How to Make a General Purpose Starter Mix
I've tried starting seeds in different mediums without very good results but here is the recipe that I'm currently using to make a starter mix.
- Mix potting soil, sandy dirt, and a little vermiculite. The soil should be slightly damp but not wet.
- Place the mix in metal trays (eg: old cake pans) and cover with aluminum foil.
- Sterilize the soil by baking in an oven at 180° F but no more than 200°F for about an hour.
- Remove and allow to cool then mix in some Osmocote timed-release fertilizer.
The starter mix should be sterilized to kill microbes that might otherwise devour fragile young roots of seedlings. I'm going to experiment with flushing the soil with water to remove salts before sterilizing it.