Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
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- Ivan
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Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
I am planning on using straight turface mvp or diatomite to start seeds this year. They will be started in a baggie. In order to add nutrients I plan on using fertilized water to sterilize the soil and also to re-wet it after microwaving or boiling it. Has anyone tried this? What would be the effect to the fertilizer after it has been microwaved? I would like to leave the baggies closed for some time (not sure how long at this point) so my thought was to give the seedlings some nutrients while they grow in a closed environment.
- rodsmith
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Re: Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
If the fertiliser is non-organic (one of the many powdered varieties) I would have thought you could microwave the mixture with fertiliser added without any ill effects. For several years I have used coir as the base for my cactus and succulent mixture and have added small amounts of powdered fertiliser which I have microwaved when using it for seedlings. I have observed no ill effects and have raised lots of seedlings this way.
Rod Smith
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
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Re: Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
should be fine. the most sensitive things i can think of in most fertilizers are the phosphates and EDTA, but they start decomposing at much higher temperatures than 100°C.
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Re: Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
Sorry don't mean to hijack the thread but I just found that interesting as I really like growing from seed.rodsmith wrote:If the fertiliser is non-organic (one of the many powdered varieties) I would have thought you could microwave the mixture with fertiliser added without any ill effects. For several years I have used coir as the base for my cactus and succulent mixture and have added small amounts of powdered fertiliser which I have microwaved when using it for seedlings. I have observed no ill effects and have raised lots of seedlings this way.
So do you mix a bit of fertiliser in with the soil mix when you prepare it for sowing seeds or do you sprinkle a bit just under the surface later on when filling the pots ? It may seem like a silly question but I'd love to know how you do it.
David
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Re: Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
Bump please as I am interested to get any germination tips too for succulents!TheEconomist wrote:Sorry don't mean to hijack the thread but I just found that interesting as I really like growing from seed.rodsmith wrote:If the fertiliser is non-organic (one of the many powdered varieties) I would have thought you could microwave the mixture with fertiliser added without any ill effects. For several years I have used coir as the base for my cactus and succulent mixture and have added small amounts of powdered fertiliser which I have microwaved when using it for seedlings. I have observed no ill effects and have raised lots of seedlings this way.
So do you mix a bit of fertiliser in with the soil mix when you prepare it for sowing seeds or do you sprinkle a bit just under the surface later on when filling the pots ? It may seem like a silly question but I'd love to know how you do it.
- rodsmith
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Re: Heating/Boiling dilute liquid fertilizer
Sorry I've been so long in responding - we're in temporary accommodation and have been spending days on end looking for a house to buy; hopefully we've now found one and until we complete the purchase I will have more spare time.TheEconomist wrote:Sorry don't mean to hijack the thread but I just found that interesting as I really like growing from seed.rodsmith wrote:If the fertiliser is non-organic (one of the many powdered varieties) I would have thought you could microwave the mixture with fertiliser added without any ill effects. For several years I have used coir as the base for my cactus and succulent mixture and have added small amounts of powdered fertiliser which I have microwaved when using it for seedlings. I have observed no ill effects and have raised lots of seedlings this way.
So do you mix a bit of fertiliser in with the soil mix when you prepare it for sowing seeds or do you sprinkle a bit just under the surface later on when filling the pots ? It may seem like a silly question but I'd love to know how you do it.
When using coir it usually comes in brick-sized blocks and these are often unfertilised. If this is the case, I mix a small amount of powder based cactus fertiliser (there are several available) into the coir once it has been wetted and "plumped up" with a trowel. For a cactus or succulent seed mix I include some of the fertilised coir and lots of sifted grit and seed-grade vermiculite. No other nutrient is needed for several weeks after germination.
Rod Smith
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.