There are very few things in this world that I love more than flowers. Every year in late winter I get thoroughly excited about that year’s garden and can’t wait for spring. However, there is one thing I do that helps the time till spring’s arrival not seem so long and boring—starting seeds indoors. Sure, it’s easy to go out in spring and buy transplants, but there are limited selections of varieties available. When you start your own plants, the choice of varieties depends on you. It’s actually relatively simple to grow many varieties of flowers and vegetables indoors.
To start healthy plants indoors, be sure to use clean containers and high-quality soil. You can purchase seed-starting and potting mixes or make your own. Never use regular garden soil for starting seeds indoors, as it contains fungi that cause problems such as damping off, or sudden seedling death. You can use flats, cell trays, small pots, or even recycled yogurt containers to grow your seedlings. Be sure the containers have drainage holes. If they don’t, the soil will become waterlogged and will quickly lead to the plants’ demise.
High-quality seeds are also important for success. There are many high-quality seed brands to purchase from. Ask gardening friends and neighbors what has worked best for them and what they recommend.
You can sometimes choose between pelleted and not-pelleted seeds. A pelleted seed is just a seed that has a biodegradable coating on it to make the seed larger and easier to handle, and sometimes to improve germination. Tiny seeds are often pelleted for these reasons. Pelleted seeds both have and have not worked for me in previous years, so I generally go with not-pelleted.
You can soak large seeds in warm water for twelve to twenty-four hours before planting to speed up germination.
HOW TO START SEEDS INDOORS
Most seeds are started in the same way, though some have differing requirements. Larger seeds, unless otherwise noted, are started this way.
Fill your container with soil.
Water your soil thoroughly. No, I didn’t forget the planting step—watering before you plant is helpful to completely wet the soil and prevent seeds from dislodging if you were to water after planting them.
Now you can plant the seeds. Refer to seed packet or other reputable source to see how deep to plant them. After planting the seeds, gently firm the soil, but not so much as to completely compact it. You just want to firm it down gently to achieve good seed-to-soil contact.
Place the container in indirect sunlight. When the seeds come up, place them under artificial lights.
Some seeds require darkness to germinate, while others require light to germinate. Refer to the seed packet or other reputable source to see which growing environment is required for your seeds to sprout.
For seeds that need darkness, sow the seeds normally, then place the container in a dark closet or cupboard. If that is not feasible, place newspaper over the pots to block light but still let in air. Be sure to place the container under artificial lights immediately after the plants come up, for healthy growth.
For seeds that need light to germinate, after filling your container and watering the soil, just sprinkle the seeds on the surface and keep in bright light.
HOW TO CARE FOR SEEDLINGS
Once seedlings come up, there are a few things you need to have on hand to ensure the best success. The main one is a grow light. Though some people might say they are optional, they are required for healthy plant growth. Sure, it’s possible to grow plants indoors without one, but they will be leggy, light-starved, and not as healthy as ones grown under lights. Even if you have a bright, sunny window, it will not be sufficient, as the days in late winter and early spring are short and do not provide enough light for healthy plant growth.
There are many different styles of grow lights to choose from, and my only warning is to steer clear of all grow lights not full-spectrum. Though some people may state otherwise, plants need full-spectrum light to grow well, as that resembles natural sunlight as closely as possible. The size of the grow light does not matter as long as it provides sufficient light for the number of plants you are growing.
Now you may be wondering how long the grow lights should be on. Most plants do well with the lights on between fourteen and sixteen hours a day. If you leave them on longer, the only thing it will do is raise your electric bill. Having them on a timer is helpful.
A heat mat, which provides heat at the bottom of the container, speeds germination and is helpful but not required. I have never had one, and my plants have done just fine. However, if you invest in them, they will boost your plants’ success.
Proper moisture is also very crucial to prevent seedling death. Too wet, and the seedlings damp off and die; too dry, and the seedlings wilt, shrivel up, and again, die. It is better to have drier soil than wet. Dry, wilted seedlings can be revived IF they receive water soon enough.
A good way to water is to set the whole container in a shallow tray of water. After thirty minutes or less, the soil will have soaked up the water it needs through the drainage holes. You can tell this for sure by looking at the surface of the soil. It has soaked up its fill if the soil looks and feels moist. At this point, remove the container from the pan and allow any excess to drain out. Repeat this process whenever the soil looks and feels dry again. Never leave a container standing in water for more than an hour.
Temperature also plays a huge role in your growing success. To germinate most seeds, the temperature should be 70°-75° F., and most plants then grow well in temperatures between 65° and 75° F. However, some plants need cooler or warmer temperatures to thrive. First determine the best temperature for growing your plants, then try to keep it consistent.
If you follow these instructions carefully, you should have beautiful transplants for your garden by spring. I wish you the best success!