If you have a rooting stimulator, or get a water soluble balanced fertilizer and mix between 1/4 and 1/2 strength and use to water each time you water. Give them plenty of light. Be careful not to over-water. Good luck, Ed

Fertilizing seedlings is really interesting to me and I enjoy experimenting. I have put alfalfa pellets on my potted seedlings. I was finally able to put them outside after winter, and we have had a lot of rain, making the pellets soft. After several weeks, I can tell that the seedlings are greener and seem to be getting sturdier. I read something on this forum that one person wrote, that she really started to see the seedlings take off after using the pellets. I use them on my roses and older daylilies with excellent results. A friend who grows daylilies professionally suggested Garret's Juice, which I finally found in Houston. Haven't used it yet but plan to. I am going by a rose friend's advice - fertilize "weekly, weakly". Am also going to try using a foliage spray with weak fertilizer, probably fish emulsion or seaweed. Mine are all now in full light - but we haven't had any sunshine in awhile - hopefully soon. I have also been watching them in the little pots to see if their roots start filling up the pots - when they do, I transplant them immediately, they grow better. I have about 80 seedlings I am playing with. Tommy Maddox puts his in water pools when they are planted in gallon pots, where they get continual water and I think he adds fertilizer. I might try this when they get older in kiddie swimming pools. Right now....we are getting so much rain watering is unnecessary but I will probably put them in containers as it dries out [like roasting pans] where they can be watered and soak it up. Watering in pots can be tricky as in drier pots, water can trickle down, come out the bottom and never get to the roots - soaking is the way to prevent this. I do this with my potted roses too.

Judith

Fertilize once weekly, weakly also is the rule of thumb I use.

Of course, I am lazy and it gets done only about every 2-3 weeks, weakly.