Well, the most you can do is saturate the soil around the roots. If you put more than that on it'll just drain out of the pot or soak deeper in the soil, both places where it can't be used. I actually just pour some on every few weeks. If I were going to irrigate with the stuff, I myself wouldn't do it every time I irrigate. Seems to me that when soil dries out it's going to leave the fertilizer behind, so if it doesn't get washed out, it's just going to build up, to the extent it isn't wholly taken up by the roots.

If I remember correctly the instructions say something about watering the plants well first and then feeding them. I assume the idea is that you don't want to water them soon after feeding and wash it all out so you water then first, then feed, then let the plants absorb the nutrients.

So the amount given to each is going to depend on the size of the container, the size of the plant - the bigger each is the more they get - and the needs of the specific plant. Not all vegetables require the same nutrients or the same amounts of nutrients of course so you wouldn't feed everything equally anyway. And any plants who have nutrient deficiency symptoms would clearly need more than plants that are healthy and good color.

Dave

On the rare occasions that I use MG, I mix up the amount (1 tablespoon per gallon) stir, and water each plant as usual.

Linda

1 tablespoon per gallon is the in-ground rate. The potted rate is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. The standard MG is incredibly potent - 24% nitrogen! A little pinch goes a long way. I have burned plants in the ground using the regular rate so I am very cautious about using it, and almost never do.

When needed for seedlings (showing signs of needing a feeding), I have always mixed up a half strength dilution (1/4 teaspoon per gallon), and watered normally with it. I can use this every time I water until improvement is seen and this works fine for me. I don't grow full size plants in containers so I can't comment on that.

http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/products/Miracle-Gro/pdf/All_Purpose_1.5.pdf

Peter,

You are absolutely right that MG is strong stuff! I use their Tomato version which is 18-18-21, mainly for my seedlings, and half-strength, and I only ever fertilize my plants once a week as I'm nervous about possibly killing them!

Linda

Use plain water first to moisten the in-ground plants well.....then use your fertilizer solution to give a second drench after several minutes. For your container plants, simply mix a weak solution and drench until the soil volume is completely saturated and the excess drains from the bottom.

Yes, I think rhizo has the right idea.

Nice timing for this. DH is outside now applying MG to many plants and trees. Our bottle does not say to wet the ground first, but here, it's so hot, the dry earth gets a crust on it, so it's best to wet it first to help it absorb the MG instead of having it run off.

Of course there are many opinions about Miracle-Gro and other fertilizer products. It can't be that strong, or people would be killing everything. I know that some people go crazy with MG because they think it is like a vitamin fix for other problems, like poor soil, crowded plants, general laziness, ignorance about how a plant actually grows.

Far as I can tell, Miracle-Gro instructions are vague, they just want you to use it up and buy more. It probably is a good idea to not give a strong dose to a thirsty plant, so the watering first in a good idea.

FWIW, the stuff is so cheap, using it up and buying more isn't a big pain. Other mixable fertilizers are far more pricey. The crystals are 24-8-16, so you bet it's strong. But you don't use it in the crystalline form. You dilute it enormously. Whereby it really isn't that strong. But that's right. It's used as a miracle fix for plant problems. As with most miracle fixes, it doesn't usually miraculously fix anything. But if you don't know what's wrong, and suspect a nutritional deficiency, it will help more than it will hurt, and do so quite economically.

I use 1 tbsp for each 2 gallon watering can full. It goes on outdoor potted plants and veggies as well as garden veggies. I don't really measure how much each plant gets..... Maybe 1/2 cup for small pots.... 1 cup or so in large pots. Maybe 2 or 3 cups for in ground veggies. Fertilized every 7 days usually on Sunday's early in the season. Mid summer starting today actually, when plants are fruiting and starting to grow veggies, I cut it back to every 14 days