How to Grow Pansy Seeds Indoors

Pansy is the common name for Viola x wittrockiana, a hybrid species of flowering plant commonly grown as an ornamental. The large, flattened flowers come in a variety of striking color combinations, including the most common purple and yellow variety. Because pansies bloom early in spring, they must be started inside approximately three months before the last frost in spring and grown indoors until the weather warms. However, pansy seeds require a brief chilling period after sowing to mimic winter weather if they are to successfully germinate.

Nursery tray
Seedling compost
Packet of pansy seeds
Spray bottle
Plastic wrap
Propagation mat
Fluorescent lamp
4-inch starter pots
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a nursery tray with seedling compost. Leave a 1/8-inch-tall gap between the seedling compost and the edge of the nursery tray.
- 2
  Spread the pansy seeds 1 inch apart across the surface of the seedling compost. Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of seedling compost.
- 3
  Saturate the top half-inch of seedling compost with a water-filled spray bottle to settle it around the seeds. Keep the top half-inch of compost moist for the duration of germination.
- 4
  Stretch plastic wrap over the nursery tray. Press the plastic wrap around the edges of the tray to seal it.
- 5
  Place the nursery tray inside the refrigerator for two weeks to cold stratify the seeds. Check the moisture level of the seedling compost often to ensure it doesn't dry out. Remove the plastic and remoisten the top half-inch of soil as needed during the cold stratification process. Put the plastic back in place after moistening the compost and return the tray to the refrigerator.
- 6
  Move the nursery tray from the refrigerator onto a propagation mat after the cold stratification period. Set the propagation mat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 7
  Expose the seeds to six hours of sunshine each day. Supplement the light with a fluorescent lamp if a sufficient amount of sunlight is unavailable.
- 8
  Watch for germination in 14 days, but do not be discouraged if it takes three weeks for the seeds to sprout.
- 9
  Transplant the pansy seedlings into 4-inch starter pots filled with potting soil once they grow to 2 inches in height. Keep they in a sunny spot until after the last frost, then plant them in a fertile bed once outdoor temperatures rise above 68 F.

Drought-Tolerant Poppies

How to Care for a Chrysanthemum in the Southern States

Growing Flowers