Underlays

besides fertilizer what a good way to start small bedding plants?

I just planted some [24 pack] bedding plants whats can I do to make sure they grow? lol

Public Comments

1. horse manure seriously one of my friends did and it worked great. you can either get it from a local farm or from most flower shops.
2. Make sure that you water them right and a good plant food would help.
3. Moisture and lights are the most important. If you used a soil mix made for starting seedlings it probably has fertilizer in it. Don't use more until you put them in the ground. Keep the soil just slightly moist and warm it from the bottom if you can. Most flower seeds take a couple weeks to germinate and so do a lot of veggies so be patient. If the potting mix did not have fertilizer wait until the seedlings have their second set of leaves and then add a general purpose fertilizer like Miracle Grow to the water you water them with. Too much fertilizer too soon will result in leggy plants without good root growth.
4. water them in the morning not at night at night the soil stays so wet the plants get root rot then insects move in then wilted dead plants.REALLY WATER IN THE MORNING and osmocote time release fertilizer is great.GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
5. From: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gf_annuals_perennials/article/0,2029,DIY_13831_2272626,00.html "As the plants are inserted in the ground, they're properly fertilized so they can get a head start on their growth. Heelam recommends using a granular fertilizer (figure B) at planting time, which will release gradually during the first few months of growth. Consult the package for guidelines on how much to apply -- amounts will vary based on the size of the area you're treating. (If you're still unsure, Heelam advises staying on the conservative side: too little is better than too much!) Once the plant has become established, it's often beneficial to use a soluble fertilizer (figure C) to extend the life and beauty of the blooms. To apply, simply mix with water according to package directions and spray directly on the plant (figure D). Apply in the early morning or late afternoon / early evening; do not apply during the heat of the afternoon since this can cause sun damage to the plants. For those who don't have the option of adding bright bedding plants to a garden, Heelam suggests finding other ways to display high-impact blooms. Anything at eye level is ideal, says Heelam: hanging baskets (figure E), window boxes, pots on shelves or pedestals, etc. Just follow the same guidelines for garden planting and let your imagination go!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My hubby and I like slow-release Osmocote fertilizer, but there are other good brands for flowers or vegetables. `````````````````````````````````` Container gardening is lots of fun too. We buy the larger containers so they won't dry out too fast (14" across the top). Manure has to be aged and can burn if you use too much. Less is always best.