Diluting fish fertilizer

I read from all of you wonderful posters that I should dilute my fish fertilizer to 1/4 strength when I begin adding it to my small plants. Most are working on their second or third set of true leaves. Approximately what ratio of water to fertilizer would I use? The container says 1 tbsp per gallon of water, but this is for established full-grown plants. Help!

To figure out 1/4 strength, you divide by 4. So if full strength is 1 tbsp per gallon, then 1/4 strength would be 1/4 tbsp per gallon (but since most measuring spoon sets don't have fractions of tablespoons, that converts to 3/4 tsp per gallon)

Okay - I didn't realize that I should go off of the measurement they were giving for established garden plants. Somehow, I thought the full-strength amount suggested for newly started plants would be less. I'll go ahead and do the 3/4 tsp then and keep my fingers crossed that the smell doesn't kill me!

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying there...I'm assuming that the 1 tbsp per gallon that you quoted is the amount that you should be using for full-grown plants. For seedlings you generally want to go about 1/4 of the strength that you would use for full grown plants, therefore the 1/4 tbsp (or 3/4 tsp) per gallon for seedlings.

I'm pretty sure you are right. I just wondered if there might be an amount suggested for young plants (aside from the diluting by 1/4 measurement) that would be different than for well established plants. It seems that if I just go with the 3/4 tsp/gallon I should be fine.

No, I don't think they typically specify amounts for younger plants, the general rule of thumb I've heard anywhere from 1/4 strength to 1/2 strength of the normal amounts for seedlings, then you can work your way up to full strength as the plant gets bigger.