Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Vermiculite Topping

Greatgardens · February 16, 2018

I've been using horticultural grade vermiculite as a very fine topping for the past several seasons. It really seems to improve things for me. I perhaps end up with the same percent germination, but the germination is more uniform. I don't "bury" my seeds -- just press them lightly into the planting mix and then cover with V.

I use a plastic lid to loosely cover my trays (due to heat build-up if covered tightly). And I believe that the V. also helps maintain moisture. (I also use some V. to "lighten up" my planting mix which is Burpee Organic Seed Starting Mix.) On sale this week at Menards for $2.77/8 qt bag. So yes, judicious use of V. is a good thing, IMO.

@NAN PA 6b: Cinnamon? I'll have to try that. Never heard of it before!

-GG

February 16, 2018	#7
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	I've been using horticultural grade vermiculite as a very fine topping for the past several seasons. It really seems to improve things for me. I perhaps end up with the same percent germination, but the germination is more uniform. I don't "bury" my seeds -- just press them lightly into the planting mix and then cover with V. I use a plastic lid to loosely cover my trays (due to heat build-up if covered tightly). And I believe that the V. also helps maintain moisture. (I also use some V. to "lighten up" my planting mix which is Burpee Organic Seed Starting Mix.) On sale this week at Menards for $2.77/8 qt bag. So yes, judicious use of V. is a good thing, IMO. @NAN PA 6b: Cinnamon? I'll have to try that. Never heard of it before! -GG