How to Start Native Seeds Indoors
- 1). Fill up containers with potting soil. These containers can be made from milk cartons, disposable aluminum trays, or small plant pots. They need to be 3 inches deep to give space for the roots and have some holes in the bottom for drainage. Potting soil is available at any garden center. It should be sterilized to prevent fungus from developing.
- 2). Moisten the soil thoroughly and turn it over to spread the moisture through the soil mix.
- 3). Press your seeds shallowly into the soil; some seed packets will provide specific instructions for depth. In a large container, space them about 1/2 inch apart; smaller containers should contain only one or two seeds. Overcrowding at this stage isn't a huge problem, since you will thin the seedlings later. This should be done approximately six weeks before the beginning of growing season in your area.
- 4). Keep the pots warm and moist. They should be kept at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above at all times before germinating, and 65 to 75 degrees once seedlings appear. They must have enough water added to the soil to give it the dampness of a recently wrung-out sponge. Before the seeds germinate, covering the pots with plastic wrap is a good way of keeping moisture in. This must be removed as soon as a sprout shows.
- 5). Place the plants in good, strong light once they sprout. The seeds do not need any light, but the young seedlings need a lot. A lamp is a better idea than a windowsill, since windowsills often get cold.
- 6). Add some fertilizer to the soil once the seeds germinate into seedlings. This can be any liquid fertilizer from a garden store, or organic products such as fish meal. In all cases, apply fertilizer at half of the strength recommended on the package, as seedlings are quite fragile.
- 7). Thin out your seedlings by cutting out and removing all but the best specimens, which will then have a better chance to grow.
- 8). Acclimate your plants to outdoor conditions by setting them outside in a sheltered spot for a few hours a day, then 12 hours, then the full 24. Native plants should adjust especially well, but if you see the plant start to wilt it should be brought back inside.
- 9). Plant the plants outdoors on a cloudy day. This will keep their roots and leaves undamaged during the transfer. Move them into prepared holes in the ground while keeping as much dirt as possible around their root ball. Tamp the soil down lightly over the top of the base of the plant, and give them a good watering.