DIY Seed Starting Mix: Recipes and How-to

The reasons for growing your own seedlings are many, and making your own DIY seed starting mix is a good way to reap even more benefits. Starting your own seeds not only allows you to grow a greater diversity of varieties, it also saves money, gives you more control, and is downright fun. If you’re still buying commercial seed starting mixes, now is a great time to try making your own. This article explains the ingredients you’ll need, how to mix up a batch, and even offers a few of my favorite seed starting soil recipes.

There are many different types of growing mediums available to gardeners. General potting soils (also called potting mixes) don’t typically contain any actual topsoil or garden soil. They are soil-less blends of other ingredients, and they often include fertilizers. Which growing medium to choose depends on what you plan to grow. Mixes with larger particles are best for potted perennials, tropical plants, and shrubs. Medium textured mixes are best for annual flowers and vegetables. Cacti and succulents prefer to grow in mixes with a coarse and sandy texture. (You’ll find recipes for making your own homemade versions of all of these soils in this article.)

For seed starting, however, we are looking for different traits. Primarily, we want a growing mix with a finer texture/small particle size, and good drainage and aeration. The fine texture of seed starting mixes is important to ensure germination is easy, even for the smallest of seeds. Potting blends with larger chunks can restrict seed germination.

In addition, growing mediums made for seed starting should contain no fertilizers. No nutrients means no risk of fertilizer burn on tender new roots or