How to Use Peat Moss for Seed Starting

These plants are growing in peat moss, sand, pumice, perlite, and charcoal.

I see many people asking this question online and I want to answer them all but I can’t so I thought I should at least post it on here for people to come and find it.

You can definitely use peat moss for seed starting if you do a couple of things. One thing you need to do is cut the peat moss with some kind of drainage element. Peat moss is going to be the element of a seed-starting mix that holds onto water. You need to find something that doesn’t hold much water and can improve the porosity of the mix. This is where people use perlite or pumice. I personally like using pumice because it doesn’t float when watered (it’s heavier than perlite). However, if all you can find is perlite, go ahead and use it.

The mix for using peat moss for seed starting would be 50% peat moss and 50% perlite or pumice. The mix is acidic but vegetables / herbs / flowers don’t seem to mind it. Don’t add any fertilizer at this point because it can delay germination or even cause the seeds to rot. You’re better off using a liquid fertilizer like SUPERthrive Foliage Pro once the seeds have sprouted.

I like to keep my seedlings under grow lights as much as possible before they go out into the garden. This gives them a fighting chance for survival.

So, to answer your question: yes, you can use peat moss for seed starting. You just need follow certain conditions to succeed with it. Mix it 50-50 with perlite or pumice. Add fertilizer after the seeds have sprouted. You should have great results following these methods.