time to pot up seedlings- need advice on potting media

checkerkitty · January 4, 2013

The babies have their first set of true leaves and are working on their second. I'll be potting up soon but I'm having a hard time (read impossible). finding a soiless mix like Metro 360. I called our local soil vendor, Gardenville, and they recommended either their rose soil, which is compost, red sand, black pine bark, rice hulls, and composted top soil or their potting mix which is compost, peat/coir, rice hullls, perlite and orange sand and recommended for seed starting. Both products are pasteurized. I make my own mix for containers but I don't think it's fine enough for seedlings. Also, I don't feel like sterilizing enough mix for my needs, if sterilized mix is even needed for seedlings. What do you all think? To me, the potting mix seems reasonable. Opinions and suggestions are welcome.

Christy

ScottinAtlanta · January 4, 2013

Get a bale of Pro Mix BX

http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=13546

doublehelix · January 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Get a bale of Pro Mix BX

http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=13546

I second that.

vegnflower · January 4, 2013

I'm a newbie and have very little experience but I do have a couple tomato plants in my basement growing like crazy in Just Right Xtra and Autopots.

http://www.ncwgs.com/product_info.php?&products_id=30

GnomeGrown · January 4, 2013

I use Fafard 4P mix.
Usually drench before planting with a kelp, high P bat quano and worm castings solution.

http://www.fafard.com/Products/MiddleWeightMixes.aspx
$16 a 2.8 cu ft bag at a local nursery.

kurt · January 4, 2013

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...mix#post307834 Tons of posts about promix.Pound for pound best bet.Go to premeir horticulture site and look for dealer location.Somewhere on T Ville there is a post done by a member about all the different kinds of promix and uses.I just got 6 bales 2months ago at 23 bucs per.

RayR · January 4, 2013

The Gardenville potting soil sounds like a good bet for potting up.
Sterilizing is only a preventative for killing damping off fungus spores that might be present in the mix, but that's no guarantee you won't get it anyway. Why would they sterilize a mix with compost in it since a good compost would have a healthy population of microbes to fight off pathogens?

checkerkitty · January 4, 2013

Thanks to everyone for your responses so far. All of my Pro Mix searches have been a bust. I have a couple of other nurseries to try tomorrow. It's been a frustrating afternoon of phone calls. I did find 2 bags of Fafard but I don't remember which formula it was. It is not a product they normally carry. MetroMix was a no go. The local hydroponics stores have a mix called Sunshine for $60 per 3.8 cuft bale. Ouch! The funny thing was, you'd think I was asking these nurseries for gold plated trees that grow $100 bills! They couldn't imagine a product like that. I had to explain myself multiple times on each phone call. Craziness!! Anyway, I'll hit the phones again tomorrow. I remembered a nursery on the other side of town that's tucked away. I think I remember seeing bales of mix the one time I was there. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, off to Gardenville I go.

greenthumbomaha · January 5, 2013

Vegnflower - Are your autopots approx 12 inches and circular? A you tube video from Australia showed one that you could use heavy soil in, can't remember what they were growing. When I searched for a US source they were hydroponic. Expensive, $80, but the company justified the cost by its expected longevity and associated savings at the grocery. Thanks, Lisa

KarenO · January 5, 2013

how many plants? MG moisture control is expensive but I use it and think it's worth it especially if you don't have a large number of plants.

kurt · January 5, 2013

Distributors Sales Representatives Bwi Companies Inc
P.O. Box 990
Nash (TX) United States
75569
Tel.

903) 838-8561

Hummert International (inc)
4500 Earth City Expwy
Earth City (MO) United States
63045
Tel.

314) 506-4500
Get Map

Nitro-Phos,inc.
P.O. Box 1356
Houston (TX) United States
77251-1356
Tel.

713) 228-1868

Fred Stanley
21850, State Hwy 110 North
Troup (TX)
75789
Tel.:903-842-2390
Fax: 842-2391
Email: staf@premiertech.com

Distributors Sales Representatives Bwi Companies Inc
P.O. Box 990
Nash (TX) United States
75569
Tel.

903) 838-8561

Hummert International (inc)
4500 Earth City Expwy
Earth City (MO) United States
63045
Tel.

314) 506-4500
Get Map

Nitro-Phos,inc.
P.O. Box 1356
Houston (TX) United States
77251-1356
Tel.

713) 228-1868

Fred Stanley
21850, State Hwy 110 North
Troup (TX)
75789
Tel.:903-842-2390
Fax: 842-2391
Email: staf@premiertech.com

http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/pea...-distributors/ Don' know if you tried this link.

ScottinAtlanta · January 5, 2013

I got mine from a hydroponics store in Atlanta. No other store had it. Those Maryjane growers know the good stuff.

vegnflower · January 5, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Vegnflower - Are your autopots approx 12 inches and circular? A you tube video from Australia showed one that you could use heavy soil in, can't remember what they were growing. When I searched for a US source they were hydroponic. Expensive, $80, but the company justified the cost by its expected longevity and associated savings at the grocery. Thanks, Lisa

I believe the circular ones are made in Australia, mine are square. I have two of the single Autopots which include 15L pots and I also have the Easy2Grow extension kit which includes two 8.5L pots in a single base. I made my own reservoirs out of 5 gallon buckets.

I've attached the brochure for the Autopots and page 12 lists the recommended growing mediums. I use the Just Right Xtra on a 1" layer of river rocks covering an air diffuser in each pot.

They aren't cheap but they allow me to travel for a week at a time without fear that my plants won't get adequate watering. I got mine from a local hydroponic shop http://www.growhydroplus.com/easy-2-grow-autopots/

GnomeGrown · January 5, 2013

Scott in ATL<

Care to share the name of the shop?

What did you pay per bale?

ScottinAtlanta · January 5, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnomeGrown

Scott in ATL<

Care to share the name of the shop?

What did you pay per bale?

Here it is: http://atlantishydroponics.com/

I think it was about $40 per bale.

January 4, 2013	#1
checkerkitty Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 239	time to pot up seedlings- need advice on potting media The babies have their first set of true leaves and are working on their second. I'll be potting up soon but I'm having a hard time (read impossible). finding a soiless mix like Metro 360. I called our local soil vendor, Gardenville, and they recommended either their rose soil, which is compost, red sand, black pine bark, rice hulls, and composted top soil or their potting mix which is compost, peat/coir, rice hullls, perlite and orange sand and recommended for seed starting. Both products are pasteurized. I make my own mix for containers but I don't think it's fine enough for seedlings. Also, I don't feel like sterilizing enough mix for my needs, if sterilized mix is even needed for seedlings. What do you all think? To me, the potting mix seems reasonable. Opinions and suggestions are welcome. Christy

January 4, 2013	#4
vegnflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 17	I'm a newbie and have very little experience but I do have a couple tomato plants in my basement growing like crazy in Just Right Xtra and Autopots. http://www.ncwgs.com/product_info.php?&products_id=30 __________________ -jeff

January 4, 2013	#5
GnomeGrown Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 216	I use Fafard 4P mix. Usually drench before planting with a kelp, high P bat quano and worm castings solution. http://www.fafard.com/Products/MiddleWeightMixes.aspx $16 a 2.8 cu ft bag at a local nursery. __________________ "Your Spirit is the true shield" --The Art of Peace.

January 4, 2013	#6
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,501	http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...mix#post307834 Tons of posts about promix.Pound for pound best bet.Go to premeir horticulture site and look for dealer location.Somewhere on T Ville there is a post done by a member about all the different kinds of promix and uses.I just got 6 bales 2months ago at 23 bucs per. __________________ KURT

January 5, 2013	#11
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,501	Distributors Sales Representatives Bwi Companies Inc P.O. Box 990 Nash (TX) United States 75569 Tel.903) 838-8561 Hummert International (inc) 4500 Earth City Expwy Earth City (MO) United States 63045 Tel.314) 506-4500 Get Map Nitro-Phos,inc. P.O. Box 1356 Houston (TX) United States 77251-1356 Tel.713) 228-1868 Fred Stanley 21850, State Hwy 110 North Troup (TX) 75789 Tel.:903-842-2390 Fax: 842-2391 Email: staf@premiertech.com Distributors Sales Representatives Bwi Companies Inc P.O. Box 990 Nash (TX) United States 75569 Tel.903) 838-8561 Hummert International (inc) 4500 Earth City Expwy Earth City (MO) United States 63045 Tel.314) 506-4500 Get Map Nitro-Phos,inc. P.O. Box 1356 Houston (TX) United States 77251-1356 Tel.713) 228-1868 Fred Stanley 21850, State Hwy 110 North Troup (TX) 75789 Tel.:903-842-2390 Fax: 842-2391 Email: staf@premiertech.com http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/pea...-distributors/ Don' know if you tried this link. __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; January 5, 2013 at 08:08 AM. Reason: sorry for the double up.if you go closer into the premier site they have a retailer link also

January 4, 2013	#2
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Get a bale of Pro Mix BX http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=13546

January 4, 2013	#7
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	The Gardenville potting soil sounds like a good bet for potting up. Sterilizing is only a preventative for killing damping off fungus spores that might be present in the mix, but that's no guarantee you won't get it anyway. Why would they sterilize a mix with compost in it since a good compost would have a healthy population of microbes to fight off pathogens?

January 5, 2013	#9
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Vegnflower - Are your autopots approx 12 inches and circular? A you tube video from Australia showed one that you could use heavy soil in, can't remember what they were growing. When I searched for a US source they were hydroponic. Expensive, $80, but the company justified the cost by its expected longevity and associated savings at the grocery. Thanks, Lisa

January 5, 2013	#10
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	how many plants? MG moisture control is expensive but I use it and think it's worth it especially if you don't have a large number of plants.