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Thanks for your (first) question about Cliff’s seedlings, Mikel. Here are my impressions, although I am finding it a bit hard to see the green plants under the purple grow light.
It looks like his seedlings have developed 1 or 2 pairs of true leaves and are ready to be transplanted into 3-4 inch pots. The soil should feel moist to the touch. They do seem a little small for their age, but given some more root space in a pot filled with a good organic potting soil, these should catch up.
Water the plants thoroughly after potting up to the larger containers. An application of a couple of ounces of diluted liquid organic fertilizer at that time will give the seedlings a boost. I use fish & kelp combined, at the standard dilution rates of 1 TBS of fish emulsion and 2 TBS of kelp for 1 gallon of water.
About the lights, if they are T12 florescent (standard shop light fixture) they can be 2-4 inches above the leaves. The skinnier T5 fixtures are more efficient and are set 4-6 inches. The seedlings don’t look too leggy from lack of light, but the light will have to be reset after he puts them in bigger pots.
Granular or pelleted dry fertilizers can take time to become bio-available, and the one you are using is high in phosphate. For seedlings, I would recommend getting one with a more balanced NPK ratio of 3-3-3 like Down to Earth’s Starter Mix. This has worked well for me in the past when I am blending my own potting soil.
Nearly all of the packaged organic potting soils have fertilizer already blended into the soil in the right proportions. One bag of Down to Earth All Natural Potting Soil or similar planting medium may be all you need to get these good starts up and growing.
Good Luck!
- This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Green Aline. Reason: adding @username
- This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Green Aline.