This No BS Seed Starting Mix Will Save You TONS

[@midwestern925]

I've used my homemade compost every single year for over 35 years now and my container garden produces more food than you can imagine! I live in an upstairs apartment with a little deck that I plant garden containers on all 18 stairs leading to my deck and the deck and railings are full . . . .where there's a will there's a way 😊😊

[@juneramirez8580]

I also make my own, but I use more than I can make right now.

[@juneramirez8580]

I use peat moss which helps make my alkaline soil and water more acidic!

[@Cici1791]

Do you do your starts outside or inside? I l make my own compost too, but I purchase potting soil in the early spring because I live in a cold climate and don't like the idea of bringing the bugs and worms in my compost indoors.

[@lucythomas4077]

LUKE I found Pro Mix at discount. For $5 a bag just like you use. I bought 4 one day and another 4 the next. I was so excited to find such a great deal. Thanks for all you do for us. You are truly the best. And certainly one of a kind. God bless.

[@bensontm]

A 2 ft compressed cube (blue bag) of Promix runs around $14 - $25, if you go buy it yourself and dont have it shipped. Shipping can cost $50. It's heavy! One of those cubes will start all my seeds for 25 tomato plants 25 peppers, flowers, beans, peas, anything I want to grow. I usually get 2. The second bag I use to amend the soil in my asparagus bed and new raised beds, especially where I'm planting carrots. When im ready to start seeds, I lay down a tarp on my living room floor, open the cube and scoop and fluff it into bus tub or bigger size bins. I can add perlite or worm castings if I want and mix it up. Make sure you have enough in the way of warming mats and grow lights for when they sprout! I'm using all MI gardener seeds this year and looking forward to getting started!

[@lyndelgado6138]

Another great lesson thanks

[@adriennechamberlain4868]

Good one! I microwave my peat moss in a bowl covered with saran wrap until it's 160 degrees. I leave it in the microwave to cool. My mix includes coco coir, worm castings, bone meal and perlite or vermiculite and biochar and azomite. I prep it in the winter in different grain size depending on if I'm using soil blocks or potting up a big tomato! 😊

[@bluewolf4915]

80% sifted peat, 10% fine perlite, 10% vermiculite. Feed with a pre-digested organic fertilizer after seeds sprout. Never fails.

[@Constitutionalapologist]

This time of the year is my true advent calendar excitement:). Im hoping to start my spring this year beginning of February. Just north of central Florida, nine b. The countdown has begun! :)

[@melissanergard1711]

Thank you so much! I am so happy that I found your channel. I am originally from Allegan ❤

[@rookiegardeningjournal]

Thank you for sharing this! I love learning new tips and ideas-this is so inspiring and helpful. Can’t wait to try it out myself!❤🌱

[@lizomen9719]

I've been trying so hard to get away from peat moss since it takes a thousand years to make a peat bog and we're starting to run out. I didn't have good luck with Coco peat except in my worm compost bin. Pittmoss has some nice alternatives.

[@stevedugas2806]

Yes, staying away from peat moss is good for the climate. I have not had a problem with coco coir. It seems to work great.

[@jasc997]

Thanks for the content! Always love to watch your videos 🙌 Happy planting! 🪴🌱

[@terryulmer969]

Thank you for sharing. ❤ May you walk in beauty always!

[@neckbone1584]

Perfect timing! Thank you, I was just thinking about starting my winter sowing in my gallon water jugs i have been saving all year (I saved a lot of seeds last year). This will save me so much! Thank You😊🌱

[@deedeep3370]

I really appreciate the video. It would have been helpful to have portions summed up in one place at the end.

[@kodalynn2137]

So no soil thats such a good idea. I always use pro mix from art knapps and i get so many fungus knats 😅 maybe its time to start this ❤

[@barbbrownlee9188]

Hello Luke, Awesome video in making your own seed starting mix!💖 Thanks for sharing!👍 Blessings and Happy New Year!🎊 🦋1/10/2025🦋

[@G.W.H.]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@sallygomez1044]

Luke can you try growing chiltepe? It's a hot pepper from Guatemala. There are different variations in Mexico. They call them chitepin, tepin, and a few other names.

[@christopherrenn8137]

I prefer using activated charcoal dipped in farmers tea vs perlite but have used both, they both do good. I just find the charcoal breaks down while holding the water and nuit's better.

[@Laurelwoodfun]

Thanks for the great video! You can also treat peat moss with wood ash to right?

[@gannas42]

I wish I was close enough to pick up the coir from you in person. Your price is great aside from shipping.

[@Jason-fo5rx]

When using bricked coco,it can be pivital to wash it thoroughly and then buffer with calmag.Raw coco brick can steal away calcium and magnesium resulting in deficiencies

[@johnwood738]

I just use Coco core and add a little fertilizer. Seems to work for me, but I’m hoping the new suggestion suggestions.

[@incapearl]

Great video!

[@elishajones1286]

Thanks for the video. Just FYI, it might be nice to state the ratios for each item for the recipe for us newbies. You only mentioned the perlite being 10-15% of the ratio and 1/2 cup of slow release fertilizer. I am assuming the vermiculite is also 10-15%? leaving the cococoir at 70-80%?

[@BluishGnome]

He did say 10-15% for the vermiculite as well, so you're correct, It's pretty much 7:1.5:1.5 ratio + fertilizer. The volume of fertilizer is to your discretion since we don't know exactly how much is in the tub and the "1/2 cup" was a very loose measurement. I personally don't think it's really necessary since you'll be transplanting into the garden by the time the seedling needs those nutrients.

[@elishajones1286]

@BluishGnome thank you. I must have missed the vermiculite part. ☺️

[@Freeland-Farm]

​@@BluishGnomeseedlings need some form of nutrient after their first true leaves develop, which is typically several weeks before transplanting.

[@BluishGnome]

@@Freeland-Farm Good to know!

[@Constitutionalapologist]

I wonder if the hairy stuff under palm psuedobark is super acidic. That's what i was going to incorporate this year.

[@aleydaenriquez3892]

Hi Luke, what are your thoughts on adding Mycorrhizae Fungi to seed starting mix. I would love to see a comparison video of seed starting mix with and without amendments and if they infact help the seeds/plant. 😊

[@lizomen9719]

The main reason I started using his fertilizer is because that is in there I believe. And I've had great luck with using the fertilizer they sell.

[@juneramirez8580]

There are many different pro mix, which do you use? Can you show us a picture of the bag?

[@pmbramucci1056]

Is that bag of Happy Frog you held up the 4 pound bag?

[@iamslbc]

When you say 10-15% are you measuring by weight or volume?

[@kellysmoot3676]

What are your thoughts on startup seeds in cococoir hydrated bricks? #Migardener

[@uctt24]

I also like to add a little sand personally

[@BluishGnome]

Yea, I think there's a lot of flexibility to this recipe, especially if you're looking to make it on the cheap. Whatever materials you have on hand that play a similar role to coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite will do. For me, I have a good amount of pumice fines that I'll screen and use in place of vermiculite since it's also porous. Plus, seeds aren't THAT picky at the end of the day.

[@BoJ-gn3iv]

Best soil

[@kansasmisfit7404]

Is 80 year old chicken pooh good starter seed mix.?

[@arvellataratuta2150]

My perlite is always much larger pieces. Is finer perlite available?

[@M2TC]

Yes, there is fine perlite. That’s what I use for seed starting. He talks about that on video at 11:51😊

[@jSheapullen]

Yes. But o put mine in blender for a few sec.

[@kaylakitty3814]

In my experience, Miracle Grow perlite has a pretty fine texture similar to the perlite Luke used in the video.

[@Damonpeters1950]

@@M2TCmy gardening buddy has old blender - uses it granulate perlite to his liking - works well- of course small amounts.

[@mikel646]

I'm a bit confused about the bacteria/fungi. I thought compost was a bad idea because of the potential for pathogens...do worm castings not carry plant pathogens? Also, wouldn't organic fertilizers take too long to break down without much microbial activity? Would the nutrients be available by the time the seedlings need them? I thought a completely inert seed starting mix was best.

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

The main reason compost is cautioned against has to do with the fact that not all compost is created equally, and a poorly made compost can lead to disastrous outcomes. The quality of commercially available composts is too variable to rely on, but It can work great for seed starting as long as it is well made compost. I personally use my own homemade compost for seed starting without concern for plant pathogens. I will occasionally get some damping off, usually if I am careless about overwatering, but since I save my own seeds I value the selection pressure it provides against disease prone plants producing seed and passing on their undesirable traits.

[@Earthy-Artist]

I've never had a worm bin {yet} or raised worms {yet} but my theory is that perhaps worm castings could be OK to use because worms who make worm castings don't actually live down in the 'earth' with earthly bacteria and pathogens, they live up in worm bins with worm bin bacteria? Very good questions you've asked, and I've often wondered about them myself, why are worm castings ok but compost is not?

[@brianseybert192]

The biology found in worm castings eliminates plant pathogens, the only real drawback with worm castings are the potential for unwanted seeds from their foods. Worm castings also provide beneficial biology, organic acids and enzymes. Properly made hot compost should be free of pathogens, however, I would not trust anything I did not make myself. Cold compost definitely could contain viable seeds and plant pathogens. All I personally use as fertilizer for my seedlings is vermicompost/aged hot compost extract, with a little fish hydrolysate for a boost of nitrogen. Stay Well !!!

[@shelliedaniels1063]

How would you store the home made seed starting mix if you don’t use it all when you make it?

[@mike-g6g3g]

Dry it out and bag it up , it will last for years.

[@marleneschoeneck3276]

I just put mine in a big Sterlite tub, and leave the lid on, but not hooked, to allow a little air circulation.

[@mikehill9078]

Where do you get such fine perlite?

[@BluishGnome]

The MiracleGro perlite that I get from the big box stores is that fine. I have a hard time finding coarse perlite, to be honest, but there aren't many quality garden centers in my metro area... I would also wear a mask when handling perlite, especially indoors. The dust is really fine and can damage your lungs.

[@defiancealex6611]

Off topic, if you were an actor.... you'd be the perfect Clark Kent

[@thetommantom]

Idk how my stuff always burns dry or dampens off lol

[@brianseybert192]

Besides the labor practices and amount of fuel to transport coco coir, it can also be loaded with a lot of salt. Personally, I am fortunate to have a huge resource of deciduous leaves in which I turn into leaf mold. I have found the finished leaf mold makes for a superior seed starter, just me. Stray Well !!!!

[@Over9000DragonFire]

I just use miracle gro potting soil. Never had a problem

[@olliepoo]

I wish you guys who are totally used to making your own seed starting soil would give a “recipe” for the soil. But you end up having diarrhea of the mouth and talk about a million tangent topics and it all becomes distracting. I’ve watched and rewatched this video trying to get the recipe. Because you take so long getting to the recipe you include things like a hot sauce or something like that and cost of five different brands. I mean you get off topic so many times that it get hard to catch the recipe. Like name it one by one. Then I would appreciate your side stories. I don’t mind them but I want the recipe first then I can hear why. First coco coir, perlite, vermiculite. A mild fertilizer. And so on. I can write down the recipe. I’m getting ready to listen to you my fifth time this morning and I only have the first three ingredients written down. But you aren’t the only one. Others do the same thing. I want the recipe first. Then I want you to explain why the ingredient so I can make it make sense in my brain. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just frustrating having to rewind to see if I got every thing you said. Thanx . Appreciate you.

[@sncy5303]

But BS makes such good compost! Personally, I wouldn't give companies like ProMix any money. If nobody buys it for that price, their price gouching will stop. Home made id always better anyways!

[@arvellataratuta2150]

@@sncy5303 BS?

[@middle-agedmacdonald2965]

In other words It's not worth it to make your own Unless you're a pro already. If you're only making a small batch like that You have to store all of that other stuff for years and years To make use of it. It will degrade over those years Negating any benefit From the initial cost savings. The hassle of storing it And keeping track of it Aren't worth that hassle.