Seed Starting Mix
Vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed
In stock · ships by Canada Post
About this mix
- Mixed for seeds, ready to use from the bag
- Made of: fine coco coir, vermiculite, fine perlite
- One 3 L bag fills about 1–3 pots, no 50 L sacks to store
- No fertilizer, only the components listed
- Shipping $12–$20, free from $60 (details)
- Best for spring sowing, February to May
Product information
| Best for | Vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 3 L (about 0.9 kg packed) |
| Ingredients | Fine coco coir, Vermiculite, Fine perlite |
| Fertilizer | None added |
| Price | $22.00 CAD before tax |
| Shipping | Canada Post, across Canada (Quebec coming soon) |
Seeds need a fine, light mix that stays evenly damp, so tiny first roots can push through easily. Garden soil and regular potting soil are too coarse and heavy, and they often crust over. This mix is fine-textured coco coir with vermiculite and perlite, light enough for the smallest seeds.
Is it right for your plant?
Use it for
- Tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables started indoors
- Herbs like basil and parsley
- Annual and perennial flowers
- Seed trays, cell packs and small pots
- Rooting cuttings
Not for
- Grown houseplants: too fine to stay airy in a large pot for long. Use Aroid Mix.
- Succulents and cacti: holds too much water. Use Succulent & Cactus Mix.
What's inside
| 60% | Fine coco coir: soft and even, easy for roots to push through |
| 20% | Vermiculite: holds moisture so seeds do not dry out |
| 20% | Fine perlite: air for young roots, stops the surface crusting |
The mix takes up water quickly and stays evenly damp. Keep it moist, not wet. A clear lid or plastic wrap over the tray holds humidity until seeds sprout.
How much do I need?
Enter your pot size. We assume a typical pot or cell filled to the top.
When you repot, the root ball takes up part of the pot, so you usually need a bit less. Leftover mix keeps for months in the closed bag.
How to repot
- Pour the mix into a bowl and add warm water slowly until it feels like a wrung-out sponge.
- Fill trays or cells loosely to the top and tap them once to settle. Do not press hard.
- Sow seeds at the depth on the packet. Very fine seeds go on the surface.
- Cover with a clear lid or plastic wrap and keep in a warm place.
- Remove the cover as soon as seedlings appear and give them bright light, ideally a grow light 14–16 hours a day.
- Water from the bottom when the surface starts to look lighter in colour.
- Move seedlings to bigger pots when they have their first true leaves.
Seed Starting Mix: questions
What is the difference between seed starting mix and potting soil?
Seed starting mix is finer and lighter, with no chunks or bark. It stays evenly moist so seeds sprout and tiny roots grow easily.
Is the mix sterile?
It is made from clean, bagged commercial components and contains no garden soil or compost. It is not lab-sterilized.
When should I start seeds indoors in Canada?
Most vegetables are started 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Check the seed packet and your local frost date.
Does the mix contain fertilizer?
No. Seeds carry their own food at first. After the first true leaves appear, use a diluted fertilizer or move seedlings to potting soil.
How many seed cells does one bag fill?
About one and a half standard 72-cell trays, depending on cell size. Use the calculator above for pots.
Compare the mixes
| Orchid | Succulent & Cactus | Aroid | African Violet | Seed Starting | Bonsai | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | Orchids | Succulents & cacti | Monstera & aroids | African violets | Seeds | Bonsai |
| Main ingredient | Medium fir bark | Pumice | Fir bark | Sphagnum peat moss | Fine coco coir | Pumice |
| Bag | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L |
| Price | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 |
