Complete newbie!

[sunnydee]

Hi bought some feminized seeds and also got some free ones, germinated and planted fine about 5 weeks ago and all are doing ok but still only about 5" tall - is this about right? They are in individual pots but growing them outside on the terrace so getting natural light/sun.

Have been watering them every day and now need to think about feeding them? Not much choice round here though for fertilizer stuff so someone suggested a tomato feed - is this ok and how often/much should I give them?

Thanks!

sunnydee Reviewed by sunnydee on 07-10-2009. Complete newbie! Hi bought some feminized seeds and also got some free ones, germinated and planted fine about 5 weeks ago and all are doing ok but still only about 5" tall - is this about right? They are in individual pots but growing them outside on the terrace so getting natural light/sun. Have been watering them every day and now need to think about feeding them? Not much choice round here though for fertilizer stuff so someone suggested a tomato feed - is this ok and how often/much should I give them? Rating: 5

[Stoner38024]

not to sure if u should water everday, unless u have them in really small pots.

[sunnydee]

Bearing in mind that we are in Spain, in summer now with shade temps of 30° and they are in partial shade, how should the soil feel when it needs more water? Currently it has been dry on top but slightly damp when you put your finger into the soil.

It really is how often to feed them that I need know but I suppose how often they are watered will effect this so that the nutrients aren't washed through the pot??

Cheers!

[crabbyback]

You should water until you have decent runoff. Make sure that the soil is getting moist all the way through and not just running down the sides of the pot. When watered thoroughly, the pot should be heavy for its size. Pick it up and remember what the heavy pot feels like.

Do not water again until the pot feels light or soil is dry, not just at the surface, but when you stick your finger into the soil 1 or 2 inches. Then you can water again thoroughly.

If your plant is drying out too often (say daily or more often), that usually means you need to move up a pot size, depending on root mass. Don't let the roots cook in a dark container in the sun. Shade the pot and roots with something.

And yes, watering a container more often will wash nutrients away faster. You may want to feed at every watering with a reduced strength nutrient instead of a periodic full strength feeding.

When your plant starts to bloom, you will need nutrients made specifically for blooming plants. Fertilizers are labeled with the N-P-K %. For bloom, you want to have a very low or zero N and high P and K.

For just vegetative growth, you just need something balanced, like a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10. Always read the directions and start with a weaker solution than they recommend.

FYI, I buy almost all my hydro and growing supplies online. Google is your friend.

Good luck.

[sunnydee]

So the feed I have says to give it once a month, is that all I need to give them? Should this be all at once or over the period of the month say once a week?

[Dutch Pimp]

1. water, throughly when bone dry

2. water, throughly when bone dry

3. water & nutes, when bone dry

4. repeat, process.......IMO.

[bowlinbright]

i don't know if they sell these where you live, and im not sure the exact name of it, but im sure you can get one at any garden shop...it's like two metal rods with a little box on top that tells you how dry or moist your plants soil it, it also reads the ph (except the ph reader on mine is broken)

i don't water everyday, i just check the soil every few days and when it's on the dry side i give her some water = )