What is the most important nutrient to give to a seedling that's hungry?

bobj1598

bobj1598

Well-Known Member
Of the three, which is most important: N, P, or K?

Asking because I'm trying to get to the bottom of why my roots look so weak.

Initially, I gave a dose of 7 3 3 fertilizer for a N deficiency, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should've given the 3 7 3 fertilizer instead (high phosphorus for root development).
 
Killaki

Killaki

Well-Known Member
bobj1598 said:
Of the three, which is most important: N, P, or K?

Asking because I'm trying to get to the bottom of why my roots look so weak.

Initially, I gave a dose of 7 3 3 fertilizer for a N deficiency, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should've given the 3 7 3 fertilizer instead (high phosphorus for root development).
Click to expand...
What sort of seedling are we talking about here? Age of plant? What medium? Pics?
 
bobj1598

bobj1598

Well-Known Member
Killaki said:
What sort of seedling are we talking about here? Age of plant? What medium? Pics?
Click to expand...
The seedling sprouted on May 23rd, and began to exhibit an N. deficiency around the 18 day mark. I would have to dig up photos from a while ago, I can link them if you'd like, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass to find them and I don't think they're relevant right now.

They were grown in a seed starting mix (PROMIX) 4.00 round pots for well over a month. I transplanted on July 5th, waited until July 11th to fertilize and water and since then, no water. So in my opinion, the small root growth only occurred while in the round 4.00 pots. Which is somewhat absurd considering the length of time I left them in there and in comparison to the photos taken by other growers on here when they do the first transplant, you can actually SEE thick, white roots. When I transplanted, I saw nothing.

I think these roots ought to be thicker than what they are. Obviously I did and/or am doing something wrong and I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong

1658974983906.png
 
King Dude

King Dude

Active Member
bobj1598 said:
Of the three, which is most important: N, P, or K?

Asking because I'm trying to get to the bottom of why my roots look so weak.

Initially, I gave a dose of 7 3 3 fertilizer for a N deficiency, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should've given the 3 7 3 fertilizer instead (high phosphorus for root development).
Click to expand...
I don't use fertilizer for seedlings. I only give them purified/spring water, mycorrhizae inoculant, and Azospirillum brasilense inoculant.
 
bobj1598

bobj1598

Well-Known Member
madvillian420 said:
thats a long enough drought to kill most weed plants lol, why would you ever wait so long?
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I didn't use to, I would water my plants twice daily and look how the roots turned out. If that plant belonged to any of you, I'm williing to bet the roots would probably be 5-6 times the thickness.

The soil that I'm using is herb & vegetable mix from PROMIX, water tends to stay logged in the medium and there is very little runoff. The plant is not wilting, at all, in a little over two weeks since having been watered. It doesn't appear to be growing much, but if I were to water it every few days, would my roots develop? I think that's where I went wrong, watering my seedlings FAR too often. Now, they don;t have the roots to take them far in veg
 
Rootbound420

Rootbound420

Well-Known Member
The promix your using is from walmart? Yellow or red? If its the same ive used then after 2 weeks you need to introduce nutes. Also you need to add perlite to it like a 70/30 mix. It has perlite in it already but not nearly enough. It tends to hold water and ends up with weak roots or root rot. Try to stay away from watering heavy against the stem. First few weeks spray the top soil around your stem a few times a day like 5 or 6 squirts and then water a 2 or 3 inch ring around the rim of your pot after seedling is 7 days old so roots stretch better to the edges.
 
Rootbound420

Rootbound420

Well-Known Member
bobj1598 said:
Precisely this.

Yep, I got it from a department store. Had I known I would have purchased and added additional perlite. Oh well.

If you have used this https://www.promixgardening.com/en/product/detail/promix-premium-organic-vegetable-herb-mix

how long did it take you to get to harvest?
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Its almost the same as what i use i use the potted soil its straight peat, perlite and seedling nutes for 2 weeks feed. The soil you have has coco mixed in as well. Should have enough nutes to feed for up to 4 weeks. Treat it like living soil. Mine took 78 days from seed to harvest on a bubblegum auto. But soil wont make a difference on speed of harvest. Straight buffered Coco might grow a little faster as its super loamy and aerated but still wont get you to harvest quicker. Genetics and choice of strain will be where you want to focus if you want a certain time frame for seed to harvest.
 
N

Nope_49595933949

Well-Known Member
bobj1598 said:
The seedling sprouted on May 23rd, and began to exhibit an N. deficiency around the 18 day mark. I would have to dig up photos from a while ago, I can link them if you'd like, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass to find them and I don't think they're relevant right now.

They were grown in a seed starting mix (PROMIX) 4.00 round pots for well over a month. I transplanted on July 5th, waited until July 11th to fertilize and water and since then, no water. So in my opinion, the small root growth only occurred while in the round 4.00 pots. Which is somewhat absurd considering the length of time I left them in there and in comparison to the photos taken by other growers on here when they do the first transplant, you can actually SEE thick, white roots. When I transplanted, I saw nothing.

I think these roots ought to be thicker than what they are. Obviously I did and/or am doing something wrong and I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong

View attachment 5170702
Click to expand...
You haven't watered in 17 days and you are curious as to what is going on?
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Rootbound420 said:
Straight buffered Coco might grow a little faster as its super loamy and aerated but still wont get you to harvest quicker.
Click to expand...
If your plant matures faster, it will certainly get you to harvest quicker. Plants won't flower until they mature, and a fast growing plant in veg means it will be quicker to mature.
 
Rootbound420

Rootbound420

Well-Known Member
PJ Diaz said:
If your plant matures faster, it will certainly get you to harvest quicker. Plants won't flower until they mature, and a fast growing plant in veg means it will be quicker to mature.
Click to expand...
So growing in coco will achieve a faster harvest? How much time does it normally cut off?
 
madvillian420

madvillian420

Well-Known Member
Adding random nutrients to your soil isnt how you get healthy roots.

You are contemplating adding high phosphorous fertilizer to a plant in early veg that you havent watered in weeks and have the nerve to clap back at people correcting you? Theres a time to talk and a time to listen, you have some things to learn my man best to be humble and take some advice without the attitude.

Invest in some fresh worm castings and some Mycorrhizae. Work on your soil mix additives like perlite and get soil your drainage in line. Inferior soil quality or drainage levels will impede healthy root development.
 
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