Planting Mix for Seeds and Bulbs

How can I select the best planting mix for starting bulbs and seeds inside?

Most indoor planting mixes will work fine for starting bulbs and seeds inside. Some have fertilizer in the mix and some have extra ingredients to give the mix greater water holding capacity. These mixes have advantages for hanging baskets and tubs. However there is no need to pay extra for them when starting seeds and bulbs because they will be planted in the mix a relatively short time. Excessive fertilizer can actually damage newly germinated seeds.

My favorite mix for seed and bulb starting is half and half sphagnum peat moss and vermiculite. Some full service nurseries and garden stores sell this mixture or a similar mixture also containing perlite. It is very easy to buy the two ingredients separately and mix them yourself. Both ingredients are usually quite dry and water must be added while mixing to get the right moisture consistency. The final mix should be damp like a wrung-out sponge, not soaked or soggy.