I think the Miracle Gro Potting Soil is for indoor container plants and the Garden Soil is for outside, Millet. I think our Lowe's has both, but thanks for pointing that out. I will be running errands after work today, so I'll check out both products. I'm going to mix some Perlite in it for better drainage, and I use Osmocote Plus, which is a new product for them. The NPK is 15-9-12 and it contains the micros (hence the "Plus").

Patty the Miracle gro has fertilizer in it, you shouldn't have to fertilize for a few months at least.

Oh, that's right, forgot about that little plus. Okay. Off to get the Gardening Soil. I might add the perlite, it can't hurt.

I'll show you how I do seedlings tomorrow. I think the biggest thing is to use a deep container so the roots have plenty of room to develop.

Great, looking forward to that!

The reason for expressly using Osmocote's 18-6-12 (6 TO 9 month slow release fertilizer) formula is because that formula is made for seed germination and rooting cuttings. The initial nutrient release rate of 18-6-12 formulation, is controlled by the thickness of the plastic coating surrounding the fertilizer prills. At the current time, all other Osmocote slow release formulations available give a more rapid initial release, including the 19-6-12 which initially releases its nutrients too quickly for seed germination and rooting of cuttings. A cutting of a woody plant, or a seed generally does not initiate any roots for 2 to 3 weeks after sticking the cutting or planting the seed, and thus has little capacity to absorb nutrients. Since 18-6-12 releases very little nutrient at first, and slowly increases it release rate as time passes 18-6-12 more nearly coincides with the root development of the cutting or seedling and stimulates the subsequent growth of nearly all species.

Studies by Hathaway and Whitcomb (University of Oklahoma) show that the addition of Osmocote 18-6-12 plus micros at the time of seeding/rooting increased significantly tree height , number of bud breaks, stem caliper, top weight, and root weight. I am currently growing a Black Twig Lime seedling that was planted by seed on August 26, 2012. The tree is now only 5-months and 12 days old, I just measured the tree this afternoon and it is already 30-1/4 inches tall, has developed 9 side branches that are from 6" to 12" in length, and currently is starting another new flush of growth. - Millet

That's another thing I forgot to mention with my seedlings. I top them at 18-24 inches, which forces branching. Once the new branches harder off, I will top those too to force more branching.

Well. Just looks at my 25 lb. bag of Osmocote Plus. It is 15-9-12, 8-9 month slow release, and it has no Ca in the micros. Very disappointing that I missed this. Will have to use it up, then look for the 18-6-12 formulation. Thank you for the detailed info, Millet. And Laaz, I will definitely top prune my seedling then, to encourage lateral branching.