No luck with Miracle-Gro potting mix

[Sgtwalleye]

I started my pepper seeds and some various flower seeds back on 25 Feb 2014, I always use the Farmers' Almanac as a guide for starting seeds.

I used Miracle-Gro potting mix after reading several posts(on various web sites) of others reporting success. My experience was not so good...

I started about 120+ tomatoes seeds last Tuesday, 11 March 2014(as per Farmers' Almanac) in my Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic media. Almost all EVERY single seed except 1 or 2 are already 1-2" tall!! This stuff works awesome and it is recycled from last years earthtainers.

I had a bag of the miracle-gro laying around and thought well I'll try it. I'm gonna be behind on my pepper seeds this year. I like to start them about 2-3 weeks prior to my tomatoes. I guess the good news is that my tomatoes are doing awesome!

Last year, after reading about Raybo's earthtainer plans I got really interested in building them and growing my veggies in them. I made about 10 of them for me and about 6 more divided up between my mother and mother-in-law. We all had great success with them. My garden space is limited so it gives me an opportunity to grow extra plants. It was a fun project and I really enjoyed it!

I'll try to post some pics of my week old seedlings.

SgtWalleye

[rnewste]

You can't go wrong with Pro-Mix.

I'd use the MG elsewhere in your yard.

Raybo

[Sgtwalleye]

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[rnewste]

Now that they have sprouted, I would get them under lights ASAP.

Raybo

[Sgtwalleye]

Various types on the left in the pic. The ones in the pots are all La Roma III from tomato growers. I start many extras to give away to friends & family. My buddies at work like the paste type and we all make salsa to see who can make them best!


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[Sgtwalleye]

They are under T5 6500k lights with mylar wrapped around them to help increase the light level. Those are pretty tall seedlings for only being a bit over a week!


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[Worth1]

Was it seed starting potting mix or potting mix?

Worth

[Sgtwalleye]

It was the potting mix, not a seed starting mix-thought I'd try it.

I think MG makes good products but the potting mix didn't work for me in starting the seedlings. I read on various blogs of others having success.

I just wanted to report how MG & Pro-Mix worked for me.

Good question Worth1


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[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Sgtwalleye

It was the potting mix, not a seed starting mix-thought I'd try it.

I think MG makes good products but the potting mix didn't work for me in starting the seedlings. I read on various blogs of others having success.

I just wanted to report how MG & Pro-Mix worked for me.

Good question Worth1


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I just wonder if on those blogs they meant seed starting potting mix and chopped off the seed starting part?

I think it is goofy for the company to sell something called seed starting potting mix.

I Like miracle grow stuff too though some folks hate it here.
I have been using the fertilizer for years, many years.

Worth

[Hermitian]

Originally Posted by Sgtwalleye

...
I think MG makes good products ...

Miracle Gro doesn't make anything. They are a marketing company. The actual manufacturer and production of a specific labeled product can and often does change from year to year. In the case of fertilizers it might be: Agrium in Canada, a Dow Chem. subsidiary in New Jersey, Haifa (an Israeli Co.) in Mexico, and others.

[matilda'skid]

I start tomato seeds in Miracle Grow potting mix and it works. I don't grow many peppers so I don't know about them. If the potting mix was wet and not fresh it can go bad. I bought some once on sale that was out in the rain and from the previous year. It wouldn't grow anything. I think you need to put your lights closer to the plants. They look like they are reaching to the light to me.

[feldon30]

I won't risk starting seeds in anything but seed starting mix. For a few flats, Jiffy, Fafard, or other 8-12 quart bag is fine. For larger quantities, it's worth getting a bale of ProMix. Too bad ProMix is the best product money can't buy.

[madddawg]

I use MG. And have a fairly good success rate. Do you use the regular kind or the Moisture control kind. The moisture control kind is a lot more fine and don't have the bigger chunks in. Unfortunately, I found this out A little to late. I already potted up most of my plants, almost a whole 64 quart bag.
Also do you wet it before you seed or after. Mg potting mix,Either kind does not absorb water very well. I wet it good first with hot water and then put it into the cells. Then lay the seeds on top and cover them up with a little more wet mix works pretty good.

[matilda'skid]

I am still worried about you lights not being close enough. How many inches are the lights from the plants and how many are there?

[JiminNJ]

I like the organic MG best, but have used regular MG with no problems.
One thing I like to do is get my pots ready and on the heating mat a few
days before I plant the seeds so the soil is warmed up.
I use T5 lights also and keep them about an inch above my seedlings.
Do you use a heating mat? Peppers really need the heat to germinate