How to Grow Columbines in a Container

Place the seeds in the refrigerator for at least one month. The seeds need to go through a cold period before they will germinate.

Fill cell packs with well-drained potting soil, then water the soil thoroughly.

Place one seed in the center of each cell. Cover the seeds with an eighth of an inch of soil. Press gently on the soil to ensure that the seed is in contact with the soil. If you plant the seeds too deep, they have trouble germinating.

Cover the cell packs with clear plastic, and place the cell packs into a tray for easier carrying.

Place the tray in a window that provides filtered sunlight. Do not place the tray in direct sunlight, or it will become too hot under the plastic.

Feel the soil once a day to check for moisture. Water when the soil feels dry. It takes 20 days or longer for the seeds to germinate.

Remove the plastic cover when the seeds germinate. Continue to grow the plants in a bright window, keeping the soil evenly moist until it is time to plant outdoors.

Place the container in an area that receives full sun or bright shade. Fill the container with potting soil when all danger of frost is past.

Remove a columbine plant from the cell pack by pinching the bottom of the pot. This will dislodge the root ball of the columbine.

Insert the root ball of the columbine into the planting hole, and firm the soil around the root ball. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally growing. Space the holes 6 to 12 inches apart for a smaller variety of columbine, or 16 to 20 inches apart for a larger variety.

Water the soil thoroughly, until water comes out of the bottom drainage holes. Check the soil daily. Do not allow the soil to dry out.

Fertilize the columbine plants two times during the season. Use an all-purpose fertilizer. Mix and apply according to label directions.

Deadhead the spent flowers to encourage the columbine to continue blooming. Leave some flowers to go to seed, if you desire.

Cover the columbine container with mulch if you live in zones where you have freezing temperatures. This helps protect the plants for next year.