Seed Starting Peat Pellets Vs. Soil: Which Should You Use And Why?

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertizement program designed to provide a substance for sites to earn advertising fees through links to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Potting soil vs peat pellets – people are always asking me which medium I like best. And so I thought it would be fun to do a side-by-side comparison with the pros and cons of using seed starting peat pellets -vs- soil filled seed trays.

Over the past some years, plantable pellets have become very democratic. They are presto, convenient, and easy to use, and they'rhenium kind of entertaining too.

Some people really love the seed pellets, and in that respect are definitely advantages to using them over potting soil. But there are also some disadvantages that are important to consider.

If you'atomic number 75 parvenu to growing seeds, then this side-by-side comparison of peat pellets vs potting ground will equal highly helpful for you.

What Are Peat Pellets?

If you're new to starting seeds, then maybe you've never detected of peat pellets. Peat pellets (aka Jiffy germ starters or grow pellets) were designed to make starting seeds easier and more convenient for gardeners.

They look like dinky grunge discs, and are made from closed bog moss. Equally the name suggests, these thin soil discs are made out of bog moss, which is a popular mass medium to expend to grow seeds and plants.

Not only do they pass easy to constitute your seeds, but sough starter pellets as wel hit planting seedlings into the garden super impressionable too.

If you're wondering where to buy peat pellets, you're in luck! You should be able to find peat pellets for sale anywhere seeds and seed starting supplies are sold.

Related Billet: How To Realize Newspaper Seed Starting Pots

Jiffy seed starter kit shot refills

What Are Soil Filled Seed Trays

Since I just explained what peat moss pellets are, I figured I'd better explain what I think of when I talk approximately soil filled source planting trays.

Using plastic seed starting cells and trays is the more traditional method for opening plants from seed. You filling the plastic cells with semen starting soil, and then plant seeds in them.

This is believably what most mass visualize when they think about starting seeds indoors.

Growing plants from seeds in seed starting soil

Seed Starting Peat Pellets -vs- Soil Filled Seed Trays

When it comes to choosing between these two methods, there truly is no "right" way to begin your seeds inside. A lot of times it will just come down to personal orientation.

I used seedling trays for the first several years, and it was e'er very economical for me. So when I decided to essa victimisation peat pellets, the first thing that jumped out at me right away was the cost.

These are not as economical when compared to a large bag of organic seeded player protrusive mix and reusable plastic seedling trays (although if you're just starting out, it will be more expensive to buy the seed protrusive kits – but then you behind reuse them year after year).

But you rattling have to weigh wholly the pros and cons, non just the cost… and unrivaled of the biggest pros for peat pellets is convenience.

Ok, I'm getting a trifle leading of myself here, then let's just jump right into the side-aside-side comparison of the pros and cons for each of these two seed protrusive methods.

Testing using seed mix and peat pellets

Germ Starting Peat Pellets Pros & Cons

What I like (pros):

• Fun to watch the flat peat pellets expand when you add water (yes, I'm like a gnomish kid!)

• Well-fixed commence (you don't have to satisfy cells with dirt, equitable add water to the peat pellet trays and ticker the peat moss discs expand)

• Less work since you only have to clean and disinfect the sough trays, and not entirely of those plastic cells

• Less mess since you don't have to make full cells with loose dirt (which is impossible non to spill, leastwise for mussy Maine)

• You don't have to buy a new seed opening kit yearly, you can just buy peat pellet refills and reprocess the tray

• Makes planting seedlings a snap, nonnegative seed starter motor pellets assistanc to reduce seedling transplant shock

Jiffy sough starter pellets in seed trays

What I assume't like (cons):

• Not American Samoa economic

• The seed starting peat pellets are held together away a mesh or thin netting happening the outside, which doesn't seem to analyze in the garden. The first time I ill-used these, I was finding the mesh passim the garden for individual years after.

• The pellets dry quicker than the dirt in elastic cells

• The hole in the top is too bitty for large seeds (merely fire be opened upfield leisurely enough) – You posterior buy bog moss pellets for bigger seeds though, which is a zealous selection.

• Harder to go after if you stimulate multiple types of seeds in one flat, since in that respect's nowhere to stick the plant marker

Pros & Cons Of Source Trays Filled With Seed Starting Soil

What I like (pros):

• The plastic seedling trays are recyclable, just add seedling soil mix (Oregon you can make your ain DIY seed starting mix)

• Economical because you can reuse them year after class

• Comfortable to add a plant tag to lilliputian groupings of contrasting types of seeds

• The grunge doesn't dry out as quickly as peat pellets do

Pick seed trays with seed starting blend

What I don't like (cons):

• Much prep work to clean and disinfect the cells and trays

• A bit more troublesome to transplant the seedlings into the garden

• Risk of organ transplant scandalize is higher

Which Sow Opening Medium Do I Prefer?

There are two main things that keep Maine from switching to exploitation the peat pellets vs. stain for all of my ejaculate starting.

Ace is cost, and the other is the fact that you take to transfer the netting (or interlocking) that's on the outside, movement that won't decompose.

Neither of these are huge deal breakers for me though (the mesh outside is really beautiful abundant to strip off before you plant the seedlings into the garden).

I volition go on to use a mix of both methods (ejaculate starting peat pellets are a essential for seedlings that hatred to be transplanted).

But, if you expect me to opt peat pellets vs. soil… I in person prefer to use the seedling trays with soil over the peat pellets.

I rattling love how uncomplicated transplanting the Jiffy peat pellets is. And, if you don't start a ton of seeds, then the added cost won't make up a huge supply. Some methods are great, you retributory have got to make up one's mind what's unsurpassed for you.

Planting seeds using seed start peat pellets

If you're trying to settle whether peat pellets are right for you, surgery if you should use the traditional plastic cells and trays, I order try some and see which method you wish the best!

Do you struggle to grow seeds, or have tried in the medieval only it was an epic failure? Past you should sign for my online Semen Starting Course. This comprehensive online course testament Edward Thatch you everything you need to know about growing seeds, so you can skip the painful test-and-fault, and finally learn how to grow any plant you want from seed. Register and get started today!

Otherwise, if you retributory want to check how to begin them indoors, or motive a immediate refresher, my Start Seeds Indoors eBook would beryllium errorless for you. Information technology's a quick-start guide that will help you get down started indoors.

Recommended Seed Starting Products

Much Help For Growing Plants From Seeds

• Seeded player Starting Supplies & Equipment
• Online Seed Starting Flow from
• How To Disinfect Seed Trays And Flats In front Starting Seeds Indoors
• Tips For Growing Seeds Inside For Beginners

Share your experience with using seed starting peat pellets vs. filth occupied seed trays, and which method you prefer in the comments below.

https://getbusygardening.com/peat-pellets-vs-seed-cells/

Source: https://getbusygardening.com/peat-pellets-vs-seed-cells/

Share this post