soil blocking how-to part 2: peat-free recipe

[@paulv69]

i've been soil blocking for 30 years and i love this stuff mix (make sure you get the fine coco coir, the coarse is way too lumpy). i've amended my beds with green sand for years, but never thought to use it in block mix. This combination is fine and yet tilthy enough that you can pack it hard in the blocker getting the top corners filled (i push my thumb in all four corners of each block because the corners seem to deteriorate as the seedlings grow). i noticed you are using wool pellets on your latest recipe, but i have so much of this it's going to last for awhile for my use. It's a great recipe, thank you for sharing.

[@kathrynweaver2490]

Such helpful information! I love the visual step by step teaching & the none stop video! The information about the soil blocks filling & knowing when the soil was to wet based off of suction

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you so much! These are all little tricks we've learned over the years so I"m happy to share them!

[@LisadeKramer]

Thank you so much for your detailed video. I just bought my first soil blocker not realizing how big it is. Now I think I need the next size smaller.

[@paintitblack9712]

wish i had watched before using bagged soil! Can't wait to make this!!!

[@HazelwoodGardens]

Thank you ! You are an amazing educator! Loved these videos!

[@emiharvey7329]

Thank you for this video! I got the 2” soil block makers and I am excited to try it!

[@bethsnively8238]

Great informational video!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you!

[@jenniferschmitt3831]

Thank you for this. I’ll be making mine with coconut coir this year. I’ve had trouble with my blocks falling apart during watering.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Definitely! Leaving the channels in between each block and watering only in the channel is also super helpful!

[@Blossomandbranch]

By the way Jennifer, we'd recommend checking out our new recipe with pitt moss if you haven't yet--we find it holds even better!

[@spanishdancerr]

Where do you get the long trays that you put the soil blocks on?

[@tamararobinson2069]

Nice video! Thank you!! Excited to see if you do seed starting planning. Like when to start what. What size is best to transplant and when etc….. Thank You!💚

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you for watching!

[@sclammie]

These videos are great, thank you so much for sharing!

[@Elementtreecompany]

Excellent video content--thank you for sharing. I recently discovered your channel and I've watched all your videos and I appreciate your knowledge sharing. I've been making peat free soil blocks and was interested to see what others are doing with their peat free soil block ingredient mix. Thank you. I'm curious: what is the brand of your greenhouse / glasshouse that you record some of your videos in? I like the size for urban and suburban places. Understandable if you're unable to respond to YT comments, so if anyone reading this knows, please share, kindly. Wish you all well this growing season. Respect.

[@CuriousMouse1988]

Using peat moss in gardens or container mixes are a terrible idea, but it’s actually quite okay for seed starting, as the peat bogs in Canada do generate quite quickly. The phosphorus in the greensand is probably why we need cinnamon to counter the algae. What worked really well for me is 50% coco and 50% vermicompost. Coco is better than peat imho because it holds water well, and has good air capacity thus good root growth. I bought the same soil blockers you use thanks to your videos.

[@lambanmartyr]

Thanks so much for your work sharing this with us! Where can I find those yellow trays? They look like they would be perfect for my green house shelves. TYSM

[@Blossomandbranch]

There is a link in the part one video! They are fiberglass cafeteria trays.

[@lisabuchanan8499]

Excellent video. I've watched a number of videos about soil blocking, this is the best by far. I started with minis, not knowing any better and believe I had beginners luck. Thanks for saying they are more difficult than the 2" which I tried later! If I made too much soil to use in one session, can I use it later? As late as one month? Thanks so much for your time in making this video and your anticipated answer to my question.

[@fakewoody5569]

What a great movie! I’m new at soil blocking and learned a lot from you! I just have 2 more questions: 1. I found out my first batch was way too dry, the blocks are almost falling apart after 1.5 week and cannot be lifted up. Most of the seeds are already germinating. Should I make new -well moist- blocks and carefully transplant the baby seadlings? 2. I grow just a few of 1 veggie at the time (e.g. 2 red cabbage, 3 white cabbage, 4 broccoli, 5 lettuce, etc). In the trays I always put a label in them, but how can I label these blocks? Does anyone have a great tip for me?

[@HomemakerOnAnAcre]

Hi! What size it that sifter? Thanks

[@cloyne1000]

Thanks so well explained.

[@FTD_84]

Do capillary mats work with soil blocks?

[@ruthticona5838]

thank you so much for the tips .....also can you tell us where do you get the tray and the sizes

[@marthakeller4110]

How do you handle seeds that need light to germinate? Do you still use the dibble or remove to make a flat top?

[@Littlebitesofjoy]

thank you for this video, it was super helpful! quick question: where did you get the sifter?

[@Blossomandbranch]

I got it at a local grow center--we find our local garden centers have more variety than the big box!

[@Littlebitesofjoy]

@@Blossomandbranch thank you!

[@deborahmccowan8706]

I have a couple of questions for you. If you would be so kind to reply, I would really appreciate it. First of all, I have no problems, making small or medium size soil blocks. But when it comes to the 4 inch soil block, they never turn out right. I don’t know if my soil block is defective or if it’s just not easy to make them. If you can give me some advice on this, it would be great. The other thing I wanted to know, is that I saw you were starting carrots in the little soil blocks. I was always told not to start root vegetables blocks. So is that helpful to start the carrots in those blocks and what is the purpose? Thanks for sharing your information with us! I find it very helpful, listening to your ideas.

[@wedothework4105]

What are your thoughts on biochar? Could that be used in place of coco coir?

[@bonniestorer3305]

Do you have specific recommendations of brands of coconut coir or the other products in this recipe?

[@angelenaj0Li3]

I know you said you start some in the 2 inch blocks and the 1+ inch blocks are user friendly. Do you recommend always moving the minis up to a 2 inch block? Is it a necessity before planting outside or can you just do the minis and that’s it? I would imagine the seedlings don’t get very big in the minis.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Not necessarily! It isn't always necessary to move them up, and sometimes we don't if we are tight on space. In general they will be happier if bumped up, we find. :)

[@sequoiawarner6756]

I’ve made the first 3 trays before watch your very helpful video, and am excited to try these techniques. I can’t quite wrap my head around how the seeds germinate when bottom watering, from your video it looked like the top 1/3 where the seed would be be was much drier. Do the sprouts have water seeking skills? And the cover should help to keep everything moist. I was almost ready to give up, but I don’t want to use plastic anymore. Thanks for the help!

[@elisabetk2595]

I'm fairly new to this, but this is what's worked for me so far. I do three things to keep the top moist while the seeds sprout: One, sprinkle fine vermiculite on top. Two, keep them covered (I often use deli clamshells, or boxes berries or salad greens were sold in to make mini greenhouses. Add holes for ventilation and drainage.). Three, use water in a spray bottle to keep it moist. Once you see the seeds sprouting, ease off on the spraying so that the roots will grow looking down, not up, for water. When they're a bit bigger, with true leaves, you'll want the blocks to get a little drier between bottom waters. Not completely dry, but not continually soggy anymore. Roots grow to where the water is, but they can't grow through completely dry soil. For the video, she'd let some soil blocks really dry out to show how the water is absorbed from the bottom. You wouldn't let them get that dry if you were trying to grow things in them.

[@TheSloppypenguin]

I'm so pumped to try this! Question: I already have a couple large bags of traditional peat-based potting mix from last season. Would you change the recipe blend any to accommodate this potting mix as the base? I'd like to use up what I have before switching to the better environmental impact product.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I would experiment with it! The great thing about this recipe is that it's really flexible, so mix up a few small batches and see how it does!

[@tearsofice21]

Is this mix good to use if we're starting seeds in the home (ie is it sterile / won't attract bugs all over)?

[@zahre_mar]

I successfully started lisianthus from seed in mini soil blocks after two years of failing. Unfortunately, keeping them well-watered was a challenge and I lost them all 😭 Will they rot if I plant them in 2 inch blocks instead?

[@Blossomandbranch]

I would start them in the small blocks and just bump them up to the larger ones once they have their first set of true leaves! That way you can save space on germination and then won't have to water as much once they're in the bigger blocks. :)

[@kerryconnors7567]

Thank you for sharing this! I really want to try soil blocking, but I’m intimidated imagining them falling apart. I’m going to give it a whirl if I can find the ingredients you recommended.

[@gtbrookie]

Such great and helpful content!! Starting my soil blocking for the first time this season using this recipe! Has anyone else gotten the large coconut coir blocks (the one I have is about 12"x12"x6") and then cut them into smaller pieces? It feels IMPOSSIBLE to cut! Or could I hydrate the whole block at once and it would be ok sitting there for a few months?

[@GEOsustainable]

'Sitting there a few months' is how compost is made. Yeah, cutting it seems as hard as cracking a coconut I bet. Think about it.

[@Bandaid17]

Hi, new sub! I love the size of your greenhouse. Would you share where you got it from and do you heat your greenhouse at all? Thank you.

[@suzannejoyteune]

can I just use some glass or metal trays that I found at the thrift store? or one farm that uses soil blocking I noticed seems to just be using slabs of wood with little edges that they nailed onto the sides, but I think they are misting instead of bottom watering.

[@Juan.Melendez]

How do you clean and prevent rust?

[@fakewoody5569]

The soil blocker is made of galvanized brass, so it won’t rust. The spatula will rust quite easily. I always rinse the blocker and spatula under running water when I’m done blocking. I wipe the spatula with an old towel, and let the blocker dry as it sits.

[@user-ud6xb1el4h]

Are you able to find any of these products locally? I live in Denver area and would love to find somewhere to buy in person instead of buying online

[@elisabetk2595]

Try hydroponic stores, but I see all these things in regular nurseries around where I am too. But not in Home Depot and big box stores.

[@_Hannah_..]

Thanks babeS ~~~ * You rocK !!! ❕❕❕🌿🌱 💚 💐

[@donnac1902]

Helpful .

[@torriec.7536]

Does my tray have to be perfectly flat? Or can I reuse those plastic trays from the seed tray kits?

[@Blossomandbranch]

It’s best if the tray is flat in our experience!

[@lindat23]

Thanks so much for sharing! It’s so hard to find a peat free soil blocking mix that people have actually tried! A couple questions: where do you get the trays and when do you place the burlap cover? Thanks again!

[@Blossomandbranch]

The trays are fiberglass cafeteria trays and linked in part 1 of the videos! We place the humidity dome when we first start our seedlings and remove once they're about 75% germinated!

[@helener2477]

Where did you get that sifter?

[@Blossomandbranch]

I got it at a garden center here in Denver, sorry I can't provide a better source!

[@jotsntittles5783]

@@Blossomandbranch It's a classifier - you can also get them at mining supply stores

[@emilywilletts9277]

Hello! What could I use as an alternative to cocoloco which I can't seem to find here in Australia. Would a seed rating mix work?

[@LogHomeMomandDad]

I am Having a hard time finding the green sand and the coco loco. Can we know your source?

[@TheRoots72]

I did my first block but my question for different seeds requires different depth how do you deal with this without breaking the blocks when seeding?

[@Blossomandbranch]

If a seedling requires a greater depth we simply sprinkle some dry seed starting mix over the top and pat it down to get the desired depth!

[@stephanieobrien4783]

What about fungus gnats (scariad flies)? I have a terrible problem every time I sow seeds. With pots, nemotodes are recommended but not sure how to water in nematodes if they’re so open

[@Blossomandbranch]

Air circulation will help a lot! They will struggle to land on seedlings well to lay eggs if circulation is high enough.

[@GEOsustainable]

Can I point out, you make a case against using PEAT, then hold up a bag of green sand. So, don't destroy the carbon sink, but do destroy the delicate coast lines?

[@Blossomandbranch]

The greensand is optional as we point out in the original video with the recipe. Harvesting greensand does not release atmospheric carbon like peat harvesting. It isn’t taken from the coastline but from areas inland where deposits occurred thousands of years ago (these are mostly in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland).

[@lisabeelange]

What size is the sifter?

[@Blossomandbranch]

1/4”!

[@donnamatthews4250]

Some of my best friends are vegan. Can you come up with a vegan soil starting mix and soil mix for them please?

[@Blossomandbranch]

The other coconut coir linked in the description is vegan. However your vegan friends should know that wool is a byproduct and if wool sheep aren’t sheared it is actually cruelty and could kill them. :)

[@TheRainHarvester]

Will the roots grow into adjacent blocks?

[@TheRainHarvester]

Can you still water quickly from the bottom without eroding the blocks? (I put 1 gallon into my plastic pot's tray in about 5 seconds.)

[@TheRainHarvester]

How much l much does a block's worth of "soil" cost? Thanks this is all new to me. My pots cost 9 cents. But my soil is free.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Depends on how tightly you have the blocks spaced

[@Blossomandbranch]

It depends what soil block recipe you use

[@TheRainHarvester]

@@Blossomandbranch what is the range (if you know)?

[@TTSocialMedia]

There are problems with both peat and coconut coir. But peat from Canada where most of the peat in the US comes from is growing 70% faster than it is harvested. Coconut coir on the other hand, is processed at a great cost to the people living where it is harvested. The processing is done in the same community in which it is harvested and requires a lot of the local's water which becomes contaminated after the coir is processed. And the harvesting of the coconut coir results in damage to the lungs of the workers. I'm quite happy to use peat from Canada over coir. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6e8i5eui86jd9E This video explains the pros and cons of both.

[@veneshpillay3635]

Imagine the carbon emissions getting that coconut coir to you from Sri Lanka? The amount of people that will have long term lung issues, health and safety is not a priority in the 3rd world. The peat moss may be a better option in the US. Good video.

[@weeg91]

Soil blocking isnt ideal for growing alpine seeds it has to be stated too much water retention in my opinion

[@devanbarger3630]

I am trying to understand why you would put an anti fungal (cinnamon) in a mix that has microryza fungi in it and that being beneficial. That sounds pretty gimmicky to me.

[@Blossomandbranch]

A "gimmick" is usually in an effort to sell you something. I am simply sharing my gardening experience with you, for free, to try to help people be successful with soil blocking. If that is "gimmicky" to you, you are welcome to not comment. To answer your question: we tested three versions. One included myco, one cinnamon, and one both. The one with both outperformed the others in fungus prevention and seedling growth across the varietals we tested. Not every "fungicide" kills every "fungus." That's not how fungicides work. cinnamon tends to perform well against the fungus that causes algae but there has yet to be evidence that it kills mycorrhizae. If you're interested in further reading, we'd suggest this link. www.lebanonturf.com/education-center/biological-plant-treatments/fungicide-effects-on-mycorrhizae

[@devanbarger3630]

@@Blossomandbranch thanks for the info. That does make sense. I didn't get that information in the video and with all of the other soil blocking videos I have watched, from Eliot Coleman and Jim Kovaleski (as well as some others) I haven't heard of the need/idea of using a fungicide.

[@mitras5985]

[@fauxgrace]

😂

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks for commenting! 😊

[@Agustin-jo8mv]

Lol @ the carbon stuffs

[@Blossomandbranch]

Nobody…nobody is making you be here

[@Agustin-jo8mv]

@@Blossomandbranch you: We have 12 years left. 😂😂

[@Agustin-jo8mv]

@Regenerative Gardening How many boosters in are you? 😂