Best Soil Make-up for Germination

[AlabamaJack]

I am going to start germinating some ornamental peppers I have ordered to test the "AJ Germinator" I built now that I have the temperature under control. This will be a test for the spring 2008 germination efforts.

I have read many, many opinions/articles about pepper seed germination soil. All of them say a well drained soil such as a "sandy loam".

Things I have read:
1. 1/3 Garden Soil, 1/3 Vermiculite, 1/3 Perlite
2. Potting Soil
3. 1/3 Garden Soil, 1/3 Vermiculite, 1/3 Sand

What soil make-up do you use when germinating your seeds?

AJ

[Pam]

I just buy a seed starting mix from one of the big box stores 'cause I've gotten lazy in my old age. If you go with a potting soil do NOT get regular Miracle Grow Potting Soil! I know, I know, it's almost impossible to avoid, but it's not good for pepper seedlings.

Btw, when I made my own seed starting mix, I used equal parts of perlite, vermiculite, and peat or coir. I really prefer a fluffy, soiless seed starting medium.

[willard3]

Look for what hydro growers call rock wool.....it's very light, holds just the right amount of water/air, is completely sterile and cheap as dirt. I have never had a problem with seedlings in rockwool. When the plant has grown up, plant the rockwool cube in the dirt.

http://www.wormsway.com/catalog.asp?cat=rock

[wordwiz]

willard3,

Is this the same thing that was used as insulation 40 years ago?

[habman]

Coco coir is great.
Bug and disease free and no mold problem.
About 20$ for 50 liter bag not cheap.

http://www.discountgarden.com/index.php?page=mod_products&cid=21&sid=149&view=true&id=6598

[Sickmont]

willard3,

Is this the same thing that was used as insulation 40 years ago?

Yes, it is. And it's still being used(occasionally) as insulation today.

[Pam]

Coco coir is great.
Bug and disease free and no mold problem.
About 20$ for 50 liter bag not cheap.

http://www.discountgarden.com/index.php?page=mod_products&cid=21&sid=149&view=true&id=6598

I use the bricks. Like, this, only a different brand. I can usually find some locally, too. Ask at a local nursery, if they don't have them in stock, most will be glad to order you some.

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/order.html?id=A9mBIkrn:129.252.70.134

[QuebecFire]

agree with habman coco or pro-mix is the best for me ....I try a lot of thing and I use coco jiffy or some pro-mix in a stirofoam cup ...

[cheezydemon]

I have had really bad luck with anything containing peat, and I have seen this reiterated on several pepper web sites.

[POTAWIE]

I use promix and often I add more perlite.

[Sickmont]

I use promix and often I add more perlite.

Exactly which type of Pro-mix do you use? Ultimate organic?

[AlabamaJack]

I am just testing the setup right now before springs big project. I am starting 15 seeds, Little Elf, Marbles, and Largo Purple. Found a pre-mix seed starter at my local nursery by Hoffman out of New York called Seed Starter. Cost 5.95 per 10 Qts Dry Soil. Ingredients Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Vermiculite, Limestone (pH adjustor) and a Wetting Agent. Very nice texture to the soil - very light with good water retention. No fertilizer.

I am keeping a log on everything associated with this little project.

The germinator is working fine. I bought a thermostat with a remote probe that is keeping a constant 86 F.

Hope you all don't mind me bothering you with my details.

[Pam]

Hope you all don't mind me bothering you with my details.


Oh no, we *love* details!

Gives us something to pick apart and quibble over.


Naw, seriously, details are how we learn from your triumphs and mistakes, and they nudge us into telling about *our* mistakes so you can avoid them.

[bentalphanerd]

I don't mean to be pedantic, but is quibble even a word?

[POTAWIE]

Exactly which type of Pro-mix do you use? Ultimate organic?

I've used different mixes but now I usually use PRO-MIX 'BX'/MYCORISE® PRO from start to finish because I can get the big bales locally and quite cheap. It does apparently have some micro and macro nutrients, I'm surpised it doesn't list amounts.

http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/Horticulture/Products/GrowingMediaCat/mycorise/fBiostimulant.htm

[Pam]

[QUOTE=POTAWIE;41397]
<stuff>


So, Pepper Porn Guy, is your new avatar a rhinoceros wannabe, or should I get down in the gutter to discuss it?

[AlabamaJack]

:lol: AJ Likes Quibbling...;)

[Pam]

I don't mean to be pedantic, but is quibble even a word?

Let's not brabble over quibble, ok?

[AlabamaJack]

Well, the following is how I feel about it:

Time is so precious and friends are so dear,
With loved ones around I have nothing to fear;
Lets sit down and pick us an old country tune,
In the hill country heart 'neath the Luckenbach Moon.

[POTAWIE]

So, Pepper Porn Guy, is your new avatar a rhinoceros wannabe, or should I get down in the gutter to discuss it?

Down in the gutter:lol:

[willard3]

Quibble is a word
From Webster:


quibble
2 entries found.


Main Entry:
1quib·ble Listen to the pronunciation of 1quibble
Pronunciation:
\ˈkwi-bəl\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
quib·bled; quib·bling Listen to the pronunciation of quibbling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Date:
1656

intransitive verb1: to evade the point of an argument by caviling about words2 a: cavil, carp b: bickertransitive verb: to subject to quibbles
— quib·bler Listen to the pronunciation of quibbler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

[AlabamaJack]

<======== Wondering where this thread is going....

[imaguitargod]

<======== Wondering why he's got gas.....

[Pam]

<========Scurrying upwind of imaguitargod

[AlabamaJack]

Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee........my first pepper seed sprout...right at 7 days...one of the marbles seeds...

Now a question for all of you.

I was given two different fertilizer samples by a Hydroponics store. The brand name of the fertilizer is Botanicare, one of the samples is the Pro Pure Blend Soil Bloom Formula, 1.5 - 4 - 5 and the other is Pro Pure Blend Grow, 3 - 1.5 - 4. They are manufactured by American Agritech.

Which one of these samples would be the best for just sprouted seedlings and when should I start using fettilize?

[bentalphanerd]

leave them where they are until the second set of leaves, may be another week or two. I'm not sure about your fertilizer or is it potting mix?

[AlabamaJack]

leave them where they are until the second set of leaves, may be another week or two. I'm not sure about your fertilizer or is it potting mix?

It is a concentrated fertilize liquid in a 1/2 Oz sample pack that says mix with one gallon of water. The guy at the hydroponics store used to work for Botanicare and did some pepper fertilize research. He gave me the website address (which I don't have with me) about the research and I think he said use the fertilize with the lower Nitrogen value (1.5-4-5). I just wanted an opinion for experienced pepper growers.

[Pam]

When they're still seedlings, a higher nitrogen fertilizer won't hurt, just don't over fertilize. Once every two to three weeks is the greatest of plenty. When they start getting large enough to produce some flowers, you want to switch to the lower nitrogen fertilizer.

You know, I don't fertilize my seedlings so early. It seems that some of you guys are all about rapid growth, but I think sometimes letting nature take its course makes stronger plants in the long run. I usually use half strength fish emulsion at about the third set of leaves.

[bentalphanerd]

I just use standard potting mix, but indoors may need more specialized care.

[willard3]

It is a concentrated fertilize liquid in a 1/2 Oz sample pack that says mix with one gallon of water.


If it says mix with 1 gal of water, mix it with 2-4 gal of water. Chiles are not very domesticated/engineered plants and require very little fertilizer to thrive.

[macmanmatty]

I make my own mix of
14 parts peat
5 parts vermiculite
3 part perlite
and a handfull of fine lime. Works great for starting seeds and works well with wick watering which is what I use to water seedlings.

[POTAWIE]

I used to mix my own too with a cement mixer, but now I go through so much that its easier to buy pre-mixed and compressed.

[Omri]

I just used potting soil for germination, and you know what? it worked great.
BTW, what kind of pepper is that in your avatar (POTAWIE)?

[POTAWIE]

That's a Potawie mystery (vulture) hab F1.

[Omri]

o0o... looks pretty. :oops:
I wanna see some F2 seeds. :lol: