Seed Germination

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Seeds and Seedlings, Slips and Cuttings

One of the real joys of working with house plants comes when you decide to try your hand at creating plants yourself. The indoor garden that is made up completely of plants bought from a florist or nursery can be wonderfully satisfying, but at the same time it leaves you ... Continue to "Seeds and Seedlings, Slips and Cuttings"

Starting Plants from Seed

Growing plants from seed obviously takes more time and more effort than buying mature plants from the nursery, but it is infinitely more rewarding and a great deal cheaper. Especially with flowering plants which tend to be more expensive than foliage plants the difference is astonishing. It is not unusual ... Continue to "Starting Plants from Seed"

Equipment and Soil

Here again no professional equipment other than pots is necessary although a dibble and a tamper are helpful. Seeds are never sown in the usual potting soil used for full grown plants—it is too rich in nutrients and would "burn out" any seeds sown in it. Until fairly recently home ... Continue to "Equipment and Soil"

Timing and Procedure

In general, the best time to start sowing seed for plants which will reach maturity in the late fall or winter is in the early spring months of March and April. Seeds sown during these months should produce plants that are hardy enough to be set out in the garden ... Continue to "Timing and Procedure"

Seed Germination: Water and Time

When all your seeds are in, give the pots a good soaking from the bottom, leaving them standing in water until the surface of the soil appears damp. Here again, always use water at room temperature. Water that is too cold may slow the germination process. The pots should then ... Continue to "Seed Germination: Water and Time"

Replanting Seedlings

In replanting seedlings (pricking off is the gardening term) you must be extremely careful not to damage the roots of the new plant. A good way of assuring yourself that the plants go undamaged is to use a notched planting stick to prick them off. The soil in the pot ... Continue to "Replanting Seedlings"

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