Vermiculite in seed trays?

[Gryfon]

Watching Gardener's World on uktv Gardens at the moment and Monty is mixing vermiculite with the compost and then putting another layer of vermiculite on top to stop a crust forming.

So anyone do this? Does it work well? And after you've emptied that seed tray can you reuse the vermiculite/compost mix just as well?

[LostthePlot]

I mix vermiculite with my compost, it seems to make it nicer to work with somehow, but I dont bother with the vermiculte 'lid'.

[Gryfon]

Thanks Seeing as I can't do much at the moment I'm trying to think ahead!

[Nicos]

We started doing this last year as we'd had problems with mould in the propergators. Worked a treat.
Just chucked the old soil into the compost.

[Two_Sheds]

I try not to spend any money if I can help it, so no vermiculite. To stop mould, I put a layer of dry compost on top of the damp. To water I do it from the bottom so the top stays dry

[Protea]

I use vermiculite on nearly all my sowings, the only ones i don't are larger seeds like peas and beans that are a good 1cm below the compost. For smaller seeds i sow onto the compost surface, press to make sure they are in contact and then sprinkle about 0.5cm vermiculite on top. I get excellent germination usually and the compost doesn't dry out so quickly.

I don't bother mixing it in with the compost, but i add gritty sand instead. i rarely use propriatary 'seed' compost, i just use regular multi-purpose or potting compost, so the sand improves the drainage.

[srodders]

I tried the vermiculite 'lid' on a few sowings and concluded that it made no difference at all, so now don't bother. I do mix it in with the compost though, and for those seeds who require covering just use compost (JI seed)

[HappyMouffe]

I've taken to using vermiculite on top of small seeds and it seems to work very well - the seeds seem to have less trouble pushing through.

[rustylady]

I think if you are careful not to compact the surface of the compost (by watering from above etc) you should have no problems with seedlings breaking through. I have tried using vermiculite, (and still sometimes mix with compost for fuchsia cuttings) but generally speaking I manage with just multipurpose or seed compost.

[deb of the wych]

I use it on top and then just then just dampen it with one of those misters for house plants.
deb