Shogun Start vs Quarter-Strength Feed: Which is Better for Seedlings & Cuttings?
When it comes to feeding seedlings and cuttings, many growers follow a simple rule: Use your normal nutrient at quarter strength.
It seems logical enough. Young plants are small, so they must need less food.
And while that approach can work, it overlooks something important.
Young plants don't just need less nutrition.
They need different nutrition.
A quarter-strength feed simply reduces the concentration of your normal nutrient programme. Everything is diluted equally. The problem is that young plants aren't miniature versions of mature plants. At this stage, they're focused on establishing roots, building healthy new growth, and recovering from the stress of germination or propagation. Their nutritional requirements are different from a plant that's already established and pushing through vegetative growth. That's where a dedicated propagation nutrient comes in.
- Strong roots lead to better nutrient uptake.
- Better nutrient uptake supports faster development.
- Faster development creates a larger, healthier plant capable of producing a better final result.
In many cases, success in flowering begins long before flowering ever starts.
Think of it this way:
- A quarter-strength feed is diluted.
- A propagation nutrient is formulated.
- Both will feed a young plant.
- But only one was specifically designed for the job.
That's why growers looking to give seedlings and cuttings the strongest possible start increasingly choose dedicated propagation nutrients rather than simply reducing the strength of their regular feed programme.
Because when the foundations are stronger, everything built on top of them becomes stronger too.
