Polymerous said:After trying a variety of approaches, what works best for me is starting the seeds indoors in 4" pots, under lights (after stratifying and pre-sprouting the seeds in the fridge). I can control the amount of water, fertilizer, and temperature better than I can outside, PLUS I don't have to worry about birds, slugs/snails, or other critters. Once the seedlings get large enough, then I can harden them off and transplant them to a seedling bed.

@Polymerous

Do you put one seedling per pot? How deep (or tall) are the pots you use?

This year I'm taking multiple approaches.

For the first batch of seeds, which are from crosses that had some seeds pre-sprouted in the pods, I used 4" pots. I planted no more than 7 seeds per pot, and some less, depending on how many seeds I had from that cross. (I previously did 9 seeds per 4" pot, but that got a bit crowded. I also once put two crosses of a few seeds each into the same pot, but then got all stressed out worrying about seed migration and did the seeds get mixed, so I won't do that again.) So basically, 1-7 seeds per 4" pot, tops.

For my later seeds this year, because they may be stuck in there until fall (when I will have one seedling bed cleaned out and re-amended), I have been planting seeds in recycled large (7" or so high) cottage cheese containers, or else take-out food containers (DH loves Thai food) of about the same size. (They don't work as well as the cottage cheese containers, at least when it comes to slicing drainage holes in the bottom. The cottage cheese containers are pliable, whereas the take-out containers are more brittle, and I shattered a couple of those trying to cut holes in the bottom. ) I have been planting out those containers at the same rate, 1-7 seeds per, with 6 around the perimeter and 1 in the middle. I think that might be a bit crowded, though, and I should drop it down to no more than 6 seeds, and maybe less (given that they will be in there for a while).

For the getting-largeish seedlings from my seeds planted in mid January (those which I haven't been able to pot or plant out elsewhere), which are still in 4" pots, I am dithering over what/how to economically (space, dirt, etc) pot them up. I may put them at 1 per 4" pot (that is how I grew them many years ago, and I could bring them to bloom that way), or 1 per large Soho (or whatever the brand name is) plastic cup, or else maybe put them into 8" tree pots. (Any more cottage cheese containers I accumulate will go to starting more seeds.) The first two potting solutions can more or less stand independently (but they get packed into standard nursery trays), but I have found that the tree potted seedlings always need taller and stronger support than the standard plastic nursery trays can give. (I am still waiting out the worst of the pollen and then have other garden chores that take priority, before I can tackle those seedlings, though.)

Hopefully this has been of some use.

I got 25 little packets of seeds from Hemlady. I potted them up in 16 oz. translucent cups, one cross per cup. I used my homemade compost as potting soil (nothing sterile about that) we shall see if that was a huge mistake. My neighbor was adding on a stone patio and had a lot of extra sand so he let me have some to cover the top of the compost with. I read that sand would help stop fungus gnats. I drilled one 1/4 inch hole in each cup, placed all the cups in a plastic tray or container and watered from the bottom. The compost in the cups sucked the water right up and into the sand overnight. So they have been planted for four days now, no sprouts, but I really was not expecting any yet. I am hoping to see my first sprouts in 6 to seven days. I have been taking them outside every morning and bringing them in every night. They get direct sunlight part of the day.
Now, my plan when the seed sprout (assuming some do) is to keep them in the cups until they get about two inches tall, then transplant them into individual cups and plant them cup and all in one of my outdoor beds I normally use for Amaryllis seed. I plan to cut the entire bottom out of the cups so the roots can go on down into the soil. The cups are just an extra security measure against digging critters. I have posted this idea a few times ( I think trying to convince myself it will work). The outdoor bed gets a lot of direct sun, so I want to know if that is going to be a problem? Any thoughts or suggestions?
Seeds currently in 25 cups:


One of the two beds I plan on using for the seedlings:

I guess my thinking is that if they sprout in sunlight they should be acclimated to it when they go into the beds, just like regular plants (beans, tomatoes, zinnias etc.

@Polymerous

It seems like depth of pots is more important than the width. If I plan on growing them from seeds in pots for up to 3 months, do you think a pot that is 3 to 3.5" deep will be sufficient for good root growth?

amberjewel said:@Polymerous

It seems like depth of pots is more important than the width. If I plan on growing them from seeds in pots for up to 3 months, do you think a pot that is 3 to 3.5" deep will be sufficient for good root growth?

Yes that will work just fine. I have some growing in 8oz cups since last fall. I am getting them in the ground but the roots have completely filled those small cups.

As I said, I have previously grown seedlings to blooming size in those 4" pots, one seedling per pot. Of course, you have to stay on top of them to make sure they get adequate water and nutrients, and it is not an ideal solution. The 16-20 oz (I forget the exact volume) plastic cups might be a better solution, or if you have the support for them, 8" tree pots (which I have also brought seedlings to bloom in, with good root systems).

I forgot to mention that this season I am trialing one cross in some plastic window boxes. Actually, I have the 17 seedlings split between 1 x 1.5 gallon pot (3 seedlings in that pot, and the 1.5 gallon is an estimate - this is one of those carpet rose pots - but they should have plenty of room to bloom), with the remaining 14 seedlings planted 5, 5, 4 in the window boxes, which are maybe (I don't want to go outside and measure, I just came back from a nursery run and my eyes are itching horribly) 2' long x 5-6" or so deep. This is a trial for a special diploid cross (I thought the dips might fare better in the boxes than tets) and I hope it isn't a mistake. I did it because I wanted to push those plants along quickly, so I didn't want to plant them in 4" pots and then transplant them to the seedling bed this fall (which will otherwise be tets which might overshadow them), and I didn't want 17 more 1 gal (or even 8" tree) pots to babysit. (I already have too many pots as it is, and not enough sunny space for them.)

Larry, I haven't a clue on how those seedlings will do, going into the ground cup and all. It's an interesting idea, but I'd worry about the form factor of the cups - which are wider at the top than the bottom, and so might constrain the roots. If you are really worried about critters from above (or is it from below? ), you might do the opposite on some of the seedlings.... plant them in the ground, but then shove the cup down around them, so that the wider part is all the way at the bottom (to give the rooms some more room), and the cut-out bottom of the cup is up at soil level. That should be enough space for at least one fan, and you are in a warm enough zone that I'd think you would get bloom before you get multiple fans (though multiple fans could also be a problem in that scenario, no matter which way the cup is planted).

I am using a bulb planter to form my holes (very quick and easy), the cups fill them perfectly almost. The roots are just going to have to be satisfied with that shape.

Well, keep us advised of your progress!