Need Help! (Ammonia smelling soil)

[RastafariMan]

Hello everyone,

I’m currently having some trouble with the soil I just recently planted my seeds into.
The soil is giving off a very strong smell of ammonia which can be smelled from inside the house with the fan on. I believe I overwatered the first day(only time I watered) and that there isn’t enough outflow from the pots. The soil is much dryer now but smells stronger. Will it go away withconstant airflow and no watering or should I just remove the seeds (which haven’t broken the surface yet) and replant into pots with new soil.

Any questions or answers please respond!

 

[novitius]

Hi, I'll take a stab at this. Ammonia smelling soil doesn't sound good at all. Go buy perlite and cloth pots. medium to coarse grade. Pull your beans. Be very gentle and remove them with surrounding soil. dump all your soil into a pile or container. I like to make a volcano shape pile and put the bag of perlite open end down. I'll then back fill the soil and SLOWLY remove the perlite bag. There's tons of dust and stuff associated with perlite, be mindful of eyes, nose and throat. But, it allows your soil to aerate and drain well. You need microbe life to spark and start decomposing stuff. I think.

 

[oldfogey8]

I’d say novitius is correct. Sounds like you do need more air. Found the above on the web for ‘ammonia smelling soil’...

 

[RastafariMan]

I appreciate everyone’s replies and have transferred the somewhat dying seeds (taproots looking brown and skinny on some) into new lighter more airy soil back into same pots but drilled out many holes. Also I lightly sprayed the surface of new soil with hydrogen peroxide/water mixture to bring extra oxygen in. 1Tbspoon H2O2 to 1 cup of purified 6 PH water. I hope they are able to recover from my novice mistakes. I have a question that I hope somebody will/can answer. When the seedling is still below the surface should I have my LEDs on 24 hours per day?

Thanks everyone!

 

[oldfogey8]

I have ‘popped seeds’ in a dark room and also in a lighted tent and saw no difference. I grow in soil too...

 

[novitius]

You're welcome! I'd leave those lights on myself. May as well start strong.

 

[oldfogey8]

Agreed. Less chance of shocking the seedlings if they grow up into a lighted grow area than introducing seedlings into intense light from a dark room...