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25 Comments
What promix did you use
I use a wood stove in the greenhouse and place my compost on top until completely dried, fungas nats never had a problem with this method and best of all it didn't cost a dime.
We use Promix seed starting mix and dampen it with boiling water until it can stay in a clump. It worked great for us last year.
Are there soil blocking recipes that don't use compost?
I made this mistake. All the leafy bits in my compost even though 1/4" sifted made my soil blocks less compact even when mixed with 50/50 peat. Germination was decent for brassicas but only half of my peppers germinated. Going to leave this to the professionals since so much time and electricity gets put into seed starting, I wanna make sure everything is optimal
Coco coir, from Migardener, Perlite, Vermiculite. That's going to be my seed starting mix.
I used mushroom compost with a bit of perlite last year and didn't have any issues. It really depends on what kind of compost you use.
I've been using compost for everything with outstanding results. There's a famous gardener that has used compost for seed starting and growing for 40 years.
Do you add any trifecta to the promix for seed starting?
i had the opposite experience. i had more issues with only promix. im assuming cause something sterile can get colonized with no competition
I use compost indoor at home sometimes and I use seed starting mix at school. I get fungus gnats(or just regular gnats) in both places. All seeds are started indoors on heat mats. I also use fans at both places.
Main reason is buy more soil starter. Gotta play the capitalist game and spend spend spend. Forget that farmers use turned soil in the ground from last years growth.
Very helpful information for newer gardeners. Thank you!
100 percent disagree. Seed starting mix without compost is a huge mistake. Last year, on advice like this, I tried not using any and it was a complete disaster. I lost plant after plant. They'd sprout, and then whither away. I started adding compost back in and the plants immediately took off. This year I cut out the filler entirely. Compost and vermiculite, nothing else. I am having the best seed starting year of my gardening life to date. You do not need peat, you do not need coir. Both of those products are detrimental environmentally. That might be excusable if they did anything. But they don't. It's all a scam. When I make my mix, I moisten it with boiling water. This kills most problems. I also mix in a few pellets of mosquito dunks whenever I water, which kills any surviving gnats. There is a huge industry trying to sell you peat and coir. Try it another way. It will save you money and give you better seedlings.
I couldn't bottom water one of those trays you filled.
I list a lot of seedlings from fungus gnat last year. We have them now on my peppers that I am overwintering. I did some reading and read that cinnamon may help but not all cinnamon. I sprinkled a light layer on the soil on Saturday. We also have fly paper in 6 rooms. I shook the pot and this causes the gnats to thy away. I saw one I think; they are tiny. Also planted my peppers this weekend in a different room and there are none flying around. I tried sand and heating my dirt like look said last year but it didn’t work for me. Probably because I had overwintered pepper last year and they came in with them. Lessened learned. I’m over the top right not seeing those flying around . 🙂
Very interesting,when I start things in April or up pot thing in my greenhouse I was going to half fill containers with my compost. The top half I was going to use coconut coir and,vermiculite and perlite. My thinking is when the roots hit the compost the plant should be able to use it.
When I used sterile mix for starting, I got problems with mold and damping off, because the soil was readily colonized by house mold and microbes. When I used leaf mold compost instead, the native fungi outcompeted the harmful fungi and my seedlings had a better survival rate. I did see a few inkcaps growing in the soil, but the plants didn't die.
Thsnk you for this info, it is very helpful. I've had an explosion of fungus knats before it's a nightmare to get rid of. I have alot of house plants and use potting soil which had the knats when I bought it, this past summer I bought my soil snd put the bags in my car, the summer heat killed the bugs snd I've had no issues, very low maintenance and got the job done!! 😊
Since this seems to be controversial, I'll probably just have to experiment with it.
Seeds already have nutrients within them but it can only take them so far. I'd presume you'd use some kind of fertiliser?
I could compare the results of that with another group that mixes in compost. Though I'd have to try avoid it potentially contaminating the results of the compost-less group.
Well, shoot!! I JUST mixed up a batch of seed starter yesterday and though, "well, why not add some home made compost??". Guess I'll be starting again – last year those fungus gnats were the bane of my existence.
I use my homemade compost to start seeds with great results.
This was quite a controversial one. Not sure I agree. But see where you are coming from. And am sure this is a method plant breeders use. But as a home gardener and not a professional nursery/farming operation am happy with my regular compost method with a little vermiculite added in. Getting locally sourced compost is a lot more economical and also less damaging to environment. All those coconut producers clearing wild forests and all the shipping miles..
We grow ours in Red Oklahoma Port Loam “dirt” and sharp sand. 70/30 Red/Sharp.. sometimes a lil multch after establishing. Running some experiments to do 67% red 33% sand and extra 8% inoculated biochar this year.
Why did you avoid saying the word 'peat'? I mean I think that's what you're advocating for? I think the responsible gardener and farmer should make a concerted effort to move away from peat. It's a completely unsustainable input. Using it contributes to climate change.
I put my compost into heavy duty black containers early in the season and it sits until I need it. That means it's being solarized and getting close to what you're referring to as 'inert.'