seedlings burning and pre-fertilized soil is all I have

So I just started my first grow. 10 germinated seedlings into plastic cups, all burned up after a month, apparently pre-fertilized soil was the culprit.

Now, I live in a place where I don't have access to any kind of standard grower's stuff, save huge shipping costs, and the soil that's here seems to all be fertilized. I can't seem to find rockwool cubes or peat pellets either, so what can I do to start these seedlings off right? Is there a way to flush the soil prior to dropping the seeds in, or mixing it down with something else (peat moss and perlite are available), or using something else entirely?

I use a cheaper version of soil that is like Miracle grow soil that has light nutes in it and have zero problems. I start using it as soon as I germinate seeds in paper towels. You don't need all that expensive crap to have a good grow.

zandramas said:

So I just started my first grow. 10 germinated seedlings into plastic cups, all burned up after a month, apparently pre-fertilized soil was the culprit.

Now, I live in a place where I don't have access to any kind of standard grower's stuff, save huge shipping costs, and the soil that's here seems to all be fertilized. I can't seem to find rockwool cubes or peat pellets either, so what can I do to start these seedlings off right? Is there a way to flush the soil prior to dropping the seeds in, or mixing it down with something else (peat moss and perlite are available), or using something else entirely?

Click to expand...

So why not just use peat moss and perlite? Make sure to add some dolomitic lime (1 tbsp/gal of soil mix) and you have a good growing medium, free of nutes. 67% peat, 33% perlite, should be good to go.

zandramas said:

So I just started my first grow. 10 germinated seedlings into plastic cups, all burned up after a month, apparently pre-fertilized soil was the culprit.

Now, I live in a place where I don't have access to any kind of standard grower's stuff, save huge shipping costs, and the soil that's here seems to all be fertilized. I can't seem to find rockwool cubes or peat pellets either, so what can I do to start these seedlings off right? Is there a way to flush the soil prior to dropping the seeds in, or mixing it down with something else (peat moss and perlite are available), or using something else entirely?

Click to expand...

mix your own blend. peat moss and perlite are the base to which you add all the other stuff. you need some kind of organic nitrogen. composted cow manue, worm castings or leaf compost are all available at home centers. leave the hydro store shit to ppl who don't know any better. you'll also need garden lime. there are other amendments you can add but start off with those simple things and you should be ok. and don't use soil blends with time release ferts in it. i like mg organic choice. the N comes from chicken shit. it's readily absorbed and doesn't burn. but the texture of the soil is a huge benefit cuz that's one less thing you have to worry about.

Can you find Jiffy starter soil. Hell even RitAid has it here.

Do you have any plants or pots left over from last year or like six months ago that should be pretty much done and wont hurt the plants?

brotherjericho said:

So why not just use peat moss and perlite? Make sure to add some dolomitic lime (1 tbsp/gal of soil mix) and you have a good growing medium, free of nutes. 67% peat, 33% perlite, should be good to go.

Click to expand...

Thanks, that's helpful info!

dannyboy602 said:

mix your own blend. peat moss and perlite are the base to which you add all the other stuff. you need some kind of organic nitrogen. composted cow manue, worm castings or leaf compost are all available at home centers. leave the hydro store shit to ppl who don't know any better. you'll also need garden lime. there are other amendments you can add but start off with those simple things and you should be ok. and don't use soil blends with time release ferts in it. i like mg organic choice. the N comes from chicken shit. it's readily absorbed and doesn't burn. but the texture of the soil is a huge benefit cuz that's one less thing you have to worry about.

Click to expand...

Sweet. If I add one (or a mix) of the manure, castings, or compost, what amounts should be added? I don't want to burn these (hopefully) girls again.

The guy who sold me the soil I bought said it contained organic nutes. Would you recommend transplanting to this soil when the plants get big enough?

I've got Dyna-Gro's Grow, Pro-Tekt, and Bloom. That would be the hydro store shit you spoke of?

Coho said:

Can you find Jiffy starter soil. Hell even RitAid has it here.

Click to expand...

No, I live in a pretty obscure place that is definitely not America.

chrishydro said:

Do you have any plants or pots left over from last year or like six months ago that should be pretty much done and wont hurt the plants?

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Nope, good thought. I just started the whole grow op.

Here's my mix (for established seedlings)

1 part peat moss
1 part compost mix (I blend several store bought composts)
1/2 part perlite
1/2 part vermiculite
1 tbsp/gal lime
1 tbsp/gal organic powder/granular fert (I use Jobe's organic 4-4-4)

Very basic and has worked well for me thus far. I would not recommend it for seeds, might be too hot, I use this for my first (and usually only) transplant. My seed starter mix is

5 parts peat moss
2 parts worm castings
2 parts vermiculite
2 part perlite

I typically let the seedling grow in this in a party cup for 2 weeks or so, then it goes into my other mix for a single transplant. I top dress with organic granular/powdered ferts every 3-4 weeks, as needed.