Best Soil To Start My Seeds???

[rustyshackleford]

I have a couple seeds germinating in a paper towel right now and I am wondering what the best soil would be for them to successfully take root. I have some Ocean Forest from Fox Farm and then I also have Coco Coir. My question is do I want the seedlings to have all the nutrition that is in a soil like Ocean Forest while they are getting started or is it better for a seedling to begin in an inert media like Coco Coir and then go to the Ocean Forest? Thanks!

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

I have a couple seeds germinating in a paper towel right now and I am wondering what the best soil would be for them to successfully take root. I have some Ocean Forest from Fox Farm and then I also have Coco Coir. My question is do I want the seedlings to have all the nutrition that is in a soil like Ocean Forest while they are getting started or is it better for a seedling to begin in an inert media like Coco Coir and then go to the Ocean Forest? Thanks!

As little nutrients as possible in the soil.

 

[Growrx]

Ocean forest is 0.30- 0.45- 0.05
Wouldn’t that be low enough for a few weeks of growth?

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

Ocean forest is 0.30- 0.45- 0.05
Wouldn’t that be low enough for a few weeks of growth?

I've never used Ocean forest or coco coir so I don't know. I just germinate in paper towel and put into soil with no nutrients and feed after 2 weeks.

 

[Madbud]

Rinse the coco if you use it. Half a solo cup mixed 50/50 should be ok.

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

Rinse the coco if you use it.

I'd assume same thing with the ocean forest

 

[amekins]

I’ve started all of my seeds in FFOF but usually add about 30% perlite. No nutrients are needed for typically the first month. But it may vary some by plant.

 

[Madbud]

I'd assume same thing with the ocean forest

Some coco is processed with salt water.

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

Some coco is processed with salt water.

Ya but rinsing the ocean forest would get rid of some of the nutrients.

 

[amekins]

I'd assume same thing with the ocean forest

I have never rinsed my soil. Coco can be salty and those salts have to be rinsed. You want the nutrition that is in the soil. Flushing that will just wash away nutrients your plant could have used.

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

I have never rinsed my soil. Coco is very salty and those salts have to be rinsed. You want the nutrition that is in the soil. Flushing that will just wash away nutrients your plant could have used.

Aren't seedlings very sensitive to nutrients?

 

[amekins]

Aren't seedlings very sensitive to nutrients?

Some can be. You can mix more perlite or even some coco into the soil to dilute them, but I personally haven’t had an issue yet.

 

[gorillaglueaaron]

Some can be. You can mix more perlite or even some coco into the soil to dilute them, but I personally haven’t had an issue yet.

I guess I'm wrong then

 

[rustyshackleford]

I’ve started all of my seeds in FFOF but usually add about 30% perlite. No nutrients are needed for typically the first month. But it may vary some by plant.

I will be mixing in 25% - 30% perlite into my OF as well so I should be right in that neighborhood! So you do nothing but water for the first 4 weeks and then start adding liquid nutrients when watering at week 5ish, correct?

 

[amekins]

I guess I'm wrong then

Just my experience. Yours may be different.

 

[amekins]

I will be mixing in 25% - 30% perlite into my OF as well so I should be right in that neighborhood! So you do nothing but water for the first 4 weeks and then start adding liquid nutrients when watering at week 5ish, correct?

Liquid, dry, whatever method you’ve chosen started at about a month/4 weeks, yes.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Rinse the coco if you use it. Half a solo cup mixed 50/50 should be ok.

So use a 50/50 split of Ocean Farm and Coco Coir to start the seedlings and then go to full Ocean Farm after they seedlings have taken root?

 

[kaka]

Ocean Forrest is fine. I start all my seeds in it.
Plants life food.

 

[amekins]

Sounds good.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Liquid, dry, whatever method you’ve chosen started at about a month/4 weeks, yes.

Cool cool, thanks for the help! I'm sure I'm over thinking it / splitting hairs but I have a few gallons of distilled water I have been using for the germination (I read somewhere that tap water can be harsh on seeds), should I use the distilled water for the first week or two when they're seedlings or just use my tap water, which is about 7.6ph?