold anion ferts longer. sandy soils tend to hold ferts poorly.

soil salinity is harder to manage in field agriculture... not in a garden or container. this is simply not an issue what so ever.

soil salinity or conductivity is easy to monitor... simply excavate a wad of soil from around the rootzone and soil slurry test it with a conductivcity meter and ph meter.

if salinity exceedes 4ec or so then you have a problem... you are probably way way over feeding and need to leach your soil.
 
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