Your indoor temperatures should be fine for germinating lavender. Just press the seed into the surface of whatever planting medium you're using and keep it moist, but not sopping, until germination occurs. Like most members of the mint family, it needs some exposure to light (ordinary room light is fine) to germinate; after germination, bright indoor light or mild outdoor light for the seedlings, then full sun.

After germination, lavender is not bothered by heat. It sails through 35 degree Celsius days in Michigan. It does need good drainage.

The normal temperature here is around 34 to 35 degree all year round and humidity is high. Was told by the nursery guys that it will not survive. But will try anyway.

If you dealing with a very high humidity you could try either the french or spanish types of Lavender....supposedly more resistant to humidity. Though I don't see how trying to space them farther apart, making sure air ventilation is good and that drainage is adequate would hurt to try! My climate is seriously low in humidity and rain fall is little to none from June thru October. So I can't talk from experience!

As for starting seed, I started L. angustifolia 'Munstead' indoors using the baggie/moistened coffee filter method in normal room temps in a 70 degree F. home. I did refriderate the packet for about 1 month first. Anyways, once the seeds srputed the radical (first root shoot), I pricked them out of the filter and indivually potted up the seed (radical down) buried about 1/8" into small Snak-Pak pudding cups. Then back into a ziplock bag they went until they sprouted their seed-leaves. I started to back off on the watering when they had 2 sets of fully expanded true-leaves; watering only when the top 1/4" of the soil was dry. With this method I ended up with 21 seedlings and gave all away except 8. I started this December 23rd of 2004, and since I didn't have a light set-up and only a south window, I did need to pinch the tops when they were about 4" to encourage side branching and fuller plants. Holding water back also encouraged slower growth in less than adequate lighting in cooler tempertures. By March I was already intruducing them to outside and had them planted by April. They took a few light frosts with no problems soon after. Today they are nice bushes!
With Lavender 'Lady' I used the wintersow method with good results as well :D

Good luck!

Vera

I started Lavender Lady inside in a cell pack, using Jiffy Mix, then put the pack into a ziplock bag, with just a corner unzipped for air. They sprouted well, with no duds. After germination, I kept them under flourescent light until hardening them off for outside. They are not hardy in my zone so I am trying them as annuals, though I may bring one in to see if I can over winter it. Good luck and let us know how it goes with yours.

I have heard that Lavender grown from seed does not always come true.

I have three flats of Munstead, a white Lav., Hidcote and Grosso from my yard growing from seed. I read recently that you really won't be able to tell for at least 3 years how the seed is going to turn out.

Is that true for everyone here?

:)

You can tell the first year if it has the main characteristics of the variety  leaf color, scent, flower color. Even if they don't grow exactly true, they're pretty close in my experience. And it's fun to raise them from seed.

Not sure if it will survive without a winter dormancy. But it's worth a try!

Lavender is my favorite thing in the world. I usually get all my lavender products at this ediblenature site.

Here is a link that might be useful: All things Lavender

During your rainy season keep the pots out of the monsoon rain except for a few hours. I am not certain that lavender will live in your climate at all. Perhaps someone on one of the other forums could suggest a tropical plant that has fragarence similar to lavender.

may I know where to buy the seeds or plant itself?or any sources that we can buy in malaysia?