How long will a seedling feed itself?

[pointer80]

Hello all, I was wondering how long a seedling will feed itself with the nutrients(or energy) it has stored before seeking out nutrients in the soil or growing medium? Does this depend on if there are nutrients readily available in the soil for the seedling to feed upon? Or does the seedling automatically use up all it's nutrients first then seek other nutrients at that point? Thanks all.

 

[fanleaf]

Hello all, I was wondering how long a seedling will feed itself with the nutrients(or energy) it has stored before seeking out nutrients in the soil or growing medium? Does this depend on if there are nutrients readily available in the soil for the seedling to feed upon? Or does the seedling automatically use up all it's nutrients first then seek other nutrients at that point? Thanks all.

A seedling can find uses for minerals shortly after they sprout. If your medium has bathing in it for nutrients already then dont worry. I have primarily grown in Promix which is a soiless "nutrition free" media. There are still tiny amounts in it but in a media like that I like to start LIGHTLY feeding after a week from sprout is when they seem to start really needing much of anything.

 

[Barney86]

I don't feed any of my plants untill they need it mate. Always start that way. Had to feed them yesterday. I lost the exact count but about 8 days for the 2 autos and 10 days for the 6 photos.
Done in Root riots which are a blank, 1 inch sponge and my tap water is only 48ppm at ph7.4.
Probably another 3 or 4 days before theyd be in trouble too but they started yellowing yesterday so thats my cue for a whopping 100ppm feed lol.
Less is best in my world. If they don't ask for it I don't give them it.

 

[Barney86]

You can see the cotys turning and a tiny bit yellowing ontop.
They're small for their age but it's deliberate. I use a 140000k to start them under so all the focus goes to root development. Gonna get the photos into cubes later today. Got 5 weeks before the bloom space is free so in no rush

 

[Warren1990]

Nice! How old are your seedling from sprouting?

 

[Barney86]

Nice! How old are your seedling from sprouting?

Autos in the big cubes were 8 days and the photos in the rr were 10. Give or take a day. Forgot to write it down lol.