suggestions for annuals I can bring indoors during winter

14 years ago

I am new to growing plants from seed but am interested in direct seeding something in a planter if that is possible.

Here is the context. This past fall I brought some geraniums and fuscia indoors for the winter. I have put them in some large planters that I have placed on the floor indoors for winter. I don't have a cool basement so I am growing them near a large eastern window with some fluorescent lighting to supplement the light. Some of them have died but most look reasonably healthy.

I was wanting to add some more plants to the planters and wonder about direct seeding something indoors during the winter that I could put outside in spring and then I could take them all indoors again next fall.

Any seed suggestions for this purpose?

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Comments (5)

sleepy33
14 years ago
I'm relatively new to seed starting, but IMHO, you'll be better off starting some seedlings properly and then transplanting them to your planter when they're big enough. If you direct sow them in the planter, it will be very challenging to maintain the proper temperature, moisture, humidity and light to sucessfully germinate and mature your seedlings. If you're wanting to start something right now, impatiens, geraniums and begonias are all slow to germinate and/or grow, so they are good to start early so they reach a good size by the time it's warm outside. You didn't say where you plan to put this planter outside (ie shade, sun, etc), but since you said geraniums, I suggested some fellow shade lovers that also do well in containers. Hope that helps!
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
I am sure you meant to say perennials instead of annuals. Millions of gardeners start their plants indoors, and if you can meet the growing conditions I am sure you can do it also. You can of course start annuals indoors also, but they will complete their life cycle in one season and you will not be able to bring them in,in the fall. As a new seed grower start with plants easy to germinate and tolerant of the dry air of the house in the winter. Al
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actuary
Original Author
14 years ago
Perhaps I should have split my question into two parts.
a)Is it ever OK to sow seeds directly in planters for indoor germination?
sleepy33 seems to say this is not going to work.

b)Some plants that are grown as "annuals" up in Canada where I am, are grown year-round in more southern zones. So perhaps what we call "annual geraniums" and fuscias are considered perennials in other climates. I have perennials for colder climates in my garden but I also like the idea of having some planters that I can bring outside in the spring. I was just wondering if there are other plants that someone could recommend that have similar habits to gernaiums or fuscia. If I can't grow them from seed, I can at least plan to buy them in the spring.
oilpainter
14 years ago
The problem with sowing seeds in large planters is moisture control. In order to germinate the seed has to be moist--not wet-- for it's germination period. This is very hard to do in a large planter.A large planter will dry out on top but be very wet at the bottom. Too much water and the seed will rot or the seedling will damp off.That is why seed is planted in small containers and transplanted into larger pots.

Geranium and fuschia are tender perennials no matter where you live. In Canada they are sold annually, but are never called annuals. In answer to your question about other plants. Coleus and Impatiens are 2 more that can be wintered over. The problem with wintering these 2 over is spider mites. You have to treat the plants often for this little pest, which is why many can't be bothered doing it.
There are others too but it would be too much typing to list everything and why and how to keep or not keep them for another year.
actuary
Original Author
14 years ago
thanks to oilpainter for clarifying the issue about moisture control problem with planters. Also for alerting me to the fact that my misuse of the term annual would make my post confusing. I do like the look of coleus, but spider mites sound pretty scary.

suggestions for annuals I can bring indoors during winter

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sleepy33

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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suggestions for annuals I can bring indoors during winter

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sleepy33

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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