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Hi there. I was wondering what type of soil ya'll use for starting seeds indoors. I always use the "Seed Starter Soil" they sell for that purpose. I ran out of that soil and will probably buy more when it's time to plant seeds. I was curious about "sterilizing soil" yourself, like in the oven. I have read about that, but have never done it. I was wondering if anyone else has ever 'baked soil in the oven' to sterilize it and if it was effective in germinating seeds? I have a couple of opened bags of potting soil, so it isn't 'sterile' any more. I was wondering if I should try and sterilize it myself!?! THANKS!!

Whatever you do don't try to sterilize soil by placing in your oven...the odors emanating will drive your family out into the cold, cold air.

Most seed mixes nowadays are a combo of peat moss, which is for moisture retention, vermiculite for good drainage, and a little perlite for food.

it is widely available at any nursery or garden supply---probably at your local hardware store as well.

Before starting, read about the particular needs of the specific seed you are starting.
There's a best time involved and also the temperature of the soil.
Read also about how to fend off mildew and rot which is always a threat to just beginning seedlings.

Open bags of potting soil have worked just fine for me, anyway. Because...I buy really big bags, so they have been open and folded over in storage for a 2-3 years before I actually finish off a bag.

I use the sterilized 'seed starter mix' a lot, too. But when I run out, just plain potting soil will work. After all, when we plant seeds in the garden, we just toss them down in a hole. Not sterilized.

I wouldn't even try to sterilize soil in my own oven. It's a horrible smell & I don't think it would even be worth the bother.

All of the commercial seed starting soil mixes are really soilless and are mostly peat moss and either perlite or vermiculite or coir or sometimes finely shrerdded bark, in other words about the same as most potting soils. These should be sterile so you would not need to sterilize them. If you were to dig up some soil from your garden for seed starting then you probably should think about sterilizing that, but few people recommend using garden soil for seed starting today.
I have used the compost I make for seed starting for several years now with very good results, although there are many people that report having problems with damping off when they do that. But then people that buy seed starting "soils" from a store also have problems with damping off which is the result of maintaing that "soil" much too wet.

I use compost mixed with vermiculite to start all my seeds. Works fine for me. I use a ratio of about 4 parts compost to 1 part vermiculite, although I don't usually measure it, I just do it by site.

Every spring I just buy a bale of Sunshine Mix #4 and use it for starting seeds, rooting cuttings, as well as containers.

I only ever tried to sterilize soil in my oven and the smell was so bad I'll never do that again.

Thank you everyone! I will just continue to buy the "Seed Starter Mix". I always have success with that.
The reason I asked is because I planted apple seeds in this 'potting soil' about 6 weeks ago, and still nothing. Soooo, yesterday to test this soil further, I planted other random seeds: Lavender, Petunia & Wild Flower. I'm just curious to see if these new seeds will germinate in this previously opened bag of soil. I really get so stir-crazy it's hard for me NOT to plant something!!!

The seeds from Apples need a fairly long period of cold stratification to germinate, ie. held at temperatures below 40 degrees for several weeks.
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc...owthread.php?t=32535

In an effort to start my 'Winter Sowing' early, I just tossed a variety of about 3 dozen seeds into my raised garden bed. I am really curious to see if they will do well via 'winter sowing'! I tossed in about 2 dozen apple seeds, along with other random seeds: Morning Glory, Sunflower, petunia and those hard beans I stole from an opened bag in the supermarket, just to plant a few different beans. (In previous years, I got a great plant from kidney beans!!!)

quote:

Originally posted by KimmSr:
The seeds from Apples need a fairly long period of cold stratification to germinate, ie. held at temperatures below 40 degrees for several weeks.

I know! I once planted apple seeds directly into potting soil, and it germinated!! It took a while, but I got a few to grow. I also have about 8 seeds in a paper towel in the FRIG. since 10/21!! STILL NOTHING GROWING! I REALLY want to grow an apple tree 'plant'!!

Wavy, here is a step-by-step on sprouting the apple seeds.
But I've never gotten any thing to sprout in the fridge...I keep them cold the recommended amount of time & then plant them in pots.
I get so-so germination that way.

As for seed starting soil...I use plain old potting soil. I've never had a major problem using it for either seeds or cuttings.
My problem has generally been taking cuttings at the wrong time or old seeds that have been exposed to light/heat/cold.

Remember, seedlings need air circulation. If you provide lite air circulation, you will not get damping off like Kim SR mentioned.

Circulating air over the seed bed will reduce the moisture level of that media which will reduce the chance of damping off occuring.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74132.html