How to Grow a Potted Marigold

Sow marigold seeds in a peat pot or starter tray. Fill the peat pot or tray approximately three-quarters full with starter soil. Place the marigold seeds on top of the soil. Spread a quarter-inch of soil across the seed's surface. Mist the soil lightly with water.

Slip the pot or tray into a clear plastic bag. Maintain a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. The marigold seeds will germinate in five to 10 days. Remove the plastic bag once the seeds begin to germinate. Place the marigolds in a bright window.

Transplant the marigold seedlings into a pot when they reach two to three weeks old. Fill the pot with potting soil. Dig a hole in the pot, place the marigold into the hole and firm the soil around it. Plant the marigold at the same depth as it was planted in the nursery container. If the marigold was started in a peat pot, you can place the entire pot into the soil.

Space French marigolds approximately 6 to 9 inches apart in the pot. As African marigolds get quite large, plant only one African marigold per pot. African marigolds require at least 18 inches between plants. Place the marigold pot in a sunny location.

Water the potted marigolds once a week. Avoid getting the plant's foliage wet to prevent fungal infections.

Clip away spent blossoms to encourage the marigold to produce more flowers. Marigolds begin to produce flowers at 45 to 50 days old.