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Potting on seedlings

FizzleFizzle Posts: 7

I'm new to raising plants from seed (and to this forum) and have sown various perennials, annuals and veg inside. Most have germinated to date and I have pricked out and potted on some, eg cosmos, alongside a few container plug plants from the GC. These are now in the greenhouse. 

The compost I used was seed and cutting but I was reading something online yesterday which said pot on using multipurpose. Have I done the wrong thing? They seem to be growing, albeit slowly. Should I give them some liquid feed, eg Babybio, as I believe seed compost has little nutrients in it? 

All help gratefully received image

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Posts

  • darren636darren636 Posts: 666
    Seed compost has less nutrients than multipurpose compost.



    When potting on seedlings its best to use something with more oomph.

    But its OK, perhaps use a dilute liquid feed at 1/4 dose to help the seedlings on their way.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    Hi Fizzle.  I always do my first pricking out into seed compost, the seedlings are still quite tiny then (1 or 2 true leaves).  The next pot-on will then be into multi purpose.  I don't give them any extra feed at all til I plant them out in the garden at the start of June.

    Not sure if that is "right". But it always works well for meimage

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    I use multi purpose for everything . Have done for about 40 years. Never had any trouble. 

    99% of seeds are fine in MPC and I choose not to grow seeds that are too "precious" and need cossetting. I'd rather just buy the plants already grown.

    Your plants will be fine. Keep an eye on them and pot them on as they grow. If they look a bit weak and / or yellowing a weak liquid feed will sort them out.

    Above all. Don't worry. image

    Devon.
  • FizzleFizzle Posts: 7

    Thanks for your reassurance. Phew! image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I use a mixture of both for bothimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    I do the same nut.  I try and avoid going from a 'pure' seed compost to a 'pure' MP as my thoughts are it can shock the seedlings going from one medium to another.  I also find some seed composts are quite heavy making it easy to damage roots when pricking out.  When mixed with sieved MPC, it lightens up and pricking out is easier. image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698

    I usually pot on in John Innes No 1 but then I have a cautious streak.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I use multi purpose for everything, don't like seed compost.

    i certainly would not feed small seedlings, you'll get them growing up tall and they won't flower. After they start to flower you can use a tomato feed to keep them flowering. Even then, not too much. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970

    Anything that is going to be planted in pots for outdoors and in the garden goes into JI number two, only use multi purpose for glasshouse plants.

  • TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469

    I'm the same as Lyn in using multipurpose for everything. I find seed compost becomes rather heavy. Since switching to multipurpose I've had a much better germination rate. 

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