So I’ll give you some real time feedback based on issues ive had and tried to correct since last fall.
I’m starting seeds in a simple soil mix, similar to pro mix, but I mix myself. No added amendments other than castings or compost @ 10%, and the mineral mix to help buffer ph. I up pot into solo cups, same mix or ive started testing 50/50 coco & perlite. I then go into 1 gal w fully amended soil- the @reikox mix found here:
From 1 gal, I’ll finish in something bigger-3 or 7 gal, but the same fully amended soil mix.
Until I get into the fully amended mix, I rely heavily on fox farm grow big, once into the amended mix, I’m relying on teas and top dressing and more of an organic/living soil approach (more of a 1/2 assed attempt at LOS in flowering). But in veg w the 1 gals, they keep getting the grow big, and kind of get weaned off it when they get close to jumping to the bigger pot and into flower.
Clones follow the same, they get rooted in rapid rooters, then into solo cups w the same soil as above.
So what ive learned: during veg, I’m pretty much giving them a low dose of fert every watering. I was not feeding for 2-3 weeks, with my normal tap water, which is extremely hard w a high ph (400-450 ppm, 7.5+ ph). It was like there were no nutes at all available and the plants were struggling to grow because of what I think is immediate lock out.
So now, until they get to 1 gals, I’m using 500 ppm fox farm grow big, in purified bottled water, every time I water. Starting at the first set of true leaves on a seedling, and once a clone shows roots and gets put into soil. I increase that ppm over time as they’re in the cups, but only really as high as 700 ppm since I’m really feeding them almost every time. Once every 5th or so watering they’ll get straight water, and every 3rd or so they get recharge or kelp.
Not sure if this helps, and its by no means perfect. But actually writing this all out will be helpful for me- I’ll be able to go back and look at this in a few months and assess if ive changed the approach again at all and compare the results.
But the short answer is, I start bottle feeding at a low dose almost immediately from clones rooting or a seedling’s 1st or 2nd set of true leaves.