If you’re planning to start seeds indoors, a little preplanning and preparation can save you problems later, and maybe a few dollars too.
When I start seedlings indoors I usually use biodegradable pots, make my own pots, or reuse plastic pots that I’ve gotten when I purchased plants.
If I reuse plastic pots I wash them in hot soapy water, and lay them out to dry. If you can catch a warm day, lay them out in the sun.
I also make my own potting soil, or sometimes reuse potting soil I have on hand. You can make your own potting soil by mixing about half regular soil, and half compost. You can also add leaf mold, sand, or composted wood chips to the mix, depending on your soil’s texture.
Just make sure you bake the mixture at around 160`F for at least 30 minutes or so. Spread the soil out into a thin layer on a cookie sheet, or cake pan. Do this to any soil mixtures you make yourself, or potting soil that’s been used before. If you don’t pasteurize the soil by baking it through molds and bacteria from the soil may attack your young seedlings.
I’ll be back with more on starting seedlings indoors.
Image via Stock.xchng
[...] started some tomatoes seeds this weekend. I started them in some plastic and homemade pots indoors. They’ll be residing in my [...]