I will give you all some "MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT SOIL BLOCKERS". First of all, a soil blockers compacts more soil in a cube than just "filling up a tray", actually it will then contain three times the soil in a compressed block than if it were to be loose filled. That is the real benefit. All that compressed soil is room for your roots to grow. Secondly, the video is garbage, but let's get it straight. Space your blocks if you want to air prune and keep them in the block longer. Keep 'em close (factory setting) if they'll be in for a short time and you don't want to water as much. And, cambse, if you can pack your tray with three times as much soil than filling it loose, than WOW! aren't you a genious. But, alas, you are not, as the plastic would break. Third, for those that say soil blockers are too much work would be best to go to Walmart and pickup some more plastic containers to be thrown in the dump in a year or two. Soil Blockers are a process to make your own seed starting pot and soil and seed hole, all in one; OF COURSE IT WILL USE A LITTLE EFFORT! Just wait 'till all your cheap plastic runs out. You'll wish you would've INVESTED in a soil blocker, BECAUSE THEY LAST FOREVER! So, if you're reading this listening to people who complain how expensive they are, do the math, one time investment for a trouble free product, or, year in and year out of the five and dime for a crappy plastic seed starter tray. Fourth, You do not NEED a capillary mat. It may be useful for those who aren't involved with their plants, or for those who have to work all day. Misting is the best, even for those who have a heavy hand on the water wand BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY SELF DRAINING. Fifth, make your own soil blocker with instructions at my site. Sixth, start your seeds as early as you want in soil blocks and harden them off in a senen day period while your soil warms up. don't listen to those who DON'T use soil blocks for transplanting information BECAUSE PROPERLY HARDENED OFF SOIL BLOCKS ALWAYS GROW FASTER, EARLIER, MORE YIELDS, AND HARDIER THAN OTHERS. And finally, Johhny's does NOT sell a potting soil specifically for soil blockers. It may do alright, but it is sterilized, too bad, as it won't be able to inoculate your garden soil with the good stuff. The only company in the world that sells a potting soil for a blocker is my company "Old Farm Boy", and we'll be in every store in a few years. Ask me, I'll give you a FREE SAMPLE. So, after six years and over one million blocks made, I AM THE POTTING BLOCK GURU, and I am here to serve those who want to learn. Here is a link that might be useful: The World's Resource for Soil Block Gardening.

Donna - depending how humid is the air where you live - if the humidity is high - acrilic blanket is OK, if it is low - the eggcrate sitting above the water and your blankie touching the water on the sides would be better - otherwise it dries too fast. Be sure that you soil is light - the recommended 1:1:1 mix or can be even a bit lighter. If you stick wicks in as well - it will help. You move your plant - disrupt the contact - and your plant will dry.Or if your mat dries, the soil shrinks from the bottom. - it will be hard to rewet it. They do not use wicks at the Violet Barn - but they ask visitors not to pick the plants - because of that. I use the acrilic blankets or leftover fleece from Walmart too. Be sure to wet and rinse - or even run it through the laundry before using, sometimes it just refuses to soak water otherwise. It shrinks with time - so when you cut it - add some. It is a nice place for growing algae - so be prepared to soak it with Clorax and rewash it at least every 2 months. But your violets will be happy and grateful. Irina

thanks grizzman! great suggestion that will make the house smell good too! my plan for lighting is that i have some track lights that I'm going to replace with some grow lights. For my first garden its not going to be anything huge this is all an experiment.

I am no expert: but mold is a bad sign...I hope you get a good answer fast.