Re: starting mix and heat mats
- Subject: Re: starting mix and heat mats
- From: &* T* <m*@hort.net>
- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 00:12:59 -0500
Nan, I don't know as there is a 'best'. Everybody's going to have
their own favorite. FWIW, when I used to grow annual veggies, I
started the seed in pure vermiculite because the ones you generally
start indoors from seed grow so fast and need to be pricked out as
soon as true leaves appear. Worked for me. Needs careful watching
regarding watering, however, but it is a medium that is easy to prick
seedlings from with little root damage, especially if you do that
when the medium is getting a tad on the dry side. Vermiculite has no
nutritive value, but if you prick out to a medium that does when true
leaves form, it makes no difference because the plant is still using
the nutrition stored in the seed up to that point. You can also
fertilize with dilute liquid fertilizer if needed before pricking
out.
Of course, if you are sowing in a cell pack, it's another story - I
used to sow in small flats and just use them for germination.
Annual flowers are not quite the same as veggies as many of them take
longer to mature to pricking out point plus some need to be sown
early - like Feb. (Lobelia is one) and take forever to get large
enough so you can prick them out. They need a different type of
medium.
If the plant in question needs to remain in the seed pot for a while,
then I use ProMix with added sand and/or grit - most people add
perlite, but I don't like it much because it floats. But, I also
find ProMix out of the bag needs added drainage material. The only
reason I use ProMix is that I can buy it in bales and it is
weed-free. Any decent bagged soiless medium would do the trick,
really. Primary concern for the home gardener is using something
weed-seed free and fast draining. Commercial growers have other
concerns.
No words of wisdom on heat mats. Have an old plastic tray-like
number I've used for 30 years; doubt it's even available any more.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Nan Sterman <Talkingpoints@plantsoup.com>
>
> What is the best commercial seed starting mix for annual vegetables
> and flowers?
>
> What is the best heat mat?
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