How often to feed plants - young and old

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von219 Matewan, WV(Zone 6b) Aug 11, 2008

My husband is MG happy.....I've asked him not to feed them anymore until I can find out how often each plant needs. He's a gardener want-a-be. His idea is if a little is good.....more (and everyday) must be better......Grrrrr

1) Sweet Bell Pepper Plant (Full Grown)

2) RoS (7" - 3 month old cuttings that are blooming)

3) RoS (3" baby plants - grown from seeds)

Thanks in advance

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grannymarsh Marquette, MI(Zone 5a) Aug 11, 2008

My first suggestion would be to get your soil tested. Then one knows specifically what is needed, if anything.
Too much fertilizer can lead to problems. It could lead to an overload of salts in your soil. Your plants can tell you what they need if you keep an eye on them.
Also, I seldom use insecticide unless there is a definite problem. Why fix what ain't broke ?

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Aug 11, 2008

Ditto what grannymarsh said. Also, too much ferts can cause plants to grow too much lush green growth and not put on enough flowers/fruit.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 11, 2008

And at the very least read the directions on the back of the MG package and don't exceed the amount/frequency they recommend--you can actually kill your plants if you do that. For the baby plants especially you need to be careful, when I have seedlings I typically use 1/4 to 1/2 the strength that's listed on the package so that I don't accidentally burn the tiny new roots.

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grannymarsh Marquette, MI(Zone 5a) Aug 11, 2008

WEEKLY, WEAKLY

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Aug 12, 2008

All your darling husband will be doing with his over feeding is making the plants produce soft lush foliage at the cost of good root growth, so come winter, the tender foliage will be killed of with the low temps at night especially and no new root system to support the plants under the soil, baby plants should never need fed till they have made good NATURAL top growth, as for all other plants, each spring and maybe mid summer at a push is plenty, but good soil prep will help even more, add animal/compost to the planting soil at planting time as this helps the plants draw up the nutrients WHEN nature tells them it is needed, not when a human drowns them in it, tell him he is making his plant obese, but seriously over feeding can burn the roots, makes the stems soft and open to disease and short lived, the only plants to need feeding half what he is doing is summer pots and baskets as there is little soil and nutrients in the compost for the whole season, hope this helps you understand a bit, tell you husband, you need this kind of care and attention, ha, ha, ha. good luck. WeeNel.

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