See our full article on how to start seeds indoors. When potting on you can use the same potting mix, or add worm compost or a balanced organic fertilizer for hungry plants such as tomatoes and cabbage family plants. Plants usually need potting on at least once before transplanting into their final location. Place containers in a shallow tray of water until the surface of the mix becomes moist, then remove. Once the seedlings have germinated, water from below instead. This will provide a fine spray of water to gently water your delicate seeds. Alternatively, make your own watering bottle by piercing holes into the cap of a plastic bottle using a pin. Water carefully using a mister or a watering can fitted with a very fine rose. Gently firm the soil down. Sow your seeds according to the packet instructions. Fill your seed flats, plug trays, or pots with the mix, taking care to fill right into the corners. Moisten your seed-starting mix before you use it so it’s damp but not dripping. Using Your Seed-Starting Mixīefore you fill your pots, trays, and flats with seed-starting mix, be sure to clean them! After thoroughly washing with soap and water, rinse the containers in a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water to kill remaining plant disease microorganisms that could weaken or kill your tender young seedlings. After you make a batch, store it for later use in a lidded container or in old potting soil sacks (or any other strong plastic sack) with the top rolled down and secured. You can use sand if you prefer, but this will result in a heavier mixture. Perlite makes the mix lighter and helps stop it becoming too wet. The coir or leaf mold adds bulk and helps to retain moisture. Alternatively, use well-rotted leaf mold. If you’ve purchased a block of coir, soak it in water first until it’s fibrous and easily pulled apart. 2 parts coir (coconut fiber), or leaf mold.The compost will slowly release nutrients into the mix to help feed your seedlings as they grow. Screening (or “sieving”) compost involves running it through a screen made of hardware cloth to separate out any materials that haven’t broken down yet. Break up clumps with your hands or, ideally, screen the compost to achieve a fine texture. You can use your own garden compost, or buy some. All parts are measured by volume, so you can use anything you like to measure your ingredients. All ingredients are available at most nurseries and garden stores. Use the three ingredients below in the quantities shown to make a good all-round potting mix for starting seeds. ![]() If you’re sowing a lot of seeds, it may be more economical to make your own seed-starting mix. Also, the mix must be low in fertility-seeds carry their own nutrients-yet capable of moving moisture. You need a soilless potting mix that is fine in texture, loose, well-aerated, and free of any weed seeds or diseases. Easy to make and use, here’s information on making your own soilless mix for seeds. Start seeds with a soilless grow mix instead. It’s too compacted, it’s got weed seeds, and it’s not pasteurized, potentially causing disease. Dirt from your backyard won’t do the job for the germination of small seeds.
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