Wonderboy, could I have ruined them already? I've had the Rose of Sharon (seed) in a container and bag for almost 2 weeks. The feather reed grass and trumpet creeper for about a week. Also, since I didn't have enough pots, I used milk cartons (cut down of course). Should I put holes in the bottom? No surprise, the dirt has stayed moist and not needed water for the time it was in the bags. But today - as you suggested - I took them out and I found a sunny spot in my attic. I also had them outside for a little while but we get LOTS of heat/humidity/and recently heavy rain here in Northeast USA so I thought it was better to start them inside.
NUT, I am (trying) to grow (from seeds) a Rose of Sharon, Feather Reed Grass, and Trumpet Creeper. I was *told* they were easy to grow from seeds. So far in the 2 weeks I've had the rose of sharon in the container, I've seen no growth, and in the 1 week I've had the feather reed grass and trumpet creeper, I've also seen no growth.
Home made pots are good but always need drainage holes. As you have had them in the pots for such a short time you will probably be OK. It seems you haven't added more water since sowing. I still think that outside is best. even though it might not be ideal in your eyes it is almost certainly going to be better than your attic.
Have they poked their noses above ground yet? If not don't worry because a week or two is still a very short time for some seeds. However, why not start some more in new pots outside. Could you invest in your first seed trays or ask a kind gardening neighbour to let you have some largish used plant pots, say 6 to 8 inches across ( size doesn't really matter anyway). Gardeners always have loads of old pots, and are always lovely people and happy to give pots away to help a new gardener. You will make new friends too, and he or she will be a source of good local advice on what works for them in your conditions. Some garden centres also have old pots they leave out for you to take.
I agree heavy rain may not help but heat is good as is humidity to get things going. And remember we all had to start somewhere, and we old gardeners still have our setbacks, and every season is different. That's the joy of gardening! Keep posting, here to help.
Wonderboy, you are a gem! Thanks for helping this newbie.
I really want to get this right and not having to keep buying seeds and other materials. I used to buy my plants from a gardening center already partially grown but year after year - even with diligence - a good number would die and I just got tired of spending big money buying them so I decided I was going with seeds. Plus, to be honest, I'm really coming to enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor lol. For the first time I grew (some) of my flowers from seeds and most of them look beautiful! The ones I planted around my mailbox (though slow to get going) are so big and colorful now! I KNOW I could not have found this particular flower anywhere around my area already in pots and ready to go. They put my "store bought" flowers to shame. Now I'm hooked!
Do you know anything about growing Rose of Sharon, Feather Reed Grass or Trumpet Creepers? The Feather Reed Grass says to "broadcast on top of soil." I didn't get the jargon per se but I'm taking that to mean "put the seeds on TOP of the soil rather than in the soil?" I worry putting seeds like that outside will be asking the birds, rabbits, etc to eat them.
I read today, in a garden mag that extreme heat can sometimes deter germination, and as you are in a very warm spot you might try to find a relatively cool place , perhaps in a bit of shade/sun. This will still be better than indoors.
I also read that round pots are better than square, as water congregates (if water can congregate) in the corners. A new one on me but perhaps worth trying. Seed trays always have corners!!! So you pays your money and takes your choice.
Thanks, wonderboy. I cheaped out (as well as saw online that you can make containers out of anything) so I used a bunch of coffee cups (the kind you get at a coffee shop, not ceramic) and cut them down a bit and filled them with dirt. I also just used the dirt from my garden rather than getting bagged dirt, the reason being that I figured if they can't grow in the dirt that's in my backyard then it wasn't worth trying. Should I have gotten different dirt - and should I poke holes in the containers? I'm only "misting" the dirt, not drowning them in water so I didn't think they needed drainage.
And thus far - ZERO.
I've now had the Rose of Sharon seed in the dirt for a good 2 (and maybe slightly over) weeks and haven't seen a single thing. I have also had the reed feather grass and trumpet creepers seeds (which I was told were both easy to grow and that the latter - the trumpet creepers - were "aggressive" growers) in the soil for over a week and nothing there either.
Posts
Wonderboy, could I have ruined them already? I've had the Rose of Sharon (seed) in a container and bag for almost 2 weeks. The feather reed grass and trumpet creeper for about a week. Also, since I didn't have enough pots, I used milk cartons (cut down of course). Should I put holes in the bottom? No surprise, the dirt has stayed moist and not needed water for the time it was in the bags. But today - as you suggested - I took them out and I found a sunny spot in my attic. I also had them outside for a little while but we get LOTS of heat/humidity/and recently heavy rain here in Northeast USA so I thought it was better to start them inside.
NUT, I am (trying) to grow (from seeds) a Rose of Sharon, Feather Reed Grass, and Trumpet Creeper. I was *told* they were easy to grow from seeds. So far in the 2 weeks I've had the rose of sharon in the container, I've seen no growth, and in the 1 week I've had the feather reed grass and trumpet creeper, I've also seen no growth.
Home made pots are good but always need drainage holes. As you have had them in the pots for such a short time you will probably be OK. It seems you haven't added more water since sowing. I still think that outside is best. even though it might not be ideal in your eyes it is almost certainly going to be better than your attic.
Have they poked their noses above ground yet? If not don't worry because a week or two is still a very short time for some seeds. However, why not start some more in new pots outside. Could you invest in your first seed trays or ask a kind gardening neighbour to let you have some largish used plant pots, say 6 to 8 inches across ( size doesn't really matter anyway). Gardeners always have loads of old pots, and are always lovely people and happy to give pots away to help a new gardener. You will make new friends too, and he or she will be a source of good local advice on what works for them in your conditions. Some garden centres also have old pots they leave out for you to take.
I agree heavy rain may not help but heat is good as is humidity to get things going. And remember we all had to start somewhere, and we old gardeners still have our setbacks, and every season is different. That's the joy of gardening
! Keep posting, here to help
.
Wonderboy, you are a gem! Thanks for helping this newbie.
I really want to get this right and not having to keep buying seeds and other materials. I used to buy my plants from a gardening center already partially grown but year after year - even with diligence - a good number would die and I just got tired of spending big money buying them so I decided I was going with seeds. Plus, to be honest, I'm really coming to enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor lol. For the first time I grew (some) of my flowers from seeds and most of them look beautiful! The ones I planted around my mailbox (though slow to get going) are so big and colorful now! I KNOW I could not have found this particular flower anywhere around my area already in pots and ready to go. They put my "store bought" flowers to shame. Now I'm hooked!
Do you know anything about growing Rose of Sharon, Feather Reed Grass or Trumpet Creepers? The Feather Reed Grass says to "broadcast on top of soil." I didn't get the jargon per se but I'm taking that to mean "put the seeds on TOP of the soil rather than in the soil?" I worry putting seeds like that outside will be asking the birds, rabbits, etc to eat them.
Thanks!
I read today, in a garden mag that extreme heat can sometimes deter germination, and as you are in a very warm spot you might try to find a relatively cool place , perhaps in a bit of shade/sun. This will still be better than indoors.
I also read that round pots are better than square, as water congregates (if water can congregate
) in the corners. A new one on me but perhaps worth trying. Seed trays always have corners!!! So you pays your money and takes your choice.
Thanks, wonderboy. I cheaped out (as well as saw online that you can make containers out of anything) so I used a bunch of coffee cups (the kind you get at a coffee shop, not ceramic) and cut them down a bit and filled them with dirt. I also just used the dirt from my garden rather than getting bagged dirt, the reason being that I figured if they can't grow in the dirt that's in my backyard then it wasn't worth trying. Should I have gotten different dirt - and should I poke holes in the containers? I'm only "misting" the dirt, not drowning them in water so I didn't think they needed drainage.
And thus far - ZERO.
I've now had the Rose of Sharon seed in the dirt for a good 2 (and maybe slightly over) weeks and haven't seen a single thing. I have also had the reed feather grass and trumpet creepers seeds (which I was told were both easy to grow and that the latter - the trumpet creepers - were "aggressive" growers) in the soil for over a week and nothing there either.