Can i use vermiculite for seedlings and potentially for bonsai mums?

[Mr Bubbles]

I just recently transplated my seedlings that are approx. 1 week old in vermiculite (was in M.G. organic soil and M.G. perlite 25%/75%, just had it worked out well but i dont like it). Will vermiculite suffice till they are ready to go into my organic soil mix?

Also can i just use vermiculite for bonsai mums? and use the needed ferts. etc.

 

[happyherb]

never used it myself but from what i remember ppl were saying it gets soggy and stays that way....maybe that was when mixed with soil? and not straight ?.HH. =]-~

 

[sparkjumper]

Vermiculite is used for water retention in a mix,kind of the opposite of perlite which helps with drainage.If you grow directly in verm. your plants are likely to become waterlogged

 

[Mr Bubbles]

would you recommend me mixing in some organic soil say 1 cup vermiculite per 2 cups of organic soil (compost, dried up bark, bone meal, kelp meal, differient animal manures). cant find ne perlite excpet some M.G. perlite. I rather not.

 

[happyherb]

i think it just turns to mush in the end and then you have bigger probs....what wrong with straight soil?.HH. =]-~

 

[purpledomgoddes]

if vermic used, would water ~once per 5-7 days. no more.

also, a good mix ratio would be ~1vermic:3-4drier medium.

w/ perlite/lava rock/hydroton/pea gravel [dry, non-absorbant mediums] it can be mixed @ around 1:3, or 1:4. (see hempy buckets, etc).

w/ soil, would mix @~1:4-5, and water every 5-7 days. cheap soil moisture meter may come in handy to guage wetness.

hope this helps!

 

[Mr Bubbles]

thanks for all the replies, Its lights off right now and i think ima just gonna do it right and buy some seedling soil (seed starter soil or w/e u call it) and hopefully find some perlite & superthrive. What are some other materials dat does the job like perlite (since i cant find ne except M.G. and scotts brand)? What brand do you guys use, the ppl dat get perlite from HD or Lowes.

Also if the seedlings are about 1 week old should i need a fish fert. 5-1-1? or should i just wait till the colydet (w/e u spell it) starts to turn yellow as i read on some of the post.