A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Plant Propagation Petunias

I planted some petunia seeds at least 10 days ago(Under a heat lamp), and say 3 out of 20 came up. I'm really upset. What did I do wrong? Thanks

Did you keep your soil evenly moist, with a mist type spray until they came up?

Don't remove the soil or change anything, I've had some of my seeds come through later then other at times.

I have better luck with the "PELLETIZED" Petunia's..
*they have a little coating on the outside, to make
them a size you can handle and plant...
and they all seem to come up for me...

~~~>Hannah,
Also, how deep did you cover them?
If at all??

I'm going to remember that for next year Weezie and get some "pelletized" petunias too. They are a tough one to plant. They're so tiny you can barely see the seed if or when in drops. Mine are coming up pretty good so far.

I ended up having to do that...
You don't get as many in a package,
but the germenation rate, at least for me,
is wayyyyyy better...


Mine are still in their packages.. We're getting a BLIZZARD tonight!!!

When I get some free space I'm going to try those. I got some in a swap. The regular kind didn't germinate for me either.

I didn't cover the seeds(the information on the packet said not to), and yes I kept them moist(use a spray bottle) Thanks for the info. I'll keep watering them and hopefully something will come up!

That's what I was wonderin'... those puppies are sooooo small and some have the urge to cover any and all seeds,
I was thinkin' maybe you put a coating over the top or something..

Next question/or statememt is...
Sometimes when you have a seedling soooo small, and yes
they need to be on the top of the soil to germinate....
a good patting down on top of them to make good contact with the soil maybe all you need to have them germinate quickly..

Next time try an experiment...* Experiment is my middle name*
when you start your seeds, try some just on top of soil,
and next container, give them a quick pat down on top of the soil, and see if either sprout faster...

~~~~>Hannah, have any other's germinated since you first
wrote this original post???

We're supposed to get a big snow storm here tonight and tomorrow, but just below freezing they say, still glad my seedlings are still in the house and not in the greenhouse just yet.

I've had to start using my window sills for my plants, for the cart that hubby made with growing lights is full and the transplanted seedlings need more light.

Did you post a picture of that in like Gardener's Chat or something.. would love to take a peak at it...

After I read this forum, I noticed that petunias need very warm conditions to germinate. I had planted seeds (indoors) a week ago and nothing was happening. I had them (covered )in recycled bakery containers (plastic) and was watering with warm water from a spray bottle. Yesterday, I placed them in our little powder room, which gets quite warm. This morning the petunias were all up! :)

Check out my pictures in Gardener's Chat. Thanks for the idea.

mrw, good for you, glad they came up. It just sets you back a few weeks if you have to reseed everything again.

Yesterday I was plesantly surprised to see that 2 more petunias came up-I had taken the dome off, and increased the temp. I'm hoping somemore will show their faces....we'll see.

Good job, knew they would come up.

Had one of my trays fall one the floor just after I had seeded the petunias. I didn't know what to do, so I just packed the soil back into it's tray and watered it like all my others and quite a few came up, though the colors are mixed up.

How many total now is it??????

4 total. (sigh) I'll take what I get. :)

ohhhhhhh absolutely...
Sometimes a little amount is just right..
*I always run out of pots/containers, or
somewher'es too put them if toooo many sprout*