How to Grow Flowers from Seed

Get seed-starting supplies. Most seeds need similar growing conditions when they're first starting out. When the seeds sprout and grow into plants, they'll have more specific needs in terms of soil, sun, and temperature conditions. To get ready for planting seeds, you'll need the following supplies:

• Seed containers. Each seed will need 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) of space to germinate and take root. You can grow them all together in an open flat, or choose individual seed containers. Try making your own containers out of recycled yogurt cups or egg cartons.
• Seed growing medium. Seeds contain all the nutrients they need to germinate, so there's no need to use a growing medium that has been enriched with nutrients. Don't use potting soil, since it's too dense for fragile new roots to penetrate. Use a mix of vermiculite or perlite and either peat moss, coir, or compost. Nurseries sell bags of seed-starting mix if you don't want to make your own.
• Depending on what you are growing, you may need equipment to provide enough light and heat. Some seeds do much better with a heat mat under the soil, and many require overhead lighting. When considering grow lights, research what how much light a plant requires and how intense the lighting should be.

Sow the seeds. The way you sow your seeds is depending on what type of plant you're growing, so it's necessary to read the seed packet carefully first. Many seeds can be scattered evenly across the surface of the growing medium. Be sure not to place too many seeds in the same growing container, since you don't want them to crowd each other too much.

• Most seeds should be planted twice as deep as they are wide. Some seeds should be planted about ¹⁄₂ to ¹⁄₄ inch (1.3 to 0.6 cm) below the surface of the growing medium. Check your seed pack to make sure you sow the seeds correctly.
• Some seeds do best when they are chilled or soaked before sowing.
• Be sure you're providing the right sunlight conditions for your specific seed species. Most seeds can germinate without light, but they'll need sun as soon as they sprout.
• Most seeds do best with a temperature of about 78 degrees, but some need colder or warmer conditions to germinate.

Keep the seeds moist. Seed growing medium tends to dry out quickly, since there's no soil to hold the water. Be sure to water the seeds consistently, never allowing them to dry out too much.

• You can lightly drape a piece of plastic wrap over the seed trays to help trap in moisture.
• Don't overwater the containers, or the seeds could become waterlogged. They should be moist, but not dripping wet.
• Keep the seedlings healthy. As the seeds sprout into seedlings, you'll see thin green stems emerge from the growing medium. If the containers aren't already placed in a sunny area, be sure to move them to a place with direct sunlight or provide them with grow lights overhead. Keep them moist at all times and make sure the temperature never drops below the recommended level.
  • You can place a heat mat under the seed starting tray to maintain the correct temperature.

Move the seedling container to a covered outdoor area. A few days before you're ready to plant the seedlings, move them to an outdoor shed or garage. Start by giving them an hour outside a day, and increase the amount of time over a week or two. This helps them get used to the outdoor climate before you place them directly in the ground. Without this extra time to acclimate, the shock of the transplant may cause them to suffer.

• If you don't have a covered outdoor area, you can place the seedlings outside and construct a makeshift shelter. Leave them in the sun during the day, and cover them with a cardboard box to protect them from the wind at night.
• You could also match the temperature in the room where the seedlings are kept to the temperature outside.
• Plant the seedlings in the ground. Dig holes in the ground that are roughly the size of your seedling containers. Make sure the holes are spaced far enough apart so that the plants have plenty of room to grow. Carefully lift the seedlings from their containers, gently separate the root balls a bit, and plant them in the holes