When planting in fresh potting soil, fertilizer is generally not needed for about a month or so as there is enough nutrition already available. Plain un-softened water is all that's required for about the first month. After that, I usually begin watering with a diluted fertilizer solution, and that's given about every other time water is required.

I'm sure others do things a bit differently... it would be interesting to find out how others use fertilizer with young plants.

Thank you, Jodi.

In this case, I started fertilizing very early because I am trying a soil-less mix especially for seedlings - it supposedly helps deter damping-off. The mix does have meals and castings, so it is not completely devoid of good things, but still, I thought it may be wise to help the little ones along some.

In all, except for sweet peas, cactus/succulents, and precious few others, I have a not good to terrible record of growing plants from seed. (Worse, I have a friend who can grow anything - her favorite thing to do is growing ferns from spores.) So I can use all the help I can get getting these little lives underway.

My sign the transition went well is when the leaves , which are directing anywhere, and are mostly flat after the transplant , do stand up and direct themself to the light.
Less water is given from then, and some fertilizing is started.

I have very poor luck starting things indoors, although my outdoor seed starting and plant growing is fabulous! I don't seem to have any problems planting flats of perennial, annual, veggie or herb seeds outdoors and getting them to grow to maturity. That's why I thought I'd start a flat of Hippi seeds outdoors this coming May... I may have better luck getting them to germinate and grow, and I know the conditions will produce better seedlings.

The seedlings are trotting right along, looking healthy. I only damaged a few during transplanting - I did not use tweezers, just picked them up because they were of pretty good size.

If I can figure out how to protect them from wildlife, I will try growing some seedlings outdoor this spring as well.