|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 21, 2020 9:23:09 GMT -5
I used up my Seed Starter last year and because we live in an apartment now, with limited storage space, I figured I would buy more right about now. But of course, many of us are under Restrictions. Only Essential services are allowed to be open. So my Son gave me a bag of Sta-Green Lawn Soil to repot some houseplants in. It says on the label that it has "Starter Fertilizer"?? whatever that may be? The Specs online at Lowe's say that it's Organic, for use on lawns, not for use in flowerbeds or vegetable gardens. It is made from Recycled Forest Wood products. Am I correct when I say that it's not for use with flowers or veggies because it doesn't contain enough fertilizer for them? NPK is .02 .03 .03 so the chances of it burning anything is what, Nil? What about Toxicity?? What to do, what to do?
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 21, 2020 10:01:46 GMT -5
I don't think there's enough fertilizer in there to burn your seedlings. I am not sure why they say it is not for flowers or veggies.
Looking at the reviews, there were a number of complaints about it being full of wood chips/mulch. You probably need to sift it before use, especially if you're going to be sowing small seeds.
Under the circumstances, it sounds like your other realistic option is to try to order some seed starting mix online - you can still get deliveries, right?
|
|
|
Post by carolyn on Mar 21, 2020 10:05:39 GMT -5
what is sta green lawn soil? if it is soil I would NOT use this to start seeds in unless you sterilize the soil in your oven before using it to start seeds. can you order any seeds starter from amazon or even if a grocery store who does online ordering might have it in stock and it can be part of a grocery order?
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 21, 2020 10:23:17 GMT -5
Sterilizing it is a great point, carolyn. I should have thought of that.
|
|
|
Post by spike on Mar 21, 2020 11:36:15 GMT -5
Amazon? There is lots of starter stuff there.
|
|
|
Post by pondgardener on Mar 21, 2020 12:08:33 GMT -5
If you have a Lowes, they should have starter seed mix in their seeds for sale area. I would not use anything marked "soil" to start seeds inside, nor would I use potting mix. For seed starting, I would want a sterile, very light product. And as some others mentioned, Amazon surely has seed starter mix and Lowes/Home Depot offers it online as well.
But after posting, I looked at Lowes online and it shows it is unavailable, so I am not sure if there is some other restriction in play here.
|
|
|
Post by ladymarmalade on Mar 21, 2020 12:41:50 GMT -5
I would use it and I wouldn't even think twice about it. I would use it for seed starting, and then I would use it for potting up the seedlings. Sometimes you do what you gotta do, and since you already have it on hand, I would go for it.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 21, 2020 13:01:53 GMT -5
I don't think there's enough fertilizer in there to burn your seedlings. I am not sure why they say it is not for flowers or veggies. Looking at the reviews, there were a number of complaints about it being full of wood chips/mulch. You probably need to sift it before use, especially if you're going to be sowing small seeds. Under the circumstances, it sounds like your other realistic option is to try to order some seed starting mix online - you can still get deliveries, right? It's not big chunks, it's pretty fine actually. I'm only doing a few herbs and maybe 6 tomatoes. Deliveries are a pain here. We are in a Condo apartment. The door buzzer works through a landline phone which I haven't had in over 5 years. I'm not going to the expense of getting another landline to answer the door once every 6 months. I just found the few pots (Promix and all) that I used last year hiding behind my citrus trees in the solarium. I'll stir that up and reuse it! Keep the lawn mix for repotting houseplants. Thanks Everyone!
|
|
|
Post by mgulfcoastguy on Mar 21, 2020 13:15:15 GMT -5
I would be concerned about if the wood shavings were from treated wood. Treated wood shouldn't be used to make raised beds least the copper and arsenic leach into the soil and thus into the vegetables.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 21, 2020 13:45:47 GMT -5
I would be concerned about if the wood shavings were from treated wood. Treated wood shouldn't be used to make raised beds least the copper and arsenic leach into the soil and thus into the vegetables. Yep, that's the feedback I was looking for. I just couldn't find the words Thanks mgulfcoastguy, I'll stick with last years Pro Mix and keep this stuff for houseplants that I don't dine on!
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Mar 22, 2020 8:08:21 GMT -5
Before there were starter mixes, garden soil was the only thing for starting seeds. However, it was always supposed to be sterilized by baking first. Just think of all the volunteers that come up in the garden. The soil must be good for something!
Being based on wood is no problem. If it says "forest woods", not going to find any treated lumber in it. Wood is the carbon needed for compositing. If there are no chunks, it was either very small particles to start with or pulverized after composting. No different than peat or coir.
I like the NPK value. Reason why it is not recommended for flower pots is because it would be highly soluble for instant use. That's important to seedlings. It's only available for a short time and quickly used up by the fast-growing seedlings. Use it!
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Mar 22, 2020 11:31:11 GMT -5
My personal experiment proved to me to leave the seed starter stuff alone and use the big , cheaper bags of regular soilless mix to start seeds. That with slow release fertilizer will do fine, but stay away from the water storing crystal mix.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 24, 2020 20:12:06 GMT -5
Thanks paquebot, I will mix it with the used starter 😁
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 24, 2020 20:15:17 GMT -5
paulf, that's what I used to use but I have no place to garden anymore so it would take me 20 years to use it up. Besides the Provincial Government has shut down all businesses except Essential services. I'm not going shopping
|
|