Miracle Grow soil/Seedlings

I currently have 2 seedlings that are 20 days old. I'm using Miracle Grow potting soil, I know it's best to use something else but I'm new to growing and took what felt was easier. As far as lighting I'm using 6 23watt CFL at 18/6. My question is, my plants are growing extremely slow and I'm wondering if it's a nute problem and can I use plant food yet or is there still enough nutes still in the MG. As I mentioned its been 3 weeks and growth is practically stopped. I have also noticed yellowish leaves and on 1 of the plants the 2 little leaves at the very bottom are brown and looking dead, at the same time that same plant has very green leaves and is bigger and growing more than all the other plants. Needless to say I'm very confused and at a loss on what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Temp low 80s humidity around 50%.

what size containers are they in? is it possible that they are rootbound? i would say that they need to be fed. what nutes are you using?

-shake

I'm using 6in diameter pots, if I where to guess I would say 1 gallon. As far as nutes I have 3 different ones I bought Shultz plant food plus 10-15-10 and Shultz African Violet 8-14-9 also Orchid Bloom Booster 11-35-15. Because I planted them in MG soil I didn't know if it would be safe for the plants to feed them yet or even how much to use.

Sounds like the problems I had when I did use MG way back a long time ago in the medium dark ages. I started using OF and my garden got awesome.

My first grow was with Miracle Grow, I used very little ferts for that grow (bag seed) and I got some decent mid grade with about 2 ounces of yeild. Every other grow since then, even basil and jalapenos have been plagued by millipedes and fruit flys. Granted, really the only places to buy anything out here is Walmart and lowes. I have since switched to FF ocean forest and things are just way easier. Oh, and also, MG gave a very weird taste to the pot that FF doesnt.

There is nothing wrong with MG soil...

Its not the best but it works. Just make sure you add more perlite to the soil.

In fact one of my best tasting, looking, and smoking plants was in MG mixed with some scotts potting mix and MG perlite. OF is awesome but MG works no matter what people say.

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Originally Posted by Budman79

I currently have 2 seedlings that are 20 days old. I'm using Miracle Grow potting soil, I know it's best to use something else but I'm new to growing and took what felt was easier. As far as lighting I'm using 6 23watt CFL at 18/6. My question is, my plants are growing extremely slow and I'm wondering if it's a nute problem and can I use plant food yet or is there still enough nutes still in the MG. As I mentioned its been 3 weeks and growth is practically stopped. I have also noticed yellowish leaves and on 1 of the plants the 2 little leaves at the very bottom are brown and looking dead, at the same time that same plant has very green leaves and is bigger and growing more than all the other plants. Needless to say I'm very confused and at a loss on what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Temp low 80s humidity around 50%.

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Seedlings don't need much in the way of nutrients. If they are growing extremely slow, then they are definitely not root bound. Most people new to growing tend to love their plants to death by over watering and or over feeding them. Its just like any other plant, they don't need much in the way of nutrients, and the soil is just fine unless you've ADDED nutes to them. If that's the case I would replant them or flush them with clear water and then make sure they are not over watered. They don't even need that much light in the first few weeks. Temperatures not over 80F

keylime

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Originally Posted by keylime

Seedlings don't need much in the way of nutrients. If they are growing extremely slow, then they are definitely not root bound. Most people new to growing tend to love their plants to death by over watering and or over feeding them. Its just like any other plant, they don't need much in the way of nutrients, and the soil is just fine unless you've ADDED nutes to them. If that's the case I would replant them or flush them with clear water and then make sure they are not over watered. They don't even need that much light in the first few weeks. Temperatures not over 80F

keylime

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What he said.

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Originally Posted by GetThisOrDie

There is nothing wrong with MG soil...

Its not the best but it works. Just make sure you add more perlite to the soil.

In fact one of my best tasting, looking, and smoking plants was in MG mixed with some scotts potting mix and MG perlite. OF is awesome but MG works no matter what people say.

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I agree, it just does not work well for me and OF works great. Obviously one must make do as necessary. Bugs were an issue.

I always try to find a place that keeps the soil indoors and away from possible bug sources. For example, when I was buying MG soil I would get it from a Target department store that DIDNT have an outdoor garden section. The bags were on a shelf inside the store. Never got any bugs when practicing that.

In my current location now the closest place for OF is 60+ miles away. Im going to run out of my OF on my current run. :(

Buy fresh bags of potting soil...now! otherwise the bags will lay in winter and rot at the store.