Frustration with Impatiens

I keep reading about people having success with Impatiens and how they are easy to sow. I am having no luck with them whatsoever so I'm looking for some advice. I have been trying to successfully grow a flat since December with a variety of methods and have had no luck. So far I have tried 4 different flats (of 72 cells each) and each have had their problems.

Set 1 - Used Miracle Grow seed starter mix and moistened completely. Used water and chamomile tea. Put on a heating mat and covered. Under grow lights that touch the top of the plastic cover. 4 of the 72 cells produced a tiny sprout after five weeks.

Set 2 - Used Jiffy seed starter mix, moistened mix with water. Put on heat mat, and under grow lights. About 40 sprouted but then they all developed root rot, drooped over and died. I figured out I left them covered too long, so I added a fan to the mix.

Set 3 - Used Miracle Grow seed starter mix and moistened mix completely with food grade peroxide and water. Put on heat mat and under grow lights. This time I used bigger cells - Just 24 this time. After 3 weeks no sprouts yet.

Set 4 - Seed Starter Mix - water - kept moist under grow lights and heat mat. After 3 weeks a few came out and are still surviving but now that they are bigger they are developing spots on the leaves. I make sure not to water them too much (about once a week) and I keep a fat on low for about four hours in the morning and 4 h ours in the evening. It looks like they may be diseased and are beginning to die.

For each of the flats I am careful to not cover the seeds, I press them into the moist mixture but don't bury them.

The only commonality are the seeds that I am using. They are from Park Sees and are Tempo crystal Hybrid mix. I don't think it could be the batch because I ordered them about a month apart with two different orders.

I'm stumped and frustrated. Any advice?

On a lighter note my petunias look awesome and are blooming! : )

Well, I'm going thru the same thing with my Impatiens Balfourii , but they are just plain not coming up. I'm trying some w/ the baggie method this time.
I got these in a swap tho, not commercial.

shanker34--I think it's possible you've got things a bit too much on the wet side which is going to cause some of the seeds to rot and never come up, and it would explain some of the problems you've had with the few that have sprouted. I don't know if that's all that's going on but I would definitely consider backing off on moisture level and see if that helps.

mjsponies--for your I. balfourii, you might try just scattering them on the ground outside where you want them to grow...I had plants of it once and it reseeded itself VERY prolifically.

Do whatver you want to do to yoru soil and then it dry out compeltley and when you get ready to plant , put your dry soil in yoru containers, plant yoru see d and then just mist the tops of the soil with spray bottle, cover with plastic and dont put on heat mat. Just let sit udner lights. I leave my tray sit on kitchen tabel 24.7 under kitchen light and about three days later they up.

I also just so the seed and then cover with very light layer of vermicultie.

Soon as they pop take the top off and just mist as they need it. Let dry out almost completley betwen watering.

keep tryign, you'll get there : )

Impatients reguire surface sowing, do not cover seed, warm 77F degrees to sprout in 7 to 20 days.

Water the seeding mix from the bottom 2 days before sowing. It will be just the correct moisture after 2 days. After sowing, enclose the container in a ziplock bag. Place in bright light but no sun.

Shanker,
Have you taken the temperature of your soil when on the heating mat and under lights? I killed a bunch of seeds this way. The temperature of the soil was between 85 and 90 degrees F! I learned that with my setup, lights alone bring the temperature up about 10 degrees higher than room temperature. Anyway. Just a thought. Hope you can figure out what's going on. So frustrating!
This probably isn't your problem since your petunias are so happy. Just thought I'd throw it out there as something to consider. Good luck!

I just took the temperature of the soil and it is reading 85 degrees. I took the lids off to let them dry out a bit. However, I looked at the tag and I planted the last bunch on March 10th. I'm not sure if I should ride it out or just pitch them and start over. I unplugged the heating mat, maybe that will help!

Impatient with your impatiens? Sorry couldn't help myself.

I think you are over doing things, they should germinate easily.
To much heat????
To much water???
Buried to deep and get no sun(light).
Try some by soaking over night in water and then put them on a soaked paper towel in a plastic bag. Might work better and quicker for you.

Last Sunday, I started tomatoes, several types of herbs, and pelleted impatiens and coleus seeds. The only things that have not germinated are the pelleted seeds. Coincidence? I think not!

The impatiens seeds I saved the previous year sprouted quickly. I'm going back to that method next year.