Free Seed

I got my free seed from AHS. Wondering if it can be too hot to plant them? Our heat index has been 107 or more & the seed combinations are so fantastic I sure don't want to mess up. Thought about putting them in an uncooled bedroom until they germinate. It faces south & have 6' windows so the light is good & it would be easy to keep an even temp. Can put them under a large shade tree outside. Which would be best?

Judy

I would go with the shade tree. They would get the benefit of a breeze and cooler night time temps. I've started seeds inside and outside my greenhouse and the ones outside, with shade did best.
Good luck! I'm not a member of AHS anymore and miss not having access to their seed bank.
Barb

Thanks for your help Barb. Will try that.

Judy

I have only done a few seeds so far but have always started them in the summer inside the house until they germinate. A couple of days after they germinate I've moved them outside into morning sun only for the first 3 or 4 weeks and then moved them into full sun.
Jon

Thanks very much, Jon. Need all the help I can get & everyone is so nice on this forum.

Judy

Incase you didn't succeed and have more seeds left, here is how I germinted Hibiscus seeds in 2 days

I soaked them in hand hot water over night. Then placed them in a damp paper towel and folded it. I put the paper towel in a ziplock sandwich baggie. Closed it to 1" from the end. Blew into it like a balloon then quickly zipped up the last 1". The air will remain if the tracks are closed tight. Place the bag in a warm area. Check the seeds daily and when they match the photo below, carefully plant in sowing soil, grasping with a tweezer.

Thanks much for those sowing directions, Blomma! One thing I read about somewhere was someone using the top of their cable tv box as a "warm area" for seed starting because it's always on/slightly warm. Of course, you don't want a bunch of open water on top of it, but I image a dry tray or plate holding the seeds would be okay.

I'm thinking of starting my hib seeds here soon indoors to give them plenty of time to grow substantially for planting outdoors in the spring. This is my first time doing so though, so any tips/suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks, blomma & jlj. The cable box is a good idea. I have not even tried my seeds yet.
Saving them for my winter project. You could lay the baggie on a pie tin on top of the cable box. Thanks for your suggestions.

Judy

Another spot to place the bagged seeds is the top of the fridge. Mine remain warm all the time on top.

The brugs I have never started from seeds. I imagine that they can be started the same way. I have started Datura seeds that way. Actually 99% of my seeds are started in baggies.

Lilly

I forgot to update this, but I did get some hib seeds to successfully germinate on the cable box, and they're now about 3-4 inches tall! :-)

Congrats!

I am going to soak my this evening. I have never been able to get them to sprout. Wish me luck gardeners. I love DG Gardeners. Always willing to share their wonderful knowledge.

For my hib seeds, I just nicked mine, soaked 'em in warm water overnight, then put them on the moist paper towel, in a ziploc bag (left open with a prop to keep it open, and put it on the cable box. It was only a couple days and I had sprouts.

I just took this picture a minute ago so you can see them as they are now. I'm thinking I need to move them to a larger size but still small pot this weekend. Thoughts anyone?

Also, should I stake them to encourage upright growth and keep them straight?

I don't think you have to stake them. They will grow straight eventually. But it looks like they get a little bit too less light. Is that possible. I can't sow these now without an extra lamp. It gets to dark here this time of year. In front of my window I can start sowing from February.

Jori

I have them in front of a south facing window, so they get mostly-direct sunlight all day (though our days are getting shorter now). They also had the seed tray lid on top of them, which I've taken off because they were growing up to the top and being pressed back down due to not being able to go any higher. That's why I was thinking it was time to move them to a larger growing pot. So far, everything that I've grown in front of this window has either grown/germinated, or rooted (have a couple toad lilies and gardenias that are producing good looking roots). So I think this is my magic window, LOL.