I know exactly what you're talking about! I had the same challenge with the Jiffy mix this year. The mix should be moist but not soupy. I had to use a spray bottle to keep the Jiffy moist.

Here's an excerpt from one of my earlier posts:

"I tried Jiffy and Miracle Grow seed starting mix. I preferred the Miracle Grow because of the texture. For whatever reason, the Miracle Grow would suck water up better from the tray than the Jiffy (no overhead watering required). The Jiffy mix seemed to be finer, more powdery, and I had to spray from above to fully moisten it."

The seed starting mix needs to be thoroughly saturated before putting it in a container. I mix mine in a bucket using a stick. When nothing is left floating I squeeze the excess water out of the muck and pack the moist potting mix into the starting cells. I've never used peat pots, but I bet soaking them overnight before planting would help results too.

I agree with kwselke that the mix wasn't well enough wetted before putting it in the container. Plus, in this case, it is compounded by the fact that the peat pots wick the moisture out of the soil.

Most all the peat-based soil-less mixes (unless they have a wetting agent added) will need a good 24 hour soak in warm water before using, then mix well to insure even distribution through the mix, squeeze out the excess moisture, and then fill the containers.

Dave

so how do I fix it now that the seeds a re already in the dust? soak it to soup and hope for the best? try and start over?

If the seedlings are in good shape I'd try re-potting in moist mix, after shaking as much dry mix off as possible. If you have time you might want to do a total redo. A wetting agent may help, but I do not know what to recommend. Maybe Dave can help there.

I just put the seeds in last night. i guess I should just dump it all? not sure if I will have enough seeds left if I do that :-(

I just put the seeds in last night.

Then take the tray and set it in a couple of inches of warm water in something like the bathtub. Fill the tub with the warm water and mix in by hand a few drops of dish soap (no anti-bacterial types), just plain dish soap. You don't want suds, just want it dispersed through the water. If you don't have that then a few drops of of liquid fabric softener like Downey works or a few drops of a after-shampoo hair conditioner. They are home-made surfactants (since I doubt you have any commercial ones in the house ;) and will encourage the peat to absorb the water and won't hurt the seeds.

Let it soak overnight and see if it won't suck up enough through the holes in the bottom. If the pots and the soil surface looks wet in the morning it will be ok. If not, let it soak in the water until the surface appears moist. Then remove it from the tub and let it drain so that it doesn't remain TOO wet.

This may cut your germination some so if you have extra seeds and the room plan to start them too. You can always give the extras away.

But for future reference - this isn't the best way to get the soil-less mixes wet - it is just a salvage trick - so next time be sure to first soak the soil-less mix in a large container filled with warm water.

Good luck.

Dave

andyo,

Send me an email if you need more seeds.

Dave, I will give that a try tonight, and let you know how it works.
kwselke, thanks for the offer, I'll let you know, but I should be ok. I started a little too early this year, and my original batch are getting a little big. So I ordered two new types (sungold and black cherry) and planted a bunch of those, along with 2 "backups" of each other type (in case the first set get to big). I should be ok, but I really appreciate the offer, and I'll let you know

Another vote for the spray bottle method. It's what I use. I get it to more of a "fine mist" by adjusting the nozzle then water about 10 sprays per day (for a mid-sized Jiffy pear pot, open topped with peat-based seed starting mix) or 20-25 if it's been promoted to my windowsill/heavy light area.

It worked!
Thank you for your help :-D
I sprayed the tops a couple of times with a mister, left them sitting overnight in a bit of water (with 3 drops of conditioner, probably could have used more, but was conservative), and this morning the water was all gone, and the medium appeared to be appropriately moist :-D
thanks to everyone for the help, no lets hope they germinate

i had an awful time trying to wet my starting mix. i finally found that by adding about 1/2 gal of hot water to a 16 qt bag of mix, sealing the ziplock and shaking, i could wet the whole bag in just a few minutes.

the more you shake, the better it works. the thing about this stuff is that the surface wets easily, but then quickly forms a seal to keep the rest of the stuff from wetting. by shaking it you keep exposing new surface to the water.

you'll get a few lumps that break apart easily. be careful not to pack the mix into your trays too tightly though, because then it never wants to dry out and you'll have the opposite problem.