Starting Seeds of

 African Violets, Streptocarpus, or Sinningias

Members of the Gesneriad family of plants

These seeds types are all very, very tiny, resembling dust.  Although very small, and handling has to be done carefully, once sown, they take little care until they germinate.

 

1.  I use a basic soil-less mix to start all my seeds.  You may also purchase a soil-less mix specifically made for seed starting.

 

2. I fill a small pot or seed pan with the soil-less mix and then place it in a bowl or container of water about 1 inch deep.  This is to dampen the mix, and it is left in the water-bowl until the surface of the soil is damp.

 

3. I place the seeds into the palm of my hand, and then hand-place the seeds onto the “soil” mix, but you may find it easier to lightly tap the seeds out of their packaging onto the soil.  The goal is to place them just on the surface without having them all in one spot.

 

4.  They are NOT covered with “soil” but left to sit on the surface.

 

5.  I cover them in a couple of different ways.  The easiest way is to place the pot or pan in a gallon-size zip lock bag, and then place the container in good light.  They should be in bright light, but not direct sun, and it is best if they are in a warm area, 65 to 70 degrees.

 

Another method I have used is to convert a ten-gallon fish tank to a germinating tank.  Using a dry tank, two inches of damp clean sand is placed on the bottom.  The planted seeds, already in their pots as prepared above, are placed on top of the damp sand.  The tank is covered with the typical lighted full cover for the tank when using it for fish- with a fluorescent light.  I keep the light on in the tank for 12 hours a day.  If the dampness of the sand is kept at the right level, no additional watering is needed.  The combination of the light, moisture, and a closed environment, allow almost carefree germination of many seed types.

 

Gesneriads can take from one week to several weeks to germinate, so I make sure I have allowed plenty of time before giving up on a seed batch.  Once they have germinated, when they are about 1/8” to ¼” tall, I either move them to individual one inch pots, or re-pot them into a square, shallow pot to grow on.  I keep them covered at first, and slowly expose them to being uncovered by removing whatever cover I have used for an hour a day over several days.  Soon you will have lots of little plants! :)