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Kutztown, PA

Last year I started my seeds in 5" peat pots filled with Miracle grow starting mix. That worked fine and the plants were healthy. This year I want to start a little earlier so I'm using gallon pots. Anyone care to share what mix they use for pots that size?

2/4/2022 9:02:55 AM

Bethlehem CT

If it worked with a 5" pot it should work with a gallon pot. The big knock that I have heard about miracle grow mix is that sometimes they go a little heavy on the fetilizer "charge" that is in the mix. I like the promix bx. as a general purpose starter mix.) You can get that and other growing supplies at Nolt's greenhouse supplies in Ephrata PA. I wish I were as close to them as you are!

2/4/2022 9:43:51 AM

Western NY

Pro-Mix BX, 2 gallon pots or grow bags here.

2/4/2022 10:18:38 AM

Columbia, Kentucky

I have added jiffy seed started to miracle grow and added a little vermiculite. This makes for a nice light mix that drains well and dilutes down the fertilizer they use in the miracle grow potting mix. Just so you know a one gal pot gives you 2-3weeks tops with a healthy plant before roots start running out of room. FYI one gal is what I use with the plan of two weeks in pots unless weather is bad I can stretch them a week.

2/4/2022 10:21:26 AM

Partlow,Va

I am going to go with the blue Miracle Grow this year. I like the way you think Scott. I have done the same thing mixing products and also I used Pro Mix for a few years. I would add some potting soil to the Pro Mix. I am not sure which particular Pro Mix it was but it dried out too fast for me and I was unable to bottom water. Have you had this problem Andy?

2/4/2022 11:48:10 AM

Western NY

No, I haven't had that problem Hank. Although I would caution - do not use old potting soil, especially if it has completely dried out. I don't know if it's the wetting agent or something else that goes bad but if you have an old opened bag - just dump it and buy fresh.

I used some old stuff on vegetables once, and it was as if they couldn't get enough nitrogen or something, they were completely stunted.

2/4/2022 11:55:21 AM

Kutztown, PA

I like bottom watering too, and peat pots are great for determining when the plants need more water. I've never bottom watered any thing 1 gallon and plastic. I guess the water will wick up just as well.

2/4/2022 1:33:20 PM

Benson, MN

I used Miracle Grow Performance Organics last year and liked the results. It's a little lighter on on NPK at 19-3-3 . I think it's a little easier on the young seedlings.

2/4/2022 4:12:32 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Andy do you plant the seeds directly in the pro mix or do you mix it with anything else?

2/4/2022 4:45:48 PM

Partlow,Va

Andy now that you bring it up I did reuse old Pro Mix and that must be why. It is such a large cube it was on its third year when I decided I didn't like it. Thanks for that tip. At one time I saw large amounts of Pro Mix being put into patches. I wonder if there could be negatives long term for soil health?

2/4/2022 5:36:52 PM

Western NY

I start mine in paper towels, as soon as I see a root, they go in the pots. I'll start directly in the potting mix for later batches for backups or ones I give away, it seems to work out fine that way too.

2/4/2022 8:22:53 PM

Colorado

5 gallon grow bags with about 3.5 gallons of pro mix.Grow to 4/5 true leaf size which is 20-25 days old.I start mine in potting soil in 4.0 oz size dixie cups and dig up at 24 hrs and check every following 8 hrs for the tap root.They go in the grow bag as soon as they shed the seed shell.

2/4/2022 11:55:55 PM

Bethlehem CT

https://www.pthorticulture.com/en/training-center/myth-series-does-growing-media-ph-change-in-the-package/

2/5/2022 8:30:26 AM

Bethlehem CT

Andy Usually pH migrates up as a growing media ages. Iron is one of the first nutrients that become unavailable. That could have been what had happened to you with the old bag of growing media.

2/5/2022 8:34:55 AM

Kutztown, PA

I didn't start mine in miracle grow "potting soil", I used Miracle grow "starting mix" which contains a negligible amount of fertilizer, .03.03.03. I added Mycor, and once they had a couple of true leaves I gave them an extremely dilute all purpose liquid fertilizer. They turned out very nice. This year I'm going with bigger pots so I can start earlier.

2/7/2022 2:18:36 PM