I have used the Jiffy brick before last year. It works just as good as any if used properly. This year I will use the bagged Jiffy Organic seed starting mix. It was on clearance at HD to make room for X-mas stuff. The bag should do all of my starts.

I use [ducking in mortal fear] peat pellets, and they are very reliable with the lackadaisical way I work and this bright dry climate. Since you said "seed starting", that's only as far as this comment covers. No muss, no fuss, predictable, forgiving of watering goofs.

I use a 50/50 mix of MG orchid mix (not the course blend) and MG Organic choice. I add perlite to the mix for even better aeration. It works well and drains well. I use this from starting seeds to potting up, one solution from start to finish.

Mark

I prefer the plugs they come moist just open the bag and put in a tray and insert the seed. when it sprouts pull the plug out and put it in whatever media or system ( if hydroponic ) you like no mess or mixing

I use a very gritty mix, sort of a hybrid of 5-1-1 and Gritty.
Never had Damping Off or overwatered seedlings.

Josh

I like the MG mix. I tried a cheaper store brand and it was hard to wet. I had to soak it in a bucket and then squeeze the water out of it.

I just use regular potting soil. Long as I give it a peroxide spray every day or two when the seedlings are small, I don't run into problems with damping off.

Whatever works for , that is what you should use, I think.
I use something like Josh's ; a hybrid of 5-1-1., with added DE(floor dry).

Talking about seed starting : When are guys starting to germinate?
My plant out date is like end of April. When should I get started with germinating? I like to start slow growing ones a bit early.

Seysonn

What I use currently is pre-moistened MGMC with the large bits picked-out, and a layer of the fine stuff at the top.

I tried something specifically made for seed starting, but found it dried-out too quickly, and didn't work as well.

Seysonn I've read the norm to be about 12 weeks before plant date.

I put MG potting soil in a 4" pot and about 2" of MG seed starting mix on top.

Thanks Ozzy. So the I will start some time around mid January.

On Starting Mix:
As I said before, if you have found a formula that work, just continue with it.

Damping out and Gnats:
But overall problem with starting mix is due to too much moisture retention than drying out. I have had also problem with fungus gnats due to damping.
I have used Camomile tea, Cinnamon powder and Mosquito dunks to deal with the gnats issue.

How To Water:
I Do bottom watering ( 5 days apart). It take more time to do it but it keeps the top of soil dry and with that less of gnats issue.

Re Potting:
Ones the seeds germinate( in small cells) and have about first set of true leaves (or maybe sooner) I pot them into 4" plastic pots. Some people use 12oz Solo cups. Same difference .lol
For potting I also use 5-1-1 mix

Fertilizing:
I use 12-8-24 liquid fertilizer @ about 1/4 to 1/3 recommended strength early on. After 4 weeks or so i'll make it a bit stronger. You have to be ale to read your plants lips.:-)

Seyson

Anybody have a good link to an explanation of the 5-1-1 mix? I've always bought nursery pepper plants of peppers from nursery-purchases and I've never grown peppers directly from seed. So when looking around this forum about seed starting mixes, I've seen a lot about this particular mix and seeing more on this particular thread.

5-1-1 Forum post

Here is a link that might be useful: 5-1-1

There are obviously a ton of variations of the 5-1-1 so try to not get too overwhelmed by it all.

Yeah. You needs to do some reading on 5-1-1. But the basic concept is a departure from peat moss base (most commercial potting soils) to pine bark base:

5>> part of pine bark ( smaller pieces than 1/2", all the way to peat moss like fines); This makes the structure.
1>> part peat moss: This balances some moisture retention.
1>> part Perlite; This is for drainage of excess water, quickly.

.....
This mixture is soil less and has no nutrients....So you have to add it to the mix.

I recommend to do some reading in the "Container Gardening" forum and familiarize yourself with the concept.

Seysonn

I recommend you just forget about the 5-1-1 unless you have a good source for pine bark. Most of the stuff you buy is loaded with fines and sapwood that needs screened out...Unless you find good bark, it more trouble than its worth. stuff grows fine in MG or ProMix..just water less.
I experiment with mixes every year, have even made 5-1-1 with other stuff, pea gravel, rubber mulch and other things. Nothing has shown a noticable improvement over reg. MG

Thanks guys for all of the helpful information and links!

I have experienced damp off and saw this recently, NoDampOff⢠Organic Seed Starting Medium. Will give it a try this season instead of having to mist with chamomile tea which was very effective in preventing this problem.

Thanks for the link Chileman. I think I may order a bit of that as well.

Seems the only reason that NoDampOff resists damping off is because he used material that doesn't normally contain the fungus.

If thats your main concern, just wash your soil in peroxide and/or microwave it for a few minutes. You'll sterilize it for the same results for a lot less money.

Posted by Edymnion:

I just use regular potting soil. Any particular brand?

Long as I give it a peroxide spray every day or two Which brand? Mixed ratio or straight?

I think that there is no single starting soil or method to grow your seedlings. But I am sure some of them are better.
If the seeds from fallen fruits can grow in compost pile or in the garden bed, they can grow in any kind of soil but with a lesser success rate. Hundreds of tomato or pepper seed fall but not everyone of them will survive.

So, we choose a growing medium and growing condition that will maximize our success. I have personally germinated and grown seedling in plain garden soil in the past. But I think special starting mixes are better.

Seysonn

Northeast:

Not sure off the top of my head. Its the stuff in the pink bag that uses osmocote for the delayed feed. But it can also be whatever kind of potting soil I find handy. I actually have one of those big leaf garbage cans that I just dump the bags of potting soil into and then scoop back out as I need it.

As for the peroxide, brand doesn't matter. All pharmaceutical grade peroxide is 3%. Its like distilled water or acetone, its a chemical, brand names are irrelevant.

One reason I like starting in general potting soil is that it reduces transplant shock. When I want to pot up or move out into the raised bed, I don't have to worry about changing soils or anything like that, I just pop it out of the smaller container and put the whole soil plug into the new dirt. Plant never knows it was transplanted, so no transplant shock.