How to Save Dusty Miller Plant Seeds

Observe which dusty miller plants are the strongest and healthiest in the garden. These are the plants seeds should be harvested from.

Water the plant consistently from the time it flowers until seeds appear. Failure to do so may lead to fewer or less fertile seeds.

Stop watering once the seeds have formed. This helps the plant go into dormancy and focus on seed production.

Tie a paper lunch sack over the seed pod heads once they begin to dry. Place the bag over the pod and gently tie it closed with a leg from an old pair of panty hose. It’s important not to “choke” the stem or cut into it in any way.

Check the bag periodically to see if the seed pods are completely dry. Shake the bag and listen closely to see if seeds have fallen from the pods yet.

Cut off the stems that are covered with the paper sack. Open the sack and crumble the pods by hand, releasing all the seeds. Use a fine garden sieve to separate the seeds from the chaff, or carefully pick through the seeds by hand.

Winnow the seeds by swirling the seeds in a shallow bowl while gently blowing on them. The remainder of the chaff should blow away, while the seeds remain in the bowl. Rubbing the seed between two hands also removes the chaff.

Pour the winnowed seeds into an old prescription bottle or a canning jar with a new lid and store in a dark, cool, dry location. For best germination, use within a year.