Starting Soil?Potting Soil?

13 years ago

Can use some guidance on starting and potting soil. I went to walmart and picked up a small bag of Miracle Grow Starting Soil and plan to use that to get my plants started.

I'm starting indoors on a heat mat, then under T8 fluorescent bulbs until they go outside.

If I decide to transfer the seedlings from the pod tray to coffee cups should I be using Potting Soil at that stage? Any recommendations?

Another question, do you guys use the starting soil right out of the bag, or do you sterilize it and bake it? I'm hoping to avoid this step if possible.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

sarahbarah27
13 years ago
I have never baked or done anything to sterilize my potting soil before using it for my own purposes, and I have never had any real problems. I think for the most part it is sterile when you get it. In college I remember using steam to sterilize soil that we were reusing in the greenhouse rose beds...but that was because it was used:) I know that a lot of people do use special seed starting soil mix, but I always just use Pro-Mix potting soil. I;m sure some folks will tell you to use seed starting mix, and others will say it doesn't really matter (like me!), but what it comes down to is what you personally prefer. Why not try a little experiment and start some in the finer mix and others in regular mix...and see if it makes a difference to you! I just find it easier to use one kind, and I buy the huge 3.8cu ft bails.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
You do not say what plants you are growing. For vegetables I would not bother with seed starting mixes at all. Some of the slow to germinate ornamentals I think can justify the extra expense. Al
Related Discussions
difference between garden soil and potting soil..
Q
Comments (7)
I've used a garden soil/potting mix combo for the last 4 years of my rooftop container garden without knowing what I was doing. For the first three years I had lots of good growth with herbs and peppers and flowers. Certain things, like rose bushes and tomatoes, I had problems growing. Last year we had an extremely bad drought here in Chicago and I had lots of problems with some of my hardy plants like morning glories which can even grow well in cracks in the sidewalk. The lack of rain really displayed a big problem I had with my soil. This year I'm doing a modified Al's mix using lots of pine bark (knock on wood). Due to logistics and the massive amount of soil I already have I'm recycling it into the new mixture with about 40% of the mix the old "bad" soil I had been using. So far I have noticed a difference with my finger test. When I stick my finger into the soil it slides in easily and I can almost feel the air pockets in the soil. When installed in the container it kind of sits in there like a sponge. I can't report success (or hopefully not failure :-) until the end of summer but just by how this soil feels to the touch I'm converting my entire garden to this pine bark mixture. So the bottom line, you might be able to get by with a little garden soil in a mixture. I'm not sure what I'd do if I were starting from scratch since I don't necessarily want my containers to drain out quickly each and every day. There are too many to water every day and some of the hardier plants, like hot peppers and morning glory and other vines, simply don't need the greatest and most sophisticated soil mixture to survive and thrive.
...See More
Is Seed starting mix the same as potting mix/soil?
Q
Comments (6)
No, seeds starting mix is finer so that roots do not get torn up when you pull seedling apart when separating community flats/pots. It is mostly vermiculite peat moss and a bit of lime/dolomite to adjust pH. Potting mix is coarser and usually contains composted materials such as pine bark and other (originally) woody materials, often with a fluffer such as perlite or styrofoam, and lime/dolomite for pH adjustment. It can be used for starting seeds if you are not planning on pulling the plants out of the mix (I use it for starting everything). Potting soil is often much denser/heavier because it contains actual soil, I have seen it advertized for things that are to be permanently grown outside in containers like shrubs in planters, but someone else might have more info on this than me. Potting mix is usually better for most things than potting soil. For all of them you would have to check the bag to see if they contain starter fertilizer.
...See More
Home made indoor potting/seed starting soil
Q
Comments (11)
I usually use a store bought seed starting mix, but this year I decided to try a homemade mix for seed starting. We used some well-aged homemade compost. It was finely sifted and placed in a covered container in September. We then mixed 4 parts of this screened and sifted compost with 2 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite, and 1 part vermiculite. So far our plants look really healthy. Cabbage, basil, sage, and dill are all doing fine in this mix. No signs of mold, rot, damping off, or bugs yet. I guess this is the year for experimenting, because I have also purchased one of those fancy seed starter kits from Gurney's. It was a total impulse buy. I have started some more cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, and spinach in that. I sowed these seeds 2 days ago and several have already sprouted. Germination seems like it will not be a problem with this kit. I am more worried about the roots and how well they will grow in the provided "grow plugs". Also, because the styrofoam tray that the plugs sit in is constantly floating on water, it seems like the plants might not like being constantly saturated as they are growing. I am going to keep an eye on them and if I see any signs that they are not doing well, I will take them out of this tray and put them in their own pots. So far though everything is looking good. I will keep you updated on the progress of my little friends!
...See More
Starting dahlias in miracle grow potting soil
Q
Comments (7)
I've managed starting seeds in MG potting soil, but it does take a dab hand at balancing the water amounts. It's much easier if you cut the soil. Dinner plate dahlias, bedding dahlias, it's all good. MG's soil's only real down side is the expense. You may be able to get a store brand that does just as well. You can start the dahlia up here at your daughter's place if you want, but keep in mind that the weather here is still what I'd call "friggin' cold." Keep in mind I'm east-central PA near the Jersey border, so if your daughter is down near Philly it's merely "cold." We're due for wintry precipitation again this weekend, with no real end to winter in sight just yet. They'll have to tolerate a sunny window until around May fifteenth anyway, and that will probably stunt them worse than moving them. I don't plant my tubers until at least May first (sometimes slightly earlier if the weather indicates no frost, but that's unusual). They're usually in bloom by the end of June. Their depth is enough to protect them from a late frost and they won't sprout until mid-May anyway. Seeded dahlia (Figaro, Harlequin, and Fireworks) get started and go under light banks in March for planting out in mid-May. Blooming on those is early June.
...See More
luvahydrangea
13 years ago
This year I used seed starting mix and potting soil. I couldn't tell the difference. The seeds in the potting soil (peppers) actually germinated sooner than the ones in the seed starting mix. I probably won't be buying seed starting mix next year. Seems like a waste to me.
connecticutbug
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the replies. I am planning on starting all sorts of garden vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and many others.

Seed starting mix is expensive so i'll plan to try seed starting mix and a potting soil. Potting soil is much cheaper so if it works just as good why not :)
chele519
13 years ago
I normally used potting soil for the seeds I started outdoors but last year I got a bag of MG that seemed more like mulch than potting soil. There were sticks and pieces of bark mulch. None of my basil grew in it so I'm afraid to use it again. I was told at HD that I could use it and mix it with some peat I have and add something else, maybe perlite, I don't remember. Does anyone have an idea? I hate for it to go to waste and I have the peat left over from planting a tree anyway.
foolishpleasure
13 years ago
I use PRO-MIX with Fungicide. They germinate very well over a heating mat under fluorescent lights. My problem is they die after they are over 1 inch tall. From reading after they germinate i should remove them from the heating mat. Is this what you all do?
I grow trees from cuttings and I leave the cutting on the heating mat until the they develop good roots. May be the seedlings are different.
colokid
13 years ago
Doesn't realty matter too much on easy to start plants.
I would caution on the use of the word potting "SOIL" What you want is potting "Mix". The stores sell both. I have gone back to store potting mix for starting seeds and for re-potting them.
If you have the seeds covered, get the cover off as soon as they pop up and give them air.
tigger033
9 years ago
Hello,

Does anyone have an idea if pigweed seeds would need seed starting mix or if potting soil is okay?
Soil is 77-87 percent aged pined bark, sand, and perlite
Thanks!
Cat
6 years ago
Last year I used ProMix and I did not like it. Plants were leggy and thin. This year using a mix of Miracle Gro that has been sifted and some ProMix. Miracle Gro has trace minerals like Green Sand, etc to help them grow. Tried compost and got weeds. Tired of it. Now I'm going for the best. My opinion

Starting Soil?Potting Soil?

Comments (9)

sarahbarah27

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

Related Discussions

luvahydrangea

connecticutbug
Original Author

chele519

foolishpleasure

colokid

tigger033

Cat

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Starting Soil?Potting Soil?

Comments (9)

Related Discussions

connecticutbugOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

connecticutbug
Original Author