Easy Living Soils
Everyone that enjoys cooking or baking have their own go-to methods and hacks they rely on for success. Growers are no different. There are so many different ways to get to similar results. We are going to focus on an easy and effective way to make a quality living soil seed starting mix on your own. Just like baking a cake. With only a handful of ingredients to get your plants off to a great start.
This mix is ideal for seed starting and an excellent base for creating a biodynamic growing system. Incorporating the least amount of inputs and gaining the maximum benefit. Using nature as your guide to grow great plants.
What is Living Soil?
A healthy living soil is a healthy ecosystem. And a healthy soil ecosystem contains the elements that any other healthy ecosystem has. DIVERSITY. Living soils contain a multitude of beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms, and more. These diverse organisms work synergistically to break down organic matter and nutrients that are made available to plants. They also defend against soil pests and pathogens.
Living Soils are made to be used biodynamically. Re-amended and re-used over multiple growing cycles. Using no-till methods assist in keeping the diversity of your living soil intact. Living soils are complex systems where encouraging and maintaining a biological diversity of beneficial life is key.
This living soil mix is intended to get your plants established quickly, with reduced risk of plant loss or transplant shock. Living soils let your plants gain nutrients and water more efficiently, using less fertilizer and water. This simple, effective soil mix is something that any beginner or master grower can use for awesome results.
There are 4 key components to this living soil mix. As we are just going for a seed germination mix, there are no additional nutrients added to start. And of course you can add to and tweak it to your own preference. We will list these individually, with options for whatever other input alternatives may be more readily available in your area.
How to Create a Living Soil
Peat Moss/Coco Coir (1 Part or 1/2 part each – 40% of mix)
Peat and coco can be used individually or mixed together in equal parts. They are the main ‘bulk’ of the soil, and have good water holding capacity. It is important to water these in well prior to blending and planting. Peat is ‘hydrophobic’, which means it is difficult to wet and sheds off water easily. Where coco is ‘hydrophilic’, which means is can easily absorb water. Blending these two inputs give you a quality base to start with.
Perlite/Pumice/Vermiculite (1 Part – 40% of mix)
We mix roughly equal parts of our ‘base’ peat/coco with one of or a combination of these. Perlite, pumice etc. gives the soil good drainage and aeration. Different regions have different ingredients available. Vermiculite (shown below) is fairly common, and some areas may have something like rice hulls available. The most important thing is to keep the ratio close to the peat mix or slightly less.
Vermicast/Compost (15-20% of mix)
A quality compost is a key factor in this living soil mix. Compost holds a great mix of plant available nutrients in a concentration that will not burn young plants when used in these smaller amounts. There is also an abundance of microbial life in composts that hold other numerous benefits. Just what we’re looking for in a living soil. Studies have shown that vermicast (vermicompost) used in ratios no greater than 20% have many benefits in regards to seed germination and early plant development.
EndoBoost Pro Granular Mycorrhizae (2% of mix – follow application instructions)
Living Soils are an ecosystem. And we want the most healthy, productive, and effective ecosystem to grow great plants. EndoBoost Pro helps create the conditions for that to happen. Mycorrhizal Fungi to expand the root zone. Beneficial Microbes for increased plant performance, soil health and protection. With powerful Plant Biostimulants to feed your soil, and drive plant growth and yields. Amendments for living soil that give you the best results with the least inputs and waste.
How to Mix Your Living Soil
Now that we have identified each individual part of the mix, they can be blended and watered in to complete the process. The simple ratio of ingredients can be measured out to whatever quantity you need. Nothing changes whether you are measuring by the gallon or yard. Home gardeners looking to start their annual vegetable garden, for example, would be best served measuring by the gallon.
For an example, we will mix 5 gallons of soil. Use a tarp, mixing bucket, tray, or wheelbarrow. Whatever you have on hand. Add 2 gallon of peat moss for each 2 gallons of vermiculite, for example. Water well and mix to the consistency of a damp sponge. Estimate soil moisture by squeezing a handful of soil to see a firm consistency with no water actively dripping or flowing from your hand. You would then add up to 20% of quality compost (no more than 1 gallon for this example). Finally adding the EndoBoost Pro Mycorrhizal at the rate of to 2tbsp. per 5 gallons (1tsp. per gallon).
And there you have it! 5 gallons of a great living soil ready for your seeds.
Seed Starting Basics
Now it is time to plant those seeds. Ideally, you have your pre-moistened living soil blend ready to go. Your solo cups, planting cells, or paper pots on hand. And of course the seeds you want to plant. The idea is to get the seeds into an environment where they can sprout and have room to grow. Depending on the plant, you may need to transplant into a larger container before final transplant. Either way, you want to minimize the disturbance to your seedling. Therefore, use a proper sized container so you end up transplanting as few times as possible before the plant finds its home.
You want to make sure that your living soil mix is secure and packed down into the container. Firmly, but not so much that it ends up being a solid block. Remember that we want our beneficial organisms and plants roots to be able to get the access to water and nutrients that they need. An overly compacted soil will more than likely cause problems.
Make sure to follow the directions on your seed packets and plant at the proper depth. Certain plants are more fussy than others for germination. The general rule of thumb is to plant at a depth 2-3 times the width of the seed. Lightly cover the seeds and water in. It is best to mist the plants as opposed to other harsher methods that may dislodge your seeds or damage seedlings.
Boost Your Grow The Natural Way
Keep soil moist, warm, and get the seedlings under supplemental light or a south-facing windowsill when they sprout. Use this mix right through final transplant. Keep your living soil vibrant and productive with waterings of a quality soluble Mycorrhizal Inoculant like EndoBoost Hydro, and follow up with InoBoost Easy Compost Tea in addition to your normal feeding program. Look for increased plant performance, flowering, and yields.
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