Is it ok to use general vegetarian agar as a sowing medium?

[Halloamey]

Hi Nermal, you have to take the liquid, as it contains all the water soluble starch and micronutrients like amino acids, vitamins etc. The solids will have a lot of starch, true, but it will complex and difficult for the plants to absorb and use. So you want only the simple sugars and nutrients that are easily water soluble and absorbed.

I've just got a question regarding your recipe:

This might sound like a bit of a dumb question...but do you keep the liquid or the solid. I ask because the solid would have more starch...am I just overthinking something simple?

[nermal]

Also, your reference to foliar fertilizer for orchids, what does the 20:10:20 racio mean?

(does it show I have no idea about this kind of stuff?)
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[Halloamey]

Hi Nermal ! As you are a new member and I am happy that you are so curious. The 20:20:20 ratio stands for the ratio of nutrients N:P:K (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium respectively) they are principle nutrients supplied by a fertilizer. This is a balanced fertilizer which has equal amounts of all the three elements. Also the number stands for percentage, i.e. the fertilizer contains 20% each of NPK so 10 gm fertilizer will have 2 g N, 2 g P and 2 g K. The remaining 4 g will be contributed by elements like Oxygen O, Hydrogen H and Cardon C since the fertilizers are chemical compounds, salts such as KH2PO4, NH4NO3 etc.

[nermal]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. My phal seeds will be ready in a few weeks so I'm researching as much as I can hoping to give my babies the best start. It's stressful waiting in the meantime! Thanks again.
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[Ted Davis]

Amey...Excelent post...Question; Have you or anyone had any success using beef gelatin instead of agar as a growing substance...? Not new to the process, but wondering if I would be waisting my time and seed pods...Thanks a bunch and greetings from Chiang Rai.