Congrats on your first seed sprouting, Sabrina! Post a picture when you can...

I too, am new at hybridizing. I did cross one back about 8 years ago and it was pure luck then because I was clueless. But, after reading what these great folks have said and the advise along the way, I have 16 sprouted new seedlings this year and more seed chilling in the fridge.

I can hardly wait until I can see those first blooms...

beckygardener said:

Sue - Have you ever sterilized potting mix?

Maybe, I honestly don't remember. I believe I did do it many years ago but I certainly haven't done it for a very long time. I also don't have problems with damping off and fungus gnats either, though. I do always use new or washed containers, and don't use previously opened bags of medium. Both of these problems are frequently associated with over-watering and other factors. Planting seeds too deep can also contribute to damping off and other ailments (had to get that one in

Sue, Becky, many thanks for your advices.
I'm puzzled about buying a bag of soil for every seed I have to plant, I will go to the garden store and see what they have, maybe the bags are small so I won't have too much left. Since I can't use it in the future.. or can I use it in the garden?
GaNinFl thanks a lot, I took a picture I just couldn't wait to introduce this little baby to you!
It's just so small but you can see the root peeking out among the bubbles!

You should be able to purchase smaller bags of potting mix. They actually sell a seed starting mix here in the USA in small bags. You could always add the left over mix to other potted plants in your garden. You can use it for established potted plants, just not for seed starting once the bag has been opened.

You make me smile because of your wonder and excitement over every thing your daylilies are doing! I remember having those ah ha moments some years ago! I can imagine you becoming the daylily expert in Italy because of your watchful eye and fearless curiosity! I hope you get a bigger yard in the very near future so that you can add more and not be so restricted in your love of gardening!

Thanks Becky, you're a sweetheart!
I'm sorry if I post too much but this is all new to me and I don't know why, I never loved gardening, daylilies made me fall in love!
We have some experts I think, but italians are not like you. Italians keep their knowledge tight sealed.
It happened to me years ago when I fell in love with candlemaking.
All the things I learned and almost all materials I buy are from US and thanks to the wonderful people you are. I had the luck to find a big forum like this, and as on here, members were so helpful and kind I couldn't believe it.
So from the bottom of my heart!!!

I supposed bags would be smaller then common soil garden, good to know I can reuse it for all the other plants!

Congratulations Sabrina! I'm so excited for you!

I have used opened bags of potting mix for starting seeds, with no problems at all. I used a bag that was open for two years without any problems.

Cross posted Sabrina! You never post too much!

Sabrina - Yes! Gardeners in the USA like to share their knowledge, so continue to ask anytime you need information or help!

Thanks Natalie
I need a bag of that first, then I'll try to keep it well sealed and decide later on when I'll have other seeds!

Becky, I will sure ask. I need to learn!

Today I'm going to go to the shop and try to find a bag of good potting mix for my seed, because the root is growing and I want to take it out of the peroxide solution.

I'm thinking growing it indoor will be a bit tricky. I realized I don't have a good spot for it where sunlight enters from window..one side of the house is toward east, the other toward west, very few hours in the morning in one side and very few at late noon when the sun hits directly windows. Then, we're expecting rains and bad weather.
Plus, 5 cats can be a problem (usually I don't grow anything indoors) because as you all know cats are curious, and agile, there's almost no place where they can't arrive.
Well, off to the potting mission, in the meanwhile I'll try to have a brilliant idea for growing this seed!
Thanks for reading!

As I was expecting, no starting seed mix at the shop.
So I decided to try mixing my own soil with what I have.
The first candidate is a compost soil with no peat and muds. It has coir and pumice, too.
Then I have vermiculite; I'm thinking to mix it with this soil.
Then, maybe a bit of the other garden soil, it's made for 60% of blonde peat moss and 40% composted green improver (really don't know what is it).
What do you think?
I will use a small earthenware pot, because it helps with humidity and air circulation, then you can see if the pot is still humid or not.
I feel like I'm preparing for a journey to Mars

cybersix said:
I'm puzzled about buying a bag of soil for every seed I have to plant

No, you don't need to do that but what you can do is save all your seeds to start at the same time, then you only need the one unopened bag. But yes, you can use leftovers in the garden. Of course we've giving you the answers of what you should do to avoid possible problems since you're just starting out with this. When you're comfortable with starting seeds then you can break the "rules" but if you run into problems you'd have a better chance of knowing where things went wrong. Quite a few people mention problems with damping off and/or fungus gnats so it can happen.

About your proposed mix ingredients, usually for starting seeds it is recommended not to use more than two or three types of basic media combined. Since we can't see or feel your mixtures my suggestion would be to put the seed in a small container of some kind (make drainage holes if there are none) in just damp vermiculite. Once the leaves have emerged you can keep it in there for a few weeks. To start with it doesn't need to be in the sun, the first thing is to get the leaves to emerge. It doesn't need a lot of light up to that point and shouldn't have fertilizer either.

Then you can transplant it either to the garden or to a larger pot with a potting mix. Do each of the bags with more than one ingredient have a list of ingredients that you can post here? Also, if any have a lot of fertilizer in them it's better not to use them at this point.

Thanks Sue!
I appreciate all the suggestions, and you're right I can start all the seeds at the same time but now I have this one and only; the others coming from another pod will be reasy in few days, and maybe I can wait to make them sprout. This seed now has been nominated the Tester.
I have a really small pot made in earthenware , it has a hole in the bottom. Or is it better to use a plastic container?
Vermiculite is due for today, I'm waiting for the courier to ring the bell.
The other soils are:
- soil 1: 60% blond peat moss; 40 green compost amender (is this a word??) - end of the specifications
- soil 2: compost, with leftovers of hedges pruning; coir fibre; pumice. N% 1-1.5; P 0.5 - 1.5; K% 1 - 1.5.

If vermiculite is fine I'll use that. But if the seed will grow I need to chose a soil for potting it, right?

Exactly how small is the pot? I assume it is not glazed? As long as you make sure the mix in it doesn't dry out it should be OK unless it is so small that drying out quickly is inevitable.

I don't know what might be in the compost amender, I looked it up and saw one that had stuff in it that I wouldn't use for a baby seedling. The vermiculite will be fine for the first month or so which gives some time to figure out what to do and to get the seedling to the point where it needs some fertilizer.

Here is a picture of seedlings that were started in vermiculite only and grew in it, no fertilizer, for a month just to show that "Tester" should be fine in just that.

Vermiculite is here, at last!
The earthenware pots (not glazed, natural) are: 2.3 inches wide for 2.3 inches height the smallest; 3.5 inches wide for 3 inches hight the biggest. Both have a hole in the bottom. Earthenware is transpirant. But usually it helps in understanding if the soil is dry or not, since it's humid the pot too and it's darker in color.
Shoul I spray vermiculite instead of pouring water over it?

If the pots don't fit, in your opinion, I can see what I have here at home, I put apart several plastic containers.
(The little statue it's me thinking!!)

Ok, since I couldn't wait anymore I planted it, chose the biggest pot among the two; filled with vermiculite, watered then added the seed and covered with a bit of vermiculite, then sprayed again. I put a plastic tray under the pot and for now I let all the water that drained from the pot. Is it correct?

Yes, that should work. Until the sprout appears you could put some plastic over the top to keep the dampness in so you don't have to water until it sprouts. It is actually easier to mix the vermiculite with water to the point of dampness before you put it in the pot, then you have a better idea of its moisture level.

Thanks Sue, I touched it with my fingers a couple of times, then when I saw the water draining out I thought it was ok. I will cover it with some plastic!! I'm so excited! Now, just kill me before I start to ask how many days it will take to sprout

Vermiculite soaks up water so I'm not sure if pouring it through will give it time to do that, but as long as it felt OK.... It's better if the medium is not wet, just damp. The seedlings in my vermiculite picture were a month after sprouting so "Tester" should probably appear within a week or so, just so we don't have to kill you