Germination of Patchouli Seeds

Soil

• The best medium to use to starts seeds indoors in pans or flats is a combination of sand and peat because patchouli is a small seed. Do not use garden soil because it may have a poor compound structure for starting seeds in flats. Garden soil also may have pathogens that could cause the seeds not to germinate or become diseased.

Sowing Seeds

• Fill pans or flats with the medium to the top. Do not tamp the medium down when using sand and peat. Instead, lift the container up and down while gently tapping it on a table to settle the soil. This should leave about 1/2 inch of space from the lip of the container. Sow seeds evenly over the medium. The seeds are small, so gently distribute them, but don't push hard on the seeds or they can crush. Sprinkle a scarcely thin layer of medium over the seeds.

Watering

• Never water seeds from the top. Because the seeds are so small, water the medium from the bottom. Place the pan or flat in a sink or the bathtub filled with room temperature water. Set the container in the water and let the medium soak up the water. Remove the container when the top of the medium is wet to the touch. Keep the soil moist throughout the germination process.

Light and Heating

• Patchouli seeds need soil temperatures of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. If you don't have a heating pad to set the container on, cover the flat or pan with a sheet of newspaper to hold in the heat. Place seed trays in a location with indirect sunlight. Seeds will germinate in about three weeks. As soon as you see the seedlings, remove the newspaper so the seedlings will receive filtered light.