>>Almost everything I learn about gardening seems really obvious after tjhe plants beat it into my head for a few years.<<
lol, it is most definitely a continuous learning experience!
I actually generally have pretty good success just using Miracle Grow potting mix for my seed starting, but agree that it is likely not the best medium. The one and only year I tried using an "official" seed starting mix I had terrible germination, so I don't know what was up with that! I've read some of Tapla's container gardening info - he tends to lose me at times with a lot of technical stuff, but I'm going to try experimenting with the bark "fines" and see what happens; you've given me some good points to consider.
And if you ever get some of the frog-zinnia hybrids to reliably reproduce, please send me some!!
