Germination (Scares me)

Hi All!

If you've seen my post in beginner Gardening forum, then you'd probably know that I'm a dumbo at this stuff (so excuse me if my questions are dumbo as well) :D

I sow few seeds a week ago (Dahlia, Clarkia, Amaranthus, and Strawflower) indoors, but none of them have yet shown signs of life it. I'm I doing something wrong or would it take them time to germinate? I read in a forum or article that Dahlia needs to be covered with a plastic sheet and I did so and two days later when I opened it, I saw that they started forming fungus. I immediately cleared them off and punched few holes in the sheet. Now, bye-bye to fungus, but I'm afraid if the seeds would germinate or not.

Moreover I don't keep them outside in sun as I'm not again sure if its okay to keep the in the sun. They light that they get now is from the florescent tube lights (the one that you have in hospitals at US, but here in India its used in homes and are ON most of the times). Are my seeds not getting enough light? Someone help them....

Chandramouli S

I usually start my seed with the coffee filter method. That way I can see what is happening ... After germination I put them in pots in little greenhouses I have. If they are big enough to handle, I transplant them to the garden.

Good luck,
Elsa

Critterologist has written a bunch of articles on seed starting which you might find to be a good starting point. Here's a link to all the ones she's written, some of them are not about seeds but if you scroll down you'll find the seed ones http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/by.php?user=critterologist