How To Make Your Own Seed Starting Mix

It is really easy and inexpensive to make your own seed starting mix. The ratio I like to use is:

• 2 parts sphagnum peat moss
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part vermiculite

Sphagnum peat moss is fine, crumbly and dark brown. Do not use long fibered sphagnum moss which is beige and looks like dried plants. Perlite is very lightweight, white and looks a bit like styrofoam. Vermiculite looks like fine sand with gold flakes mixed in.

Choose ingredients that do not have additives like fertilizers. Avoid packaging with words like "enriched" and read the label for ingredients. Fertilizers are unnecessary for seedlings and may cause more harm than good for some plants. They are also much more expensive.

Unless your peat is already moistened, make your seed starting mix at least one day before you use it so the peat has time to absorb the water. Mix your ingredients well and add water until evenly moist but not wet.