How To Make The Potting Mix I Use For Sowing Seeds

Good potting mix is so valuable when sowing seeds for your garden. I make my own. Here’s how to make the potting mix I use for sowing seeds.

As I was planning out my gardens and doing all that tweaking in the garden house, I was also mixing the potting mix that I use to sow seeds. Then, I got to thinking that this soil recipe would be great for today’s quick tip.

It’s a recipe I only wish I had come up with myself, it’s what all the great gardeners use, and those like me that aspire to be. I learned this tip from my gardening friend, and I’ve also read up and collected the benefits of making your own potting mix. A tried and true potting mixture that promotes strong and plentiful plants. Say that 10 times fast. Once the ingredients are gathered, it takes just a minute or two to mix and then you’re off to the races. Here’s how to make the potting mix I use for sowing seeds.

Let’s Talk Dirty

Can you believe that this mixture doesn’t actually have soil in it? Rather, it has compost, coir (which is a coconut fiber) and perlite. Three good things that aren’t too high in nutrients. I learned that if the mixture is high in nutrients, then you could harm the delicate seedlings, and we don’t want that. Let me quickly break down each of these three ingredients and explain their benefits and roll in the potting mixture.

Compost: We’ve heard this one time and time again, but y’all it’s loaded with good stuff. It slowly releases nutrients into the mix, which will help to feed seedlings as they grow. You can create your own compost area yourself, or you can buy it at your local garden center.

Coir:  Extracted from coconut husks, coir is a sustainable and plentiful alternative to peat moss. It contributes bulk to the seed mix, and is great for moisture retention.

Perlite: This is the little white-ball-looking-stuff that you can buy in a bag on its own. It lightens the mix and improves its air content.

Here’s How To Make The Potting Mix

All parts are measured by volume, so it doesn’t matter what you use to measure your ingredients. Start with two parts compost as your base. Now, add two parts coir. If your coir has come in a block as mine did, then you’ll need to hydrate it in a pan of water until you can easily break it apart. Finally, add one part perlite.

Mix everything together with your hands, reaching down to the bottom and bringing that up to the top. Take you time and make sure you mix it thoroughly as you want consistent mix with all of the ingredients evenly distributed.

Once you’re done, store the starter mix in either a lidded container (I’m using an old metal garbage can) or in old potting soil bags with the top rolled down tightly and secured. Then, store in a cool dry place.

And that my friends, is how you make your own potting mix for starting seeds. A great tip for those that are on the cusp of starting your gardens.