It may be a change, I try not to buy the products with fertilizer mixed in but noticed at the grocery store yesterday they had only the Miracle Gro extended release fertilizer kind and Schultz w/fertilizer - I know the Schultz read '9' months feeding. I wonder how many climates have 9 months of active growth outdoors.

Your seedlings don't need that fertilizer, but if that's what you have and don't want to exchange it, it will be up to you. You might want to buy something different for those things that are notorious for liking poorer soil like santolina, nasturtium, catmint, rock rose, others. Just keep in mind that pushing growth on plants of any age can encourage additional insect and disease issues, that's why many of us often suggest going light on or without the fertilizers.

Please wear gloves when handling it!

Scott's website says miracle gro fertilizes for up to 6 months. makes no mention of 9.

I'm one that is a fan of miracle grow potting mix. Having used it for now into my 8th year WS, I've had near 100% germination every year.

Last years MG potting mix said 6 months as well and worked fine without any problems. 100% of well over 500 containers germinated and where all planted out.

I don't have the space to buy compressed bales of pro mix and keep mixing and soaking to get it ready to sow with. Just too much time consuming that I don't have available to me.

You shouldn't have any problems with the MG mix. It works fine, same as 3 months, germination is great, growth is great and works wonderfully in my container plantings as well.

Fran

I think a compressed bale is a big time saver and money saver. I can buy soil once and have plenty for wintersowing, indoor seed starting, indoor propagation of cuttings, and summer pots without ever having to buy soil again. Unfortunately, I now have trouble finding bales.

I just like to play with dirt and try new things. I currently have a new, unopened, 2.8 cu ft bag of ProMix and one that's almost gone. I also have a giant bag of pine fines and one of piece coir, both open and partly gone. Oh yeah, and a bag of worm castings, one of perlite, and 2 of vermiculite, one fine and one coarse. Like I said, I love dirt, playing in it and experimenting.

Karen

My mistake, it said up to 6 months. I wonder why I came up with 9?

Pro-Mix bales might be better, more efficient, and cheaper in the long run but it's a lot harder to find and Miracle Grow is at any Home Depot (where I was) and less to fuss with since I can just scoop it out of the bag and use as is.

It would be nice to have on hand for starting my veggies inside though. I guess I need to start looking for a bale. I'm going to email the company and ask who around me orders bales from them. How much are we running per bale? I'm so broke right now.

The closest distributor to me is 48 minutes away! So about an hour's drive with traffic just for potting soil?!

That's quite a drive. There's a nursery supply company 9 miles east of where I live that sells to anyone who walks through the door, not just commercial nurseries. Last August I drove there and brought home 3 bales. They've been high and dry inside my garage ever since. I knew I was planning to winter sow again and didn't want to scramble around trying to find potting soil in December/January. The bales were $29.95 each. They stock both Pro-mix and Fafard's.

Hey Karen,

I don't know if you've been there, or if it would be considered a long drive for you. But, I buy my Pro Mix bales and lots of other fun gardening supplies at the Northern KY hydroponics store by CVG, Worm's Way.

I don't do hydroponics but I love the place and they have had everything I have ever wanted pretty much for plant starting and propagation and great organic fertilizers. Just wanted to share in case you have further problems finding bales in SW Ohio.

cheers
-weebay

Has anyone else ever added worm castings to their WS containers?

I am doing that this year. I am mixing in a bit of worm castings with my pro mix. I am excited to see how it turns out. Last year, I had trouble (i.e. forgetting) fertilizing my containers in the spring before I planted out. So I am hoping this will help a bit, once they are off and growing but before they get in the ground.
-weebay

Do you have an Ace Hardware nearby? They ordered me a bale of Pro-mix from their warehouse, and charged me the Internet price of $31.48.

It's the Pro-mix BX, which has micro- and macro-nutrients added. This was useful, because I only get about half the seedlings in the ground when they're small. There are always seedlings still sitting in their WS containers, or potted up to small pots, through the summer/fall/winter.

Weebay, yes, I do go to Worm's Way and I have bought ProMix there. It's probably 25 miles away though, and I do like to give some business to this local nursery, too. The lady there is so nice and she sells me the 2.8 cu ft bag of ProMix for $14, so it's a pretty good deal. Have to support neighborhood businesses. I used to buy ProMix at the W Hills Home Depot, just a few miles from home.

I don't do hydroponics either, but I love Worm's Way. I got my florescent lights there, and I buy my flats and cells there, too, as well as timers, heat mat, organic ferts. The people are great and I love the store. I buy soil components there, too, like perlite, vermiculite, worm castings... great place.

Karen