Xeramtheum said:You can order ProMix BX at Ace Hardware here in SC so I imagine you can at the stores in Florida. They also carry various grades of vermiculite as well.

I can buy steak at the Ace Hardware in the little town near us!

Steak? ! ? I think we might need some pictures of that store Natalie.

Karen

I am also in a small town. I buy both vermiculite and perlite online from Greenhouse megastore at 25 & 23 buck per 4cubic ft bag. Don't remember the shipping, but its very reasonable. I am sure I could find it a little cheaper if I drove an hour and a half into the Twin Cities, but between the gas and the time, I think I am better off buying it on line.

http://www.greenhousemegastore...

Karen -- that store you linked to... there is one in Tampa, which is 90 minutes from me.... maybe if we go in for a lunch, i'll see if i can find it. But - true, there is always mail order.

Trish said:Is it still winter sowing when it is 75 outside??

Oh Trish, what a terrible problem to have!

Thursday I'm going in search of vermiculite -- and we do have a hydroponics store (translate: medical marijuana) here, so I will check there! Lowe's and Home Depot are both about 60 miles away, but we do have Menard's -- so that will be my first option, then our local plant nursery, then the hydroponics store... then Amazon!

I'd bet on the hydroponics store as your best bet, especially at this time of year. At least around here, the big box stores aren't geared up for summer sales and gardening stuff in January.

I'd give anything for 75° now. It's currently 15° here.

Karen

I got my vermiculite at the hippy store last year, they will most likely have it.

Oh to be suffering in the 70s...it's 20 with a wind chill of 0

There's ice on the inside of our windows today...sigh... but at least I can winter sow seeds indoors and dream of spring while I'm doing it.

Ouch. {{{wincing for you}}}

I can't really complain about the winter we've had so far this year though; it's been normal and quite pleasant really. Took a break from sowing and enjoyed a nature walk for about two hours yesterday. The paths were difficult, hard on the legs and feet, but it was nice and calm and the sun was shining.

Here are some of the seeds I sowed before I left-

Astrantia major
Codonopsis pilosula
Gentiana alba
Gentiana tibetica
Onosma taurica
Rhexia virginica
Scutellaria sevanensis
Sidalcea malviflora 'Elsie Heugh'
Succisa pratensis
Tricyrtis hirta
Verbesina virginica

From info I gleaned around and about, these all prefer some warm before they head outdoors. Some of these I've tried before, so maybe this time I'll have it right.

Good to know, Chelle. I also got Scutellaria sevanensis. I am having a bit of a problem getting some information on how to sow some of my seeds so I'm going to have to wing it and keep my fingers crossed.

Nice list! I had to look up more than a few .. love the Succisa pratensis!

Me too, Arlene, but when I can't find anything listed for a perennial seed I'm just going by its habits. Early-to-bloom, then sets seed probably wants a warm period first, and late bloomers may be just as well off with a straight winter sow.


For anyone following who wonders about the differences in vermiculite discussed here, I now have pictures to share.

The type I trust for seeds is on the left; the right side is what you'd typically find in abundance in a retail store's garden department.


In this set of images it was very difficult to get the dime to sit on top of the pile (right)...it wanted to sink. Given a bit of jostling, so might our tiniest seeds. Plus, I find that roots will anchor to the larger pieces of the coarse grade which also helps to stabilize the seedling.





Anyway, I'll quit rambling on about it now that I finally have some of the good stuff!

Great demonstration of the difference in vermiculite, Chelle!

Well, I'm really trying hard this year to plant as much as I can. Since I have a big box of flower seeds and only two racks for lights inside I am going to do as much WS as possible. And I need to get it done this weekend while we still are having some cold. I'm just going through the box alphabetically and pulling everything I think I can WS and gonna plant in that order too so I quit wasting so much time trying to figure out which ones to do first!

"I am going to do as much WS as possible"

Oh boy, another one bites the dust! Didn't you learn anything from your daughter? I think Jennifer's head is still spinning from all those sprouts.

Karen

The difference is, I have access to a farm where I can plant them all, plus I intend on selling some plants at market. BUT, I also won't plant as many of each as she did. I'm telling you, I saw firsthand what she did! I won't make that mistake!!! (I hope).

I still remember her photos...
@jvdubb you should post a few photos from your first year WSing...

Karen

Chelle, thanks for those awesome photos! Now I will know what to look for!

I need to see those photos, since I missed them!

You're welcome!