Grow Your Own Houseplants: A Guide to Planting from Seed

If you really want to get to know houseplants, try growing them from seed.
I’ve been running a sowalong event on my podcast for five years - here’s what I’ve learned. A 🧵 thread#OTLsowalong pic.twitter.com/YNhj99SJ5n

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

A packet of seed can cost very little - well under £5 usually - but you end up with a dozen or more plants you can give away, sell, swap or keep to form your own indoor jungle. #OTLsowalong pic.twitter.com/Q6ywehjXLp

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

There are loads of houseplant species you can grow from seed, including the swiss cheese plant, many cacti and succulents, asparagus ferns, clivias, carnivorous plants, gesneriads, palms, Hypoestes (polka dot plant) and Dracaena. Aren't these baby succulents cute? #OTLsowalong pic.twitter.com/vevIRKtkvc

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Growing from seed is the ultimate way to get to know a species of plant. You get to acclimatise it to your own personal conditions from the very start, which means it should grow better, too. #OTLsowalong

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Spring is a great time to start. You’ll need some seed compost, a tray or pot with drainage holes, a propagator with a plastic lid or a clear plastic bag, and some seeds. #OTLsowalong pic.twitter.com/ldAkPSpRCV

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Where to source your seeds? Beware eBay & Amazon - there are lots of scams out there. I use Unusual Seeds on Etsy, @chilternseeds & various plant societies’ seed schemes including @cactusSucculent (the BCSS), which is a fantastic way of getting hold of quality seed. #OTLsowalong

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

When sowing, seeds generally like to be sown just under the surface - use a seed’s diameter as a guide for the depth of the covering you use. Remember, some seeds need light exposure to germinate so don’t want to be covered - check the packet for info. #OTLsowalong

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Hygiene for seed sowing is really important to avoid fungal problems like damping off. So make sure your containers are washed in hot soapy water and rinsed before use. Use fresh seed compost, and make sure it’s at room temperature before you sow. #OTLsowalong

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Not everything will work: even the experts suffer losses. Some seedlings will die, or never germinate. But experimenting with seeds is fun, and cheap.#OTLsowalong pic.twitter.com/zIeSwFG4Eg

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023

Sound like fun? Want to get involved? Check out my On The Ledge sowalong episodes for loads more info on growing houseplants from seed, and share your progress with the hashtag #OTLsowalong. https://t.co/Tz4rLSTy1P

— Jane Perrone (@janeperrone) March 6, 2023