How to Germinate a Celosia Red Velvet Indoors

You can tell just by the name — red velvet celosia — that this plant commands attention. Bright and dazzling, this annual flower boasts a range from short, compact varieties that grow to 6 inches tall to more aggressive varieties that can reach more than 3 feet. You may have seen this eye-catching flower at outdoor shopping malls, in parks, or in front of restaurants, because they are blissfully low-maintenance. They are also very simple to germinate from seed, as long as you keep them warm.

Packet of celosia seeds
Peat pots (sold in rows)
Potting soil or seed-starting mix
Plastic wrap
Slow-release water-soluble fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Gather your planting supplies about six weeks prior to the last projected frost date in your region if you plan to transfer the celosias outdoors once they germinate.
- 2
  Fill the peat pots about three-quarters full with potting soil or seed-starting mix.
- 3
  Sprinkle the top of the pots lightly with warm or lukewarm water.
- 4
  Place three or four seeds in each peat pot and then cover very lightly with potting soil or the seed-starting mix. The seeds should be about ¼-inch deep in the soil.
- 5
  Cover the peat pots with plastic wrap and place the pots in a warm, sunny place away from drafts.
- 6
  Remove the plastic every day for about one hour to give the plants a chance to breathe.
- 7
  Keep the soil moist but not soaked with warm or lukewarm water until the seeds germinate. This should take between 10 days and two weeks.
- 8
  Pinch and remove all but two of the strongest, more virile looking leaves once the seeds have germinated.
- 9
  Begin to “harden off” the plants to prepare them for the transition from indoors to outdoors. When daytime temperatures reach 60 degrees, start leaving the plants outdoors in a protected area for several hours a day. Add two hours a day for a week until you can safely leave the plants outdoors overnight.
- 10
  
  Celosias love the heat and, fittingly, grow best in full sun.
  
  Transplant the peat pots directly to your garden, or to a container, when the soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees, scattering the pots in a creative, clustered manner. Avoid planting them in rows, like soldiers. Water and fertilize the plants with a slow-release water-soluble fertilizer.

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