Mix-Your-Own Seed-Starting Blend (Simple Recipe That Actually Works) ๐ฑ๐ชฃ
(๐ต๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ฆโโ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก, ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.) If youโve ever started seeds and ended up with: * slow sprouting * moldy soil * seedlings that fall over * mix that stays soggy forever โฆitโs often not your fault. A lot of bagged mixes are inconsistent, or they hold too much water indoors. The good news? You can make an easy seed-starting blend at home thatโs: โ
light and airy โ
drains well (but still holds moisture) โ
great for indoor winter seed starting โ
adjustable based on your conditions ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐-๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ Seedlings need a mix that: * holds moisture evenly (not puddles) * has air pockets (roots need oxygen) * drains well (prevents damping-off) * is fine-textured so tiny seeds arenโt blocked by chunky bits ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ (๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ-๐
๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ) ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ (๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฅ) * 2 parts coco coir (or peat moss) * 1 part perlite (for drainage + air) Thatโs it. Truly. ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ: coco/peat holds moisture evenly, perlite keeps it from compacting and staying soggy. ๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฌ (๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ) ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ: Add ยฝ part vermiculite (it holds moisture a little longer) ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ: Use a little extra perlite (make it closer to 1:1) ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ (๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง): Add ยฝ part worm castings (or sifted compost) Just a littleโseedlings donโt need a rich buffet at the start. ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ: โ If you add compost/castings, keep it light. Too rich can encourage fungus and gnats indoors. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฑ ๐ข๐ญ (๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ) Preview Copy Tweet ๐. Use any โscoopโ (cup, yogurt container, small bucket) ๐. Mix dry ingredients in a tub/bin ๐. Add water slowly and stir until it feels like: * damp like a wrung-out sponge * not dripping wet * no dry pockets ๐๐ซ๐จ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ: Pre-moistening is the secret to even watering later. โ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฑ?โ For most home seed starting, you donโt need to overthink โsterile.โ