Indoor Germinating of Datura Seeds

Timing

• Since datura are most commonly grown as warm-weather annuals, they are typically planted in the garden in mid-spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Starting the seeds indoors roughly two to three months before the last spring frost will provide enough time for the seeds to germinate and establish a productive root system before being planting outdoors.

Equipment Preparation

• Datura plants grow vigorously, so the seeds must be sown in individual 4-inch pots to provide adequate room for them to grow. The pots must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed before use to remove any fungal or bacterial growth. Additionally, seeds should be started in sterile, unused growing medium comprised of half milled peat and half perlite or half sand and half sphagnum. Avoid using heavy soil because it drains less efficiently and may hold too much water.

Sowing

• Correct sowing is vital to the welfare and successful germination of datura seeds because both shallow and deep sowing may cause the seed to fail. Fill the pot with growing medium to within 1/2 inch of the top. Place the seed on the medium near the center of the pot. Cover the seed with a 1/8-inch-thick layer of medium. One tip for determining the correct soil depth is to lay a pencil (or length of pencil) on the medium alongside the seed before adding the soil; since standard pencils are 1/4-inch-thick, simply add soil until the pencil is halfway buried, then remove it and fill in the space left by the pencil.

Germination Process

• Moisture and temperature are the two most important factors for successfully germinating datura seeds. They require temperatures of roughly 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 70 degrees at night, so their medium will dry out much faster. For that reason, the moisture content must be checked twice daily to ensure it never fully dries out below the surface. Press the medium with your fingertip; add water if it feels nearly dry on the surface. Since datura seeds are shallowly sown, water with a spray bottle to keep from dislodging them. Most datura seeds will germinate in roughly two weeks, although some may take up to six weeks to sprout.

Planting and Aftercare

• Datura seedlings require bright light and warm temperatures to encourage vigorous growth, so move them to a location with filtered sunlight and temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit once they sprout. In warmer areas, an open cold frame or a sunny south-facing wall provides the ideal conditions, while a greenhouse or closed cold frame would work better in cooler climates. Water them weekly until after the last spring frost, then plant them in a sunny or lightly shaded bed once soil temperatures warm up. Space them roughly 18 inches apart to provide adequate room for root production.