maybe i missed it.. but i would think many perennials for z5 need a cold dormancy.. and bringing them indoors for winter.. and treating them like houseplants may not work ... but then that makes me think about using houseplants outdoors in summer .. in other words... think outside your box ... but the most important part of that.. would be hardening them off to sunshine ... when moving them outdoors ... and dont rule out highly variegated plants .. color can be had in leaves.. and those can last all season ... who needs those foo flowers .. maybe the houseplant mavens in that forum could add some ideas .... and finally .. the most important thing in a pot.. is the media .. not the plants ... especially in a pot this small and shallow .... ken

Yes, that is what it appears to be. Thanks!

@floral_uk I probably did read the label when I bought the seeds. First time grow from seeds so did not really pay attention. Bought other seeds too, but they did not sprout. So thought this might be weeds. @wantonamara: wow, they indeed have those? I was half joking when I said tri.. quad... @windberry, thanks for the tips. That's what I will do. Wait for the flowers see if I like them and then let it reseeds. It is a long periods from seeds. Talking about instant gratification...:) thanks all!

The typical symptoms of cold damage are drooping, curled, shriveled, discolored or dry, brown foliage. Contorted growth of new leaves - the most tender and vunerable portion of the plant - would be extremely atypical! Those would most often appear shrivled or discolored, not contorted. And we've already determined based on location that cold damage is highly unlikely, however you believe it may be manifested. And I have no idea why you would assume that these plants were purchased as aphid infested. Aphid populations can come and go extremely rapidly, as is evidenced by the OP claiming to see no sign of them on his plants currently. The same thing can happen in a nursery setting (although they may also treat to control) but the distorted foliage will persist untll removed.