Best DIY Seed Starting Mix Recipe
Come learn how to make DIY seed starting mix! It's easy to do, saves money, and gives you control over the quality of ingredients used. Follow our homemade seed starting mix recipe and tips for the best results possible!
Equipment
- Bucket or tote for mixing
- Hardware cloth screen (optional)
- Spray bottle or water
Ingredients
- 60% (4 parts) peat moss or coco coir - dampened (not sopping wet) and free of chunks
- 30% (2 parts) fine perlite or vermiculite, Grade 1 (1/8" or 3mm) perlite recommended
- 10% (1 part) worm castings or fine screened compost
Instructions
Mixing Ingredients
- To measure by “parts” simply swap parts for the measurement or volume you wish to use, such as: 4 quarts peat moss (or coco coir), 2 quarts perlite, and 1 quart worm castings or compost. Or, 2 gallons peat moss, 1 gallons perlite, and 1/2 gallon worm castings.
- We like to make our seedling starting in a plastic tote, which makes it easy to mix and then neatly store to use later.
- Before combining all the ingredients, it’s best to break up and dampen the peat moss or coco coir slightly - which helps reduce dust and enables the peat/coco absorb water better going forward. See screening tips below.
How to Rehydrate Coco Coir
- Add the condensed brick to a large tub or bucket and add a small amount of water at first. (Expect to use about 3 to 4 quarts of water for a 1.5-pound brick of coco coir.)
- Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, see how much absorbs, and then slowly add more water until it easily breaks apart and fluffs up. Moist but not soggy is the goal.
Screening to Reduce Clumps
- The best seed starting mix is free of large clumps. Peat moss and homemade compost are especially prone having a lot of lumps and chunks.
- If needed, you can improve the texture of your mix either by screening the ingredients prior to mixing, or screen the finished mix afterwards.
- We use a DIY compost screen: 1/2″ hardware cloth attached to a wood frame with a catchment tote placed below. Put the contents on top, move it around to sift and work it through the screen, and then remove or break up any large clumps left on top.
Using Homemade Seed Starting Mix
- Now it's time to start some seeds! Use this mix in seed starting trays or for soil blocks. See our Seed Starting 101 Guide for more tips.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!