soil question

ok so I have 3 germinated seedlings in 3 individual party cups filled with MG potting soil. my question is can I use this soil throughout the whole life span? if not , can I use soil from my parents outdoor garden?

never bring soil from outside indoors unless you bake it first. It can be full of parasites and bugs, and you won't want to contaminate your growing area. MG potting soil is pretty hot, but after vegging for a month with nothing but water, it can become ok. MG is not the greatest for pot, but works well enough to learn from.

GrnMn said:

never bring soil from outside indoors unless you bake it first. It can be full of parasites and bugs, and you won't want to contaminate your growing area. MG potting soil is pretty hot, but after vegging for a month with nothing but water, it can become ok. MG is not the greatest for pot, but works well enough to learn from.

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so it's not the best but I will work?

DSteezy said:

so it's not the best but I will work?

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Correct. Good luck!

DSteezy said:

so it's not the best but I will work?

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any update?

His last post was fifteen minutes ago, I doubt he's got much to say yet.

the only time i use MG is when i am planting trees, bushes, or flowers in the ground. i mix some in with the soil from the hole im planting in.

the problem with MG is the way they make it and mix it. the quality control must not do enough testing on it. you can buy 10 bags from the same place and half of them will probly work fine but the other half will be to hot.

i try and pick out the bags that feel lighter than the rest. the heavier bags seem to have more clumps and stick together more. i know the bags get wet sometimes from being outside but just my experience, the lighter bags seem to be better.

GrnMn said:

never bring soil from outside indoors unless you bake it first. It can be full of parasites and bugs, and you won't want to contaminate your growing area. MG potting soil is pretty hot, but after vegging for a month with nothing but water, it can become ok. MG is not the greatest for pot, but works well enough to learn from.

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Problem with MG is you have to learn how to use it properly, and that takes experience. So why not learn right the first time and go organic?. That garden soil has everything in it that MG bagged does not. I have used my own garden soil indoors, and yes I did have a few gnats...but that's easily treated. Baking soil defeats the purpose, kills everything.

I'm going to wait a week and see if they seem healthy, if not I will try and go for the soil in the outdoor garden.

Sunbiz1 said:

Baking soil defeats the purpose, kills everything.

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Bang on right... It really depends on the quality and suitability of the garden soil. Is there a lot of humus in the soil, is it peaty or mostly clay, has it been well aerated to encourage beneficial micro-organisms..? There's lots of good info on here if you look... good luck on the grow bro ;0)

hengus said:

Bang on right... It really depends on the quality and suitability of the garden soil. Is there a lot of humus in the soil, is it peaty or mostly clay, has it been well aerated to encourage beneficial micro-organisms..? There's lots of good info on here if you look... good luck on the grow bro ;0)

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they grow like tomatoes cucumbers, carrots, and a lot of other stuff. it's mostly just dark soil.

I'm gonna keep them in their cups for a week, im giving them bottled spring water and have 2 13 watt Cfl's and 1 20 watt flourecent I used for my turtle tank. I only plan to grow at least one and at most 2. I have tthem in my closet behind 2 towels and they're in a milk crate lined with tin foil and has ply wood on the bottom. I just planted them yesterday and they have yet to sprout. my sisters boyfriend is going to lend me two of his Cfl's so I should be good for vegging.