DaleB’s 2026 grow blog

[DaleB]

Here I go again. Last year was an abject failure, with every seedling dying before I could get them big enough to transplant. This year will be better. For one thing, I tossed all of the coir that I tried to use last year and went with some nice black garden soil mix.

Four six-cell trays as of this morning. One each of Yellow Twist Bud, Perique, Chilean, and Maryland. They’re on a warming mat in the garage for now, but it’s getting nice enough I may start bringing the outside to sit in the sun part time when it’s above the low 70s and not windy.

We’ll see how well this works out. I got a late start, but I think there’s still time.

 

[Anders A]

Here I go again. Last year was an abject failure, with every seedling dying before I could get them big enough to transplant. This year will be better. For one thing, I tossed all of the coir that I tried to use last year and went with some nice black garden soil mix.

Four six-cell trays as of this morning. One each of Yellow Twist Bud, Perique, Chilean, and Maryland. They’re on a warming mat in the garage for now, but it’s getting nice enough I may start bringing the outside to sit in the sun part time when it’s above the low 70s and not windy.

We’ll see how well this works out. I got a late start, but I think there’s still time.

Good luck

 

[Tutu]

Nice! Sure you will succeed this year and have fun during the process!

 

[StoneCarver]

The quality of coir can be all over the place and it always should be considered as nutrient deficient and requiring nutrient supplementation.
When I use coir, I always rinse it real good. Sometimes it can have a lot of salt in it.

 

[DaleB]

The quality of coir can be all over the place and it always should be considered as nutrient deficient and requiring nutrient supplementation.
When I use coir, I always rinse it real good. Sometimes it can have a lot of salt in it.

Mine got thoroughly mixed in with the dirt in our planters, where it could do no or minimal harm. When I have plenty of good old dirt around, as well as my own compost, and ready access to various potting soils if I decide to go that way - I'm not going to bother trying to figure out how to make coir work. Dirt's easy.