JMO for what it is worth but I have tried various types of capillary matting in the greenhouse on several occasions in the hopes of stabilizing soil moisture levels with less personal attention required. But I always ended up with the same problem - unless very closely monitored it way over-watered most any soil media I tried. At times, to the point of sopping wet pots and drowned plants. But I have never used violet mix as it is unique for those plants where good drainage is mandatory between waterings and I don't grow them. When germinating most flower and vegetable seeds minimal moisture is required to begin with. It should only become an issue after germination when growing on. But even then, even with established plants in pots, careful monitoring is needed. Don't leave the wicking end in a constant supply of water or IME you'll likely soon find sopping wet soil in your pots. Dave

I have used an old polyester blanket cut to size for capillary mats with no problems.

I got my mats from Indoor Gardening Supplies, who sell them as part of an inexpensive kit: you wrap precut mats around one or two layers of eggcrate (plastic grid) and place them inside a plant tray. It's very convenient and works very well; the Perma-Nest trays are rugged and last for years. IGS has kits with or without the trays, and may sell the mat by itself if you call and ask. You can also buy capillary mat in rolls from suppliers like Gardener's Supply and Charley's Greenhouse. I think I'll follow cindra's plan of letting the mats get almost dry between waterings. Thanks!

Judy - are you Judy G. I know - or another Judy? ;-)) They do OK when small, when they mature it will become a problem. The main thing - do not let soil become dense and waterlogged. Mix your AV soil - Cornell mix - with 50% of coarse perlite. Put a good layer of perlite on the bottom of the pot - I put wicks too - use this soil and make the rootball stick out of the pot - so the strep is sitting like a king of the hill. Watch for signs of waterlogging - young leaves develop mushy yellowish edges. Usually it happens with time when the plant develops lots of roots and the soil gets compacted. Seems that there are less problems if you grow them not on the mats - but either in Oyama pots - or even on reservoirs - provided there is a space between bottom of the pot and water - so the roots have an extra air access. I saw superblooming streps our late Anne G. used to grow on top of margarine tubs with wicks hanging through the hole. Seems that they need more alkaline soil - since in the nature they grow on the slopes of limestone hills - so a pinch of dolomite added to the pot is a good idea. But - I think that for another month you are good. It is when you are ready to pot them up you need to do something different. irina