Pam, since our winters are relatively dry anyway, is the drainage issue really a problem here in FL ? I have most of my new plants in just regular potting soil with perlite at the bottom of the pot. It's summer when we get our days of 8in. of rain at once, when it's warm and the plants are growing so not such a headache. Mine will be all in the ground by next summer, in the fast-draining sand of my front bed.
Up north (well, north of us) they get snow that melts suddenly in winter and early spring, creating cold, soggy conditions and I'd figured that's the situation where you really need fantastic drainage and a light airy mix to prevent roots rotting.
