PRODUCE MANY MORE BEAUTIFUL PLANTS. HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT
WORK FOR ME:
 | ALWAYS SOW SEEDS IN A GOOD POTTING SOIL MIX (MIRACLE | |
| GRO, FOR EXAMPLE), OR A MIXTURE OF EQUAL PARTS OF PEAT MOSS AND PERLITE. ALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM RETAILERS IN THE LAWN & GARDEN DEPARTMENT. SOW SEEDS ACCORDING TO THEIR PACKAGE DIRECTIONS. |
| PEAT POTS (ABOUT 2”) WORK WELL BECAUSE THEY CAN BE | |
| PLANTED OUTSIDE WHEN READY WITHOUT DISTURBING THE ROOTS. I HAVE ALSO USED DISPOSABLE PLASTIC DRINKING CUPS WITH HOLES POKED IN THE BOTTOM FOR DRAINAGE. THEY WORK WELL, ESPECIALLY THE CLEAR PLASTIC “COCkTAIL” CUPS. |
| I ALWAYS USE LUKEWARM WATER TO PROVIDE MOISTURE. | |
| UNTIL SEEDS EMERGE AND SEEDLINGS ARE STURDY, I ALWAYS BOTTOM WATER (SET SEED POTS IN A FLAT PAN THAT HAS WATER IN THE BOTTOM AND LET THE MOISTURE “WICK” UP INTO THE SOIL WITHOUT DISTURBING THE SEEDS). YOU CAN ALSO MIST THE TOP OF THE SOIL IF NEEDED. |
| AFTER SEED POTS HAVE BEEN PREPARED, PLACE IN A LOCATION | |
| THAT WILL STAY SOMEWHAT WARM. I HAVE PUT THEM IN WINDOW SILLS, A SMALL TABLE PLACED BY A SUNNY WINDOW, AND EVEN ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR (SOUNDS SILLY BUT IT PROVIDES GOOD BOTTOM WARMTH). I HAVE HEARD OF PUTTING THE PREPARED SEED POTS IN A ZIPLOCK BAG TO HELP RETAIN MOISTURE. IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD METHOD, BUT I HAVE NOT TRIED IT PERSONALLY. |
| YOU CAN SOW 2 OR 3 SEEDS PER POT TO ENSURE YOU GET A | |
| GOOD PLANT IN EACH. IF ALL EMERGE, CUT THE WEAKLING TO PROMOTE BETTER GROWTH OF THE STRONG PLANT. |
| WHEN SEEDS EMERGE, THE FIRST TWO LEAVES ARE WHAT THEY | |
| REFER TO AS “SEED LEAVES”. DO NOT PLANT OUTSIDE UNTIL THE WEATHER PERMITS AND THE PLANT HAS AT LEAST TWO SETS OF TRUE LEAVES (OTHER THAN SEED LEAVES). |
| ALWAYS USE WELL DRAINING SOIL OR POTTING SOIL IN THE | |
| PLANTING HOLE OF NEW PLANTS. THIS HELPS THE PLANT DEVELOP A STRONG ROOT SYSTEM. |
| SEEDS CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY DIRECT SOWED OUTDOORS. | |
| EASIER, BUT NOT AS HIGH GERMINATION RATE, DUE TO FACTORS LIKE SOIL TEMP FLUCTUATION AND CRITTERS. SOW A FEW EXTRA SEEDS AND KEEP LIGHTLY MOIST FOR BEST SUCCESS. |
THIS IS INFORMATION THAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME THROUGH
THE YEARS OF TRYING, FAILING, SUCCEEDING, AND LEARNING AS I
GO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE RESULTS, BUT I THINK IT WILL, AT THE
VERY LEAST, GET YOU ON YOUR WAY TO DISCOVERING WHAT WORKS
BEST FOR YOU. THERE IS SO MUCH ENJOYMENT WITH STARTING
FLOWERS FROM SEEDS – WATCHING YOUR “BABIES” GROW EVERY
DAY! IF ONE THING DOES NOT WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSE BUT
DON’T GIVE UP. YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOY THE
EXPERIENCE!
IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR ANYTHING THAT I CAN HELP
YOU WITH, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT:
linda@flower-angelnursery.com
GOOD LUCK AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOUR PLANTS TURN OUT!
LINDA
