Petunia Nutrients

[phoody]

Hello Everyone!  I'm new here. I just planted 9 Petunia's in my brand new Aerogarden (Bounty).  I read in the Vegetable/Lettuce thread that it's best to not add nutrients until the seeds germinate to keep algae and mold from growing. Is that only for Vegetables or is this what everyone's doing with their flowers, too? If I wait until germination, do I give nutrients the second I see that the seeds have sprouted or do I wait until the seedlings have grown up to the opening on the sticker that goes over the pod holder? Thank you all in advance for your help and guidance. I have no idea what I'm doing. 

[lynnee]

Hi phoody , and welcome! Although you're brand new to Aerogardens, you can't really go wrong just by following the basic AG directions: fill bowl with water, add AG nutrients per the label (8ml at the first two Bounty feedings, 12ml at the third and subsequent feedings), and do a "rinse and refill" every other feeding. That's what I do.

But you can also wait until the seeds germinate to add nutrients. That works, too! If you wait, you should add nutrients when you see sprouts or the first rudimentary leaves. Seeds usually have enough stored nutrients to produce those leaves, but not much more.

Once you get your petunias going, you can do the basic maintenance, and just watch your flowers grow and bloom. If you have very hard, soft, or well water, then you may have to make adjustments re your water, but we can help with water issues.

The AG Cascading Petunias are very easy to grow. They also transplant outdoors easily (there are some in my avatar, at the left).  I love growing these.

[phoody]

Thank you lynnee

I've never grown any flowers from seeds before. I can't wait!! 

[Sher]

Welcome, phoody! We are so glad you are here!

lynnee gave you excellent advice!  You will be admiring your own homegrown petunias before you know it!

[darais211]

May 28, 2022 21:44:41 GMT -5 phoody said:

Hello Everyone!  I'm new here. I just planted 9 Petunia's in my brand new Aerogarden (Bounty).  I read in the Vegetable/Lettuce thread that it's best to not add nutrients until the seeds germinate to keep algae and mold from growing. Is that only for Vegetables or is this what everyone's doing with their flowers, too? If I wait until germination, do I give nutrients the second I see that the seeds have sprouted or do I wait until the seedlings have grown up to the opening on the sticker that goes over the pod holder? Thank you all in advance for your help and guidance. I have no idea what I'm doing. 

Welcome!

i suggest following the AG guide on the bottle, it won't hurt the seeds i promise as for algae and mold that has a lot to do with stagnant water ( i know some of us run our pumps more often while others use air stones). as for feeding schedule again just follow the AG bottle and everything will be fine. now for when to remove the humidity domes that is something everyone does different, i know some who keep it on till the plant touches it or people like me remove it as soon as they start seeing their first true leaves.

Always feel free to ask questions here we have amazing members who are always willing to help and answer any question, happy growing!

[Shawn]

Hello and welcome phoody! 

Ahh the long asked question of starting a garden, adding nutes and algae.   lynnee, Sher and darais211 all give wonderful answers.  All are correct.

Some of us ( I am one) who waits until they germinate to add the nutes.   There may be an occasion I add it sooner.  However on this topic there is no wrong answer.  It is really personal preference.  That is one of the great things about AG's, it is that IF something does go wrong we can regrow any time of the year.  However more times then not it goes right

As darais211 mentioned, the domes should come off before any seedling touches it.  Why you might ask? Because when they do those leaves will more then likely turn brown.

Lastly as mentioned always ask questions if you have them.  There are no wrong questions.  Keep us posted how they are growing!

[phoody]

Thanks Sher  darais211 and Shawn !! I really appreciate your your advice. I will keep it all in mind. Ahhhh! The domes.....I will make sure to  remove them early!      darais211 you mentioned running the pump more often.....  I did see that there are custom settings for the pump. 

My first time around, all the settings are automatic (the Aerogarden Flower mode), but if I want to change the pump settings for next time, what should they be?

What have you found works best for flowers?

What about vegetables like lettuce?

I don't think I want to play around with the settings today, but I will definitely experiment next time.  If anyone has a custom setting that works better than the automatic setting, please share that setting with me. I'd like to try it.

Again, thanks everyone for getting me off to a great start. 

[darais211]

May 29, 2022 13:24:07 GMT -5 phoody said:

Thanks sher darais211 and Shawn !! I really appreciate your your advice. I will keep it all in mind. Ahhhh! The domes.....I will make sure to  remove them early!      darais211 you mentioned running the pump more often.....  I did see that there are custom settings for the pump. 

My first time around, all the settings are for automatic (Aerogarden Flower mode), but if I want to change the pump settings for next time, what should they be?

What have you found works best for flowers?

What about vegetables like lettuce?

I don't think I want to play around with the settings today, but I will definitely experiment next time.  If anyone has a custom setting that works better than the automatic setting, please share that setting with me. I'd like to try it.

Again, thanks everyone for getting me off to a great start. 

i know some people run theirs 50 off and 10 on (the settings should be under your pump menu in settings), as for me i use an air stone so i know that water is constantly moving no matter what im growing. if you want to see a picture of my petunia's there's some under the post "verticillium wilt"

so i pretty much keep everything on the settings that AG suggested, only thing i really mess with is the water and the light distance (which im kind of regretting on my petunia's cause they stretched instead of forming more of a bushy look)

[phoody]

darais211 Your Petunias area beautiful! I can't even tell that they're not feeling well.  Verticillium wilt? I'll have to look that up. 

Air Stone? That's another thing I've never heard of. It looks like I'll be doing a little research this afternoon. If an Air Stone works, then I might want to have it.

[darais211]

May 29, 2022 13:44:06 GMT -5 phoody said:

darais211 Your Petunias area beautiful! I can't even tell that they're not feeling well.  Verticillium wilt? I'll have to look that up. 

Air Stone? That's another thing I've never heard of. It looks like I'll be doing a little research this afternoon. If an Air Stone works, then I might want to have it.

Thank you, it was a fungal disease which is almost impossible to get rid of.

an air stone is just like it sounds and is usually found in aquariums and hydroponics, all it does is supply's the roots with additional oxygen. an air stone isn't necessary but it is one of those things i will almost always have cause that extra oxygen help deliver nutrients to the roots. (im actually a horticulturalist so i am usually using more advance techniques than your average person) 

[Shawn]

It is nice tho have a horticulturist here with us darais211