Verbena apricot plants, known for its brightly colored blossoms and fast growth, are sun-loving and drought tolerant, making them perfect for warmer climates. While you can buy started verbena plants in a garden store or nursery, growing them from seed may be gentler on your budget. To start enjoying your verbena as soon as possible, plant the seeds indoors in a seed tray approximately 12 weeks before the last spring frost in your specific area. In a short time, you’ll have splashes of cheerful color for painting your home’s landscaping pallet.
1
Verbena apricot Mix a homemade seed starting soil concoction that’s well-draining and rich in organic matter. Combine one part sphagnum peat, one part sand and two parts of your backyard garden soil. Stir the three ingredients together until they are evenly mixed.
2
Sterilize your homemade potting soil to eliminate any soilborne diseases, weeds and pests, such as bug larvae and fungus gnats. Place the soil in a baking pan and bake it at 180 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
3
Fill a standard seed tray with the sterilized potting soil once the heated soil has cooled.
4
Sprinkle a couple verbena seeds onto the soil surface of each individual unit in the seed tray; you do not have to cover the seed with soil.
5
Place the seed tray somewhere warm and sunny that maintains an average temperature of 65 to 70 F and where it won’t be disturbed by children or pets.
6
Mist the surface of your seed tray with a spray bottle filled with water, once or twice a day or as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist. Continue this for the entire verbena germination period, which is approximately three to four weeks.
7
Thin out your seedlings once they have developed a couple sets of mature leaves. Identify the weakest seedling in each seed tray unit and pinch it off at its base. Avoid pulling it out, as pulling its roots out of the soil may disturb the other seedling in the unit.
Things You Will Need
- Garden soil
- Sphagnum peat
- Sand
- Oven
- Baking dish
- Meat thermometer
- Seed tray
- Water bottle
Tip
- For the best seedling growth rates, put your seed tray in a south-facing window. If you have no sunny weather, hang two 40-watt fluorescent bulbs approximately 6 inches above the seed tray and run the lights for 16 hours every day.
Warning
- Never let the soil in your seed tray dry out, as that can slow germination or even kill the germinating seed.
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