If Miracle Grow instructions call for X, what would you use for Y?

[SaltyNuts]

Let's say you have some Miracle Grow fertilizer that is mixed with water. The instructions say you add one tablespoon to one gallon and water with that every 2 weeks. But you want to use less of the fertilizer but want to add some every time you water, which here in Houston in the summer is every day. How much would you add? Would you just divide a tablespoon by 14? Or would you add a little more? I think the latter would be justifiable.

Thanks for any thoughts!!!

 

[pete6032]

Why would you not just water with fertilizer like normal every two weeks and then in between water without fertilizer?

 

[sandorski]

Depends on Z. Z being - whether there's a reason not to constantly expose the Plant(s) to the fertilizer or whether the Instructions were written that way to avoid annoying the Consumer. Or something else.

You could try following the directions for some plants and not for others. Then you might know for yourself. That could mean that some of your plants are dead or something, but, whatever.

 

[mindless1]

If the plants are going through that much water, reduce the ratio of MG to water.

I'd do something like a teaspoon per week for 5 gallons worth of container soil, however you want to divide that up over # of waterings (at least two separate waterings), but maybe half that while the plants are small, or else more water was being lost from soil evaporation rather than plant transpiration, which could elevate fertilizer levels too high.

Having to water every day = containers too small
There are exceptions of course, like too much sand in the soil, or atypically high levels of wind in addition to high temp.

If going to the trouble of mixing up MG, I'd also throw in a little epsom salt for the magnesium. Amount depends on soil condition but roughly 1/4th as much (by volume) as MG. Heh, MG means Miracle Grow, not magnesium.

Having stated this much, MG "all purpose" formula isn't something I like to use except on established (long term) indoor plants, where they've been in the same soil for years. Outdoors it is more economical to use 40lb bags of granular 13-13-13 fertilizer. Mix some into the soil before starting seed or transplanting sprouts, and put it above soil level once plants are established and water on top of it to dissolve in a bit at a time.

You can also top off the soil level in a pot to cover the later-added granular fertilizer, once some watering has made it settle, which is even more beneficial in hot environments with high water loss where the soil can tend to pull away from the sides of the pot when it dries out, so when you water later, it just runs down the sides of the soil and out the bottom of the pot if you don't pack more soil around the perimeter of the pot.

Plus, you didn't mention which MG, but the MG "all purpose plant food" 24-8-16 is more suitable for maintaining indoor house plants, okay for boosting initial crop growth but I'd switch to something with a lower nitrogen ratio like their tomato formula, once you're getting regular flowering and pods setting.