It sems like sea weed has everything a plant needs like a vitamine pill for new plants! I will try this with some of my seed starting boxes this year.! Can this also be used in a compost at a stronger dosage? Here is a link to one I am looking at!
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https://gardeningzone.com/product_info.php?products_id=207&osCsid=0c0d8c9f00aa4a39fb620a8827a3cff9
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- Super Green Thumb
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- gixxerific
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- lorax
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I swear by liquid seaweed, but only once the seedlings are up and have true leaves. Then it goes into the watering regime at 1 tbsp to the gallon of water used.
Incidentally, it's also what I use on my bananas and tomatoes, and they've never grown better or been healthier. The bananas are fed daily.
The brand I use is called Ibermar Plus, which is simple liquified Ascophyllum nodosum. I have no idea whether it's available outside of Latin America, though.
Incidentally, it's also what I use on my bananas and tomatoes, and they've never grown better or been healthier. The bananas are fed daily.
The brand I use is called Ibermar Plus, which is simple liquified Ascophyllum nodosum. I have no idea whether it's available outside of Latin America, though.
- rainbowgardener
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It's good for plants, but why would you want to put it in compost?
I never add fertilizers to my compost pile, which is full of nutrients from all the stuff I put in it to break down. Save the fertilizers for the plants (when I use them at all, which is mainly for plants that live in pots year around).
I never add fertilizers to my compost pile, which is full of nutrients from all the stuff I put in it to break down. Save the fertilizers for the plants (when I use them at all, which is mainly for plants that live in pots year around).
1st of all - Sry if people don't like old threads being resurrected, but I figured it was better than starting a new one.
The first of my broccoli seedlings has its first true leaf, so I need to start thinking about liquid fertilizer (I planted in a homemade mix of 1 quart peat moss and 2 cups each vermiculite and compost...the goal was disease prevention more than providing nutrition).
Anyway, I happen to have some liquid seaweed I bought for a homemade spray I was using on my crabapple tree last year. The rating on it says "0-0-1"...is that really sufficient for seedlings? They don't need N or K? I know the posts above imply the answers to these questions but I'd appreciate if someone could humor me and spell it out; I really need my garden to go well this year lest I lose funding, lol, so I'm being extra careful. Thanks!
The first of my broccoli seedlings has its first true leaf, so I need to start thinking about liquid fertilizer (I planted in a homemade mix of 1 quart peat moss and 2 cups each vermiculite and compost...the goal was disease prevention more than providing nutrition).
Anyway, I happen to have some liquid seaweed I bought for a homemade spray I was using on my crabapple tree last year. The rating on it says "0-0-1"...is that really sufficient for seedlings? They don't need N or K? I know the posts above imply the answers to these questions but I'd appreciate if someone could humor me and spell it out; I really need my garden to go well this year lest I lose funding, lol, so I'm being extra careful. Thanks!
a 0-0-1 doesn't seem it would do much for a seedling.
if you are using compost in the starting mix, there a high likelihood you don't need to provide any additional fertilizer for 4-6 weeks.
too warm, too well fed, too much water leads to too much too fast growth and typically, contrary to the desired TLC outcome, results in weak plants at the point of setting out.
if you insist, use a fertilizer at not more than 1/2 the label strength - or less - it's really easy to "fertilize again" but burning off the roots of seedlings means starting over. labels directions/strengths are usually meant for established plants, not seedlings.
if you are using compost in the starting mix, there a high likelihood you don't need to provide any additional fertilizer for 4-6 weeks.
too warm, too well fed, too much water leads to too much too fast growth and typically, contrary to the desired TLC outcome, results in weak plants at the point of setting out.
if you insist, use a fertilizer at not more than 1/2 the label strength - or less - it's really easy to "fertilize again" but burning off the roots of seedlings means starting over. labels directions/strengths are usually meant for established plants, not seedlings.
- rainbowgardener
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Thanks for the insights everyone! If you look around online people rave about the liquid seaweed for everything, including seedlings, but I figured they would have to have more than just potassium.
Anyway this one seedling seems to be ahead of the pack quite a bit, so I'll wait a while longer and then add a weak liquid fertilizer to my bottom-watering every couple weeks or something. Maybe in addition to the seaweed I could steep some coffee grounds and some natural source of phosphorus in the water for a bit before using it.
@RG - I'm assuming you mean used grounds right? I'm guessing caffeine isn't particularly great for plants, lol, but just making sure.
@Dill - Thanks for the thoughts about over-fertilizing...I'll use half of whatever it says on the seaweed bottle!
Anyway this one seedling seems to be ahead of the pack quite a bit, so I'll wait a while longer and then add a weak liquid fertilizer to my bottom-watering every couple weeks or something. Maybe in addition to the seaweed I could steep some coffee grounds and some natural source of phosphorus in the water for a bit before using it.
@RG - I'm assuming you mean used grounds right? I'm guessing caffeine isn't particularly great for plants, lol, but just making sure.
@Dill - Thanks for the thoughts about over-fertilizing...I'll use half of whatever it says on the seaweed bottle!
- rainbowgardener
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