Supersoil

Telos Rare Bulbs telosrarebulbs@suddenlink.net
Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:32:55 PST
I have to comment on the recommendation for starting Tecophilaea seeds in 
Supersoil.

I used to use Supersoil, and it was a great product, steam sterilized and 
mostly finely ground fir bark.  Good stuff.  Then the company was bought and 
everything changed.  It is no longer sterilized, and I won't say what it 
looks like, since I don't want to get sued.  It sure doesn't look like 
ground fir bark.  I don't use it any more and I would never recommend it, 
even for mature bulbs.

For seed starting I now use a seed starting mix from McConkey.  It is very 
finely ground peat moss with some vermiculite and perlite, plus a wetting 
agent and some dolomite to adjust the pH.  I add more perlite, since for 
some species it is a bit too moisture retentive.  It is very expensive, 
especially with shipping.  For small batches of seed you can make your own 
seed starting mix by buying sphagnum peat moss and grinding it in a food 
processor or blender.  You can add a wetting agent, although it's not really 
necessary for small pots, plus about 30% perlite for bulb seeds, and about a 
quarter teaspoon of dolomitic lime for a quart of mix to adjust the pH.  The 
mix will be sterile, very important if you are sowing precious seed like 
Tecophialaea.

Diana
Telos Rare Bulbs
http://www.telosrarebulbs.com/
http://www.thebulbmaven.typepad.com/ 


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