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Post by walterg on Aug 31, 2009 14:30:48 GMT -10
What are your thoughts on feeding seedlings? What to use, how often, how early to start, differences between how to treat HL and LL, etc.
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Post by rainforest on Sept 8, 2009 10:11:41 GMT -10
I believe seedlings among all other general plants should be fed at an early stage. This will help the plants grow and adjust to regular feedings when available to them. Always begin with a dilute and slowly adjust a formulation that works well for you. I have found that some people can use half, to a quarter to even full strength and get the same results. It depends on other factors such as available and free water, sunlight, air circulation, media composition, and of course competition among plants. Some plants are just faster growers whether this is directly related to fertilizing, or just some plants are more fit and have a natural vigor that excels them beyond their siblings.
There is a threshold for fertilizing. Soon the media will break down and no longer be able to assimilate the nutrients, salts and by products in a safe manner and sooner or later the plants will be affected by this. Media composition is a key factor in everything that occurs with nepenthes. I am actually getting away from organic medias and moving closer to inorganic ones. of course a balance is needed when mixing organic and inorganic types. If I had to pick just ONE as a media it would be pumice. The gritty composition and ability to store some nutrients and moisture makes this media far superior over perlite or vermiculite. Plus the added advantage of not floating is a plus.
M
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