Propagating Seeds

It really is that easy!
Just a little TLC and you can grow plants like these too. There are some things you will need and the rest is really pretty easy. I will give you a list of the things you will need and how to start seeds indoors.

1. Lighting is number one. Without good lighting your plants will grow tall and leggy and will eventually fall over, wither and die. You don't need special grow lights. You only need a simple fluorescent workshop light that holds two light bulbs; a cool light and a warm light. You can get them at any home and garden store . You can hang two of these units off each shelf.

2. You need some place to store your plant flats.  I bought this metal shelving unit at Lowe's. They have them at other places. I wanted white.:) This  is a 4 shelf unit. (Not including the top shelf) Each shelf holds 4 flats of plants. That is a total of 16 flats! The measurements are 47 1/2 " wide, 72" tall and 18" deep. I keep mine in my washroom. It is perfect to start plants because it gets warm and stays humid and then when the seeds are up, I can crack the window and keep it really cool, which helps harden off the plants as the grow.
                                         3.  You will need some trays that will hold your pony packs, pony packs, a clear top for your trays, a small water piture, Miracle grow fertilizer, your seeds,  a spray bottle, and a seed starting medium. I like to use peat moss mixed with a good top soil, on a ratio of 2 to 1, with some perlite mixed in. It is cheaper to mix your own, as small bags of seed starting mix is quite expensive.

Completely fill your pony packs in the trays until the are right to the top, as they will compact as they are watered. Plant two seeds in each cell.
Water them well and cover them with the tray tops until all the seeds sprout. Then you can remove the covers. When they have their second set of leaves they can be transplanted. If you don't want to transplant your seedlings, you can cut the weakest one off at the dirt level.  Make sure your lights are just above your seedlings and raise them as the plants grow.

                                                    Fertilize once a week. Keep your soil moist but not soggy. I use a spray                                             bottle to keep the soil moist while the covers are on and before the                                                   seeds sprout, so as not to wash out the seeds. Don't spray the fertilizer on the tender leaves. It will burn them.

Some plants will need to be repotted to larger pots when they get bigger, such as tomatoes. I like to use large cottage cheese containers. Just punch some drainage holes in the bottom.and you have a pot!

I start my seeds 6 weeks before planting them. One week before planting time I take them out on my deck and let them "harden off". They get a couple of hours of morning light and get used to being outdoors.



The fun begins!! Planting them all. :(  Really not my favorite part.

But once they are planted...it is pure joy watching them grow and fill my garden.

Coleus, Impatients, Zinnias, Dusty miller,
Money plant, Forget Me Not's, Poppies....

are just a few........of my favorites.