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Gardeners, as a rule, most often use organic fertilizers. But when growing seedlings and indoor flowers, their use in an apartment is very problematic, because organic matter has a specific aroma.
Currently, there are many chemicals that can be applied indoors. For example, the Athlete tool for seedlings of vegetable and ornamental crops. This fertilizer has been known to gardeners for over 50 years, but has not lost its relevance. Due to its properties, it not only replaces many fertilizers, but also prevents, according to experts, the overgrowth of seedlings.
What is an Athlete for?
Gardeners are well aware that it is not so easy to create ideal conditions for growing seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cabbages and flowers. Most often, plants suffer from a lack of light and begin to stretch. Such a process further negatively affects the yield.
The use of the drug Athlete from overgrowing seedlings, according to gardeners, has a positive effect on the development of plants, makes them more resilient, and improves immunity.
Seedlings are stretched for the reason that the development of the root system lags behind the growth of green mass. The processing of seedlings by Athlete promotes the development of roots, and the shoots and stems temporarily stop their growth. In this way, a balance is created between the root and aboveground parts of the plant.
Experts advise using a growth regulator primarily for seedlings grown in greenhouse conditions, where temperatures and humidity are high. It is these factors that cause the plants to stretch, and the root system does not keep up with the growth of the aerial part.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews about the drug Athlete for seedlings can be found on various forums of gardeners and gardeners. The general opinion is good. What are the positive aspects of this top dressing, are there any negative points – all this is interesting for gardeners.
Let’s start with the merits:
- plant development is regulated;
- immunity increases;
- there is no need to feed small plants with other fertilizers;
- means for seedlings Athlete, according to gardeners, is environmentally friendly, non-toxic to humans and insects;
- the yield of processed vegetables increases;
- exceeding the dose does not harm seedlings;
- on each package there is an instruction for the use of Athlete for seedlings;
- affordable cost.
According to experts and reviews of gardeners, the disadvantage is the limited period of use of the product for tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, eggplant and flowers. After all, the main purpose of the drug is watering plants at the seedling stage.
Description of the preparation
In recent years, Seedling Athlete has become a popular medium. It regulates the growth of vegetable and flower crops due to its ability to inhibit the hormone gibberellin, thereby stimulating the development of lateral roots. Due to this, the area of nutrition of seedlings increases. The shoots do not stretch upwards, but thicken.
According to the description given by the manufacturers, fertilizer for feeding plants at the seedling stage is able to protect plants, helps them accumulate the necessary nutrients. That is why seedlings experience less stress during transplantation.
Analogues of the Athlete can be called such drugs, which also contribute to the growth of the root system:
- Epin;
- Kornevin;
- Phytosporin and other means.
But unlike the Athlete, they do not stop the growth of the aerial part. And the seedling agent Athlete creates a balance and harmony in the development of plants.
You can use a means to slow down the growth of seedlings:
- For foliar treatment of vegetables and flowers with an aqueous solution. Cabbage leaves are not processed!
- For watering the soil when cotyledon leaves appear.
Applying Athlete for seedlings is easy. It is produced in the form of ampoules of 1,5 ml. One ampoule is diluted in one liter of water or 150-300 ml, depending on the culture being treated. Detailed instructions are included with all packages.
Feature of application
To get high-quality seedlings of vegetable or flower crops, you need a lot of time and effort. The situation is especially difficult with lighting, creating a certain microclimate and carrying out top dressing. The fact is that different cultures require an individual approach, and it is difficult to do this in the same room where seedlings are grown.
Experienced gardeners and gardeners resort to growth stimulants. One of them is Athlete for seedlings, the instructions, according to gardeners, are written clearly.
The manufacturer of the product is the company “Green Pharmacy of Gardeners”, which has its own sign – a green drop on maroon packaging. It also gives clear and detailed instructions on how to breed seedlings for seedlings for specific crops. A small ampoule is dissolved in a large amount of water. As for the number of treatments, this indicator depends on the culture.
Let’s consider the instructions in more detail.
vegetable crops
Manufacturers recommend seedlings to be treated with Athlete:
- tomatoes;
- eggplant;
- peppers;
- cabbage.
Tomatoes
And now about how to use the tool for tomato seedlings. These plants are very demanding on light, so they quickly begin to stretch. It is necessary to dissolve 15 grams of the substance in 10 liters of water. Can be watered under the root or sprayed over the leaves.
So that the seedlings do not stretch, they are processed no more than three times. The first time the tomatoes are sprayed when the plants already have 3 true leaves. Then twice more with a break of seven days. When watering under the root, one procedure is enough.
It must be understood that a single use of a growth regulator will not give the desired effect. The plant will begin to grow rapidly in height, and the root system, stem and leaves will not receive proper development.
Eggplant and Peppers
These vegetable crops also have a craving for overgrowing. For processing, you will need to dilute the Athlete drug in the following proportion: pour one ampoule of the drug into 1 liter of water.
Eggplants and peppers are processed only once. When 3-4 leaves appear on the plants, pepper seedlings are watered along the leaves, and eggplants only under the root.
Cabbage
This vegetable is watered three times with an interval of seven days, only under the root! In ten liters of water dissolve 15 grams of the product. This solution is enough for 10 square meters.
When processing peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, no more than 50 ml of solution is consumed per plant.
After foliar treatment, white spots remain on vegetable seedlings. This is not dangerous because Athlete does not burn foliage. After a while, the leaves will turn green again.
Means Athlete for growing strong seedlings:
Decorative plants
Ornamental plants, both garden and indoor, are watered with a standard solution: one ampoule of the drug is diluted in a liter of water. Many gardeners are interested in whether it is possible to feed the seedlings of petunias with Athlete. The answer is yes. Petunia is watered under the root or sprayed with a solution if the plants begin to stretch. Top dressing is carried out twice with a break in a week.
Is it safe or not
Fertilizer Athlete belongs to the third class of danger. Therefore, when applying, you need to take some precautions:
- Plants need to be processed at a moderate temperature. Intense heat contributes to the rapid drying of the solution and the formation of white spots on the leaves.
- It is necessary to work with the product in protective clothing: gloves, goggles and a respirator.
- After work or if the product gets on the body, be sure to wash your hands and face with warm water and soap. Before starting the dilution of Athlete, you need to make sure that it is not expired.
- Expired and used ampoules are burned.
- During operation, there should be no children or animals nearby.
- Since the drug is a chemical, it must be stored separately from food and animal feed.
- The temperature in the storage is 0-30 degrees.
- Storage areas must be inaccessible to children and animals.
The use of Athlete Growth Regulator helps gardeners to get healthy and strong seedlings of vegetable and flower crops even under unfavorable conditions. The chemical is used strictly according to the dosage and the number of treatments indicated in the instructions must be taken into account.