I have never has anything to do with soil blockers but I can see how useful they would be for Starting lots of seeds. To save seed raising mix I started seeds in egg cartons. There are just two of us now. 🙏🙏💕💕🌻🌻
If you grab a handful of the soil block mix, it should be wet enough to have some drops of water dripping out of your hand. If your handfull of mix falls apart and won't hold together in a clump, the mixture is too dry.
Starting my first soil blocker today. Using coco coir as the medium. Anxious to see the germination difference between soil blockers and promix soil starter in a win strip tray.
I got the six pack of grow lights ...you recommended. Are those the lights your using in this video? Did you like these lights?. I have a 4ft metal shelving unit....like yours. Did you use 3 light bars per shelf? Ty for information. Karen
JILL! This is absolutely perfect timing because I tried it this week and had some...issues. I'm committed to working it out but there's a bit of a higher learning curve. 😅
Do you cover the soil block after planting with plastic or humidity dome? Are trays placed on heat mats? Are lights on the soil block during germination?
So, the primary use of soil-blocks is for seed germination and for that we just want to use sterile seed-starting mix. Just water; no fertilizer. That's for sprouted seeds. Here's what I do: First I make the micro-20 blocks with SIFTED sterile seed-starting mix, just to get them started. Next, after seeds have sprouted, I make the mini-4 (2") blocks using a mix of garden soil and compost, watered with a little bit of fertilizer. That way, when you up-block into the 2" blocks, the roots are growing into NON-sterile real soil with some mild (diluted) liquid fertilizer. Now as they grow, they get the nutrients they need to grow strong and thrive. Here's MY plan for future experimentation (I haven't tried this yet): For my 2" blocks, instead of using plain water, I want to try using diluted mix of compost-tea and vermicompost-tea, mixed with a little bit of fish emulsion. This dies NOT need a lot of fertilizer. In fact it will need to be diluted. My thinking is, if the soil blocks are saturated with the liquid fertilizer, from the start, they won't need any more in the water after that. That's the experiment I have in mind. I might try diluting some of that LDSPrepper micronutrient mix. I gotta get me some first, tho. CAVEAT: This is ONLY for germinating the small seeds in the micro-20 blocks. IF you're starting bigger seeds, such as pumpkins, squash, zucchinis, melons... peas, beans, etc. you're not going to be using the tiny blocks. You're going to want to use bigger blocks. Right? In that case, please don't use fertilizer in those. Just use your sterile seed-starting mix with water. At most you could use a bit of diluted compost-tea. Compost tea is good stuff and it doesn't burn seedling roots. Basically, a good guideline is: no fertilizer until after germination. Up-blocking time is a good time.
Would you use this system with these trays if you were just growing for your families food? Would you use cheaper ones or stick with bootstrap farmer ones? Could 2 inch pots in the watering trays work?
Are you using the shallow or the deep trays? Or maybe shallow with the mesh and deep for the bottom waterer? Thank you so much for the information. I've been wanting to try this.
Hello Jill, I pause it at five minutes to hopefully catch you while you might be in the comment section… Your water did not look like fresh clean water do you amend the initial water with anything nutrient-wise? Thank you and I just love your videos.
I have been looking into using soil blocks this year and so far you have one of the best videos I have seen , thank you.
The soil blocker has been such a game changer for starting my flower seeds this year!! ❤️
I have never has anything to do with soil blockers but I can see how useful they would be for Starting lots of seeds. To save seed raising mix I started seeds in egg cartons. There are just two of us now. 🙏🙏💕💕🌻🌻
If you grab a handful of the soil block mix, it should be wet enough to have some drops of water dripping out of your hand.
If your handfull of mix falls apart and won't hold together in a clump, the mixture is too dry.
Reminds me of making mud pies as a child.
🤣 exactly
It’s like making mud pies when I was a kid. Love this!
Thank you 🌱🌱
You are so welcome!
Starting my first soil blocker today. Using coco coir as the medium. Anxious to see the germination difference between soil blockers and promix soil starter in a win strip tray.
Never seen these! Thanks 😊
You are so welcome!
Just bought air pruning trays. Would love a video on them!
Coming soon!
I got the six pack of grow lights ...you recommended. Are those the lights your using in this video? Did you like these lights?. I have a 4ft metal shelving unit....like yours. Did you use 3 light bars per shelf? Ty for information. Karen
You are seeing the same lights in the video. We use 2 lights per shelf
JILL! This is absolutely perfect timing because I tried it this week and had some...issues. I'm committed to working it out but there's a bit of a higher learning curve. 😅
You got this!
Do you cover the soil block after planting with plastic or humidity dome? Are trays placed on heat mats? Are lights on the soil block during germination?
These are great questions and I wish they had been addressed.
Do you use the shallow mesh trays, or deep trays, and why?
I mainly use the mesh trays when soil blocking because it’s easier to keep them from falling apart when watering
bootstrap farmer trays are the best
I agree
Thank you for this. I tried soil blocks last year and now I’m pretty sure I didn’t get the soil wet enough.
Where do you find all your cute bibs?
glnk.io/y3221/nlholidaypartnerwhisperingwillowfrm
Use code NLGIFTJILL15 for 15% off
I guess this code expired 🤷🏼♀️
Soil blocks might be my new favorite thing! What about fertilizer? Do you ever use any during the soil blocking stages?
So, the primary use of soil-blocks is for seed germination and for that we just want to use sterile seed-starting mix. Just water; no fertilizer. That's for sprouted seeds.
Here's what I do:
First I make the micro-20 blocks with SIFTED sterile seed-starting mix, just to get them started.
Next, after seeds have sprouted, I make the mini-4 (2") blocks using a mix of garden soil and compost, watered with a little bit of fertilizer. That way, when you up-block into the 2" blocks, the roots are growing into NON-sterile real soil with some mild (diluted) liquid fertilizer. Now as they grow, they get the nutrients they need to grow strong and thrive.
Here's MY plan for future experimentation (I haven't tried this yet):
For my 2" blocks, instead of using plain water, I want to try using diluted mix of compost-tea and vermicompost-tea, mixed with a little bit of fish emulsion. This dies NOT need a lot of fertilizer. In fact it will need to be diluted. My thinking is, if the soil blocks are saturated with the liquid fertilizer, from the start, they won't need any more in the water after that.
That's the experiment I have in mind.
I might try diluting some of that LDSPrepper micronutrient mix. I gotta get me some first, tho.
CAVEAT: This is ONLY for germinating the small seeds in the micro-20 blocks. IF you're starting bigger seeds, such as pumpkins, squash, zucchinis, melons... peas, beans, etc. you're not going to be using the tiny blocks. You're going to want to use bigger blocks. Right? In that case, please don't use fertilizer in those. Just use your sterile seed-starting mix with water. At most you could use a bit of diluted compost-tea. Compost tea is good stuff and it doesn't burn seedling roots.
Basically, a good guideline is: no fertilizer until after germination. Up-blocking time is a good time.
This person knows what he's talking about
great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Do you dump the water from the bottom tray after the blocks wick up the water?
They will soak up all the water
Would you use this system with these trays if you were just growing for your families food? Would you use cheaper ones or stick with bootstrap farmer ones?
Could 2 inch pots in the watering trays work?
I would invest in these trays if they are in your budget and you plan on starting lots of seeds.. They will last forever
What’s the biggest advantages of using the soil blocks?
What is the soil mix that you use?
I go over it in this video
Jill what size rack are you using ?? my trays don't fit when I put them like yours:(
48" wide x 72" tall
Are you using the shallow or the deep trays? Or maybe shallow with the mesh and deep for the bottom waterer? Thank you so much for the information. I've been wanting to try this.
Very cool
Why do you put soil on top of some blocks and not others?
Hello Jill, I pause it at five minutes to hopefully catch you while you might be in the comment section… Your water did not look like fresh clean water do you amend the initial water with anything nutrient-wise? Thank you and I just love your videos.
I suspect she was using collected rain water.
Exactly
Why not just start with the bigger size?
What size are the trays from Bootstrap farmer? I see they have shallow and deep/regular. Thanks!