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Grittyville, WA

What are you feeding? Seems likely that the nitrogen in the plant is a bit high. High nitrogen makes a nice lush plant but it also causes some problems. The minerals that help the plant utilize nitrogen need to catch up to where the nitrogen is at.

5/4/2026 1:33:07 PM

Topsfield, MA

You may be right there. I'm giving them 1.5 tsp of 16-45-7 seed starter plant marvel, fish and seaweed, humic, fulvic, essential and a few biological
products. This is in 2 gal then I am going back with just some plain water with another 2 gal to make sure the entire area has moisture

5/4/2026 1:38:12 PM

Grittyville, WA

Nitrate is perhaps the easiest thing for the plant to absorb. You may have enough of the other minerals, but they are slower to absorb. With nitrate the plant is like a child eating dessert before dinner... if offered both at the same time then the real food will remain on the plate. Take away the "nitrogen dessert" as an option so your plant can focus on the real food it needs.

Overwatering makes nitrate more available and makes everything else less available, so yeah, dont overwater and dont over fertilize. Overwatering and over fertilizing work together create a negative health spiral for plants. Nitrate is the true culprit.

Nitrate does make lush green and large plants but in the end less will be more. Nitrogen makes things look good! It will hide other deficiencies. I hope this is correct and helpful but I am subject to being wrong. Take my statements here as "possibly true".

5/4/2026 2:04:06 PM

Central NY

Henry, do you know your starting ppm?.. before adding anything

5/4/2026 3:30:01 PM

Topsfield, MA

Thanks!! That makes a lot of sense and I think you may be right there. Really appreciate you explaining that. I'm going to try and see what happens with changing a few things. Porkchop, my starting PPM is around 250 just plain water. What PPM do you think these things should be at with the fertilizer at this stage?

5/4/2026 3:44:15 PM

C N Y

"For Plant Marvel 16-45-7 Seed Starter Special, mix 2 tablespoons per gallon of water for a standard,
safe application on seeds and transplants. For larger-scale, professional, or hydroponic applications,
a common dilution is 3 lbs of fertilizer in 50 gallons of water."
>>>Ummm, it seems that you may be...Oh, no, preaching eg, better shut all the windows and doors...
Well, research PPM heavily and learn all about it somewhere and on here, too as far as the PPM of the DEsirED nutrient
that you want to BE at 250 PPM.
I made a stink about PPM years ago on here and I have nightmares about it, lol. PPM of the fertilizer is
not the same as PPM of ITS Nitrogen, Sulphur, Smith and Wesson. Check the label - does it say 'For 250 PPM
Nitrogen, use this concentration' or 'This provides...'? (I have seen the labels since and still am quite concerned.)
Then, follow THAT. 10% A, 20% B and 30% C in a fert cannot each be at X PPM because they are all different
concentrations wIthIn the fertilizer. Maybe you already are. Nyyeah.
Money that used to be in your pocket is of the same idea - $100, butt how many 20s, 10s and ones...?
Not an expert but I have a conscience, lol. I can remove all this if you'd like, but, hey...
If nothing else, all something think VERY hard about.
>>>Google's AI Concentration Comparison:
1.5 tsp /2 gal 0.75 tsp 1x (Baseline)
3 lbs / 55 gal~5.24 tsp~7x Stronger
In MHO, this means that, respectfully, my friend, the larger-plant recommended dosage is 7 times stronger
than what you are applying it at.
Again, my honest opinion, there and it was from Googling it and then, there are the other products you are adding.
Please know I am trying to help, not harm. Ask the Pumpkin Crowd about the specific fert to use at this point
in the plants' growth history currently as well; I may get some Plant Marvel myself if the <<<===$$ is right!
Oooh, one of my trades just went Northward. Yay! Have a Nice Day

[Last edit: 05/06/26 5:45:46 PM]

5/6/2026 5:18:29 PM

C N Y

PS---I grew test plants of my '25 crop in my living room in 5-gal buckets for a few months using 1 Tbsp per gallon
of 24-8-16 and/or 10-52-10 water-soluble frequently from 2 dreaded fertilizer companies. SOME slight crystallization
was evident under cloes scrutiny (I never worry) butt I had the BEST houseplants ever! No need, IMHO, to rinse off the
leaves (until a water-only? drench at least 24-48 hours later to have had the fert(s) absorbed by the leaves) and a foliar
feed is...to be foliar - meant for the leaves, primarily.
I am so done here, lol. eg

[Last edit: 05/06/26 5:37:25 PM]

5/6/2026 5:23:03 PM

C N Y

Ut-oh, I'll get 'Pumpkin pulled-over...', lol. eg

5/6/2026 5:25:14 PM