Originally Posted by stinkyattic
I suggest soil in little 6-packs like you buy annuals at the garden center in.
They are the preferred growing container for commercial flower nurseries for a reason!
You have a number of choices for your soil mix.
It should be light, well drained, of fine tilth, and not too 'hot' chemically.
Seedling starter mix would be the obvious choice. I would still flush it after putting it in the pots just for safety.
I play it on the edge, using my normal soil base which is composted cow manure with leaf humus 60% and perlite 40%, and yes, I DO frequently see a bit of tip burn if I don't give the soil a nice flush first. I don't recommend my mix for seedlings though.
I sprout(ed, damn.) under a new wave T5 fixture.
For the first couple days between planting the sprouted seed and the time it breaks dirt, I put a piece of card over the 6pax to keep the soil from drying unevenly.
Watering is by standing the 6pax in like a styrofoam meat tray and pouring water into that until it absorbs, and throwing any standing water away. This prevents disturbing the seedlings before they have a chance to really get rooted.
Anyway that's it!
If you are stuck on preformed pellets, Rapid-Rooters are far safer pH wise. You will have to figure out how to not have the seed fall too deep into the pellet. I'd suggest flipping it over and making a small slit with a sharp knife for the seed, rather than using the pre-formed hole, which is the right size for the stem of a CLONE.
:D
