Sara Ann , have you heard of winter sowing? It’s a very exciting easy way to start seeds and it skips the hardening off process, the lighting issue and other indoor troubles . I really enjoyed winter sowing.

Lilyfinch, thank you. I feel somewhat out of the loop on that. I kind of have an idea about it, but would love to learn more, especially which flowers that could be started that way.

I have three (guess I am addicted) Areogardens. I start many of seeds in them.... Things like petunias, hollyhocks, snapdragons, etc..... these all do great.... I even use it to start my tomatoes.... however, plants that prefer dryness such as geranium do NOT do well.....

I haven't tried seeds that need darkness because well of course the unit has bright lights.... however, that being said, I have decided to give it a go anyway. I have taken a plastic lid off of a salad contanier and sprayed it black with paint to keep the light out.... can't recommend it to anybody because I do not know if it works.... but I know putting them in dark black trash bags as others suggested did NOT work for me....

Hopefully, SoFL will see this post. She is the one who got me started on doing my own seeds.... I had tried direct sewing as Lilyfinch had mentioned.... and that does work in certain parts of the country.... I grew up in Missouri and that is what we always did.... however, here in Florida it did not work.... too hot.... too buggy... too everything.....

The only thing I can direct sew here in south florida is milkweed.... but I guess that is because it is a weed.

Good luck.

I start some stuff indoors and some stuff in the spring. I usually sow sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos and other wildflower type seeds in pots in the spring, then transplant. This keeps squirrels and stuff from mutilating the seedlings as much. Morning glories, moonvines, datura & brugmansia seeds, tomatoes, peppers, and whatever else..I start in little greenhouse jiffy peat pellet thingys, under lights & with a heat mat.

I do cuttings as well-in various ways, depending on what they are.

I just got a few Aerogardens. I've done hydroponics before but not w the Aerogardens so it will be fun to see what happens lol.

I have a few of the Park's Seed Biodomes that I have used w lights and a heat mat for brugmansia seeds and other seeds I want to sprout before they rot lol. Those little sponges keep them at the perfect moisture.

I am gonna use them in the Aerogardens too. They come in different sizes. The Aerogarden sponges seem to come with their own seeds that are just plain varieties. I want to use my own seeds lol.

I found an 23 pod insert at Target that can fit into the Slim Aerogarden. Pretty sure the smaller Biodome sponges will fit right in there.

https://www.target.com/p/aerogarden-seed-starting-system-accessory-for-harvest-slim-and-harvest-elite-slim-models-white/-/A-76526326

Biodome Refill Sponges

https://parkseed.com/bio-dome-refill-sponges/p/v1597/

Sharon, which hollyhock varieties do you grow? I would love to grow those here. I have tried a few times even buying the roots from the store but they always die come hot steamy summer weather and never return. I have heard some annual type might do well here. Is that what you have?

Jasmin, I remember about Hollyhocks on Marolena's thread. The ones we can grow is Mediterranean ones but it has another name and Chris ( Aquaeyes ) help with further details. I hope that i saved the thread and i will try to find it.

Here you can look at new arrivals that i was looking at....

https://www.bluestoneperennials.com/genus/Hollyhock.html

Marolena has Hollyhocks from Canary Islands and those can grow here. I dont think i saved that thread but i am hoping Chris, Lisa or Marolena sees this :)). It is latin name or spanish word and can grow to zone 11.

I definitely like the Bluestone ones esp the Creme of Cassis and a few of them :)

Ohhh Creme de Cassis is gorgeous! Thanks Jin.

Ok I got curious and googles Hollyhocks for FL lol. It seems Vietnamese types will do well here.

I wonder if the annual type alcea rosea work since they dont have to return. https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/hollyhocks/indian-spring-mix-hollyhock-seeds.html

These say rust resisitant and flower the first year.

https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/hollyhocks/halo-mix-hollyhock-seeds.html

Sara Ann, are you familiar with Floret Flowers ?

Erin has narrowed it down to some of the best flower varieties with detailed descriptions, gorgeous photos, and excellent tutorials if you sign up with email. The new seed launch is in a few weeks.

Jasmin, just try it :)

I got my seeds but i did try a few like 2 weeks ago. They sprout but it died...lol

I bought tons of seeds in store. First time trying so lets see what happens in Spring :))

I dont think we will get rust bec of out weather but never knows !

https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/

Short but perfect synopsis of it !!

Sharon I never had luck direct sowing either and I hope you’ll forgive me bc I am not at all trying to be a corrections officer here but direct sowing and winter sowing are a little different. Winter sowing is planting seeds in greenhouse containers made of usually milk jugs and leaving them outside. It is excellent for perennial plants and works for annuals if you start them at the right time . :)

I can’t advise on starting indoors but an easy to grow companion flower for roses are Cerinthe (honeywort). I got my seeds from Baker Creek. The seeds are so easy to sprout like beans and will germinate even in cool weather (60F~).

I agree with Sultry that Park Seed Biodomes are great. It’s been hit & miss with other growing media’s but biodome sponges work well for most things. I’ve always wondered if someone has tried to use the sponges to root roses from cuttings.

My almost fail proof seeds that I think go very well with roses are verbascum Southern Charm, agastache (many varieties but like Arizona Sunset - not reliably hardy for me and so I grow it as an annual), and salvias (Vista Purple is a favorite).

I really need to give Aerogardens a try.

What a min...think i got confused btw Hollyhocks and Foxgloves.. I meant to say Foxgloves not Holyhocks...opps !!:))

Tammy , your pics are so cute esp this one that made me smile. Trolls, a fairy....

Thank you everyone, I’m almost overwhelmed, but in a good way! So many good ideas, and some of my favorite flowers!

Sorry I just saw this thread I'm not checking daily lately...I sow tons and tons...literally hundreds of flowers and veggies indoors. First of all, I also do the winter sowing thing with milk jugs and for that I start in January and have the best luck with sweet alyssum, daisies, echinacea, johnny jump ups, dianthus, penstamon, gaillardia/indian blanket, love in a mist, calendula, scabiosa, black eyed susans, snapdragons, and I'm forgetting a lot I know LOL. Then I start indoors in February with the onions and leeks and artichokes by end of that month then in March start brassicas, eggplants, then peppers, and most of the flowers that I want to have that year that I didn't already sow in the outdoor jugs or that I just like lots of like sweet alyssum...I love it with the roses. Then I start the tomatoes indoors and so on and so on. The marigolds I start indoors even though I really don't have to...I just like using my seed starting trays for everything I can because I like to transplant plugs. I have tried a lot of seed starting methods for flowers and veggies indoors and honestly I prefer plug trays over soil blocks and those little peat pots or whatever they are called. The plugs trays I like best are from Bootstrap Farmer. They last and last as I can wash and reuse for years. Anyway, so far I fill in all the space between my roses with flowers and veggies and herbs. I loved the melons and squash as a groundcover mixed in with roses last summer it was fantastic and their flowers attract lots of pollinators too. Even though you can direct sow melons and squash I start mine in large plug trays about 4 weeks before last frost date because they mature faster for me when I transplant plugs. Oh salvia...I love salvias in the rose garden and I start that indoors around 6 weeks before last spring frost. Hollyhocks I actually plant in fall so they grow leaves in the fall then flower the next year in summer. I'll stop now LOL.