Have any of you ever grown these from seed? I am trying them for the first time this year, and am wondering if they are slower starters, or not. I just love them, because they are so different.
Dee

started indoors they are not bad .. I had them self sow in my unheated greenhouse.. in a container and they bloomed around the start of July the little tea cup looked like a chia pet

actually last year I started them 2/10

looks like now is the time

Thanks, a bunch Allison.That's exactly what I wanted to know.

no granted.. I usually start things too soon I was trying to find a photo of seedlings in spring.. no such luck... I have a photo of the racks.. and they are not noticeable ... but I always think in my head.. start the seeds early... and if I need to pinch .. root more.. can never have too many of those cuties!!!

I tend to start things early, too.So all I need, is for one person to say "it's time" and I'm off and running..lol Been looking around the web today, about some of my seeds, and it looks like I can come up with about 4 flats to start early So, I should have lots of babies to get me thru this, "I need Spring spell".
Dee

they are one seed that doesn't mind being started early.. and can always make more if you want.. cuttings root easy.. I broke a piece off and stuck it in another container outside.. had a nice new plant in no time

That is nice to know.I just love them, but I only bought 30 seeds,because it is my first time growing them. How much sun/shade do you grow them in...I mean when you set them out? Thanks, for all your helpful info.

I usually have some in part shade.. and full shade

ooooooooooh, beautiful pic! That's the color that I saw last summer, at the nursery, that made me want to grow them.Good on the shade to part shade. We have an area in the yard that is very shady(except for the entrance that I want to create). It has a nice bed that was put in before the trees got humongous, and I will be digging out the plants there that are no longer growing/ blooming well, and replacing with plants that do better in shade/ partial shade, and I do love color.

Do you have a problem with damping off with torenia? I got some in a purchased container one year and they were so cute! But I haven't had much luck trying to grow them from seed. (Must look through seed stash after seeing pictures again.... )

They're so pretty. I've never done them from seed. I bought a few plants once and they fried with very little sun exposure.

Karen

I ended up frying a pot from Ace Hardware that I picked up.. only gets late afternoon sun.. and boy o boy did they fry -- on the left



I haven't had a problem with damp off since I have been using coir and perlite for my starting mix

Oops, maybe that's why the ones I bought didn't do so well in the middle of the front yard........ Heh, heh, if any of my newly planted seeds come up, think I'll find a nice shady spot for them, along with the mimulus.

yes they both like the same shady spots

woofie said:Do you have a problem with damping off with torenia? I got some in a purchased container one year and they were so cute! But I haven't had much luck trying to grow them from seed. (Must look through seed stash after seeing pictures again.... )

Maybe this is a stupid question but I have to ask anyway. Is damp-off actually more common in one type of seed than another? (e.g. more common in torenia than petunias, etc). If so it never occurred to me until I read Woofie's question. I thought it was simply the presence of the fungus, same for all seeds.

I have to say that whatever other problems I might have in seed starting, damp-off isn't one of them. I do always sterilize the soil and equipment for indoor seeds, though never for wintersowing. My biggest problems for seed starting are generally of my own making- starting to early or too late, neglecting to water... That's probably why wintersowing is so perfect for me- Mother Nature is responsible for everything and not much responsibility rests on my shoulders.

Karen

I think some are more sensitive than others.. some can deal with being too wet, no air circulation or have some fungus in the soil... others just germinate and croak

I finally got mine sown, last night.The grandkids were here for a couple days, and things were kinda hectic. Keeping my fingers crossed that they make it ok, and reseed their little butts off in their home in the shade bed.I can't remember having trouble with damp off, since I've been growing under lights and bottom watering.But, my memory aint what it used to be.

Yes, Allison, definitely some things are more sensitive! And there are particular fungus types that attack certain plants; the one that springs to mind is Chinese Asters and "aster wilt." I've had a little problem with that, but only after setting them out, so now I try to remember not to plant them in the same pots from year to year. But yeah, petunias are just about indestructible, bless their pretty little hearts.

Hee hee, Karen, are you saying your seeds grow in spite of you?

Yes, Woofie, that's pretty much it in a nutshell.

I really never knew that some seeds were more susceptible to damp-off.

Karen