Soiless seed starting mix

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I always buy seed starting mix or potting mix. I keep seeing videos where people make their own mix with peat moss and vermiculite, and then when transplanting to bigger pots they add compost. Do any of you make your own mix or do you buy a certain brand of soiless mix?

 

[digitS']

I don't try messing with seed starting mix and what has worked for me in the past. Risk-averse!

I've used a soiless mix for rooting new plants from stems and roots. Mostly, I wanted 2 things: that loose structure of the mix for root development and to avoid disease problems to the damaged tissue of the cutting.

For large pots and perennials, I've mixed my own "stuff." I like to use my best compost with peat moss and perlite - all about 1:1:1. For large pots of tomatoes, I've found it best just to use 100% compost.

Just my 2¢ ... and more useful here, I hope, than in some political thread ... altho' I've got ideas for those - as well. But the mix there will probably be less than friendly and easy.

digitS'

 

[aftermidnight]

I still have several sacks of a seed starting soiless mix, off hand I can't remember what brand without going down in the cellar for a look see. The mix is very fine so has good contact with seedcoats, it also has a slight amount of fertilizer to help things along, I only use it for tiny seeds. I use Sunshine mix #4 for everything else.

Annette

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

Okay, thank you. For some reason I am sitting here with all these seedlings and confused about what I want to do. Last year I had a lot of my own compost. This year, I just dug out the bin and it looks darker and heavier than what I usually have. I think I put a lot of cow manure in there, but I just can't remember. Does it make a difference between perlite or vermiculite?

 

[aftermidnight]

Vermiculite will hold more water than perlite.

Annette

 

[digitS']

I should admit that most of the perennials go in a mix with topsoil.



I haven't picked up a bag of perlite yet this year so it had neither perlite not vermiculite this morning. The bagged topsoil has some bark in it but I really try to get as much dirt and little bark as possible. Last few years, the Greenmix has been the choice but if there isn't a hole in one of the bags for me to stick my finger in, I'm reluctant to buy any outta the stack.

I just pulled that bag of Black Gold down to provide a backdrop .

Small seed would be better in something not as coarse. I could run it through my 3/8 inch screen, like I did that mix in the tub. But ... it wouldn't help much; maybe 1/4 inch would do it for a better seed-starting mix.

digitS'

 

[catjac1975]

I use promix. Bought by the compressed bale from a farm store it lasts an entire season. off hand I think I have 50,12 X 18 flats going with barely a dent in the bag. It costs around $40. Worth the convenience to me.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i also bought last spring a compressed block of mix from my local feed store. mine is Lambert's but i don't remember which one other than it is organic.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I found some ProMix at Lowe's today. I also am going to try the mixture of compost and peat moss, with vermiculite and see which I like the best.

 

[catjac1975]

I found some ProMix at Lowe's today. I also am going to try the mixture of compost and peat moss, with vermiculite and see which I like the best.

I would sterilize the home made mix. You can microwave it or heat it on the grill.