lisianthus seeds

Anyone have any tricks for starting lisianthus seeds?
_Mara

My best advice is: Don't sow many more than you're needing. Their germination rate is very high. I have sown about a hundred of each color I wanted and now I have about a hundred sprouts of each. If you have looked at the seeds yet, they are very tiny. So are the sprouts.
I explained the method I use here:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/479410/
Hope that helps.
Prism

I work for a wholesale cut flower grower who specializes in lisianthus, he never buys seed because it takes too long for them to grow big enough to do anything with-he always buys plants and we grow them in the greenhouse where the weather,water, etc is controlled. They sure are goegeous when they bloom!

btailoring is right, they do take a long time to flower, about 4-6 months from seed, so if you're going to grow them from seed, get started. : )
That's why I started mine already.
You don't have to wait if you buy plants, tho.
If you already have seed, go for it! It's fun anyway. If you don't have seed already, I have some extra for a SASE if you would like some. Email me if you do.
Do good, in whatever you decide.
Prism

Thanks for the info -
I already bought a pack of seeds from Park's - I think it's the echo mix. From what I had read, it seemed like Lisianthus had a very low germination rate, but I'll definately use your method, Prism! I'm going to start them this coming week. It's ok if it takes a really long time to get them to grow - it makes spring feel closer if I get some plants started! :)
Mara

Prism - a quick question:
when you water with the hydrogen peroxide mixture, are there drainage holes in the foam that you use?
Thanks,
Mara

No, Mara, not in the foam, because it's really just 'til they germinate. So they don't stay there very long. When I put them in the cell packs they have drainage holes. I just picked 85 more out of the sand today. I decided to wait for a couple more days to get them out. You can only take so much of that microscopic stuff at one sitting! LOL
I should have learned from last year not to sow soooo many. But why learn from your mistakes? It's too much fun to see them sprout.
I know what you mean, just to see something growing makes spring seem closer.
Oh, be careful with the roots when they get a little bigger. (When you pot them up from the cell pack.) I read they don't like their roots disturbed. Last year I put them in peat pots. Don't know if it's that crucial but it's something to consider.
Pam

I think I got one!!!!! I planted the seeds last Friday, and I think I see about 3 TINY sprouts starting to emerge! The seedpack that I bought from Park's was supposed to have 50 pelleted seeds, but there was probably about 15-20, and the rest were completely pulverized... so I'm waiting to see how many pop up before I request a new packet.

Prism, when you transfer them from your germination container, what do you put them in? I feel like if I took them out of the sand and put them in even a small flat pack, they would completely damp-off. I can't believe how small they are!
-Mara

Congratulations, Mara!
They are tiny aren't they? Microscopic, I call 'em. : )
I actually put 5 of them in a cell (I use 9 cell packs). I use a soiless mix of 1 part each vermiculite, perlite, & fine spaghnum peat moss. You can buy a soilless mix, but I mix my own. I recently started putting a little less of the perlite because it is a little large for the lisianthus. I buy very large bags of each at our local farmers co-op. The last vermiculite I purchased is really nice & fine. If you have a Home Depot or Lowe's near you, I think they have seed starting mix that is soilless. Wal Mart probably has it, too. The main thing to remember about the soilless mix is that there are no nutrients in it. You will want to give them some 1/2 strength fertilizer after they get there true leaves. Using the soilless mix, I believe also helps deter damping off because it is sterile.
Don't be scared, Mara. You can leave them in their container a few more days if you want to. I was so tired of getting the little babies out, I left them a little longer and they are fine.
Do you have the plastic domes to put over the flat. That help keep them frm drying out.
Have fun!