seed starting mix

[Gerardo]

The GH solution says for storage AND calibration. Grab the 4 instead of the storage solution and you have a two point calibration.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Gerardo

The GH solution says for storage AND calibration. Grab the 4 instead of the storage solution and you have a two point calibration.

You can use a 4.0 or a 7.0 calibration solution in a pinch for storage but the storage solution has a preservative in it to prevent mold growth and I think it also has a higher concentration of KCl.

[Worth1]

This is becoming too complicated I am going back to just tasting the soil.

Worth

[jillian]

Finally checked ph of seed starting mix, it read 6.5 so I guess I am good to go. Also added some perlite upon recommendations in this thread, thanks all. Feeling pretty good about the mix!

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by jillian

Finally checked ph of seed starting mix, it read 6.5 so I guess I am good to go. Also added some perlite upon recommendations in this thread, thanks all. Feeling pretty good about the mix!

How did it taste.
Mine tasted like it was around 6.3.

Worth

[jillian]

lol Worth I did not taste it but I did do the baking soda and vinegar test before I used my probe. It was neutral on both. Then confirmed it with the probe.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by jillian

lol Worth I did not taste it but I did do the baking soda and vinegar test before I used my probe. It was neutral on both. Then confirmed it with the probe.

Thanks for doing that for me.
It never was meant to be an accurate test but it darn sure lets you know where you are at in a pinch.
When I tested my soil with a test kit a cheap probe and the vinegar they all told me the same thing my soil was way too alkali.
This in turn told me why my plants were just siting there doing nothing.
As soon as I got the pH down below 7 somewhere around 6 according to my meter they exploded, what can I say.
My cheap meter I think also said around 6.8 with the seed starting mix.

Works for me.


Worth

[Gardeneer]

The thing is that most garden veggies can grow fine in a wide pH range. For example tomatoes can thrive in pH 5.5 to 6.9.
I wanna show you my pH test find that I think is simple accurate and cheap. For about 6 bucks you can run 250 test. I bought it at PetsMart.
You cannot go wrong , it is just simple chemistry.
Once your garden or a raised be is established with a acceptable pH, it won't change under normal circumstance. It will take a lot of acid or base to mess it up.

[Cole_Robbie]

Light Warrior Seed-Starting mix is now $35 a bag at my garden store. That price blew me away.

[Ricky Shaw]

There's little doubt it's associated with the wave of medical and recreational marijuana, and it will put further strain on the diminishing peat resources. I'm going to try some pots with a coir mixes as well as the promixHP, which also works adequately as a starter mix.

[Cole_Robbie]

How do you keep the peat mixes from crusting over on top? Mine tend to dry out overnight.

[Ricky Shaw]

Actually your tip with the vermiculite is part of it. I cover the seeds with about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the seined promixHP two parts and one part vermiculite. The finer top dressing seems to knock off more helmets also.

[Cole_Robbie]

Cool. Your pro mix looks like it has more perlite in it than the one I buy. I'm sure my pro mix is the cheap stuff at $14 for 4 cubic feet. I like the Fafard mix with pine bark fines a lot better, and I can get it at a decent price, but I have to buy it by the pallet and I never have the money.

[Gardeneer]

In my new location, I have to start from scratch, as I have left all my supplies behind.
Here is the recipe that I will use:

Peat Moss, Perlite , Floor Dry (DE), and some pine bark fine (if I can find it around here)

This is going to be both seeds starting and potting up.
I cover the top of soil ( in pots/cups ) with pine bark and bottom water. So the top stays always dry. This helps to reduce gnat problem.

[agee12]

Can non-clumping kitty litter be substituted for DE?