Alternatives to Seedling Mixes

[TimeTraveler]

So, as part of my ongoing quest to cut out pre-bagged mixes and such from my diet, I'm now looking into replacing the Jiffy Seedling mix for new plants. It's about three weeks until my soil is done cooking, and I'll need to get to a lot then.

Partly it's the peat (which as I've said it's hard for me to find sustainably harvested peat, and I can't find evidence that Jiffy's is either), but mostly it's the vermiculite. See, I've got lots of vermiculite and perlite in my soil mixes, but they don't decompose as they're mineral-based. So...I don't want to keep adding more and more into my soil mix via seedling tiers.

Of course, Jiffy in particular has worked SO well for me, I really don't want to nute burn or suffocate my seedlings. So, does anyone have any experience working with alternatives to these? I know the supersoil/TLO mix I've got will be far too hot for seedlings, so I can't just plant root riot cubes directly into the soil (I know those are peat as well, but until I have better skill at germinating seeds, I'm going to stick with them as I can't afford to buy tons of marijuana seeds to replace failed germs). I'm mostly considering replacing them with Coco, as it's a natural ingredient that will provide aeration, water retention, and break down over time.

My thinking right now is to go with a blend of EWC, Coco Coir, and maybe some rice hulls? Like, 60% Coco, 20% EWC, 20% Rice hulls. Does that sound like a good mix for seedlings?

If someone has a better solution, I'm all ears. My goals are something that: won't nute burn my seedlings, and consists entirely of ingredients that will break down and decompose into the soil over time, so I don't eventually wind up with too much perlite or other inorganic additions in my soil (regardless of whether or not that's a realistic fear on the small scale I'm working at now, I'm planning to expand this to a yard and larger garden at some point in the future, so I'd like it to scale up easily).

 

[Dirt Weed]

Sorry Time but I simply don't know, I'm sure somebody with the experience will chime in shortly

 

[greenjeans]

I would probably just go get some dirt from the back yard, myself. Doesn't get any more sustainable than that.

 

[TimeTraveler]

I would probably just go get some dirt from the back yard, myself. Doesn't get any more sustainable than that.

True that, but I don't have a back yard :slaps:

Even when I do, I plan to really work the soil and get it healthy and strong...and I'm not sure if that would pose issues for new seedlings either.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

yeah man the seedling templates work well if you work them organically man.cocoa coir ,casting(fresh are best,pre composted),and a bit of green sand and eith er a mix of rice hulls which id presonally use small grade perlite personally.since hulls are longer and with a weaker seedling or early root strusture it could easily get slowed or even killed possibly it it runs against a few of them hulls blocking its path,theyre too big generally to move past them if its straight up blocking it.a precaution only but a valid one so id use perlite.or a combo of the two personally.

id personally use say a bag of black gold seedling mix to start me out but any baase like coco will work ya dont really need to aerate it much at all if ita pure quality coco though.but a bag of your seedling mix like jiffys,Ive used it plenty then add your brick of coco (small i hope lmfao) and prolly to a 5 gallon painter bucket full of seedling mix which i tend to have id add about a cup of castings or a lil more and about a 1/3 cup or even a half of a cup of green sand. and a fist full of perlite and half a palm of hulls and some foam from a tea and then a few ounces of a foliar strength tea to water the mix in with and a cpl scoops of a mildly decent inoculate like GW or voi VAM or something.works excellent if you get your strength down early on. but it works for me.there are other things you can add but thats a nice seedling mix similar to what I use with excellent results man.good luck dude.

 

[TimeTraveler]

I was waiting for you to show up, lol.

I figured you'd have some good advice. Like I said, I'd rather avoid adding new perlite, but if you think coco will be light enough without the hulls I can just go with a mix of coir, EWC, and some greensand. Also, when it comes to planting it goes without saying that GW myco and some inoculate will be part of the process to ensure the seedling thrives. I'm just concerning myself with the basic mix.

My new veggie garden is going to require quite a bit of it, after all, so I'd prefer something I could mix up easily in a big batch like this (rather than spending a small fortune on bags of mix).

 

[Eyes on Fire]

well the coco I used was grated extra fine FOR seedling mixes but if your using stanbdard coco coir id say use a few punches of the hulls.but you shouldnt need a lot man.but yup sounds good to me bro!!

well thats what I do when Im low and am close to being out of my own living mix.is i'll buy a cpl or two bags 8quart or so a piece and then build on that with a small brick of coir and perlite if needed but ususall ydont need that,some green sand some ewc n Wp's and thats essentially it.ill throw small pinces of powdered molasses in there and a few other things in small 5 gallon batches which is usually what I make .lasts me a fdull year of growing generally. about 6 or 7 full gallons of mix total.from 16-20 quarts of a basic seedling micx of quality.stretch and build it.works well.but making your own is totally good.I have a seedling template some damned wheres lmfao!!ill post it if i see it but its essentially the same thing..so yup.i say go for it dude.:Hookah::Sharing One:

 

[Eyes on Fire]

I mean honestly if your trying NOT to buy bagged seedling mixes bro,you could (assuming you have your own composts?)use screened compost at 4 parts.then some green sand of no more than 1 part, and EWC at 1.5 parts. and perlite too.or the hulls but id go with prelite if your screening composts since its a lil haevier but coir works great but if its all ya got thats awesome but composts work better..but if you have both duuuude thats killer right there..

5 parts screened compost

3-4 parts coir

1-2 parts perlite or hulls,or combo even if ya prefer.

0.5 parts castings and green sand.

if your drainage is good once you work it with your aeration method of hulls or what have ya man,i think thats gonna be a killer mix as long as you composts are nicely blended and not super super rich. so you shouldnt need to do a thing for no less than two weeks even once the second set are up prolly.but ya just boost with some Big bloom or whatever ya like a foliar fedding strength tea. pretty awesome.good luck man n lemme know whatcha decide on too bro.:Hookah: