Diatomaceous Earth as a seed starting medium

[b54red]

Originally Posted by Crandrew

DE testers:
How soon after germination will the seedlings require introduction of nutrients? Since I assume the DE will only take it so far.

Thanks

I have found that DE as a seed starter seems to require additional nutrients sooner than other seed mediums I have tried. I experimented and gave some a very mild dose of Miracle Grow about a week or so after emerging and waited for true leaves on some others. I found the ones that got the earlier diluted fertilizer did much better than the ones that got just plain water til true leaves appeared. I did this with several different types of plants and it was true with all of them.