What's the best medium to use when potting up seedlings?

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upallnightagain Jonesboro, GA(Zone 8a) Apr 21, 2012

I know this question MUST have been answered a million times here, but in my searches I come up with vegetable gardening over and over and not so much in the category of flower seedlings. Is it the same? I have TWO seventy something flats of seed starter cells (one jiffy and one burpee...burpee won btw) and now need to pot up to get them some additional room to grow before being put in the ground. I have 4" degradable pots, trays to put 'em in and lights set up ready to grow 'em (courtesy of Home Depot and the Hubs) now what do I put in the pots?? Is it as simple as Miracle Grow potting mix? Or do I need to make a custom mix? With all these lives at stake I don't want to mess it all up now!
For the record, I have seedlings of: Bee Balm & Daisies in one flat and Dahlias and Zinnias in the other flat, about equal number of all four. All have (OK, 90%) their second set of true leaves, so I need to get them out of these cells quick! Any help or suggestions on the mix or any other tips in general are greatly appreciated~

Oh and one more thing.....In all that vegetable reading, I saw folks talking about planting seedlings with the nurse leaves buried (tomatoes especially) is this something I should also do for these flowering plants? Thanks a bunch!

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Cearbhaill Russell, KY(Zone 6b) Apr 22, 2012

I don't put anything in straight potting soil right out of the bag- I always mix in some perlite to ensure good drainage. If they are moisture loving plants I use vermiculite as well and if they are going to be in pots for an extended time I use water retention crystals.

As far as the plants forming adventitious roots, I would take a moment to research each species you have and see if it is recommended to bury them more deeply. Just google "Monarda didyma+adventitious roots" as that is pretty much a species by species thing- some will benefit and some will die if you bury the crown.
If your seedlings were grown close enough to their light source they should be compact enough that this is not necessary.

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upallnightagain Jonesboro, GA(Zone 8a) Apr 22, 2012

Thanks for the info Cearbhaill~ I've heard it said that gardening ain't rocket science, but it sure is SOME kinda serious science based on all the soil types, amendments,additives and so on that I pored over at the garden center today! I I managed to get one flat potted up today, hopefully the second tomorrow (ooops, today I mean). Yay for progress!

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