No, not vermiculite, it holds water. I add a little 10-10-10 with the potting soil when I pot them but nothing else except a little milorganite. I was thinking about a little bone meal in the fall to help the roots. Usually I just give everything a spray of Miracle Grow when I do the Hostas in the fall. I think Bob uses a little bone-meal when he plants his. I always forget. I need to go toss some on my dahlias and lilies.