Greetings No that I almost killed my first crop of babies it might be a good idea to ask what you guys use in the cups for the new seedlings..... Thanks!!
I'm sure there are several options, but as you've found out the hard way, it's tough telling what a mix has in it, and how it might be too much for little babies. Sooo... IMHO, start with something that has hardly/no feed at all, so that you control exactly what goes in it. The couple times I grew in soil, I used the same mix I used for my veggie garden. I use equal parts of vermiculite (perlite would work too), peat moss, and compost. The only thing that would have any nutes at all would be the compost, and it's not much at all. It works for my veggies, and it worked for my MJ. Like I said, the way I see it, better safe than sorry, and go with something that has virtually nothing in it, than take a gamble just pulling random shit out of a bag. GTWT :XXhippylove:
What I do is get a bucket or container and put some of my potting soil in it (I use Roots Organics Formula 707 but Fox Farms of any other commercially available potting soil will work) and I mix in an equal part seed starter mix (Like Jiffy Seed Starter available at Lowes or Home Depot). The Seed starter mix is mostly a peat product with some vermiculite or perlite added. It has basically no nutrients in it and it has a light texture that allows more drainage and air flow through the medium. When mixed 50% with the potting soil you are basically diluting the Potting Soil down from being so strong with nutes and lightening the mix up a bit more for easier root development. This has always worked well for me whether it be for veggies or ganja. I never fry a seedling and they tend to do very well with the smaller amount of nutes once you have diluted it. Once they have a few sets of leaves and a bit of a root system developed they can be transplanted into bigger pots filled with your favorite potting mix. Simple, easy, inexpensive and effective.
After several mishaps and extensive reading here at GK, I have started using rockwool or starter cubes and a dome to get my seedlings/clones rooted well before transplanting into a solo cup with only peat humus and a little pea gravel in the bottom(optional) and water only (no nutes). After rooting, I can lightly rinse the soil off the roots and go hydro or plant in soil.Ive found the humus to be safe and effective for tender young ladies:kidding:
Seedlings need nothing. Plain peat based soil mix (NOTHING FORTIFIED OR CONTAINING FERTS), rockwool cubes, or, peat pucks. Peat pucks have a tendency to damp off, meaning they retain lots of moisture and the seedling will often rot or wilt at the stem. Watch the moisture very closely with pucks. Cheap, work well, available everywhere. Rock wool, when moved to soil, has the tendency to retain moisture and give the fresh roots a rough time. Under water rather than over water the first week or so after moving the cubes to the veg pots. Cheap, works awesome, availability a bit limited. Dirt in a cup (ok, peat based soil mix). It works, it's easy, it's cheap. Watch the watering, make sure you cut or burn drain holes at the bottom of your cup. Cheap cheap, works well, available everywhere, needs cups or container.
To gain experience and confidence, the first time around keep it simple. Get a bag of seed starter soil and use that. Water with half tap water and half distilled till you begin to reach veggie stage. I use seed starter soil sold at most stores with large doubled styrofoam cups. Water ph adjusted rain or tap/distilled. The fancy homemade soils come into play at veggie stage.
