Seed Sowing Saturday & Suffering Until Spring!

This morning, I sowed the following seeds:

Rock Rosemallow
Mexican Bird/Pride of Barbados
Gold Star Esperanza
Orange Esperanza
Pink Crepe Myrtle
Bloodflower
Lantana Camara

I sowed them all in used to-go containers w/clear lids (like mini-greenhouses!) in a warm, sunny window. This is a first for me with each of these, so any tips/suggestions/ideas for how long until I may see something would be helpful, as well as any potential sights of problems. I don't have seed heating mats and have to make due with what I have -- mother nature. I will post pictures of any progress as it unfolds.

Fingers crossed ... I am so tired of snow, and we don't usually get much in Raleigh, but this winter has been tough. I need to see some green!

I failed to mention that I did put holes in the containers for drainage (bottom) as well as air (tops).

They should do just fine. I am not familiar with any of those plants, but most seeds take a week or two or can be longer so be patient and good luck. Do post pics when you have something as I have not seen those growing.

I have germinated almost all the BOP seeds I have following LAZLO's instruction to the T. You can click on his garden diary and see it , I would copy and post it here but don't know if that is legal.

Basically you nick the bottom of the seed, soak 2 hrs (I did overnight), bury the seeds half way down in potting soil with pointy side down and top mooning the sun and put in sunny window. This works!

Thank you, Rosy! I'll definitely check Lazlo's diary out.

Here are a couple pictures of progress. I had also planted some hibiscus seeds outside in containers, which I keep on top of my hot tub. I guess they like the heat put off by the cover because they are coming up. I have red and white hardy hib seeds from my grandmother's plants as well as hibiscus coccineus from my own plant.

Here are the white hibs.

The red hibs just starting to sprout.

And the hibiscus coccineus (red) just starting to make their debut.

One sprout of the orange star esperanza (growning indoors in my "makeshift" greenhouse).

Gold star esperanza ... one tiny sprout in the bottom left quarter of the picture.

And lastly, the bloodflower is putting out some sprouts. That's all I have so far, but have seen some movement in my mexican bird of paradise seed tray,so I think whatever is going in there is going to show some signs of life here shortly. :)

Happy gardening everyone! Spring is finally showing her pretty face!

Really neat and I'll check Lazlo's site for the pics.

If you got some of those seeds from your grandmother , they are likely heirlooms and you should keep them going so that strain is not lost---- as so many of our grandmother's varieties have been lost.

I doubt they're anything special. She moved into the house 4 or 5 years ago, and she bought them from a local nursery (likely at Lowes). But her plants were sprouting seeds and she doesn't do anything with them, so I was happy to clean them off for her. :-)

Aah! But they still could be special.
It is good to collect seeds----usually more viable than store bought.

Oh they are/will be special to me! I love pretty, flowering greenery in my yard! :-)