Awesome! It's fun to do.

I spent some time today washing my containers, so I'm all ready to sow a batch tomorrow.

I think I'll do the same!

I always forget about coming here and was a few pages behind.

with the HOS, i've used a shape knife and done the 'tear apart' methods.

Can we talk potting soil...

I recall Karen uses a big bale type, not MG
I've just googled Pro-Mix, but wow, it's expensive... but with my crap sand soil down here, i can try to improve it with some of the mix also.

what does everyone use?

I do have a lil vermiculite, but will probably need more.

I use moisture control MG in the bottom of my jug and promix on top. I bought my promix when there was a sale at Menards this summer and I scored some broken bales at Home Depot for half price.

I like promix, expensive but I've been using it forever it seems. I've never seen at my home depot or lowes here, only the garden centers.

when i googled it, it showed walmart... though i've never thought to look for it there... but then, maybe that is internet only; I did not dig that deep looking. When on the Pro-Mix site, i entered my zip and it said no stores in my area -- and that was within 30 miles.

I used to use ProMix exclusively, and you're right Terese, I used the compressed bales. I liked it, except that it was so hard to wet, and if it dried out, hard to re-wet. But sometimes I've used Fafard, and last year and this year I'm using Sunshine Mix #4. I don't grow as much as I used to, and I'm old and decrepit and have trouble carrying those bales, so I haven't bought the compressed bales for the past few years.
http://wormsway.com/en/SAM930D

Around here the big box stores only carry Miracle Grow, not any of the professional potting mixes. I buy my mix at a local hydroponic store. If you try those, you probably will find a good selection.

Another option: go to a reputable nursery, ask what mix they use for growing their own seeds and cuttings. They might sell you a bag of that. That's how I bought my Pro Mix for a few years, and my Fafard mix a few more years...

Karen

One clerk at a fancy, pricy nursery took pity on me after I had asked her similar money-saving questions over a period of months. She directed me to a local kind-of-wholesaler for nursery and farm supplies.

Joy!

They had bales "like the Pro-Mix fast-draining extra-open" mix, but cheaper. Like $31 for 3.8 cu ft compressed, instead of $38. Still pricy.

I paid 38 for mine...googled wal-mart and home depot neither carry it in my area.

You can trust the indoor-hydroponic-hippy stores to have The Good Stuff.

That's where I get it

I think I saw a local Hydroponic store.... thanks for all the input.

I found out from my Dad that hydroponic stores are also a good place to buy pots for next to nothing. Well, the store he was in was a pot growing supply store, with hydroponic in the name. Gallon pots were only 25 cents each, or less, and 4 inch pots were only around 8 cents each. Since pot is now legal next door in Washington, I need to check there for pots and potting soil. Just need to get up the nerve to walk in the door first.

The one near me is called the "indoor" garden store...lots of things for sale...great for organic stuff that would be more at the nursery.

Yes, I'm the only old lady with white hair in the store. The rest of the customers are young guys.

The compressed bales of ProMix are over $50 there
http://www.wormsway.com/en/soi...

Karen

when i lived in IL, there was a hydro store about 10 min from my home... they had really neat stuff there, yes, i'd get pots and flats with 7" domes, etc. That is also where i'd get Thrive, which i love.

Terese, what is Thrive? Never heard of it.

http://www.superthrive.com/

I have used to for transplant shock and in my plant tonics that I'd water with. -- It's like a vitamin solution for plants.
But great for not getting the transplant shock.

OH.. did find an organic gardening - Hydro store 2 towns over... about a 15-20 min ride.

Thanks for the link! Don't know why I didn't think to look it up myself. I use something like that, but with a different name. Works great! My latest obsession is seaweed fertilizer, and it seems like it does just as good a job at preventing transplant shock.