Seedling Soil

So I germed my seeds and placed them in 16oz solo cups filled with this seed starter mix I got at my local hydro store. It is really airy and light (which is good I think) and most of it is coco from the looks of it. Anyways, I was surpirsed when I poured some water into the cup before putting in the seeds because it didn't really absorb any water. Will this be an issue for them starting roots and growing in the cups?

When you say it didn't really absorb any water... what happened? Did it just flush out?

I would assume that if you have poured the water, the soil should be moist to the core. Specially if you saw it drain.

Also you are right to assume, airy and light is good, as it gives the roots room to grow and spread.

When I poured in the water, It sat at the top for about 30 seconds then slowwwly drained through to the bottom through the holes. The top soil wasn't even wet at all, a few inches down the soil was moist, not wet. I sprayed the top soil layer with the water bottle and added my seedlings

If I even spray more than like 5 squirts, it will strat draining out the bottom too.

That's odd... can you post a picture of your setup?

How many days in are you now? I just germinated a seedling, took 3 days from wet tissue to soil, and 4th day it is visible above soil.

When soil gets really dry, it needs to be re-wet before it will hold water again. There is enough surface tension in the water that it will run around dry soil before it can be absorbed.

Before you plant next time you can put your dirt in a large bucket and add some water and mix it up good. Keep adding water and mixing until it has the right feel.

Since you already planted, you can either add a wetting agent to your water (like a drop of soap) or you can bottom water. Bottom watering is just placing a pan or saucer under your pot and then filling it with water. The soil will wick up the water so keep adding water until it stops wicking, then drain your saucer.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. It was just weird how everything was wicking the water away. I'll go out and buy a aluminum baking pan and do the bottom feed method.

greenleaftoker said:

That's odd... can you post a picture of your setup?

How many days in are you now? I just germinated a seedling, took 3 days from wet tissue to soil, and 4th day it is visible above soil.

Click to expand...

I just germ'd my seeds. Still have three more seeds to plant that haven't popped yet (it has only been 48 hours since starting germ.

So I tried doing the bottom water feed method and it didn't work. This is kind of scary because I accidently knocked over one of my solo cups and the soil spilled out... it was completely dry in the middle, as if I never even added a drop of water. I'm about to just scoop out my seedlings tonight and start over with a new medium. Anyone have a reccommendation for a soil? I have a bag of light warrior on hand

GreenThumby said:

So I tried doing the bottom water feed method and it didn't work....

Click to expand...

You need to pre-moisten most, if not all seed starter mixes due to their make-up. Just planted some seeds this morning and did it myself.

Dump out your cups and find the seeds, then put them in water or a very wet paper towel. Spread all of the soil out in a potting tray or baking pan and spray or dribble water over it. Mix well, and keep repeating this until you have your soil dampened to the point it will just hold together when squeezed into a ball. At this point, you will be able to fill your cups, replant the seeds and water as you normally do. You've done nothing wrong or harmful, it's just the way the starters are.

the use here of a surfactant is required often I use hair conditioner even dish soap is good (just a pinch)

but for my babes still in their cases use ur own aloe vera,..

make a tea by crushing and sieving the soup add to ur watering

to encourage the water to stick to the soil and or the seed cases

good luck

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up going back the my hydro store and buying a bag of some local potting mix they have that is pH balanced and was told it's really good stuff, mixed that soil (1/2) with (1/4) seed starter that I pre-soaked overnight in warm water and drained and (1/4) dry seed mix. I scooped out the seedlings and was careful with the taproot, transplanted them into 1/2gal grow bags and solo cups with the new soil mixture, sprayed with water and left them covered in a dome. currently feeding them light 24hrs. Overnight they sprouted through the soil! They're looking real good now.

i used regular peat pellets after my seeds cracked in cups of water....the pear pellets are great unless they dry out then they repel water which is a pita.......but one nice thing about peat is its really neutral so almost no chance of nute burn or anything like that.

schnooby said:

i used regular peat pellets after my seeds cracked in cups of water....the pear pellets are great unless they dry out then they repel water which is a pita.......but one nice thing about peat is its really neutral so almost no chance of nute burn or anything like that.

Click to expand...

I bought one of the peat pellet seed starting kits too. I have about 5 seeds started in them now and will be placing another 5 in it tomorrow. I wanted to try both methods and see which works the best.