Soil Suggestions

grassguy87 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:48 AM

Alright, past 2 grows I have used MG Organic soil just fine. This third grow however... apparently the soil was infested with something because all of my wonderful Strawberry Haze seeds that I put in it died. Had 5 seeds, 3 of them never made it out of the soil, days later I could only find an empty seed shell. 2 others made it out, but growth halted quickly after.

I finally caught a little white worm eating my baby seedling that was trying to come out of the soil, don't know wtf it was but :-(

Anyways now I have some soil that is made for germinating plants. It is very very fine, and apparently has something in it to hold water because I tried to transplant the 2 living plants out of the infested soil into this and the soil is holding plenty of water... in fact it may be holding TOO much water I really don't know. It soaked up water like crazy when I watered it.

Since I have already wasted $65 on 5 seeds that never even got a chance to grow, I am going to attempt some more bag seed. I would like to do it in this soil, but I am afraid it may hold too much water.

Thoughts? This is 2-3 small plants indoors and the only soil I can find in the store that is totally "generic" potting soil comes in 40lb bags which I would have to dispose of, creating a big mess and waste of money/time.

VeoDigital · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 10:47 AM

Depending on what your location is, Id try some fox farm soil. Their products are always top notch. I feel your pain bro, when I played in the soil for the first time, MG organic was my choice because it was easy to find at home depot and cheap. If you are like I was, and only have access to home depot, or dont want to test a hydro store, you can also try promix which is also found at home depot. I recommend pro mix value (orange bag, not the blue) ten fold over the MG organic. Hop this helps

OldSkool1010 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 12:47 PM

Seed starting mix is basically just sphagnum moss that had been screened to a light texture and mixed with pearlite or vermiculite. some, mfg. like MG put trace amounts of NPK in the mix...very low concentrations like 0.05% or whatnot. It DOES hold a lot of water, but that is great for starting the seedlings.

It sux that there were nasties in the soil you used. Was it fresh soil, or some that you had used before? Whenever I get done with a container, I dump it on my compost pile to cook for a few months before using it again in my pots or garden.

It's a shame you can't write the soil company, explain what happened and demand compensation for those seeds.

grassguy87 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:22 PM

The soil I had just bought... but it's in the middle of winter and I had to sneak into the closed lawn and garden section of Home Depot just to get it, so chances are it was old... I guess maybe the Organic goes bad over time or I was just that unlucky.

I've had a few gnat looking flies come out of the soil before but it was never a problem.

I haven't seen any FoxFarms around here and if I look on their website they have no place anywhere near me that sells it.

Would it be a bad idea to try to fully grow a plant in this germinating soil? Home Depot doesn't carry anything but this germinating soil, every MG soil you can think of, then Scotts Potting Soil (40lb bag). Walmart doesn't have their stuff out because it's winter. Only other place I haven't checked is Lowes (similar store to Home Depot).

OldSkool1010 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 10:07 PM

I've never grown in straight sphagnum moss (seed starting mix). Is the issue that you can't figure out what to do with 40 lbs. of potting soil? If you have any flower beds, they'd love it. You could also broadcast it across any grassy area. Most grocery stores have small bags of potting soil. Walmart, Kmart, etc. should have something.

Unless you're subjecting your plants to awesome amounts of light, I don't think a potting soil with fertilizer would be a plant killer. Shoot, I've never been able to attribute a failure to the soil. (except for nematodes once, but that's another story.)

grassguy87 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 11:18 PM

I have 4 65w CFL floodlights, their huge and very bright. 6500k.

I can get the 40lb bag it would just be a large waste... plus it's very plain soil and I know many people add various things to their soil to promote growth/root development/etc. I was looking for an easier 1 bag solution

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#1 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 09:48 AM
grassguy87 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 34	Soil Suggestions Alright, past 2 grows I have used MG Organic soil just fine. This third grow however... apparently the soil was infested with something because all of my wonderful Strawberry Haze seeds that I put in it died. Had 5 seeds, 3 of them never made it out of the soil, days later I could only find an empty seed shell. 2 others made it out, but growth halted quickly after. I finally caught a little white worm eating my baby seedling that was trying to come out of the soil, don't know wtf it was but :-( Anyways now I have some soil that is made for germinating plants. It is very very fine, and apparently has something in it to hold water because I tried to transplant the 2 living plants out of the infested soil into this and the soil is holding plenty of water... in fact it may be holding TOO much water I really don't know. It soaked up water like crazy when I watered it. Since I have already wasted $65 on 5 seeds that never even got a chance to grow, I am going to attempt some more bag seed. I would like to do it in this soil, but I am afraid it may hold too much water. Thoughts? This is 2-3 small plants indoors and the only soil I can find in the store that is totally "generic" potting soil comes in 40lb bags which I would have to dispose of, creating a big mess and waste of money/time.

#2 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 10:47 AM
VeoDigital Something Clever Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 555	Depending on what your location is, Id try some fox farm soil. Their products are always top notch. I feel your pain bro, when I played in the soil for the first time, MG organic was my choice because it was easy to find at home depot and cheap. If you are like I was, and only have access to home depot, or dont want to test a hydro store, you can also try promix which is also found at home depot. I recommend pro mix value (orange bag, not the blue) ten fold over the MG organic. Hop this helps

#3 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 12:47 PM
OldSkool1010 Registered Gardener Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,387	Seed starting mix is basically just sphagnum moss that had been screened to a light texture and mixed with pearlite or vermiculite. some, mfg. like MG put trace amounts of NPK in the mix...very low concentrations like 0.05% or whatnot. It DOES hold a lot of water, but that is great for starting the seedlings. It sux that there were nasties in the soil you used. Was it fresh soil, or some that you had used before? Whenever I get done with a container, I dump it on my compost pile to cook for a few months before using it again in my pots or garden. It's a shame you can't write the soil company, explain what happened and demand compensation for those seeds. __________________ 2009 Grow Journal ♣ My grow journal ♣ My winter garden 08 ♣ Atlanta Strip Project My Photo Gallery ♣ Late Winter Sample Grow .

#4 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 09:22 PM
grassguy87 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 34	The soil I had just bought... but it's in the middle of winter and I had to sneak into the closed lawn and garden section of Home Depot just to get it, so chances are it was old... I guess maybe the Organic goes bad over time or I was just that unlucky. I've had a few gnat looking flies come out of the soil before but it was never a problem. I haven't seen any FoxFarms around here and if I look on their website they have no place anywhere near me that sells it. Would it be a bad idea to try to fully grow a plant in this germinating soil? Home Depot doesn't carry anything but this germinating soil, every MG soil you can think of, then Scotts Potting Soil (40lb bag). Walmart doesn't have their stuff out because it's winter. Only other place I haven't checked is Lowes (similar store to Home Depot).

#5 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 10:07 PM
OldSkool1010 Registered Gardener Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,387	I've never grown in straight sphagnum moss (seed starting mix). Is the issue that you can't figure out what to do with 40 lbs. of potting soil? If you have any flower beds, they'd love it. You could also broadcast it across any grassy area. Most grocery stores have small bags of potting soil. Walmart, Kmart, etc. should have something. Unless you're subjecting your plants to awesome amounts of light, I don't think a potting soil with fertilizer would be a plant killer. Shoot, I've never been able to attribute a failure to the soil. (except for nematodes once, but that's another story.) __________________ 2009 Grow Journal ♣ My grow journal ♣ My winter garden 08 ♣ Atlanta Strip Project My Photo Gallery ♣ Late Winter Sample Grow .

#6 (permalink) 02-23-2008, 11:18 PM
grassguy87 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 34	I have 4 65w CFL floodlights, their huge and very bright. 6500k. I can get the 40lb bag it would just be a large waste... plus it's very plain soil and I know many people add various things to their soil to promote growth/root development/etc. I was looking for an easier 1 bag solution

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