I have started hundreds of pansies from seed every year for ten years or so. I start them in mid August. The first thing you need to know is that I have a basement with shelves and flourescent lights over them. I have also started them in my air conditioned upstairs, but I really prefer to keep the mess downstairs. Here is how I will do it this year. It seems that every year I fine tune the system just a little bit more. Oh yes, you should know that my target plant out date is the last week of October. I start with flat trays (the kind you carry plants from the nursery home in) of plain old Miracle Gro potting mix. You will see all kinds of suggestions on these forums for making your own superior types. I will give you no arguments, but I have used MG for years. It works extremely well in my system, and it is easy. I fill the trays to the top with loose soil. Then sow the seed liberally but lightly over the top of the soil. (I start about 1000 seeds each year. For this, I use two flats.) Then I cover the seed with a good sprinkle of vermiculite. I put it on heavily enough that you cannot see much of the black mix beneath it. Then I firm it all down well with my hand and water thoroughly. Let it drain for at least 30 minutes. You don't want there to be anymore water coming out the bottom of the trays. Then put the tray into a clear plastic rubbermaid box with lid (or a large clear plastic bag, etc. You just want the moisture sealed inside). You should see a "cloud" of moisture form inside, but you don't want it to be too drippy in there. The key is moist, not soppy. Yes, I have invested in 20 Rubbermaid boxes. I start this many seeds twice each year, so I feel that I have more than paid for them in savings. I keep them stacked in the basement in between seed starting times and they just make the process so easy. Then put the box into a cool dark place. I put mine in the back of the basement away from windows. Upstairs, I would put them into a closet floor. You will get a far better and faster germination from you seeds if you put them in the dark. Assuming you started with good seed (some varieties are definitely easier than others. Ultima Morpho is my favorite for a high and easy germination rate.), you can start checking them in about 4 days. You should have a very high number of seeds up by the seventh day. Once you start seeing seedlings come up, don't wait. Take the trays out of the boxes and put the trays under your lights (still in a cool place). The other seeds will continue to come up over the next several days. Let them continue to grow on for another week or two until the seedlings have their first or second set of true leaves. Keep them moist, but not soggy. Usually, a good watering once every 5 to 7 days will suffice. Then, it's time to prick them out. Don't skip this part. You will have far healthier seedlings if they undergo the mild stress of transplanting. Rhizo told me this and she is RIGHT. I transplant my seedlings into 4 inch pots, two plants to a pot. The reason I do this is I have found that you get a lusher fuller look in your mass plantings of pansies if you put two plants in the same hole. So, I just start them out in the same pot and will plant each 4 inch pot into its own hole. For the transplanting process, I use a long handled spoon that is used for iced tea as my "trowel". It scoops out just enough soil for the roots, but don't worry if you get the plant with little or no soil. Just ease it into the pot and firm the soil around the roots. They will do just fine. Then I put all those four inch pots into flats and under lights which I run for 16 hours per day. I water once a week, usually giving them a drink of fish fertilizer every other week. This is another reason I like to do this in the basement. Fish fertilizer STINKS, but pansies love it like no other I have tried, and I have tried alot of stuff. I keep an eye on the weather and when daytime highs cool into the mid eighties, I watch for a few days of cloudy, preferably rainy, weather. That's when I bring the trays outside and let them harden off. Last year, I got them outside a good month ahead of the usual time and it was great. The plants really do like sunshine alot better than flourescents. And it's easier to water outside too. The important thing to know, though, is if your daytime temps are too hot even for 2 or 3 days, the plants will get leggy and your display will suffer. This is a bit of trouble, as you can see. So why do I do it? First, because I enjoy working with seeds and I love being able to get any variety I want as opposed to the few that the local nurseries carry. And, I can get 20 flats of one kind, which had become a major headache the year before I began doing this. Also, it saves a ton of money. Pansies around here are typically $14 a flat in the nurseries. Twenty flats would cost $400. I buy my seeds from Hazzards and typically spend about $70. Add to this a $14 bag of miracle grow and you can see it's a nice savings. Not everyone has time or inclination, but I can tell you it's fun. In other words, I have more time than money. Last year I grew the Fizzy Series of Pansies. They were lovely, though not as spectacular as I had hoped they would be. I am going back to Ultima Morphos again this year. I get close to 100% germination from them, I love the colors, they make a spectacular mass of color all winter (when there is nothing else) and well into spring. No other variety I have tried can top them. I am going to back them with a planting of Red Russian Kale this year which I think will echo their soft lavender and pink colors. The pansies also have lots of yellow in them, which makes them show well from a distance.

No, not likely helpful adding anything to the seed starting mix. Nutrients needed to germinate are already stored within the seed. What you need to provide is moisture, the right temperature, light if appropriate. Additional fertilizer isn't necessary until after the first couple of pairs of true leaves have grown out, you can cautiously add some then, typically mixed to about 1/4 the strength the directions on the package label of your product indicates. At what point to you think your prior issues have taken place, are you having trouble achieving germination, growing the seedlings on once they've germinated...someone here can help if you give more information.

You're right Terri it should make it a little easier for me with only 24. Nice manageable number. If anyone hasn't sent me their address and full name please email me as soon as possible. Or if anyone has moved recently please make sure that I have your new address. Thanks, Ann Here is the final list: 1. Lee 2. Maryanne 3. Jessica 4. Shelley 5. Linda 6. Diane 7. Terri 8. Diana 9. Karen Becky (Booberry) Brenda Blueiris Gina Michelle Susie David Andi Nancy Lori LindaP Katie Alison Pam (Dedtired) Ann

The new growth looks healthy. So I think it's just the life cycle of the leaves. Maybe you aren't playing the piano enough. Avocados love Billy Joel.