Hi There:

So every year I like to challenge myself and grow something I never did before. When I saw these flowers I knew they were it I ordered about 8 different colors from a few different online sources. I did not realize that the seeds were "pelleted", I had no idea what that meant until I looked it up online, it's a very interesting process. The seeds were still tiny, and extremely fragile , so I sprinkled them around the planter and hoped for the best. When I saw a tiny and I mean tiny little green thing begin to sprout I thought at first it was a weed but in a few days I realized I had germinated one - oh yeah!

After a long time, and I would say about another 2-3 weeks I got more. As you can see from the picture they are still tiny. My question is being I started them in Feb, when do you think I will get flowers? I know they take a long time and are fussy to grow. I want to be able to take care of them and have success. I know I'm sick, but to be on the safe side I ordered some plants too, because I just have to have them in my garden this year.

Hi there again.. I seem to be the only one out here today. I have grown that plant in my California garden (zone 8) but I bought the plants in 6-packs. I hate to say it but plant number 1 looks like a baby tomato.

Daisy

to ATP!

I grow lisianthus and they are extremely slow growers. Here are some I planted in January. I do know that after they germinate, if you used a heat mat, take them off and let them in a cooler spot. Eventually they will get bigger. Mine bloom the same year. I had some over winter this past year as well.

Your first photo looks like a stray tomato seed got into the pot. Pretty healthy looking tomato seedling though.

OMG, what an idiot! You know I thought it looked like a tomato, but I never grew these so, hey live and learn, thank you so much for pointing this out to me. Well at any rate i'm glad I got another tomato. Do the other ones look like they are authentic? Yours look great! I did use a heat mat, and as soon as I see sprouts I take them off and put them under grow lights. I can't believe how slow they grow. Yours are still tiny from Jan, this will be a challenge for me, I hope they turn out ok, any suggestions on achiving success? I want no more tomatoes!

Thanks a bunch

It's easy to do when you don't know what the seedlings are supposed to look like. I grow lots of weeds that way.

Biggest thing is to be patient. I think it was probably about May before I put mine out but I can't remember for sure. I have grown them for several years then skipped a year. I did have others over winter for me as well then died the following winter.

I grow mine for selling bouquets at market. I pinch the center when they get larger so they produce more branching flowers. They are very pretty and worth the time. If you're lucky, you may get some to go to seed as well and you can collect it. VERY TINY seeds as you found out.

It is a really healthy tomato and I love the dark color. It's a keeper in my book.

According to some expert some place, Lisianthus are annual, perennial or biennial, depending upon your climate. South - perennial, north - not so much. I lived in zone 8 in California and I can't remember them ever coming back the next year. The Balloon flowers, on the other hand, just got to be more and more.

Daisy

Ok, so I have another question regarding these plants. I just received several more packages of pelleted seeds and frankly, I'm pretty much done with seed starting now. When would be the best time for me to start them in the greenhouse? The heat usually breaks here in Charleston mid to late Sept, and being they take so long to grow, I would like to have fairly large plants to put in the garden, for Spring 2017. Our last frost date here starts around Mach 9th. Also, any suggestions as to how these pelleted seeds should be stored until I'm ready to use them? It's my understanding they do not have that long a shelf life.

I could only venture a guess really but in order to get a fairly large plant for spring next year, I would go ahead and start them now then overwinter them in the GH. But hey, it's just a guess.

I started seeds that were from a swap over a year ago and some I had collected a couple of years ago. But somewhere I think I read that pelleted seeds don't keep as long. Maybe the clay coating draws the moisture out or something. Again, another guess.

I grow Lisianthus Echo every year.....blue, red, lime green, ivory, salmon and pink. They take forever to get big enough to put outside. They grow best for me in pots. I don't get flowers until July, but they are sooo worth it. Sometimes they overwinter well and make beautiful house plants and gifts.

I've been wanting Echo for my garden but the seeds I received never germinated... I do have what we call Texas bluebell and they have self-sown for me. I have collected seeds and scattered into soil. I have some in pots now so I'm hoping they germinate.

They really appreciate bottom heat while germinating and they can take awhile.