was a great video loved that a lot thank you for posting it. Check out my youtube channel if you would like would love to see you subscribe and chat with me about some gardening stuff =) Here is a link that might be useful: TheItalian Garden

You could WS directly into your plastic pots - or - you could create the recycled "greenhouses" that most everyone uses and sow your seeds in them. Then you can just pick and choose from your sprouts and pot them where you want them. I garden exclusively in pots and have been WSing for 6 years now. I've got a bunch of terra cotta pots, but generally don't use them for much of anything; since you're probably going to need more pots (!), you might consider getting some of those foam pots that look like clay. They're quite pretty, lightweight (which is good when you take a notion to start moving things around), and they take the winter weather very well. As for achieving a cottagey feel, using pots, you can get any look your heart desires. One of my favorite shots from last year - all pots; don't know if it qualifies as cottagey, but I really liked the look: And from a few years ago - again all pots: I have a feeling Winter Sowing will work quite well for you! PV

Worth the watch! Very cool about the carbon isotopes being transferred --via fungi-- amongst parent and daughter plants.

nomen, use your judgement regarding how to grow your plants under your conditions and lifestyle. What works for one person doesn't mean it works for another. I get in trouble on this forum when I suggest other methods of potting outdoor plants, especially large container plants. There are other suggestions which include bark which holds some moisture longer than pure gritty mix. Large containers are a challenge because they take a lot of water. Someone growing small plants and plants which do not like to watered often (succulents) are easier to deal with outside. I live in Florida, my large container plants dry out quickly as we have little rain and intense heat. I do use a potting mix which holds moisture longer so I don't have to deal with watering constantly. I use rain barrels and do have to fill large buckets and watering cans to carry to the plants. I do not use our tap water. It has damaged some of my plants and I only use rain water. Florida water is terrible. One thing I use is a time release fertilizer on my large plants. It works. That is something you might consider so you don't have to mix fertilizer. If your tap water is good, you can hose your plants down and they get fed with each watering. I feel large container plants need to looked at in a different way from small, little plants. You have to do what works for yourself and your plants. My suggestion would be to try adding some moisture retaining material to your potting mix so your plants can wait a week or longer. I know I will get criticized for telling you that but it is what I do and it works for me. You need to figure out what works best for you. I understand where you are coming from. I'm a 67 yr old woman who doesn't do well trying to lug 5 gallon containers of water around the year in blistering heat. But I found what works for me. That's what its all about. Trying to find a balance which works for your lifestyle without feeling guilty. Your plants will let you know if they are happy and if they look sad, you'll adjust things. As far as pruning, not so much help from me. Al is the expert. Only bonsai growers really understand the science of proper pruning. As for me, I prune both roots and branches in spring. Unless the plant is in bad shape, I do not do a lot of root pruning, only green pruning. I do not watch the calendar, I watch the plant and its growth. Spring is when I do all my pruning. I've never had a problem. Again, use your judgement. Good luck, Jane