How to Grow Cleomes from Seed

Cleomes are sometimes called spider flowers because of the long, thin petals that resemble a spider's legs. Gardeners have been growing cleomes for more than 100 years for its bright flowers that bring hummingbirds and butterflies to its white, purple or pink petals. Cleome plants grow as tall as 6 feet and grow large flowers that are hard to miss when they bloom from the early summer through the early fall.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Plant the seeds in full sunlight in the spring when the temperature of the ground is about 70 degrees F. Sow the seeds by pressing them into the surface of the soil to ensure that the seeds have full contact with the soil while still being in the sunlight. Cleome seeds need full sunlight exposure to germinate. Plant your cleome seeds about 12 inches apart.

2. Water the seeds indirectly by adding water to the soil around the seeds without applying it to the seeds themselves. This allows the wet soil to dampen the seeds without pushing the seeds under the soil.

3. Prune the weaker stems once the plants start to grow. The seeds will begin to sprout after about 10 days. When multiple stems appear, cut away the smaller stems. This will make the plant stronger and the stems better able to hold the larger flowers of the cleome plant.

4. Water your cleomes during times of little rainfall. Cleomes will survive most droughts, but they will thrive better if they are watered about once a week if rain hasn't fallen during that time.

5. Fertilize your cleomes once per year with a slow-release fertilizer. Add the fertilizer to the soil in may to help your cleomes thrive during the growing season.

References

• More About Cleomes
• Growing Cleomes
• More Cleome Care