Growing pelargoniums from seed

16 years ago

Hi, Everyone:

This is my first time growing pelargoniums from seed. I live in South Florida. Am I the only one who's noticed that these are very slow-growing plants? I started my seeds in late June, they germinated VERY well and have been growing nicely and are now in large containers, but they STILL haven't matured! They look green and healthy otherwise.

Any comments, suggestions...?

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Comments (5)

senjanevada
16 years ago
Same with me. I live in zone 8. I bought the seeds from Ebay last summer. Few weeks ago, I moved the only two baby plants to larger pots. Still hope will see more seddlings coming.

Good luck.
pattypattwo
16 years ago
I've started them under lights in my zone 4 in Jan. Usually I have flowers by the end of June, it takes a long time. But mine usually look great into october. I am looking for seeds to grow, more varieties. Any ideas?
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I sow mine the Deno method. Place the seeds on to kitchen paper towel, moisten, fold and place in an airing cupboard. After 3 days check daily for germination. Once the root is clearly visable pot them into 4 inch pots containing 50/50 top soil and grit. I dont know if they germinate as soon as they are ripe
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Ron it is so good to hear from you. I had wondered how you were getting on. I got one packet of seeds but in spite of wishing to start them earlier it was Christmas holidays when I got the seeds stared. I have nine nice plants. Maybe because zonals get so much bigger than regals that it seems to me that these seedlings are growing a lot slower(?)than I expected. I wouldn't hazard a guess when they will flower, I haven't seen any sign of flower heads developing. Most the anticipation for me is just what colours we will have. I figure blooms similar to the original regals introduced to Canada. Probably that funky orange blend that caught everyone's eye at first. You would love to be in the lower Great Lakes last week and the week coming up. Snow long gone since end of March and a gradual warm up to almost summer temperatures. All next week it will be over 60 F and up to 70 F is possible. All last week when I was on midnight shift I only needed a warm sweater to go to work. We got spring blooms all over my little town. Here in Ontario we have a moderate climate but we can miss spring and go straight to summer. I trimmed all the winter kill off my roses today and I will have to hurry to split some of my over grown perranials. As much as I hate to admit it I'm going to have to cut my grass this week. Let me know how your plants and rest of your garden is doing. If you can post pictures I will too. I have posted in the roses forum it isn't too difficult. Just remember to keep the quality setting down lower if you are using a digital camera. There is a byte limit. Best to You and Yours Susan
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fly2cast
16 years ago
I had great luck with SUMMER SHOWERS Hybrid geraniums last year. I also live in zone 4 and started in mid January. Had great flowers by May. The seeds are expensive, around 50 cents each but 18 out of 20 germinated and grew into nice plants. I grew them under shop lights. SwallowtailSeeds.com has them.
gjmancini
16 years ago
I was getting worried, I started some mixed geranium seed I bought from valuseeds.com, I sowed awhile ago, germination was good 16/18, but they seem stagnant, I feel like ive been waiting and waiting for the true leaves.I am also growing under lights.
themadplanter
16 years ago
They are very slow growing. I just started about 100 seeds last friday (1/19). The packets typically recommend sowing 10-12 weeks before planting outdoors. Here in NY this is my 5th year of growing them; I have settled on 16 weeks as a good starting point. This ensures that the majority are already in bloom before they get set out in mid-late May.

They are slow growing, but in my experience you should notice the first set of true leaves starting to emerge within a week of the seed leaves reaching maturity. I begin watering with a highly diluted liquid fertilizer (approx 1/8 strength) at this point.

I've grown Summer Showers, Florever Red, Ivy, and others with great success. Another trick that speeds up the growing process is that I germinate in folded, damp paper towels set in a tupperware container that I leave in a warm, dark place. I check it daily waiting until roots begin to emerge before moving to soil. It's a lot of work, but results in a high success rate.

After 5 days I have put 27 into soil, and 19 already have mature seed leaves. A quick check of the container this morning indicates another dozen ready to plant tonight.

Good luck!

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Growing pelargoniums from seed

Comments (5)

senjanevada

pattypattwo

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fly2cast

gjmancini

themadplanter

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