Ornamental cotton plants started indoors thrive in Arizona deserts during the summer.
Since Arizona has elevations that range from 70 feet in Yuma County to nearly 12,700 feet at the top of Humphrey's Peak in Coconino County, the state has diverse growing conditions. Although the growing seasons and conditions vary in Arizona based on soil conditions and elevation, all the locations in the state are predominantly dry throughout the year, with a few seasonal exceptions. Arizona residents in lower elevations can garden all year long and often start seeds indoors using peat pots. Gardeners in Arizona's higher elevations start their seeds in the late winter for planting in the spring and summer. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Lay out the peat pots on a waterproof pan or tray. A plastic or glass container helps support the peat pots and keeps water from dripping from the pots.
2. Place potting soil in the pots, especially if you are planting seeds in the desert locations where the soil is sandy. Potting soil provides organic matter and nutrients to help the seeds develop into strong plants to set outdoors.
3. Sprinkle water over the soil using a sink sprayer, a spray bottle or gently pour water into the peat pots to settle the soil before putting the seeds or cuttings into the pots. The peat and soil will gradually absorb the water.
4. Place the seeds inside the peat pot. The Arizona Master Gardener's manual suggests placing two seeds inside each pot to assure at least one plant from each pot. Cover the seeds with the recommended amount of potting soil found on the seed package. Plant larger seeds deeper than smaller seeds. Mist the pots so that the soil is wet but not soggy.
5. Cover the pots with plastic wrap and set in a warm place between 65 and 75 degrees F. If temperatures are below 65 degrees, you can place the pan holding the seeds on a heating pad set on its lowest setting to increase the bottom heat. Check the pots daily and mist the tops of the pots to keep the soil moist.
6. Take the plastic wrap off the pots once the seedlings emerge. Put the seedlings in a sunny window or under fluorescent lights. Keep the pots moist but not soggy. If white fuzz starts growing on the pots, you are watering the plants too much.
7. Put plants outdoors before you plant them to harden them off. Arizona's sunshine is intense, the air is dry, and plants started indoors need time to acclimatize to those conditions. Place the tray of seedlings outside in filtered sunshine for a few hours the first day, and increase the length of time each day until the soil is warm enough to plant.
Tags: peat pots, plants outdoors, plants started, plants started indoors, plastic wrap