Use a potting soil that is soiless & well drained.

I use plain old SuperSoil brand potting soil, not just for transplanting but to start my seeds as well. I've never had germination or damping off problems. The soilless mixes where I live are outrageously expensive. I'm still thanking the old hippie guy who saw me in the garden center with a bag of it in my cart and told me not to waste my money.

Here is a link that might be useful: my blog

You will not be able to find a sterilized potting soil(and you don't need it)just buy a good brand, not the cheapest, which should be all you need. As for the shop lights, make sure your seedlings are very close to the bulbs, like about 2 inches. Be careful not to keep the mix too wet. I prefer to water by setting the containers in a couple of inches of water and letting the water wick up the mix. Do not leave the pots in the water, after the surface starts to look shiny, take the pots out of the water and don't water again until the mix looks dry and feels dry down to the first knuckle of your finger. Damping off disease is caused by too much water, or heat, and not enough air circulation. Al

Yes, the cheap potting soil around me is nothing but wood chips. You don't want that. Make sure it's got good, fine texture. If I'm not familiar with the brand, I'm one of those pesky people who punches a hole in the corner of the bag to check it out before I buy it. (shhhh)

I have always used Miracle Grow organic potting soil. I'm sure someone will chime in and say its evil, but its always worked well for me.

The stuff I used this year is called hyponex or something like that and it is really heavy and it really pulls away from the edges of the pots when it starts to dry. I really wish I had spent the money for a more suitable product. It seems like something a little fluffier would be better. I use the soil less bags for starting my seeds....I bet if I mixed the two together, it would be about right.

Here is a link that might be useful: my garden blog

Hey, Aliweed, love your blog! That's a beautiful garden you've got. I'm a sucker for garden pictures, heh!

Hyponex is surely the worse potting soil available. It fools you as it is a product of Scotts which also makes several other much better brands, for more money of course. Hyponex should be labeled as suitable for bog plants only. Al

I use the cheapest potting soil I can find, but I also buy pearlite and peatmoss and mix it about 1/3 (less pearlite) each. It ends up cheaper than the "good" potting soil and works well for me.

For my subsequent plantings I mixed the remaining hyponex with a bag of peat based seed starting mix. The result has been tolerable, but I won't be buying it again. Lesson learned :)

Loribee: Thanks for the nice comment about my blog. I have checked yours out and it is wonderful. I love pictures too! I used to live in a warmer climate and I miss those early springs. It is an exercise in patience here in Iowa.

Here is a link that might be useful: my zone 5 gardening blog

I bought a bag of Miracle Gro last year that was a lot of wood chips and sticks. I called them and they even told me that they add sticks to their potting soil, I found a few small sticks in the seed starting mix also. I thought it was supposed to be a good brand.

I do have a large bag of peat moss left from planting a tree a few years ago. Can I mix either the Miracle Gro or the peat moss with other things to use as container potting soil for my herbs once they go outside? I hate having that stuff go to waste if I can use it. Is it better to make your own potting soil by mixing products together?