Are you talking to me or the OP? I don't own an ice pick and don't think it would be thick enough and very tedious to heat up plus if it's too small diameter, many more holes. Might be fine for vents though. Smaller holes, less fumes maybe. I like my woodburning tool, has just the right tip. Anyway, I found out yesterday some containers had iced on the bottom, moved them. So I will need to start burning a few holes low in the sides so they can drain if prolonged. Hadn't thought of that, been thawing in the daytime and freezing up again at night. Once all the snow is melted off and sidewalk clear, shouldn't be a problem unless it snows or ices again. Drain better on the sidewalk but have some still in snow. So thanks to whomever put me onto that. Whatever works for individual people is the way to go.

It will turn into a brick when placed in pots.... not recommended.....

My sister? Garden? Oh no, that's out of the question My sister has the Victory Garden idea. She won't be happy unless, by some miracle, my yard looks like the gardens at Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, she'll never be the one to help with the work or cost of such a project. Her fear of anything legless, multi-legged or otherwise not human, precludes her venturing outdoors beyond the scary interlude between the driveway and the Cavalier. At one point, there was a brief glimmer of interest when I planted the rose of sharon hedge. While I was digging she asked how she could help. Before I could say anything though, a carpenter bee decided to fly up and say "Hi!". She ran back into the house describing the yard as "too dangerous". That was the end of that. As hilarious as that is and even though she does speak her mind quite often, I really don't mind my sister's aversion to anything brown and crumbly. We're just two different people. After all, she decorates like Martha Stewart. (Which explains her intense interest in keeping everything neat.) Before her, I didn't know what Roman Shades were. Now I love them in my room. I on the other hand, hate being cooped up in the house. 90% of my time is spent outdoors when I'm not sleeping eating or crashing on the couch for prime-time TV. So... what do I really care what the garage looks like? Buuuut.... The Golden Rule dictates that I be nice to her. After all, I wouldn't want her messing up my garden.

missy, I don't think I'd go to the expense or the trouble of something like the 'gritty mix' highlighted at the container forum for winter sowing. Just get a good quality potting medium/mix, you aren't going to be growing long term in it. You do want a light mix that will provide good aeration without compacting while still retaining some moisture. If I'm not familiar with the brands and am at a box store, hopefully there is a broken bag and I can do a handful, squeeze test. Peat or ground bark based are fine....I'd only ditto the 'avoid Hyponex'. I can't get ProMix here, but a local garden supply mixes up the 'Cornell recipe' and bags it for us. I use it a lot. Gardner and Bloome is another local potting medium that's nice. I think the Miracle Grow is available everywhere and while I don't care for it for evergreens/long term container planting, it's been fine when I've winter sown with it too.