- 1). Fill individual pots with potting soil to within 1/2 inch to 1/3 inch of the top.
- 2). Set the pots on a tray and thoroughly moisten the potting soil with water. After a few minutes, discard any water that collects in the tray.
- 3). Place three or four seeds on top of the soil near the center of each pot.
- 4). Sprinkle just enough soil over the seeds to cover them. Press down lightly and spray gently with water.
- 5). Stick clean twigs or craft sticks into the soil at the edge of a few of the pots and place the tray of pots inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag with a twist tie. The twigs keep the plastic from lying flat against the soil.
- 6). Place the bag of pots in a location out of direct sunlight. The seeds germinate best at temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 7). Check regularly for germination. Annual types may germinate in as few as five days, and perennials may take up to three weeks.
- 8). Remove the plastic bag once the seedlings appear, and place the tray of pots in a sunny window. A south-facing window provides the best light. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- 9). When the seedlings have their first true leaves, snip out the weakest plants, leaving only one in each pot.
- 10
Fertilize after 10 days with a half-strength solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer. Continue fertilizing every two weeks. - 1). Prepare the garden bed by loosening the soil with a garden fork, shovel or rototiller to a depth of about 6 inches.
- 2). Apply 1 inch of compost or rotted manure if your soil isn't rich in organic matter. Dianthus doesn't thrive in an organically poor soil.
- 3). Use a trowel to dig a hole as deep as the pot your seedling is growing in.
- 4). Remove the plant from the pot and place it in the hole. Fill in around the roots with garden soil and press down gently.
- 5). Water gently and keep the soil moist until the plant are established.
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