Diatomaceous Earth as a seed starting medium

[RayR]

Originally Posted by DK2021

Working my way through this very long thread and decided to jump to the end to ask if anyone has used this specific product: EP Minerals "Floor Dry"


https://www.grainger.com/product/EP-...sorbent-191W88


The tech sheet (link on above page) states that the pH is 6.5. I had seen a few earlier posts mentioning pH being too high but this is slightly acidic so I think (?) it could work for seed starting.


Any advise would be welcome. I usually just use commercial germinating medium for starting seed. Would love to try a DE medium if it reduces damping off/fungus but I also don't want to waste precious seed.



BTW Grainger lists 3 DE-based sorbents (not counting one that is "scented"):
https://www.grainger.com/category/sa...&filters=attrs

Haven't been here in a while.


As far as PH, it's going to vary, you could get some that is 6.5 or up in the 7's. The DE I have tested here anyway seem to be in the 7's. It never presented a problem for the germination stage anyway, which is my main use, Actually growing seedlings in pure DE can be a problem with some plant types if the PH is in the high 7's. I create mixes with DE,Coco or peat,and compost or worm castings that I've grown seedlings out to the potting up stage. I like to mess around like that to see what works and doesn't, but I've got a good PH meter so I can fine tune the PH of the final mix.