How to Plant Sunflower Seeds Indoors

Soak your peat pellets in a tray of lukewarm water for 30 minutes. The peat pellets will plump up and fill with water. Pour out the excess water from the tray. Sunflower seeds can be planted in any biodegradable container filled with equal parts peat moss and vermiculite.

Create a 1-inch deep hole in the center of the peat pellets with your finger. Drop in three to four sunflower seeds and cover with soil brushed into the hole from the top of the peat pellets. Place the peat pellets back in the tray.

Tape four sticks to the corners of the tray. Cover the tray with clear plastic wrap draped loosely over the top of the sticks. This will create a greenhouse effect around the seeds. It increases humidity and prevents excessive water loss. Move the tray to warm area with indirect light.

Sprinkle water over the seeds with a spray bottle each day so the peat pellets do not dry out. Remove the plastic wrap once the seedlings are 1 inch tall. Sunflower seed germination takes about one to three weeks.

Pull all but the strongest sunflower seedlings once they reach 2 inches tall. Leave only one seedling per peat pellet. Transplant the entire peat pellet tray into the garden when the sunflower seedlings have at least two sets of true leaves. Do not disturb the roots of the sunflowers since they resent being transplanted.