Jiffy pellets

I have started hosta,blanket flower,rose of sharon, and yucca in jiffy pellets under grow lights. All started on jan 3, and the hosta on jan 6. Nothing is happening! Can these pellets be too old?Help!!!!!

really it's only been a couple of weeks... give them more time. I forget how long hosta takes... but I know the seed need to be fresh. Old seeds don't germinate well. The gaillardia should be coming along any time.

The thing with those jiffy pellets - it's hard to keep the moisture even in them. They dry out quick and get soggy when watered. I only like them for things I'll be planting out in a few weeks. For things that need growing longer I prefer cell-packs or flats. If your seeds don't sprout I'd expect they may have rotted from being too wet.

Don't worry yet though... give them a couple more weeks and I bet you'll see some sprouts.

Thanks poppysue. I should have known a fellow mainiac would know. I grew up in Hampden Maine. I guess I will have to be patient.

Yep, Poppysue's right. Give them some more time. Here's a great site with lots of germination information: http://users.anet.com/~manytimes/page52.htm And here's what it says about your seeds:

Hosta elata, minor, montana, sieboldiana, and ventricosa , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), if no germination in 3-4 wks, move to -4 to +4ºC (24-39ºF) for 2-4 wks, recycle {{Looks like these need a cold period, aka stratification}}

(Your blanket flower) Gaillardia aristata , grandiflora, lorenziana, pulchella , Sow under thin cover at 20ºC (68ºF) in light, germinates in less than two wks

(Your yucca) Yucca baccata, filamentosa, and glauca, Sow at 22-24ºC (71-75ºF), germination in less than 2 weeks {{Seems that they like it warm! Are you giving them any bottom heat? If not, they still may sprout, it'll just take a while longer}}

(Your Rose-of-Sharon) Althaea officinalis , Sow at Max. 5ºC (41ºF), germ. irregular, often several mos.

Good luck!

Wingnut- thanks for the site
=)

Hi,
Hostas can take like what seems forever to come up..
Sugar_fl

Thanks for that site Wingnut. that's got so much info on it!!! :-)