In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
General Schvantzkoph wrote:


My details - I never use the plastic tops when growing indoors. I add a
small amount of peat moss to my seedlings also (Rumored to help keep
mold and wilt down, I lost my sources to this rumor). I am using a
miracle grow seed starting mixture (I know I shouldn't). I do not use
any heat pads. I have nine south side oversized windows, each with a
heat register under the windows. Ceiling fans in every room for air
circulation. I have a cheap T-5 grow light on each of the 9 TV tray
tables. Two 72 cell trays on each table. 2 x 9 x 72 = 1296 plants!!!!

The plastic cover was the reason I'm giving the Jiffy a try. One of my
cats ate a few of the sprouts that I have in peat pots, I have lots of
spares on the wet plates so I replaced them and covered them with glad
wrap to discourage the cats (tomatoes are poisonous to cats so it's not
good for the cats as well as for the seedlings).

Year before last, I had mice. Last year I sealed the tray cover on with
book binder clamps. This year I have appreciably larger plants, but the
pride seems to have done their work, no problems.

The cover also holds in the humidity, and heat, which helps with the
germination. If not using prepackaged peat pots, be sure to sterilize
soil at 200°F for 30 min. to avoid mold (damping off), and having to
start all over again 2 - 3 weeks later.

Hmmm...
Are you putting your seed trays outside in the open or indoors?
I germinate inside.

Every time I used any clear plastic covers indoors, I get white looking
mold on the seed starting soil a few days later.
Yeah, damping-off.
Indoor humidity where I
live runs around 50%. It rains allot during April and May in Michigan. I
use small fans with the covers off the trays to keep the mold away.
With the hot pad and the cover on, I get a lot of condensation, on the
cover. No problem.
I wonder if location makes a difference?
Move to California and see ;O)

One other topic: How do you sterilize your soil?
I use an equal amount of water to soil and pour the boiling water over
the soil. I have heard from others that sterilizing soil in an indoor
oven stinks to high heaven! Do you use an outdoor grill or open pit?
Small electric toaster oven, inside. Usually use something like Gardner
& Bloome Potting Soil, but the stuff from Home Despot should work too.
Gives off a little earthy smell, which dissipates quickly. Making stock
from soup bones smells worse. If I stunk up the place, the little woman
would hang me by my, uh, . . . toes.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[...}
One other topic: How do you sterilize your soil?
I use an equal amount of water to soil and pour the boiling water over
the soil. I have heard from others that sterilizing soil in an indoor
oven stinks to high heaven! Do you use an outdoor grill or open pit?
Small electric toaster oven, inside. Usually use something like Gardner
& Bloome Potting Soil, but the stuff from Home Despot should work too.
Gives off a little earthy smell, which dissipates quickly. Making stock
from soup bones smells worse. If I stunk up the place, the little woman
would hang me by my, uh, . . . toes.
Hmmm...
I have no space for a toaster oven The big oven for soil, no way.
Counter space limited: Coffee pot, Blender, Stand Mixer, Food Processor,
Food Saver, Butcher knife Block and Compost Crock. Under cabinet:
Microwave over Oven, Small DVD player and an XM/Sirius radio.

For now, boiling water method seems to work.

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[...}
One other topic: How do you sterilize your soil?
I use an equal amount of water to soil and pour the boiling water over
the soil. I have heard from others that sterilizing soil in an indoor
oven stinks to high heaven! Do you use an outdoor grill or open pit?
Small electric toaster oven, inside. Usually use something like Gardner
& Bloome Potting Soil, but the stuff from Home Despot should work too.
Gives off a little earthy smell, which dissipates quickly. Making stock
from soup bones smells worse. If I stunk up the place, the little woman
would hang me by my, uh, . . . toes.
Hmmm...
I have no space for a toaster oven The big oven for soil, no way.
Counter space limited: Coffee pot, Blender, Stand Mixer, Food Processor,
Food Saver, Butcher knife Block and Compost Crock. Under cabinet:
Microwave over Oven, Small DVD player and an XM/Sirius radio.

For now, boiling water method seems to work.

Good luck with that. Let me know how it works out.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[...}
One other topic: How do you sterilize your soil?
I use an equal amount of water to soil and pour the boiling water over
the soil. I have heard from others that sterilizing soil in an indoor
oven stinks to high heaven! Do you use an outdoor grill or open pit?
Small electric toaster oven, inside. Usually use something like Gardner
& Bloome Potting Soil, but the stuff from Home Despot should work too.
Gives off a little earthy smell, which dissipates quickly. Making stock
from soup bones smells worse. If I stunk up the place, the little woman
would hang me by my, uh, . . . toes.
Hmmm...
I have no space for a toaster oven The big oven for soil, no way.
Counter space limited: Coffee pot, Blender, Stand Mixer, Food Processor,
Food Saver, Butcher knife Block and Compost Crock. Under cabinet:
Microwave over Oven, Small DVD player and an XM/Sirius radio.

For now, boiling water method seems to work.

Good luck with that. Let me know how it works out.

I use the boiling water method during the changing of house plant soils.
Works good enough for me, no problems so far.

For seed starting kits, I do not have mold problems with tops off and my
ceiling fans running. However, I purchase my seed starting soils from
the local nursery and I presume already sterilized. My home soil is not
the best mostly clay. So I have no problem with buying good soil and
compost that goes into my garden. Someday I will make my own seedling
soil and use your method of sterilizing the soil.

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[...}
One other topic: How do you sterilize your soil?
I use an equal amount of water to soil and pour the boiling water
over
the soil. I have heard from others that sterilizing soil in an indoor
oven stinks to high heaven! Do you use an outdoor grill or open pit?
Small electric toaster oven, inside. Usually use something like Gardner
& Bloome Potting Soil, but the stuff from Home Despot should work too.
Gives off a little earthy smell, which dissipates quickly. Making stock
from soup bones smells worse. If I stunk up the place, the little woman
would hang me by my, uh, . . . toes.
Hmmm...
I have no space for a toaster oven The big oven for soil, no way.
Counter space limited: Coffee pot, Blender, Stand Mixer, Food Processor,
Food Saver, Butcher knife Block and Compost Crock. Under cabinet:
Microwave over Oven, Small DVD player and an XM/Sirius radio.

For now, boiling water method seems to work.

Good luck with that. Let me know how it works out.

I use the boiling water method during the changing of house plant soils.
Works good enough for me, no problems so far.

For seed starting kits, I do not have mold problems with tops off and my
ceiling fans running. However, I purchase my seed starting soils from
the local nursery and I presume already sterilized.
If that presmption was true, I wouldn't need to sterilize my germination
soils. The peat starter would be sterilized, because they only have one
function. Except for germination, potting soil needn't be sterilized, it
would just be an added cost to the producer.
My home soil is not
the best mostly clay. So I have no problem with buying good soil and
compost that goes into my garden. Someday I will make my own seedling
soil and use your method of sterilizing the soil.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[..}

Every time I used any clear plastic covers indoors, I get white looking
mold on the seed starting soil a few days later.
Yeah, damping-off.

By the word "Yeah", you do develop mold on your seedling soil also?
If so, why still use the covers? The mold can't be good for plants?

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

In article
,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

snip[..}

Every time I used any clear plastic covers indoors, I get white looking
mold on the seed starting soil a few days later.
Yeah, damping-off.

By the word "Yeah", you do develop mold on your seedling soil also?
Only if I don't sterilize the soil. If I sterilize the soil, I have no
problem with damping off.
If so, why still use the covers? The mold can't be good for plants?

"Kills them dead", so after waiting for a week for germination, and then
spending 2 weeks watching your babies get eaten alive by mold, you get
to start all over again, hoping that if they survive, you won't fry them
when you leave them outside to harden off with the tray cover on.
Gardening can teach anyone humility.

Confidence is sterilizing the soil. 200°F (93°C) for 30 min. Otherwise
go back to "Kills them dead".
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html