How Often Should You Water Indoor Flower Seeds?

Seeds harvested from this year's crop can be planted next year.

Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on spring planting, and a way to experiment with new plants not available at your local garden center.

Seeds

Start with good quality seeds. Before you buy a packet of seeds, look at the stamped date. It has the year stamped on it and the expiration date. You want fresh, up-to-date seeds for best results.

Planting

Use a commercial potting soil or seed starting mix. Soil from your garden can introduce disease and insects into the mix, and it may not carry the nutrients a plant needs. If planting very fine seeds, do not cover them with soil. Place them on top of the soil and mist them with water from a spray bottle. Plant larger seeds at the recommended depth shown on the package.

Water

Give the soil enough water to moisten it completely. Cover the container with plastic wrap, a lid or anything else that will create a humid environment. You could even use a clear, plastic bag. Keep them covered until they germinate. They won't need any more water to germinate in a covered humid environment. After the seeds sprout, remove the plastic wrap and mist daily to keep them from drying out.

References

• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Starting Seeds Indoors
• "Fine Gardening Magazine;" Starting from Seed; Maria Taylor; 2010