Hints:

Chipping Seeds: To protect your fingers, hold each seed between the "jaws" of needle-nose pliers on top of a cutting board as you nick it with the tip of a utility knife.

Soaking Seeds: You easily can soak seeds overnight in Styrofoam cups, writing the name of each seed on the side of its cup. If you need to heat the soak-ing water to a certain temperature, use a candy thermometer to measure that temper-ature. Otherwise, use lukewarm (room temperature) water.

Smoke Treatment: For seeds that require smoke treatment, add 1 teaspoon commercial smoke flavoring to every 3 tablespoons of water you are using. For the best results, find a flavoring that contains only smoke and water in its ingredients list.

Cold or Warm Treatment: When seeds need to be kept damp and either warm or cold for a certain number of months, fold a paper towel into a card shape. After writing the name of the seeds and the date on front of the "card" with an indelible marker, soak the paper towel in water, squeeze out the excess water, and place the seeds inside the card.

You can keep several such cards inside a folded-over sandwich bag to help preserve their moisture.

Gibberellic Acid: If you need to use gibberellic acid, dissolve a 100 mg packet of the white powder in about 1/2 cup of water overnight. Then add an equal amount of water to the mix to make a 500 ppm solution, which is best for most species. You then can soak your seeds in the solution overnight before sowing them.

 

 

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Plants Beginning with C

Caesalpinia: The seeds must be fresh to germinate well. Soak them overnight before sowing them 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed sowing mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 7 days.

Calceolaria (pocketbook flower):Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 5 days.

Calendula (pot marigold): Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 3 to 7 days

Callistemon: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 11 days.

Calycanthus: Nick the seeds and soak them overnight before sowing them 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 14 days.

Camellia: Soak fresh seeds overnight and sow them 1/2 inch (12 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, so that the eye faces either downwards or to the side. Keep the container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take as long as 30 days to several months.

Campanula (bellflower): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under a grow light at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 7 days.

Canarina (Canary Island bellflower): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 20 days.

Capparis: Soak the seeds overnight in 105-degree water (40 degrees Celsius). Then place them inside damp paper towels in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months. After giving them another warm water soak, move their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature. Once they begin to sprout, pot them up in damp and sterile seed-starting mix.

Carica: Soak the seeds overnight before sowing them 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, often in as little as 2 days.

Caryopteris (blue mist bush): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 4 days.

Cassia: Sand the seeds by shaking them in a capped small bottle lined with sandpaper before soaking them overnight. Then sow them 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 5 days.

Cephalaria: Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 14 to 21 days.

Ceratotheca: Sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 3 days.

Cerinthe: Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 4 days.

Chorizema (flame peas): Pour boiling water over the seeds and allow them to sit in the cooling water overnight. After draining the seeds, sow them 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in sterilized cactus and citrus potting soil. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 12 to 20 days.

Chrysanthemum: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 10 to 15 days.

Cimicifuga: Place the seeds in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag at a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature for three months. Then move the towel and baggie into your refrigerator for an additional three months before returning them to warm conditions. Once the seeds begin to sprout, pot them up in seed-starting mix.

Cisanthe: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 7 days.

Cistus (rock rose): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 20 days.

Clematis: Place the seeds inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months, before moving their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature. Once the seeds begin to sprout, pot them up in seed-starting mix.

Cleome: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 10 to 21 days.

Clerodendrum: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in about 18 to 30 days.

Clitoria: Chip a tiny piece out of the rounded side of each seed and soak all the seeds overnight. Sow them 1/16-inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix.  Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, often in as little as 2 days.

Clytostoma: Soak the seeds overnight amd place them between damp paper towels inside a plastic baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months. Then move their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature. Once the seeds begin to sprout, pot them up in seed-starting mix.

Cobaea: Plant the seeds so that they are standing upright in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, with their tips barely protruding above that mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 7 days.

Codonopsis: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 7 days

Coffea: Coffee seeds should be no more than 3 months old to germinate best. Soak the seeds overnight and sow them, flat side down, 1/2 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take as long as 30 to 75 days.

Colchicum (autumn crocus): Place the seeds in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag at a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature for three months. Then move their towel and baggie into your refrigerator, where they may begin to sprout after about six weeks, and should then be potted up in seed-starting mix.

Coleus: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 7 to 14 days.

Commelina: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which often can take as long as 30 days or more.

Convolvulus: Soak the seeds overnight and sow them 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 10 days or so.

Corydalis (fumitory): Seeds must be very fresh to germinate well. Place them in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag at a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature for three months. Then move them into your refrigerator, where they may begin to sprout within a few days to a few weeks and can then be potted up in damp and sterile seed-starting mix.

Cosmos: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, often in as little as 2 days.

Cotyledon: Press the seeds into the surface of damp cactus and citrus potting soil, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in about 5 days.

Crambe: Remove the seed casings before planting your seeds. Sow them 1/2 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix and keep the container at about 60 degrees (15 degees Celsius) until they sprout, often within 4 days.

Crossandra: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which may take as long as 40 days.

Crotalaria: Pour boiling water over the seeds and allow them to sit in the cooling water overnight before sowing them 1/16 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 10 to 21 days.

Cryptostegia: Sow the seeds 1/16 inch deep in cactus and citrus potting soil and keep them at 40 degrees (4.5 degrees Celsius) until they sprout in about 20 days.

Cuphea: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 3 to 13 days.

Cyathea: Scatter the spores over the surface of damp and sterile seed starting mix and keep their container at about 77 degrees (25 degees Celsius) until they germinate, which can take as long as 3 months or more.

Cycad: Soak the seeds for 2 days. Plant them upright, pushing them halfway into damp and sterile seed starting mix with the most scarred end down. Keep their container at 75 to 90 degrees (25 to 30 degrees Celsius) until they begin sprouting, which can take as long as 1 to 2 months.

Cyclamen: Sow the seeds 1/4 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Cover their container with aluminum foil and keep it at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 30 days.

Cynara: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 22 days.

Cyphomandra: Sow the seeds 1/16 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at about 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in about 21 days.