Linda, you are on the right track. I use a mix of seed raising mix, perlite vermiculite and cocopeat for starting seed and often put a layer of granite grit on top. It works a treat and presently I have the most fabulous seedlings of Lilium growing in this medium I have ever had. I follow this with up foliar sprays of seaweed/superboost on a fortnightly basis. I stopped using peat moss ages ago and use coco peat which is readily available in our hardware stores. You can buy it with or without fertliser added. I also like the larger sized vermiculite and I have halved the amount of perlite I use. I do not use insecticides unless it is necessary and I find that is not often, maybe for a few aphids if they are around and then I use pyretherum which works fine. The granite grit does not set hard on the top of the pots and works for moisture retention and keeps the snails away. Sometimes I even add it tp the mix. Linda, there is no perfect mix. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have used many mixes over the years and change the quantities of ingredients often, to suit what I grow. Obviously I don't have your problem with gnats and other beasties and I don't need to grow anything under lights. If you keep your seedlings strong and healthy they are not prone to getting diseases and problems if they are healthy. I provide mine with filtered sunlight and a good air flow. I think growers often tend to overfertilise and use too many sprays. Often this is not necessary and I think it weakens your seedlings. I would almost cry if I had to throw away a dozen pots of seedlings. What a waste! Anyway, I'm off to the garden plot now, no more time to chat. Good growing. regards, Bill Richardson, West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia ixia@dcsi.net.au Ixia Website: http://www.angelfire.com/ri/ixia/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Foulis" <plantlady@beautifulblooms.ab.ca> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 5:58 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] fungus gnats and seed starting > Thank you all for your responses regarding the granite grit. > > As for seed starting mixes, I'm always on the lookout for new and improved > methods. I start seeds year round, when one only has an average of 112 days > frost free.... I garden indoors a lot. > I started off using a mix of 1-1-1, peat-vermiculite-perlite. Over the > years I've reduced it to half and half of peat and vermiculite. Needless > to say, I'm still looking for the ideal mix. > With the perlite I found that it surfaces, and algae will grow on it easily. > Now that problem was solved by eliminating the perlite, however it creates > other problems. My mix is less porous. I switched to a larger grade of > vermiculite. > > I have gnat problems every year and I'm convinced that they comes in with > the peat. I'm extremely careful about cleanliness. This year is the worst > it has ever been. I'm almost debating throwing out about a dozen trays of > seed due to this problem. > > Insecticides of any sort have to be carefully researched in my house prior > to use. I have allergies and we also have a parrot. I liked vectobac, the > active ingredient being Bacillus thruringiensis israelensis, very effective > and environmentally friendly. However I can not seem to find it anymore? > I'm currently trying a product called SM-90, made by Nutrilife, which > claims - 'Nutrilife's SM-90 is liquid magic for your plants. Made from plant > extracts such as corriander and canola oil, SM-90 can be used in the root > zone as a shield against pathogens, fungal gnat larvae, and root aphids and > as a foliar spray against spider mites. Safe enough to use regularly in > hydroponic reservoirs, SM-90 can act as a good method to promoting healthy > roots.' > Is it working? Some days I think I'm ahead of the game, other days I think > they are winning. Sticky strips are everywhere. > > Is there something that I can replace the peat with? I love the idea of > using straight granite grit as I'm pretty sure that will eliminate my gnat > problems. However once the seedling starts to grow I have to put it back > into a soil or soil-less mix? > > Still at the drawing board! and becoming one with the fungus gnats! > > Linda Foulis > Okotoks, AB > Canada > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >