Soil for seedlings?

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Clubbernonx

Active Member
Ive heard FFOF is to hot for seedlings and I should use a mixture of
1/2 soil-less potting soil
1/2 peat moss and
15% worm castings
untill they are on the 3rd or fourth leaf set, but I cant seem to find any soil-less potting soil that does not include those time released fertilizers that will burn the seedlings. so what should I do?
 
w99illie

w99illie

Well-Known Member
mushroom compost...lowes
worm castings...home depot
perlite...lowes or home depot

2 parts mushroom compost,,,1 part worm castings,,,1 part pearlite...w99
 
G

greenplanetguru

Active Member
Years ago I had some babies show burned tips when I used straight FFOF before I knew better. I've used a mixture of 2 parts FoxFarm's Light Warrior and 1 part Ocean Forest since. It's a great mix to germinate the seeds in as well. I like to use It has a nice texture and is difficult to over water.
 
anhedonia

anhedonia

Well-Known Member
Ive used light warrior and my seedlings take forever to start growing. For now its peat pots and botanicare pure earth aerated formula. All organic of course.
 
South Texas

South Texas

Well-Known Member
LAX Skunky. Here's the deal. That FFOF is awesome.... , where do I get it at??? On-Line, or drive 120 miles round trip to buy the stuff. OR, go to the Lacal Nursery & pick up the same type stuff at a better price, or at the local grocery store to get the molasses, Epton salt, & stone ground cornmeal. Please take this into consideration... instead of the same advice. There MAY be a Dude raising rabbits 3 miles away, or a Mushroom Farm, with all the Compost to be had, very cheap. Is their a worm farm nearby??? Each persons situation varies, "want to help or be a recording ??" This is what I work on "To Help". "We The People Need Options." Cool.
 
Operation 420

Operation 420

Well-Known Member
My suggestion as S.Texas said, would be go to your local nursery first. My nursery has awesome stuff at good prices.
 
S

SpaaaceCowboy

Well-Known Member
w99illie said:
mushroom compost...lowes
worm castings...home depot
perlite...lowes or home depot

2 parts mushroom compost,,,1 part worm castings,,,1 part pearlite...w99
Click to expand...
Anyone think this is a good mix for seedlings ?

I've been having issues with seeds starting off....they may grow slow, stretch a ton (sponge cube thingie), peat pellets drying out, etc....

I was thinking if I could get a nice mixture that would not burn seedlings I could just put the mix and seed in a party cup, and start it there.....Thoughts ?
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Equal parts peat moss, perlite, and worm castings (or compost) works great for starting seeds. Add some dolomite lime in there at about 1-2 tablespoons per gallon to buffer the low pH of the peat moss and you're good to go.

You can also add a little kelp meal in there, too, but it's not necessary for starting seeds.
 
S

SpaaaceCowboy

Well-Known Member
SpicySativa said:
Equal parts peat moss, perlite, and worm castings (or compost) works great for starting seeds. Add some dolomite lime in there at about 1-2 tablespoons per gallon to buffer the low pH of the peat moss and you're good to go.

You can also add a little kelp meal in there, too, but it's not necessary for starting seeds.
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Do you think party cup size is too big to start seeds, or is it OK ?

thanks, SC
 
C

CannaBare

Well-Known Member
Clubbernonx said:
Ive heard FFOF is to hot for seedlings and I should use a mixture of
1/2 soil-less potting soil
1/2 peat moss and
15% worm castings
untill they are on the 3rd or fourth leaf set, but I cant seem to find any soil-less potting soil that does not include those time released fertilizers that will burn the seedlings. so what should I do?
Click to expand...
Straight coco.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Party cups are just fine for starting seeds. Just make sure to punch holes in the bottom.

I usually go for popping the seeds in wet paper towel, then transferring to a small pot of the mix I described (or something similar that I have on hand). I get nearly 100% success this way.
 
docter

docter

Well-Known Member
Paper towels Black Gold Seedling Mix and Earthworm Castings with green sand and roots organic Oregonism under a dome
done.
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
2 parts peat 1 part coco 1 part ewc. do what spicy says. germ then plant in soil.

docter said:
Paper towels Black Gold Seedling Mix and Earthworm Castings with green sand and roots organic Oregonism under a dome
done.
Click to expand...
green sand takes a very long time to break down. Wont have any nutrient value for a couple years.. . You should add the mycos after roots are present or its useless.
 
Pattahabi

Pattahabi

Well-Known Member
SpicySativa said:
Equal parts peat moss, perlite, and worm castings (or compost) works great for starting seeds. Add some dolomite lime in there at about 1-2 tablespoons per gallon to buffer the low pH of the peat moss and you're good to go.

You can also add a little kelp meal in there, too, but it's not necessary for starting seeds.
Click to expand...
This is basically what I use. With the exceptions I except I use 1/2-1 tbsp of oyster shell instead of lime and pumice instead of perlite. This is of course making the ass-umption good castings are being used. Make sure you properly hydrate the peat, preferably prior to making the mix. I'd leave everything else out. It's easy to make a tea later. It's a pita if it's too much.

P-
 
S

SpaaaceCowboy

Well-Known Member
Pattahabi said:
This is basically what I use. With the exceptions I except I use 1/2-1 tbsp of oyster shell instead of lime and pumice instead of perlite. This is of course making the ass-umption good castings are being used. Make sure you properly hydrate the peat, preferably prior to making the mix. I'd leave everything else out. It's easy to make a tea later. It's a pita if it's too much.

P-
Click to expand...
hey pat,

when you say hydrate do you mean just let it sit out by itself or something ?

I got a bale of CSPM that I will be using in my own super soil once I get all the amendments together...Do I have to hydrate this peat moss before mixing everything together ?

thnx, SC
 
docter

docter

Well-Known Member
hyroot said:
2 parts peat 1 part coco 1 part ewc. do what spicy says. germ then plant in soil.



hyroot said:
2 parts peat 1 part coco 1 part ewc. do what spicy says. germ then plant in soil.



green sand takes a very long time to break down. Wont have any nutrient value for a couple years.. . You should add the mycos after roots are present or its useless.
Click to expand...

I add green sand and castings to everything universally and have done for a long time.Green sand is excellent for both texture and nutrient value Cation Exchange Capacity.
I recycle my soil mix year to year many years now. I feel that makes for a better product. I add the mycos to the seedling mix for I germinate the seeds first establishing a root before ever adding the the seedling mix I feel this saves time and doesn't seem hurt anything. For transplants I gently wet the root ball then coat with the mycos powder before adding the plant to the new container.

Making your own casting offer's you a lot of control over what trace elements for present in the final product.
Pumice is very nice I like that the density prevents it from floating and stratifying like the per-lite.

I like the black gold for it's convenience and uniformity. I also love the wetting agent this makes trying to get old compressed peat to take in moisture someone else's problem. And I also enjoy enjoy the fact I don,t have to screen out the twigs and other debris before I mix everything up.
doc.
Click to expand...
 
Pattahabi

Pattahabi

Well-Known Member
SpaaaceCowboy said:
hey pat,

when you say hydrate do you mean just let it sit out by itself or something ?

I got a bale of CSPM that I will be using in my own super soil once I get all the amendments together...Do I have to hydrate this peat moss before mixing everything together ?

thnx, SC
Click to expand...
Yes, I mean I would hydrate (water) your peat before you mix it in with your other ingredients. Those bales are dry and compressed. Break them apart, and water them down. I usually do this with a pump sprayer and the peat on a tarp over the course of about a day. You'd be surprised how much water it can soak up. This should be done every time you use peat imo. Throw some aloe in the water for saponins and added benefits. ;)

P-
 
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