Tips on How to Grow Viola from Seeds

Germination

• Starting Viola  - sow seeds about 8-12 weeks before the last frost date scheduled in your area.

• Viola seeds are easy to germinate, however, Violas will do better with stratification, a process of subjecting seeds to moist/cold treatment to break the seeds dormancy.Germination: 68°F

   A medium covering of coarse grade vermiculite is recommended to help maintain high humidity around the germinating seed for better germination performance.

• For optimal germination performance, maintain the plug media at “wet” moisture levels, i.e., the media is glistening, but water will not ooze out from the bottom of the tray and will penetrate only slightly from the top around the fingertip.

• Avoid germination temperatures above 70°F (21°C) to prevent seedling stretch.

• Stage 2 (first leaves) timing: 10 days

• Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity.

• Maintain an EC of 0.5 to 0.75 and a pH of 5.4 to 5.8

• Temperature 65° to 70°F (18 to 21°C) days; 60°F (15°C) Nights.

• Stage 3 timing: (true leaves) 14 days

• Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity.

• Beginning at Stage 3, reduce the moisture level in the media once the seedlings are established.

• Temperature 65°F (18°C) days; 60°F (15°C) nights.Maintain an EC and pH values can be at 1.0 and 5.6 to 5.8, respectively. A high pH (greater than 6.0) can induce boron deficiency and also encourages fungal black root rot, caused by Thielaviopsis sp.