How To Plant Columbine Seeds
Things Needed
- Seed trays or planting pots
- Potting soil mix
- Spray bottle
- Plastic wrap
Columbines flowers are loved by gardeners for their soft colors, and by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds for their sweet nectar. Columbine seeds require a period of cold dormancy called stratification to germinate. To plant your columbine seeds directly into a garden, it must be done in the fall so they will germinate in the spring. To start columbine plants indoors, an artificial stratification process of placing them in a cold environment for several weeks will be necessary. Apart from stratification, planting columbine seeds indoors or outdoors is a fairly simple process.
Planting Columbine Seeds Indoors
Step 1
Fill the plant pots or flats to the rim with a seed-starting potting soil mix.
Step 2
Water the seed pots enough to naturally settle the potting mix.
- Columbines flowers are loved by gardeners for their soft colors, and by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds for their sweet nectar.
- To start columbine plants indoors, an artificial stratification process of placing them in a cold environment for several weeks will be necessary.
Step 3
Lay one to two Columbine seeds on top of the soil mix and cover lightly with additional soil.
Step 4
Give the soil a mist of water from a spray bottle.
Step 5
Cover the plant pots or trays with plastic wrap and place them on the bottom shelf of a refrigerator. Leave alone for 30 days.
Step 6
Take the seed pots out of the refrigerator and place in front of a warm, sunny window until the seeds germinate, which can take up to four weeks. Continue to monitor the soil to make sure it is moist. Water when necessary.
- Lay one to two Columbine seeds on top of the soil mix and cover lightly with additional soil.
- Take the seed pots out of the refrigerator and place in front of a warm, sunny window until the seeds germinate, which can take up to four weeks.
Step 7
Plant the seedlings outdoors in your garden when they are 3 inches tall.
Step 8
Fertilize the columbine plants once a month with a basic fertilizer, but it is not necessary. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Direct Planting In Ground
Step 1
Rake the planting area clear of all leaves, weeds and other debris.
Step 2
Wet the soil to provide moisture.
Step 3
Place the seeds on top of the moist soil and cover them lightly with soil. The seeds should begin to sprout in the spring.
- Plant the seedlings outdoors in your garden when they are 3 inches tall.
Step 4
Fertilize the columbine plants once a month with a basic fertilizer, but it is not necessary. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Tip
If refrigerator space is tight, place the seeds in a paper towel, fold it in half, wet the towel and place it in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for four weeks. After four weeks, remove the seeds, plant them in potting soil and place them in a warm, sunny window until they are 3 inches tall.
Warning
Do not plant the columbine in full sun, as they prefer partial shade and cooler temperatures.