It's a good idea to soak the coco coir in water that contains a good amount of calcium and magnesium along with other trace elements. If untreated coco coir can have a tendency to absorb and deprive the plant of these nutrients and minerals.
You’re reading my mind lately! I wanted a video on lettuce, you deliver! I was looking at grow bags, you put out a video! Yesterday, I was wishing for a potting mix recipe and here you are!
Per-lite is a volcanic glass that expands 10x in size when heated. Inhaling it can do as much damage as inhaling glass shards and the product really needs better warning labels
I’ve used coconut coir v peat moss in our mix for a number of years now - as I’ve definitely noted there is much less likelihood of getting bugs/gnats/etc. in the mixture. Which if you do it inside the home/garage, those nasty boogers get into everything.
Thank you for what you do because of you. I just pull up my second small greenhouse yesterday. Can’t wait to start some of the heirloom tomato varieties. I got from your store here the beginning of April!
@@wormulous I bought one from ocean state it’s the second one I’ve had, to make it a little more rigid. I went to a lumberyard that has rough cut lumber got 2 x 4 boards cut to fit around the outside, and the two inside shelf racks use conduit clamps to clamp it down to the boards and I’m putting landscape fabric down between the two by fours and then I will put P stone down and that should help hold heat and radiate at night
@@jmr yes the beginning of April I’m gonna start them here in New York State upstate where I live we don’t get our last frost till about mid May so that will give me roughly 6 weeks with them growing but the peppers I like to have a little bigger when I transplant
@@johnwood738 As a general rule we put plants out on around mother's day in Southern Michigan so it looks like we get a little head start compared to you. I'm excited for the new growing season. 😃
I'd recommend looking into buffering your coco in cal-mag before using. I've started and grown peppers indoors for many years now, and decided I'd try out using coco instead. I typically run a 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss (or coco), and 1/3 perlite mixture for germinating and growing the seedlings. Almost ALL my plants showed severe signs of calcium deficiency, with wrinkled foliage and stunted growth. I found out about buffering the coco with cal-mag after the 2nd season of seeing these issues. I've since switched back to using peat moss, and I'm back to having the fantastic results I usually do (all lighting/feeding schedules remain the same, just back to peat instead of coco)
How do you add cal-mag into the soil? I have all this stuff because I have a bunch of health issues, including severe Lyme. I can hardly keep up gardening and I love it!!
Very good. Other videos I’ve seen on this didn’t mention the lime to adjust ph with the peat moss. I’ve also not had perlite in my starter that I’ve known. When I make this, I’m going to try pulsing my coarse perlite in a blender to see what happens and adding it if it works. Thanks!
@ivahihopeful: Remember to wear a ventilator mask when you try that (3M has the cheaper disposable ones with a ventilator in them). Like Luke mentioned, it's silica based and you don't want to breath that in. You probably already have that thought out, but I just wanted to make sure you planned on that. ;D Good idea to make what you have into what is needed. If you grow herbs from seed, I've also seen a gardener in England who uses the perlite balls as a cover like a duvet for the seeds. If you're interested in seeing that video let me know and I'll look it up again. Happy gardening :~]
quick question from a new sub. is it safe to say that the compost has some npk? I like to use peat moss and add in rice hulls, dolomite lime, and a tsp, or two of 4-4-4. I like the water only method as to having to add liquid organic amendments. thank you for the tip and the video
For seed-starter...I reuse my old potting mix(No diseases), sift it through a fine mesh sifter(1/8" openings) and then sterilize(I hate gnats and their soon-to-be offspring). Much of the perlite/vermiculite will sift through as well. The larger organic materials that didn't sift through, get thrown into my new/reused potting mixes.
Can you use compost from your bin. I have three different compost bin. One I used for kitchen vegetable scraps, grass clippings and other things during the summer and winter months. Another for my vegetable garden, it is an open compost pile.
could you post a recommendation for garden lime? What was available for me was Epsom which appears to be granulated and I'm not sure that will work (thinking it might be slow release??) Thanks!
Epson salt is magnesium sulfate...which doesn't contain lime, like he's talking about. What you're looking for is literally called "garden lime" on the bag...which contains "dolomitic" lime. You can find it at just about any garden center/nursery/online. Peat moss is naturally on the acidic side...so to balance out the acidity, and bring it back up to a more pH neutral zone...garden lime is added. Lime is considered an alkalizing agent. Hope this helped and to you, the best of luck! Cheers!
Luke, l have lots of finished compost, but need to pay for peat moss or coco coir. Can compost be sterilized by boiling water or microwave for indoor use?
I just started watching. I needed this! Now I need to go through and figure out a good mix for potting mix for containers. I just can't afford the premix when I need a crazy amount. Thank you so much. This is a big help. I love your videos. I'm going from one to the other today preparing seeds n my garden plan.
I work in commercial tree growing We use 2 different types of soil but it’s not really soil. It’s steam treated bits and pieces etc 1 for native & another for deciduous
Hi Luke, thanks for all the time you spend teaching us! I used this recipe for seed starting mix with my tomatoes. I used peat and followed your instructions. My seedlings are not doing well at all. I have tomatoes planted in jiffy seed starting mix only five days before that are ten inches tall and beautiful, the ones I planted with this recipe are only about an inch tall and barely growing. Everything else was done exactly the same for both sets of seed except the starting mix. Any idea what the issue is or what I could do to get them growing?
Great information!!! Perlite definitely has hazards, I use hay… or whatever else I have to keep it light. I have seen styrofoam in some commercial stuff- is that something we can do? Or should avoid because of leaching chemicals? Love the video!!!
Be very careful with hay and straw. Know your source and be sure it hasn't been treated with killer chemicals like Grazon (or Roundup, generic name is glyphosate). It will kill your plants and contaminate the soil and takes YEARS to get rid of the toxic chemicals.
No local supplier had different grades of Perlite. I bought an ungraded bag, which was about 5 gallons, and ran it through an 1/8 inch screen. I wound up with 2 gallons of fine and 3 gallons of medium/coarse.
Missing the transcript 😢 Sometimes I like to screenshot the transcript for future reference. All in all, a great video. I think I need to start over instead of using box store Potting mix. I don’t have a sifter and there are still sticks in it.
Do you have a colander or even a file basket (saw this in Handyman magazine)? I use mine all the time to wash stones, sift out twigs, etc, but a colander is the way to go.. dollar tree.
Luke, thank you for your dirt recipe they all sound delicious. Sterile Peat moss with vermiculite (water & nutrient retention), pearlite (airation), and dolamitic Lyme as a buffer to bring peat to neutral, sifted. My wheelbarrow is calling my name. Thanks again, Luke. Grow big with a blue tarp in the driveway to mix it all up, 🐦🐝🐞🪱🦠🫛🥦🥬🥒🫑🌶🥕🌽🍅🍓.
Thanks for helping with the indoor potting mix! I had a horrible infestation last year of the fungus gnats in the house.....took the vacuume to the ceiling to get them...and ended up having to get mosquito bits to mix with my water.
Love you're videos I have a question about my trees I bought Mulberry trees what kind of dirt do you recommend putting them in because this is my first time growing Mulberry trees they has said that I need very lose sandy dirt
Great guide, right up until the end, where you lost me. Agreed, you'd need to add fertilizer, when the seedling began growing true leaves when the medium is coir or peat, which are pretty barren. But if growing in compost, isn't fertilizer unnecessary, at least for a good long while? Otherwise, what's the point in using your compost for seedlings? I've always used compost for germinating, and only once needed to use fertilizer before transplanting outside. My single exception? Growing in 100% wood chip compost. Also, don't stress the ratios. I use some compost, some peat or coir, and some vermiculite, and maybe I'll throw in some rock dust, but never fertilizers. Measuring beyond "some" isn't at all necessary.
I'm having concerns with my vermiculite. It's very fine and has gold like tiny flakes in it. I thought I hit the jackpot at Lowes getting the only 5 bags they had for $7, but when I look at others' vermiculite, it looks nothing like mine. Mine is really fine and darker. Plus, of course, the shiny stuff in it has me concerned. I think it's called Sta Grow vermiculite. Thank you
Vermiculite has been shown to contain asbestos, so wearing a mask to reduce inhalation is a must. Back in the 1990's, most companies that shipped liquids in common carrier transportation had to switch fro Vermiculite to absorbent mats.
Hi I am ready to plant my seeds in my seeding tray. I have prepared 2L of peat moss with a spoon of dolomite lime added. Also a handfull of perlite and two handfuls of vermiculite. I have organic composts like bonemeal, seaweed, mustard, neem powder. ,cowdung compost, What do i mix as a nutrient suppliment as i dont have what u suggested. Can i do without all these nutrients for my seeds?
@tannerfrancisco8759 Yes. Very good. I don't like to pot up so I use big 2 in cells to start with root trainer grooves and liquid feed them a bit before going to 4 in pots with a mix of compost & worm castings for a boost and if they need more time in a pot due to bad weather. Gives flexibility. My 4 deep pots are made out of plastic food containers that I've cut air pruning slits into. Before that, I used some tough Aquaponic baskets partially cardboard lined to get the air pruning effect.
So what should I do if I want to grow lettuce indoors and not planning to transplant them. Should I mix the worm casting right away? What's your advice?
@@artstamper316 I want to grow inside year round too. Cukes though.. wow! I hope you find success with that. I'd love to know more about how you are thinking of setting that up. Vertical maybe?
@@jmr So far this is a plan. I need to clear some floor space in my basement. I did purchase a small 2x2x6 grow tent to set up to begin with. I’m the only one that eats organically, so I only need a few plants. Yes, the cucumbers would be a reach, but if I can get the self-pollinating ones that would help, I hope.
@@artstamper316 I've found Socrates cucumbers do great indoors. Don't forget, you want something that is both parthenocarpic (produces fruit without pollination) and gynoecious (produces almost exclusively female flowers). I went the hydroponics route using a large plastic tote as a water reservoir, so I didn't need to worry about watering, and I had them under a grow light. One plant gave one to three cucumbers per week, depending on the size I let them grow to before harvesting.
I asked you so many times about this. I use coco coir and a little miracle grow potting mix. Why did I get so much damping off, from this mix? I have to start my seeds over again. I bought regular seed starting mix. But it is so expensive
Nice video I am from india and new to seed growing . I will be growing seeds inside What is the final mix n proportion of the mix for seed starting. Do we use vermi compost or not in the mix? Vermi compost is susceptible to mildew etc so is it ok to use it? Also peat moss cant b used without the other item u suggested? What if we dont have fine perlite or fine vermiculite in our area? What mix do u recommend then? Last of all i am buying the starting tray. Is that good? Thx
I live in central ohio. We are getting about an inch of snow and temps down to 22 degrees tonight. I have about 200 tulips that are 4-6” tall. Should I cover them with a sheet to protect them?
Several sources say they are ok down to high 20’s. Ours are 6-8” tall, forecast low temps from 26-30 next few days. Snow will actually insulate them against colder air temps, so they should be ok. Every year we have this kind of situation and every year we have more tulips. Deer are a bigger problem.
Potting mix is chunkier and better for established plants. Seed starting mix is finer. Young roots don't like air gaps and take hold better with a finer mix. That is why Luke's mix in the video is so finely sifted.
I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been in O Chem in a million years but I don't think buffer is the word you are looking for at the beginning of the video.
On peat moss. I use it. It has an environmental cost. Just like the metals in your phone, car, fuels, house and nearly everything made by people. Canadian peat makes up a very large area of the North American continent. There's a lot to go around...
Well, it depends on the plant. Seeds have enough nutrients to germinate and grow their first set of ‘true leaves’. For plants like your leafy greens and other cool weather hardy plants that won’t be inside for long, they don’t need to be fertilized. For ‘heavy feeders’ that need consistent warm weather to thrive outdoors, such as tomatoes and peppers, they will need to be fed.
I have used vermiculite many time and woke up with my chest hurting from breathing the dust. I wear a mask ever time now because it’s not a pleasant feeling.
what were the ingredients in the compost... I bought a bagged "compost" and it was more or less just woodchips and sawdust, I used the bags in my raised vege patch and all the plants became stunted, and then yellowed and died. In all the years I have gardened I have never had such a problem with bagged potting mixes and compost as Ive had this last growing season (Im in Australia so we are coming into Autumn), and not one of the bagged mixes lists the ingredients of what was in the "compost".
thoroughly rinse the coir (coconuts grow near the oceans---salt!!!!! ---- and they may use ocean water in the processing the coir),,, never seen biochar used in seed starting mix, should function like the vermiculite.
By the way Luke I have found a Peat Moss ‘hybrid’ mix which I believe is a combo of Peat Moss and Coco Coir. It’s sold in a certain big box retail store that will go unmentioned. Starts with an ‘ L’
I'm thinking I missed something. Wondering is peat moss or coco coir only to be used for the 'indoor' version of the seed starting mix? If so, are vermiculite & pearlite also to be added to the coco coir and or peat moss for the indoor mix? I'll re watch again just to be sure. The DIY indoor seed starting mix I normally make is with sifted peat moss, a little garden lime, fine vermiculite, sometimes fine pearlite, & worm castings.
Peat moss and coco coir seed starting mixes can be used outdoors just fine. The only issue is when using a compost seed starting mix indoors, in which there may be a pest problem.
@@sandykincaid7576 The formula is essentially: 1 gallon of sifted compost, or peat moss, or coco coir. 2 handfuls or perlite 2 handfuls of vermiculite The compost, peat moss, and coco coir are interchangeable as the base growing medium. The differences are: * Coco coir may be a bit salty, so you may want to soak it and squeeze the water out. (I think Luke covered this in his "Peat Vs Coco" potting mix video a couple weeks ago.) * Peat moss may be too acidic, so you'll want to add a small amount of something like dolomitic limestone. * Compost may have bug eggs (I'm assuming), so using it indoors may result in a pest problem. The amounts don't have to be exactly as listed above (especially since a handful differs for each individual). You want a mix that looks something like 11:28.
@@ChristopherFritz Yes but where in this video is Luke's recipe for the 'indoor' seed starting mix? I don't think I heard one. Maybe he didn't intend to include one?
@@ChristopherFritz Very thorough explanation, thank you! I was thinking Luke would also be including an 'indoor' seed starting version in this video but sounds like it's only for the 'outdoor' version.
The peat bogs are like old growth forests. The companies are lying when they say harvesting peat moss is sustainable because there's so many bogs around. It grows 1 mm per year!! That is very very slow. We are in a global ecosystem emergency- better to use alternatives than destroy more old growth ecosystems. Leaf mold and pittmoss are accessible alternatives.
The problem with those mixes is that once water tough it it becomes hard as a rock and nothing grows its really not fair to tell people this recipe that has so many problems that they loose a lot of money and very poor growth
Coco core completely breaks down in about 3 years and peat won’t. You can get peat at any Home Depot or Lowe’s. It was about $13 for 3 cubic ft but now it’s almost $20.
This guy is the Gardener's encyclopedia
It's a good idea to soak the coco coir in water that contains a good amount of calcium and magnesium along with other trace elements. If untreated coco coir can have a tendency to absorb and deprive the plant of these nutrients and minerals.
Can you add those minerals?
Please add
You’re reading my mind lately! I wanted a video on lettuce, you deliver! I was looking at grow bags, you put out a video! Yesterday, I was wishing for a potting mix recipe and here you are!
That investment in a crystal ball has been paying off.
Per-lite is a volcanic glass that expands 10x in size when heated. Inhaling it can do as much damage as inhaling glass shards and the product really needs better warning labels
Probably one of the first videos as a newbie that’s got me having a better understanding. 👍🏻
I've been meaning to find a video on how to make some myself for cheap and you've absolutely DELIVERED! Thanks so much for this Luke!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video!! I'm coming into the store on Thursday since it's my birthday we're making the drive! Can't wait to see it!
Happy Birthday eskimo1472!!! Have a great trip and fun shopping spree 😊
I’ve used coconut coir v peat moss in our mix for a number of years now - as I’ve definitely noted there is much less likelihood of getting bugs/gnats/etc. in the mixture. Which if you do it inside the home/garage, those nasty boogers get into everything.
Followed the potato and sweet potato videos. No slips yet but the potatoes are showing plenty of growth already.
I want to grow those! I do need an autoimmune diet, though. 🥲
@@Tinyteacher1111 They are doing good. I've separated them and they are in water rooting. I looked for roots last night and saw some.
@@jmr Yay!! Always a happy moment!
Thank you for what you do because of you. I just pull up my second small greenhouse yesterday. Can’t wait to start some of the heirloom tomato varieties. I got from your store here the beginning of April!
What small greenhouse did you get? Been thinking about one myself but they seem awfully flimsy at least the ones I have seen
I already started some tomato plants from seed. I use decent size pots though. Not those teeny cells. (Seeds from Luke's store)
@@wormulous I bought one from ocean state it’s the second one I’ve had, to make it a little more rigid. I went to a lumberyard that has rough cut lumber got 2 x 4 boards cut to fit around the outside, and the two inside shelf racks use conduit clamps to clamp it down to the boards and I’m putting landscape fabric down between the two by fours and then I will put P stone down and that should help hold heat and radiate at night
@@jmr yes the beginning of April I’m gonna start them here in New York State upstate where I live we don’t get our last frost till about mid May so that will give me roughly 6 weeks with them growing but the peppers I like to have a little bigger when I transplant
@@johnwood738 As a general rule we put plants out on around mother's day in Southern Michigan so it looks like we get a little head start compared to you. I'm excited for the new growing season. 😃
I keep noticing your pallet tables. Wondering how you have the cement blocks safely secured. It looks like a perfect table for a greenhouse.
Love, love the instructional videos. Thank you!
I'd recommend looking into buffering your coco in cal-mag before using. I've started and grown peppers indoors for many years now, and decided I'd try out using coco instead. I typically run a 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss (or coco), and 1/3 perlite mixture for germinating and growing the seedlings.
Almost ALL my plants showed severe signs of calcium deficiency, with wrinkled foliage and stunted growth. I found out about buffering the coco with cal-mag after the 2nd season of seeing these issues. I've since switched back to using peat moss, and I'm back to having the fantastic results I usually do (all lighting/feeding schedules remain the same, just back to peat instead of coco)
How do you add cal-mag into the soil? I have all this stuff because I have a bunch of health issues, including severe Lyme. I can hardly keep up gardening and I love it!!
Are you buffering the pH with the peat mix?
Very good. Other videos I’ve seen on this didn’t mention the lime to adjust ph with the peat moss. I’ve also not had perlite in my starter that I’ve known. When I make this, I’m going to try pulsing my coarse perlite in a blender to see what happens and adding it if it works. Thanks!
@ivahihopeful: Remember to wear a ventilator mask when you try that (3M has the cheaper disposable ones with a ventilator in them). Like Luke mentioned, it's silica based and you don't want to breath that in. You probably already have that thought out, but I just wanted to make sure you planned on that. ;D
Good idea to make what you have into what is needed.
If you grow herbs from seed, I've also seen a gardener in England who uses the perlite balls as a cover like a duvet for the seeds. If you're interested in seeing that video let me know and I'll look it up again. Happy gardening :~]
Keep up the great work I love the videos thanks for the gardening tips.
Glad you like them!
Closing on a new house soon and buried in snow. Everything is on hold for the growing season for now but after that I will definitely use this mix.
Congrats on your new digs!! I hope you love it and enjoy making many, many blissful memories there.
Happy new house to make into a great home and garden. Blessings for you and yours.
Wow! So much amazing knowledge from your channel. Thank you.
quick question from a new sub. is it safe to say that the compost has some npk? I like to use peat moss and add in rice hulls, dolomite lime, and a tsp, or two of 4-4-4. I like the water only method as to having to add liquid organic amendments. thank you for the tip and the video
For seed-starter...I reuse my old potting mix(No diseases), sift it through a fine mesh sifter(1/8" openings) and then sterilize(I hate gnats and their soon-to-be offspring). Much of the perlite/vermiculite will sift through as well. The larger organic materials that didn't sift through, get thrown into my new/reused potting mixes.
Can you use compost from your bin. I have three different compost bin. One I used for kitchen vegetable scraps, grass clippings and other things during the summer and winter months. Another for my vegetable garden, it is an open compost pile.
Wow! That was so helpful! Thank you. 🥰👍
I'm starting my first compost pile this season. Can I add the leftover peppers to the pile?
Thanks Luke! Always good information from you!
If you pre-wet the perlite, you can avoid the dust clouds.
could you post a recommendation for garden lime? What was available for me was Epsom which appears to be granulated and I'm not sure that will work (thinking it might be slow release??) Thanks!
Epsom salt will dissolve almost immediately. Put a spoonful in a glass of water to see for yourself!
Epson salt is magnesium sulfate...which doesn't contain lime, like he's talking about. What you're looking for is literally called "garden lime" on the bag...which contains "dolomitic" lime. You can find it at just about any garden center/nursery/online. Peat moss is naturally on the acidic side...so to balance out the acidity, and bring it back up to a more pH neutral zone...garden lime is added. Lime is considered an alkalizing agent. Hope this helped and to you, the best of luck! Cheers!
Luke, l have lots of finished compost, but need to pay for peat moss or coco coir. Can compost be sterilized by boiling water or microwave for indoor use?
Thank you again Luke! Is this recipe in your book? thank you so much
I just started watching. I needed this! Now I need to go through and figure out a good mix for potting mix for containers. I just can't afford the premix when I need a crazy amount. Thank you so much. This is a big help. I love your videos. I'm going from one to the other today preparing seeds n my garden plan.
I am planning to use coco coir as my base in my new greenstalk planters hoping for good results
I buy a similar mix but it also has Mycorrhizae in it. I also inoculate my seeds in their packages. Much better results.
I work in commercial tree growing
We use 2 different types of soil but it’s not really soil. It’s steam treated bits and pieces etc
1 for native & another for deciduous
Fine sifted compostings, very interesting.
I’m thinking of using coir but I don’t have fine perlite is it ok to use fine vermiculite instead of perlite ?or should I use both ?
Hi Luke, thanks for all the time you spend teaching us! I used this recipe for seed starting mix with my tomatoes. I used peat and followed your instructions. My seedlings are not doing well at all. I have tomatoes planted in jiffy seed starting mix only five days before that are ten inches tall and beautiful, the ones I planted with this recipe are only about an inch tall and barely growing. Everything else was done exactly the same for both sets of seed except the starting mix. Any idea what the issue is or what I could do to get them growing?
Please could you tell me where you perlite and the coconut thanks
As always,very informative and helpful!!
Thanks Luke !!!
Great information!!! Perlite definitely has hazards, I use hay… or whatever else I have to keep it light. I have seen styrofoam in some commercial stuff- is that something we can do? Or should avoid because of leaching chemicals? Love the video!!!
Yes, avoid using any styrofoam or something that doesn't decompose under natural conditions.
Be very careful with hay and straw. Know your source and be sure it hasn't been treated with killer chemicals like Grazon (or Roundup, generic name is glyphosate). It will kill your plants and contaminate the soil and takes YEARS to get rid of the toxic chemicals.
No local supplier had different grades of Perlite. I bought an ungraded bag, which was about 5 gallons, and ran it through an 1/8 inch screen. I wound up with 2 gallons of fine and 3 gallons of medium/coarse.
Missing the transcript 😢 Sometimes I like to screenshot the transcript for future reference. All in all, a great video. I think I need to start over instead of using box store Potting mix. I don’t have a sifter and there are still sticks in it.
Do you have a colander or even a file basket (saw this in Handyman magazine)? I use mine all the time to wash stones, sift out twigs, etc, but a colander is the way to go.. dollar tree.
Luke, thank you for your dirt recipe they all sound delicious. Sterile Peat moss with vermiculite (water & nutrient retention), pearlite (airation), and dolamitic Lyme as a buffer to bring peat to neutral, sifted. My wheelbarrow is calling my name. Thanks again, Luke.
Grow big with a blue tarp in the driveway to mix it all up, 🐦🐝🐞🪱🦠🫛🥦🥬🥒🫑🌶🥕🌽🍅🍓.
Please could you tell me where you get peralite.
Thanks for helping with the indoor potting mix! I had a horrible infestation last year of the fungus gnats in the house.....took the vacuume to the ceiling to get them...and ended up having to get mosquito bits to mix with my water.
Getting excited! 🌱 🪴
Love you're videos I have a question about my trees I bought Mulberry trees what kind of dirt do you recommend putting them in because this is my first time growing Mulberry trees they has said that I need very lose sandy dirt
your channel is gold man.
Hi Luke,
Where do you purchase those large bags of perlite and vermiculite?
I Google everything
Great guide, right up until the end, where you lost me. Agreed, you'd need to add fertilizer, when the seedling began growing true leaves when the medium is coir or peat, which are pretty barren. But if growing in compost, isn't fertilizer unnecessary, at least for a good long while? Otherwise, what's the point in using your compost for seedlings? I've always used compost for germinating, and only once needed to use fertilizer before transplanting outside. My single exception? Growing in 100% wood chip compost. Also, don't stress the ratios. I use some compost, some peat or coir, and some vermiculite, and maybe I'll throw in some rock dust, but never fertilizers. Measuring beyond "some" isn't at all necessary.
I would also use worm castings.
Those tables look cool
They are pallets set on top of stacks of cinder blocks.
I'm having concerns with my vermiculite. It's very fine and has gold like tiny flakes in it. I thought I hit the jackpot at Lowes getting the only 5 bags they had for $7, but when I look at others' vermiculite, it looks nothing like mine. Mine is really fine and darker. Plus, of course, the shiny stuff in it has me concerned. I think it's called Sta Grow vermiculite. Thank you
Vermiculite has been shown to contain asbestos, so wearing a mask to reduce inhalation is a must.
Back in the 1990's, most companies that shipped liquids in common carrier transportation had to switch fro Vermiculite to absorbent mats.
Dummy-Proof I take that as a challenge 😊
Fr
Hi
I am ready to plant my seeds in my seeding tray.
I have prepared 2L of peat moss with a spoon of dolomite lime added. Also a handfull of perlite and two handfuls of vermiculite.
I have organic composts like bonemeal, seaweed, mustard, neem powder. ,cowdung compost, What do i mix as a nutrient suppliment as i dont have what u suggested.
Can i do without all these nutrients for my seeds?
Will this work with soil blocks too?
Great video, as always! Thank you! what Fertilizer do you use when the seedlings have formed 2 adult leaves? and how much?
@@tannerfrancisco8759 Thank you!
@tannerfrancisco8759 Yes. Very good. I don't like to pot up so I use big 2 in cells to start with root trainer grooves and liquid feed them a bit before going to 4 in pots with a mix of compost & worm castings for a boost and if they need more time in a pot due to bad weather. Gives flexibility.
My 4 deep pots are made out of plastic food containers that I've cut air pruning slits into. Before that, I used some tough Aquaponic baskets partially cardboard lined to get the air pruning effect.
Can you use this homemade soil for seed blocking?
The sound is fine
I have used Vermiculite in all of my planting this Spring, but now I am hearing that it can have asbestos in it. Any opinions on this?
So what should I do if I want to grow lettuce indoors and not planning to transplant them. Should I mix the worm casting right away? What's your advice?
I’m interested in this as well. I may need to grow more food indoors, living in east Ohio. Lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, maybe even cukes.
@@artstamper316 I want to grow inside year round too. Cukes though.. wow! I hope you find success with that. I'd love to know more about how you are thinking of setting that up. Vertical maybe?
I'd say yes, they'd need nutrients
@@jmr So far this is a plan. I need to clear some floor space in my basement. I did purchase a small 2x2x6 grow tent to set up to begin with. I’m the only one that eats organically, so I only need a few plants. Yes, the cucumbers would be a reach, but if I can get the self-pollinating ones that would help, I hope.
@@artstamper316 I've found Socrates cucumbers do great indoors. Don't forget, you want something that is both parthenocarpic (produces fruit without pollination) and gynoecious (produces almost exclusively female flowers).
I went the hydroponics route using a large plastic tote as a water reservoir, so I didn't need to worry about watering, and I had them under a grow light. One plant gave one to three cucumbers per week, depending on the size I let them grow to before harvesting.
I simply use compost from my backyard indoors (nothing else added) and it works just fine.
I asked you so many times about this. I use coco coir and a little miracle grow potting mix. Why did I get so much damping off, from this mix? I have to start my seeds over again. I bought regular seed starting mix. But it is so expensive
What about soil from the woods but sifted ...indoor
Nice video
I am from india and new to seed growing .
I will be growing seeds inside
What is the final mix n proportion of the mix for seed starting.
Do we use vermi compost or not in the mix?
Vermi compost is susceptible to mildew etc so is it ok to use it?
Also peat moss cant b used without the other item u suggested?
What if we dont have fine perlite or fine vermiculite in our area?
What mix do u recommend then?
Last of all i am buying the starting tray. Is that good?
Thx
What can i use instead of Dolomitic Lime?
Can't find FINE GRADE perlite, not find grade vermiculite. Help!
Thanks for the great info
Can you soil block with just coco coir seed mix?
I live in central ohio. We are getting about an inch of snow and temps down to 22 degrees tonight. I have about 200 tulips that are 4-6” tall. Should I cover them with a sheet to protect them?
Several sources say they are ok down to high 20’s. Ours are 6-8” tall, forecast low temps from 26-30 next few days. Snow will actually insulate them against colder air temps, so they should be ok. Every year we have this kind of situation and every year we have more tulips. Deer are a bigger problem.
What is the difference between seed starting mix and potting soil?
Potting mix is chunkier and better for established plants. Seed starting mix is finer. Young roots don't like air gaps and take hold better with a finer mix. That is why Luke's mix in the video is so finely sifted.
Thanks so much for all the info but 😊PLEASE wear a mask!
I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been in O Chem in a million years but I don't think buffer is the word you are looking for at the beginning of the video.
Ph balancing?
Where do you get your compost?
How fine should you sift your seed starting mix?
I bought a lot of promix to use in my garden then found out it isn’t for raised garden beds. Can I use it if I mix with other soils?
On peat moss. I use it. It has an environmental cost. Just like the metals in your phone, car, fuels, house and nearly everything made by people. Canadian peat makes up a very large area of the North American continent. There's a lot to go around...
I did not know that! Thanks!
Can you use any type of lime with peat moss?
He recommends dolomitic lime. It's very cheap and you can find it at any big box store in the lawn section.
I didn't know that seedlings dont need fertilizer ! 😳 thank you the info
Well, it depends on the plant. Seeds have enough nutrients to germinate and grow their first set of ‘true leaves’. For plants like your leafy greens and other cool weather hardy plants that won’t be inside for long, they don’t need to be fertilized. For ‘heavy feeders’ that need consistent warm weather to thrive outdoors, such as tomatoes and peppers, they will need to be fed.
@@Nikki-mx5my thank you!
I'm having a hard time finding vermiculite and perlite so I'm turning to the comment section. Where do you buy you vermiculite and perlite?
Thank you sir!
I have used vermiculite many time and woke up with my chest hurting from breathing the dust. I wear a mask ever time now because it’s not a pleasant feeling.
what were the ingredients in the compost... I bought a bagged "compost" and it was more or less just woodchips and sawdust, I used the bags in my raised vege patch and all the plants became stunted, and then yellowed and died. In all the years I have gardened I have never had such a problem with bagged potting mixes and compost as Ive had this last growing season (Im in Australia so we are coming into Autumn), and not one of the bagged mixes lists the ingredients of what was in the "compost".
thoroughly rinse the coir (coconuts grow near the oceans---salt!!!!! ---- and they may use ocean water in the processing the coir),,, never seen biochar used in seed starting mix, should function like the vermiculite.
Coco coir killed my tomato starts. 200 seedlings! Small market gardner. 😮
Technically peat moss is renewable, but not in our lifetimes. It takes 100s to 1000s of years to create assuming the bog is sustained and not drained.
By the way Luke I have found a Peat Moss ‘hybrid’ mix which I believe is a combo of Peat Moss and Coco Coir. It’s sold in a certain big box retail store that will go unmentioned. Starts with an ‘ L’
Can you tell us if it's Lowe price ?
Please tell your audience to research the production of coconut coir.
Or mix your compost with sand.
Sand will filter down through the soil over time and will leave you with layers.
I'm thinking I missed something. Wondering is peat moss or coco coir only to be used for the 'indoor' version of the seed starting mix? If so, are vermiculite & pearlite also to be added to the coco coir and or peat moss for the indoor mix? I'll re watch again just to be sure. The DIY indoor seed starting mix I normally make is with sifted peat moss, a little garden lime, fine vermiculite, sometimes fine pearlite, & worm castings.
Peat moss and coco coir seed starting mixes can be used outdoors just fine. The only issue is when using a compost seed starting mix indoors, in which there may be a pest problem.
I was confused also. He made the compost formula, but didnt add peat or coco coir. What is the suggested seed starting mix using those?
@@sandykincaid7576 The formula is essentially:
1 gallon of sifted compost, or peat moss, or coco coir.
2 handfuls or perlite
2 handfuls of vermiculite
The compost, peat moss, and coco coir are interchangeable as the base growing medium. The differences are:
* Coco coir may be a bit salty, so you may want to soak it and squeeze the water out. (I think Luke covered this in his "Peat Vs Coco" potting mix video a couple weeks ago.)
* Peat moss may be too acidic, so you'll want to add a small amount of something like dolomitic limestone.
* Compost may have bug eggs (I'm assuming), so using it indoors may result in a pest problem.
The amounts don't have to be exactly as listed above (especially since a handful differs for each individual). You want a mix that looks something like 11:28.
@@ChristopherFritz Yes but where in this video is Luke's recipe for the 'indoor' seed starting mix? I don't think I heard one. Maybe he didn't intend to include one?
@@ChristopherFritz Very thorough explanation, thank you! I was thinking Luke would also be including an 'indoor' seed starting version in this video but sounds like it's only for the 'outdoor' version.
Perlite and vermiculite cancel each other out so I don’t see the reason to use them together
You want your soil to hold nutrients (vermiculite) and drain well (perlite).
👍👍🇺🇸
The peat bogs are like old growth forests. The companies are lying when they say harvesting peat moss is sustainable because there's so many bogs around. It grows 1 mm per year!! That is very very slow.
We are in a global ecosystem emergency- better to use alternatives than destroy more old growth ecosystems. Leaf mold and pittmoss are accessible alternatives.
But COMPOST itself is an Organic Fertiliser😮
It's becoming less of a matter of saving a buck but fear of contaminated soil.
The problem with those mixes is that once water tough it it becomes hard as a rock and nothing grows its really not fair to tell people this recipe that has so many problems that they loose a lot of money and very poor growth
No sound anyone?
Looks like it's fixed now
Is it me or does this video have no volume?
It’s a weird problem with UA-cam
I can hear it
Not peat Moss. It does not quickly regenerate. Also, in many areas, one can not purchase peat moss.
LMFAO use what ya got when you have it.
@@smokingcheeba420 Yup. I can't get peat...it is not available here.
Coco core completely breaks down in about 3 years and peat won’t. You can get peat at any Home Depot or Lowe’s. It was about $13 for 3 cubic ft but now it’s almost $20.
@@shocker1215 The Lowe's near me said they don't carry it.
Compost will rot and cause root rot Luke.
Apparently u dont garden
@@americaneden3090 apparently you don't know that compost is rotting plants and causes root rot.
What?? Total rubbish!!
What?? Excess moisture causes root rot, not compost. Compost won't rot, it's broken down.