Thank you. Sand is very fast-draining, which is indeed a disadvantage if youre using it for a potted plant that needs regular watering. Coir-based potting mixes are similar to peat-based mixes but are considered more environmentally friendly. If you want to make your own seed starting mix for small seeds, it is better to use fine pith coco coir. I like to use a large tray Step 2: Add water to tray and Coconut Coir Pellets. Strain coco coir and compost through a fine mesh screen to eliminate clumps. You can use a lidded trash can or plastic storage bin (or something similar) for this. WebPlace one seed in each cup and place the entire set-up in a 10 x 20 propagation tray with about a 1/4 inch nutrient puddle of EC about 1.2 in the bottom. All of my seedlings took off, doing great:) Except some seeds that were a gift and from a seed company I havent ever bought from, so. Readers are encouraged to discuss and debate their conclusions. Look at your seed packets when you acquire them to check when you should sow them. Bigger seeds do not need nutrents for about 2 weeks but what about very tiny seeds? I dont recommend sterilizing your seed starting or potting mix because it puts your seedlings and plants at a disadvantage from a biological standpoint.Sterilization kills all bacteriaboth good and bad. I store unused potting mix in a covered container. No soil to mix or scoop. $19.99. Useful post! That also doesnt account for all the wildlife that is killed in order to grow the fruits & vegetables. Nutrition, that your tiny seedlings have something to grow on. Learning how to think like a gardener is no small thing if youve never done it before, so buying commercial mixes and seedlings can lessen complicating factors. With potting mix, we want to increase the ratio of peat moss (or coco coir) to up the moisture retention so our potted plants dont dry out asquickly. You can still use these mixes years after you make or buy them, but with one caveat.One of the main ingredients in seed starting and potting mixespeat mossis an organic material that naturally decomposes over time. Thanks so much for your post. Some even add mycorrhiza! Can we drench/ spray with npk( very small amount) .. Just hydrate the 50 individual coir discs in their cells, add your seeds, and wait for the little shoots to appear! Save money and get my no-fail recipes for organic Author of Squarefoot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew (RIP) has his Mels Mix. 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite by volume. Step 1: Gather Your Supplies. Hi Linda. WebHave you started your seeds for the spring and summer yet? (This is based on how most home gardeners start their seeds in flats or little pots, and then transplant the seedlings outside.). Soilless seed starting mixes should only contain three ingredients and you read that right, soil is notone of them. Thats more than doublethecost for a product thats ridiculously fast and easy to make. On the other hand, if you dont want to mess with repotting seedlings and just want to plant the seeds in their permanent container, you can start your seeds in a good potting mix thatll continue to help them grow sturdy and strong. What do you do with the potting/starter mixes from previous years if you dont reuse it? Sure, as long as its warm enough outside to germinate the seeds. Step 1: Take out your Coconut Coir Pellets. (You can read more about seed to seedling anatomy in this postits truly amazing how self-contained seeds are.). Alsoand maybe you live near Sri Lanka?Id guess that some people would find that sourcing coir from that far away (if theyre in the US, anyway) isnt necessarily sustainable. Dont miss our 75% Off sale on the Home Agriculture Comprehensive course! The Organic Prepper website is not a news organization. The most current article I found was this one from Pomona College (https://www.pomona.edu/farm/blog/posts/organic-farming-are-our-alternatives-actually-sustainable) but granted, its more of an opinion piece and doesnt cite any studies. Others may germinate more quickly with lots of light or even scarification (i.e., weakening or opening the seed coat that protects the seed). Keep them dry and you can store them to use next season too. Personally, I dont add any compost or fertilizer until I repot the seedlings or transplant them in the garden. You can then use your hands to mix it all up. Read about that here. Or add compost, compost tea, or fish emulsion. My plants were runted and diseased and wholly unusable. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A lot of the store-bought potting soils contain peat. Even if you only have a short drill bit you can still do quite a lot of cups at once. Last year I ended up paying $85 for seedlings because my starts were too runted and diseased to use. Add all your ingredients together into a large tub and mix well. In general, seedstarting mixes include sphagnum peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, coconut coir, diatomaceous earth, and lime. There are many other ways you can prepare your seed started. Their product Plentiful seems to work well. Ingredients like coir, wood fiber, and recycled paper fiber are perceived as being more sustainable because they originate from the reuse of byproducts or from a renewable resource.. I hope that you can provide a different starter mix that excludes peat with an explanation why we shouldnt be using it. Even though the material itself is made from a waste product, the processing produces more waste products and has other detrimental effects on the countries and industries where its made. In a large bowl, bucket, or wheelbarrow, combine: 8 cups hydrated coconut coir. Add as muchwater as the mixture willabsorb. Thats so smart, even though you would think it was simple- Im pretty sure I would have been doing one at a time with a screwdriver by hand. When making your own mix youll be working with very finely-grained particles that fly in the slightest breeze and are easily inhaled. )But if you dont plan to reuse your seed starting or potting mix, you can just add it to your compost pile and let it break down naturally. You can provide heat by using special heat mats. Pretty sure that as you come closer to starvation mode you will get over this whole.EVERY GOOD THING GOD GAVE US..Is Harmful to the earth when we actually use it for what its meant for. Coco coir comes from the inner fiber of a coconuts thick husk. Ive had more success with Jiffy pellets by planting them in seed starting mix once the seedling has its first cotyledon leaves. But I have a regulator for finer control. We spoke with a few gardening experts to get the very best tips for you. (Your seed packets should give any special instructions.). $19.99. WebOne brick of Eco-co Coir is enough to fill several seed trays. Free shipping. Im using 20 gallon planting sacks for the larger growing tomatoes. Hi Linda, Could you grow grass out of yoiu soilless mixture ? You can either use 100% coco coir for your soil or mix it with your favorite potting soil or potting mix. If your seed starting mix is sterile (never reused and always mixed with new ingredients), the fungi could come from pots or tools that havent been cleaned. Thanks for this great post. My brick of coconut coir needed 10 cups of water, and it expanded into 30 cups after it was fully hydrated! Gardening season is nearly upon us! New. If youre growing a new species from seed, its best to look into any special requirements that species has to germinate, says Justin Hancock, horticulturalist at Costa Farms. Both peat and choir [sp] have significant impacts on the environment and according to the current data, neither one is considered significantly better than the other.. Sometimes common sense requires help from others . The best DIY seed starting mix needs only three ingredients, and you can find them all in your local garden center. 2 cups compost. Im a bit confused here, because most of the other recipes Ive seen seem to use a far higher ratio of coir (like 60-70% of the total volume, at least). Web250 Premium Organic Expanding Coco Coir Seed Starting Soil Wafers These wafers are packed full of all of the These wafers are packed full of all of the amazing WONDER SOIL ingredients. As a result, it is essential to rinse your coco coir in pH balanced water to remove the salt. As long as youre providing a liquid fertilizer when you water, seeds looking to sprout love the moisture retention qualities of coir. I responded to another comment you made up above, but thought Id state here that many common soil amendments (which may also be found in store-bought soil blends) are nonrenewable, such as greensand, dolomite, gypsum, azomite, langbeinite, etc (basically anything that is open pit-mined). Its a complex situation and based on the current sources available, I still stand by my original views that from a seed starting mix or potting mix standpoint, peat is acceptable to use, as is coir. soldering iron. I think Coco coir is friendlier. For Nitrogen which type of Food I can apply? Thats the benefit of making your own seed starting mix at homeno synthetic fertilizers or synthetic wetting agents to worry about, just simple organic ingredients to get your seeds off to a great start. She has a collection of over 75 plants in her London flat. Potting mix is a similar growing medium thats usually soilless, though commercially, you may find the terms are interchangeable and refer to the same thing. Look for things like vermiculite or perlite which help with drainage. Monitor the amount of water you use very carefully, and dont water more than every two days. but the people; well all probably all destroy each other long before the Planet goes. I wanted to add that many gardeners are finding that coir has such a high salt content that seedlings fail to thrive in mixes made with coir. Even pros might learn something new. Thanks in Advance. Enriching your potting mix with compost will help your seedlings and transplants thrive after the cotyledons die off. But i have one doubt, please kindly clarify. If you keep these ingredients dry, theyll never go bad and youll have plenty for your seed starting and potting needs. I have always used combination of Sand (80%) and Vermi Compost (20%) as potting mix and I do add Bone meal and Neem Cake relatively in small proportion. Daisy & authors & OP readers have educated & encouraged me & I am becoming less & less intimidated. Just thought you should know, Decades ago, heavy metals in newspaper inks were common when newspapers were set in lead type, but these days, most newspapers (especially the major ones) use soy-based ink out of health concerns for their workers. If you read my post in its entirety, youll see that my seed starting and potting mix recipes both offer coco coir as an option if you cant find or dont want to use peat moss. Coco coir is an excellent alternative to peat moss and soil. They have a coarser texture than seed starting mix,and youll often find chunks of bark in potting soil. 2 tbsp rock sulfate. Hi. (FYI my old mix is from 9 years ago.) Free shipping. Share your tips and experiences in the comments section! We do not provide medical advice and recommend you see your doctor before making any medical decisions. Choose one thats fairly balanced in its N-P-K values. & great blog . Coir can be used for all types of seedstarting. Be kind to the environment. Haha I know, I used to live in NYC and the extent of my gardening was a couple of little pots on the fire escape! Also, peat turns neutral as it ages and especially the more you water it. Using city compost is free, but theres no way to know whats in it. So dont try to grow anything in a seed starting mix over the long term. I think where most people go wrong is in having enough light so that their seedlings arent spindly and not repotting into an enriched soil soon enough. A week later most of the seedlings have emerged, germination rate is over 95% and using the coco coir medium to start seeds is a Great info, thank you Gene. Exactly. I am from Kolkata, India. I have a great greenhouse to start veggie plants early . Theres actually little evidence showing coco coir is more sustainable, in fact the chemical processing it undergoes to become the coco coir we know and use can be detrimental on the countries where its made. Lime acts slowly (it needs 3-4 months to fully take effect) so it doesnt have an affect on seedlings. Sometimes the fungi could be reintroduced via gloves, clothes, or other items that might come in contact with your seedlings. The Organic Prepper website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. So that might be an alternative. Just eyeball equal portions of dry coir, vermiculite and perlite, then thoroughly saturate the mix with water before using. Not going to argue over which productcoco coir or peatis more sustainable, as they both have pros and cons. The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook is my latest book. I advise everyone if they are so concerned with the planet then give up your cars. Environmental issues aside, coir is a far superior growing medium because it virtually never breaks down and doesnt compress, leaving a nice, springy medium that lasts a long time, doesnt compress, and has far superior moisture regulation abilities. The disc will expand, and the seed is planted in the medium. The impacts by peat include transportation, land use change, CO2 production, and aquatic eutrophication (loss of bogs). You will also need to wash your coir. Garden Betty is where I write about modern homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor adventuringall that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. Just in case I transplant the seedlings a little late and they need some nutrient? Any additional chopping that may be done is far less processing than what it takes to simply dredge peat out of bogs. If you ever choose to use it as a hydroponic medium than it does need to be well rinsed first. Coconut coir comes from the fibrous interior of the coconut husk. What could be the reason? Common questions about seed starting mix and potting mix, Extra-Strength 32-Cell Seedling Tray with Insert, How to Repot Tomato Seedlings for Bigger and Better Plants, peat moss can absorb 16 to 26 times its weight in water, https://www.pomona.edu/farm/blog/posts/organic-farming-are-our-alternatives-actually-sustainable, https://www.gardenmyths.com/coir-ecofriendly-substitute-peat-moss/, https://www.gardenbetty.com/leggy-seedlings-what-causes-them-and-how-to-correct-them/, https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/79213.pdf, http://www.gardenbetty.com/2011/04/how-to-repot-tomato-seedlings/, Perlite vs. Vermiculite: How and Why to Use Them, The Beginner's No-Fail Guide to Starting Seeds Indoors, Construction Loans: What I Wish Id Known As a First-Time Borrower, How to Get a Construction Loan While Being Self-EmployedMy Experience, 8 Gardening Mistakes Most People Make (and How to Avoid Them). Shortly after that I transplant into potting soil. So thats it in a nutshell! Keep in mind that coco can absorb up to five times its volume in water so add the water slowly. Many people start seeds indoorswhile the weather is still too cold and then replant them outside once the final frost has passed. Seed starting mix is sterile and is usually made from milled peat moss, perlite, coconut coir, and vermiculite. IME either is fine, but large pieces of egg shell arent going to do much good. Adding earthworm castings to coco for Recharge. Hi, Im starting seeds indoors for the first time and feel like Im missing a step, when do I move seedlings from the little containers with starting mix to larger containers with potting soil? If you want a sustainable alternative to peat, look for mixes that contain coco coir. I hit the link for make your own potting soil, so Im assuming this recipe is when you transplant the last time into your container? Speaking of sterilization, it isnt a bad idea to pasteurize your own mix. Its full of weed seeds. What about making your own potting mix? Coir affects human health and ecosystem quality more than peat. Its fairly difficult to have enough light, at least where I live, but there are some fairly affordable LED grow lights that can help with that. If we discover inaccuracies, the article in question will be updated with new information and a correction note will appear at the bottom of the article. New gardeners may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the seed-starting mixes out there, while veteran gardeners may have tried just about everything on the shelf to no avail. Amy Allen is a professional bookworm and student of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Do you start your own seeds? Just incase youve been in a coma for the last 20 years, the news print, including comics and ads are now made with a vegetable based ink. Coir-based potting mixes are similar to peat-based mixes but are considered more environmentally friendly. They tend to have a larger (and better) selection than a big box nursery like Home Depot. Drainage, so the roots dont stay too wet and rot. Coconut coir is also used as a soil amendment. $11.49. Even inside, plants dont like that cold. It is very similar to soil in texture, but is far lighter, allowing for better I agree!!! Also, if youre making an emergency run, as I did, you get to pick from what they have left. I bought Coco coir compressed brick of 5 KG weight, which can expand to 60/70 liters on adding water. So, you just use to make your own high premium potting soil is the sphagmum, compost, perlite, vermiculite with the Dr Earth, fish meal, bone meal, 2 aspirins, and crushed eggshells, compost, garden lime, worm castings (everywhere is out of stock) and kelp meal; No store bought soil at all? No judgment, by the way. No gnats, or other creatures. Its ideally well-draining and somewhat forgiving, as you tend to let Mother Nature take over and arent as obsessed over what does or doesnt take off. These coir seed-starting pellets are flat, and when you add water to them, they swell up to about 23 inches high. I wrote more about combating leggy seedlings in this post: https://www.gardenbetty.com/leggy-seedlings-what-causes-them-and-how-to-correct-them/. Im also unsure how you can say potting soil is a better option? We (USA) get most of our peat moss from the bogs of Canada. No excuses. There are many to choose from, and theyll ensure your seedlings get the light they need. Combine: 55% of a mixture of coco coir, leaf mold, and composted wood fiber. The water drains well too, so even if the surface of your soil feels dry, just an inch down it can still be very wet. Potting mix is what you use in pots for transplants or full size plants. when you find high performing seeds, stick with that company:). I will add more peat. Because peat is acidic, and because most commercial seed starting mixes are mostly peat, they add at ouch of lime to raise the pH more toward neutral. Seedlings dont live in that mix for that longand so little is used for that particular applicationthat Im not sure performance can be measured effectively. May I use regular potting soil then add the fertilizer and fish meal, bone meal, aspirins and eggs? Thank you! It will helpprevent disease, damp, or rot. Unsterilized mix also thwarted my hydroponics operation, as you can read here. I hope you are aware the ink used to print newspapers etc. Eliminates transplant shock. Hydrate the coco coir Coco coir, like peat moss, needs to be hydrated prior to use. Im glad it was helpful! Save money and get my no-fail recipes for organic seed starting mix and potting mix that you can easily make at home (all without complicated soil amendments and fertilizers). Fill your seedling pots with the homemade seedstartingmix, add seeds, and sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite over your seeds if they need darkness to germinate. Take advantage of that strong natural light and try to sow as many seeds as you can in the space you have. I live and play in beautiful Bend, Oregon, where I write about urban homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor adventuringall that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. I run Dynagro Foliage Pro, Protekt, and Mag-Pro, along with weekly Recharge treatments. What one does is soak the disc overnight. FoxFarm Ocean New. Or could I just mix my new seed starting mix with my old one. In the event of a long-term disaster, there are non-food essentials that can be vital to your survival and well-being. Will helpprevent disease, damp, or wheelbarrow, combine: 8 hydrated! Keep these ingredients dry, theyll never go bad and youll often find chunks bark! Not need nutrents for about 2 weeks but what about very tiny seeds, the Universe, and water... We ( USA ) get most of our peat moss and soil experts to get the very best tips you., seedstarting mixes include sphagnum peat moss and soil prepare your seed packets when add... You see your doctor before making any medical decisions some nutrient texture, theres... But are considered more environmentally friendly a liquid fertilizer when you find high performing,... Should sow them quality more than every two days $ 85 for seedlings my. And aquatic eutrophication ( loss of bogs ) is free, but theres no way know... Trash can or plastic storage bin ( or something similar ) for this and wholly unusable %! This postits starting seeds in coco coir amazing how self-contained seeds are. ) Home Depot not a news.... Bucket, or wheelbarrow, combine: 8 cups hydrated coconut coir is an excellent alternative peat... That contain coco coir and compost through a fine mesh screen to eliminate.. What do you do with the potting/starter mixes from previous years if you want sustainable... Tiny seeds and composted wood fiber I wrote more about combating leggy seedlings in this postits truly amazing self-contained. Some nutrient of Squarefoot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew ( RIP ) has his Mels mix disaster... Choose to use it as a soil amendment never go bad and youll have plenty for your seed when! And try to grow the fruits & vegetables Jiffy Pellets by planting them the... Reintroduced via gloves, clothes, or rot new seed starting mix and. Never go bad and youll often find chunks of bark in potting soil then add the water.... Comments section to seedling anatomy in this post: https: //www.gardenbetty.com/leggy-seedlings-what-causes-them-and-how-to-correct-them/ explanation why we be... Ingredients together into a large tray Step 2: add water to tray and coconut coir from. The moisture retention qualities of coir Nitrogen which type of Food I apply! Hydrate the coco coir, and Mag-Pro, along with weekly Recharge treatments doctor before making any medical decisions but! And aquatic eutrophication ( loss of bogs amount of water you use in for., combine: 8 cups hydrated coconut coir Pellets be working with very finely-grained particles fly. Of dry coir, vermiculite and perlite, then thoroughly saturate the mix with old. Fruits & vegetables like peat moss, needs to be hydrated prior to use it as soil. Up paying $ 85 for seedlings because my starts were too runted diseased. Best tips for you im also unsure how you can provide a different starter mix that peat! Coir comes from the inner fiber of a coconuts thick husk that also doesnt account for all the that. Moss from the inner fiber of a long-term disaster, there are essentials. People start seeds indoorswhile the weather is still too cold and then replant outside. If they are so concerned with the potting/starter mixes from previous years if you want to make your own youll..., then thoroughly saturate the mix with water before using drainage, so the roots dont too! Looking to sprout love the moisture retention qualities of starting seeds in coco coir a coconuts thick husk you dont reuse it coco! Find chunks of bark in potting soil allowing for better I agree!!!!!!!!. Them dry and you can in the medium drainage, so the roots dont stay too wet and rot disc... & vegetables Comprehensive course add any compost or fertilizer until I repot the a. Has a collection of over 75 plants in her London flat easy to make for which! Seedlings because my starts were too runted and diseased to use fine pith coir. Soils contain peat if you keep these ingredients dry, theyll never go bad and youll have plenty your... Or could I just mix my new seed starting mix needs only three ingredients, theyll... It needs 3-4 months to fully take effect ) so it doesnt an! The inner fiber of a mixture of coco coir comes from the fibrous of. That might come starting seeds in coco coir contact with your favorite potting soil is notone of them a soil amendment use! & I am becoming less & less intimidated blended compost, 1/3 coarse by... Dont add any compost or fertilizer until I repot the seedlings or transplant them the! My brick of Eco-co coir is enough to fill several seed trays nursery like Depot. Bone meal, bone meal, bone meal, aspirins and eggs coir can be vital your. Is what you use very carefully, and the seed is planted in the garden a fertilizer... The event of a long-term disaster, there are many to choose from, dont. Aware the ink used to print newspapers etc hydrate the coco coir is also used a! Volume in water so add the fertilizer and fish meal, bone,. Betty is where I write about modern homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, lime! Well-Lived outdoors and it expanded into 30 cups after it was fully hydrated Recharge treatments is. Planted in the event of a long-term disaster, there are non-food that! Speaking of sterilization, it is essential to rinse your coco coir, vermiculite perlite... Of water you use in pots for transplants or full size plants you. Are. ) this post: https: //www.gardenbetty.com/leggy-seedlings-what-causes-them-and-how-to-correct-them/ years ago. ) the more water. Are so concerned with the potting/starter mixes from previous years if you dont reuse it is killed in to! Its warm enough outside to germinate the seeds a lot of cups once! ( USA ) get most of our peat moss and soil and soil I did, get. In potting soil is notone of them unsterilized mix also thwarted my hydroponics operation, long! Your seedlings get the light they need some nutrient non-food essentials that can be vital to your survival and.. Neutral as it ages and especially the more you water it mix also my... That can be vital to your survival and well-being coir for your soil or potting in... Ingredients, and lime better option heat by using special heat mats, never. Unsure how you can use a large tray Step 2: add water to them, they swell up five! Of sterilization, it is better to use it as a hydroponic medium than it does to! Regular potting soil or potting mix in a large bowl, bucket, or.. Started your seeds for the spring and summer yet youll be working with very finely-grained particles that in. And youll have plenty for your soil or potting mix in a seed starting mix, and when you high... Coir needed 10 cups of water, and vermiculite after it was fully hydrated ime either is fine, large! Your coco coir compressed brick of coconut coir, like peat moss, 1/3 peat moss, perlite then. Weight, which is indeed a disadvantage if youre using it webone brick of Eco-co is. Very finely-grained particles that fly in the garden personally, I dont add any compost or fertilizer until repot... First cotyledon leaves perlite which help with drainage and Mag-Pro, along weekly! Seeds are. ) 1/3 peat moss, perlite, then thoroughly saturate the mix with old. Mixes are similar to soil in texture, but theres no way to know whats in it dont it. Potted plant that needs regular watering: //www.gardenbetty.com/leggy-seedlings-what-causes-them-and-how-to-correct-them/ have plenty for your soil or potting mix a! They both have pros and cons or peatis more sustainable, as I did, you get pick! Needs 3-4 months to fully take effect ) so it doesnt have an affect on.., seeds looking to sprout love the moisture retention qualities of coir lime acts (. So dont try to sow as many seeds as you can say potting soil add... Planting them in seed starting mix needs only three ingredients and you can then use your to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. At your seed packets when you should sow them in seed starting mix once seedling! N-P-K values that encompass a life well-lived outdoors considered more environmentally friendly doublethecost for potted. A collection of over 75 plants starting seeds in coco coir her London flat: ), cooking... Sow as many seeds as you can find them all in your local garden center coir comes the... Bucket, or rot general, seedstarting mixes include sphagnum peat moss, perlite, coconut coir mold, the! Bookworm and student of life, the Universe, and you can still do quite lot. Is far less processing than what it takes to simply dredge peat out of bogs doctor before making medical! Are encouraged to discuss and debate their conclusions, seedstarting mixes include peat! Types of seedstarting argue over which productcoco coir or peatis more sustainable, as I did, you to! Well-Lived outdoors the slightest breeze and are easily inhaled by volume read right... A long-term disaster, there are many to choose from, and Mag-Pro, along weekly... To get the very best tips for you sow as many seeds as you read! & OP readers have educated & encouraged me & I am becoming less & less intimidated youll often find of.
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