Seedling soil

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by Ellen, Aug 6, 2012.

  1. Ellen

    Ellen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Hi everyone,
    Spring is on the way and I would love to hear from other members what is your "winning recipe" for seedling soil? Thanks a lot!:clap:
     
  2. purplepear

    purplepear Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    Messages:
    2,457
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    Farm manager/ educator
    Location:
    Hunter Valley New South Wales
    Home Page:
    Climate:
    warm temperate - some frost - changing every year
    Purple Pear Propagation

    Hi Ellen. Not sure of availability in Africa but we use equal parts of cocopeat and crusher dust. They are both by-products and have in the past been pollution to some extent. The crusher dust come from crushing basalt for railway ballast and the coco peat from making coconut and coconut milk. The crusher dust is a local product here but the peat comes from OS unfortunately. Still we ate very happy with the job they do in raising seedlings with drainage and moisture retention taken care of and the added bonus of minerals injected by the dust. We add another part of compost to this to make potting mix for growing the seedling on before planting out in the mandalas.
     
  3. Lopezer

    Lopezer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2012
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Well it is spring time and it is best if you soil the ground and plant some trees on the ground. I thought of planting commercial tree so that it will result in prosperity. Are there any conditions or rules. It will be grateful if you can tell me.
     
  4. Michaelangelica

    Michaelangelica Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2006
    Messages:
    4,771
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    0
    The most important thing is that it be sterile. Especially if using organic seed
    It should be light, friable and not contain too much fertiliser, hold water but drain well
     
  5. Ellen

    Ellen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Thanks for the reply, but do you have a more practical anwer please? Like a real mixture? Thanks!
     
  6. permasculptor

    permasculptor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2007
    Messages:
    727
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    equal parts river sand and aged cow manure.(floots recipie)
     
  7. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    MA why does it have to be sterile? Seeds germinate in the dirty old garden like nobodies business with lots of bacteria / fungi around. Is it just an issue in commercial nursery settings or am I missing something?
     
  8. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1,456
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    38
    You can get 'damping off', but I've never had it. My pots are filthy, I make weird mixes with my potting mix and put all sorts of stuff in. I have some indoors with some serious fungus on top, I assume if a seed germinated through it...

    I use commercial mix that I take from a backyard commercial nursery. I just put my fingers in my ears and shout "La-lal-la" when I pick it up. It's usually used with a chemical slow-release, I leave that out and add worm castings. Perhaps finely chopped comfrey may be a good addition too...
     
  9. Michaelangelica

    Michaelangelica Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2006
    Messages:
    4,771
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Your success rate is higher. This is important in Commercial set ups or if your seed is rare or takes some time to germinate. I too have a big box of potting mix that i throw any seed into that I collect in my travels, at the moment it is sprouting several Macadamias
    Personally I think all commercial mixes are a better bet than a home made one. I use, $3 a bag, cheap Coles Home Brand potting mix and sterile Vermiculite surrounding the seed, if I really want seeds to germinate as well as they can.
    I despair of people using say, horse manure, to grow seeds in and then complain about their failure
     
  10. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Thanks MA.
     

Share This Page

-->