Thanks!

If you decide to give it a try, make sure you don't cover the seeds, they need light to germinate. Fortunately, the seeds usually germinate rather quickly (less than a week). The plants like a slightly acidic (pH between 5.8 and 6.4), well drained soil.

Art

I usually order all my annual flower seed from Hazzard's Greenhouse. Their seed is excellent, their selection second to none, prices great, and their germination directions, although short and sweet, never fail for me.

This was my second year starting angelonia from seed. I think it is just as easy to grow as zinnias, though it does not grow as quickly. Still, in 8 weeks my plants are very close to the size of the ones available at the garden centers.

Although you might have good luck direct sowing these seed, they are definitely more expensive than most annuals. I would personally not want to risk wasting the precious seed. I would start them indoors.

I placed the tiny seeds in a rather course potting mix and made sure they weren't covered up as the directions indicated. I have squirted them with a spray bottle several times to give them some moisture. We did have a cold front come through with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s, would that just delay germination or prevent it all together?

Trying to pinpoint where I went wrong and if I can recover or just need to start over.

Since you mentioned the overnight low temperatures, I assume you have the seeds outside. I've always germinated the seeds indoors, on a heat mat, and they usually sprout in less than a week (this year it took 5 days). I don't know what's normal for outside germination. Are they in a container of some sort or directly seeded into the garden area?

Art

Well, I can see a couple of things that might be giving you a problem. First, as you've mentioned, the seeds are tiny. When you sow tiny seeds in a 'rather course potting mix', it's easy for those seeds to gradually get worked down deeper into that mix. Every time you use your spray bottle, you could easily cause the seeds to go deeper. As you know the seeds should be on the surface, not covered with the potting mix. They may be too deep to germinate now; not necessarily, but certainly a possibility. Also, if the seeds are too deep, too wet, and too cold, rotting is possible.

Regarding your question about the outside temperatures, assuming the seeds are still viable, I don't think the cooler temperatures would prevent germination, just delay it.

I wish you luck with those seeds! If they haven't been buried too deeply, they still might germinate for you. I hope so, Angelonias are such beautiful and carefree plants!

Art