Vermiculite Growing Medium
We no longer offer this, but we absolutely adore our better choice - Coconut Coir.
Vermiculite is a soilless growing medium that holds water amazingly well. It is wonderful medium for growing Grass and Greens, as well as Micro-Greens.
We sell Vermiculite by volume. One Unit = 8 Pints, which is enough for two 10x20 inch Tray crops. Vermiculite is amazingly light stuff.
Before Planting: Thoroughly moisten Vermiculite by spraying it and/or soaking it. To soak Vermiculite: Nest your Growing Tray inside your Drip Tray. Fill your Growing Tray 1/4 - 3/4 full with Vermiculite. (Vermiculite holds water exceedingly well, so you can get by with much less of it. Having more of it in our Heavy Duty Planting Tray will cause less of it to fall through the holes in that tray. Work with it to determine what is best for you. I usually fill the Tray, 1/2 way.) Spray the Vermiculite. When starts to float you have more than enough water (you can stop sooner - and you will, as you gain experience). Let it sit for a couple minutes (it can not sit too long). Gently lift the Growing Tray out of the Drip Tray, while at very close proximity to your sink, or other water receptacle (if growing inside). Set the Tray in your sink. Empty the Drip Tray. Put the Growing Tray back into the Drip Tray. You may - as you empty the Drip Tray - use a strainer to capture any escaped Vermiculite, and return it to the Growing Tray, if you like.
An excellent soilless planting medium, Vermiculite is a mined mineral that is treated with heat which causes it to expand (Learn about Vermiculite). It resembles mica. It is clean, odorless, mold resistant and sterile, and has an almost neutral PH. Vermiculite is on the list of approved planting mediums - in the National Organic Standards. Vermiculite works very very well with liquid fertilizers (like our Kelp) due to it's amazing moisture retention and because it provides a steady release of any added fertilizers. What's more, vermiculite contributes potassium, magnesium and a number of trace elements! Vermiculite is extremely lightweight - one pound equals as much as 14 cups! We use 6 cups (3 pints) for an 10 x 20 inch tray of grass, so each unit/pound is more than enough for 2 full tray crops or 4 half-tray (10 x 10 inch) crops.
It took us almost a decade to find an alternative to soil (I'm a very stubborn sproutguy =;-) and now we have multiple alternatives! A LOT depends on the size of the seeds you are planting - when growing small seeds we generally prefer a finer medium - like Baby Blanket and STG pads but bigger seeds will benefit from Vermiculite. We have grown several trays of grass and all of them taste sweeter and grow fuller blades as compared to Baby Blanket or STG pads. Baby Blanket and STG pads are still the cleanest mediums to work with - and we like them, but to be honest - Vermiculite works better for us. Try them all and decide for yourself! One other thing: Vermiculite holds liquid so well that it keeps your grass growing after you cut it, making a 2nd cutting easier than ever.
FOR USE WITH THESE SEEDS/CROPS
Grass Greens Micro-Greens and any other seed you want to grow into a small plant.
Do not try to re-use Vermiculite. Just compost it and start fresh with your next crop.
Thorough Instructions are given on the detailed pages we have for every seed/mix we sell.
Since we wanted to grow some cat grass mix just in pots, decided to try this and absolutely loved it. The grass grew up great, no mess like with dirt if the pot gets tipped over, nor any mess of water as it had it all absorbed.
The only mistake made, was by hubby who just assumed we needed to water the grass and didn't finger check that it was still plenty moist.. ending up causing the roots to mold and rot.
Seeing you aren't/won't be stocking this anymore, I am curious now to try the coconut coir that you guys are raving on now. Since it looks like we will be trying to keep fresh kitty grass growing all the time as it has saved my plants from their nibbles. (I put their grasses well away from my plants to designate "theirs" from "mine".)
Since we wanted to grow some cat grass mix just in pots, decided to try this and absolutely loved it. The grass grew up great, no mess like with dirt if the pot gets tipped over, nor any mess of water as it had it all absorbed.
The only mistake made, was by hubby who just assumed we needed to water the grass and didn't finger check that it was still plenty moist.. ending up causing the roots to mold and rot.
Seeing you aren't/won't be stocking this anymore, I am curious now to try the coconut coir that you guys are raving on now. Since it looks like we will be trying to keep fresh kitty grass growing all the time as it has saved my plants from their nibbles. (I put their grasses well away from my plants to designate "theirs" from "mine".)
