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#DIY - #PeatFree! Crafting the Perfect #SeedStarting Mix for Seeds & Planting Success
Written by: Luke Marion
Published on February 6, 2025
"I’ll tell you how to make and use an easy DIY starting mix for seeds that can give your plants an amazing boost, help them grow healthy, and save you money.
"Let’s grow bigger!
"Seed Starting Mix Ingredients
- #CocoCoir - Coconut husk fiber is the main growing medium in this recipe. Pro-Tip: When purchasing coco coir, pay attention to the product's grade (or coarseness) and salt content. You do not want chipped shells or particulates in it. I recommend ultra-fine premium grade A compressed coco coir blocks that are already triple-washed to remove salt.
- Vermiculite - Vermiculite is critical in your seed starting mix. It is an expanded volcanic rock that is very porous, allowing it to hold onto water and nutrients so they don’t drain through the soil.
- Perlite - Perlite is an expanded volcanic glass used in high-quality seed starting mixes to prevent compaction and allow better drainage. There are different grades of perlite. I prefer using fine to medium perlite. Extra-fine will work, too, but you will need to add more of it.
- Water - Warm water works best and speeds up the process, but you can also use cold water if that is all you have available.
-Fertilizer - Most seed starting mixes do not contain fertilizer. Since we are making our own, we can add it right into the seed starting mix. Choose a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer, such as Trifecta+ and/or a gentle fertilizer like #WormCastings."
Learn more:
https://migardener.com/blogs/blog/starting-mix-for-seeds/
#SeedStarting #SolarPunkSunday #DIYSeedStartingMix #Gardening
@DoomsdaysCW Since most of us have to buy the ingredients in plastic bags, why not buy a plastic bag of seed raising mix?
@anne_twain Well, if you can find a blend without peat moss, that would be great. I know I have a good source of worm castings -- my compost pile!
@DoomsdaysCW I hadn't considered the peat moss issue. I tend to use ordinary potting mix for seedlings anyway. Fertilised with chook poo! 
@anne_twain Nice! I have access to composted poo from a friend with a farm. It's black gold! However, seedlings might be a bit sensitive to unsterilized soils.
@anne_twain And back when I ate a lot of coconuts, I could see saving the husk fibers and using them in a mix as well. Some other items could be obtained locally (like sand instead of perlite), but one would want to make sure that it's sterilized.
@DoomsdaysCW It all comes in bags where I live. Unless you're ordering a tonne.
@anne_twain Yeah. Back in the old days, it used to come in fabric sacks. What did we ever do before plastic? ;-)
@DoomsdaysCW Hessian bags. And then they were useful for all sorts of things eg doormats.
@anne_twain Even livestock feed comes in woven plastic bags these days.