The medium should be sterile. Was it?

Yes, it was. I bought special medium for seeds.

One thing I did wrong was I overwatered after planting instead of just spraying lightly.

When I saw the mold, I tried to air as much as possible but it's still there. Yet, I read this should not prevent the seeds from germinating and should not affect seedlings growth.

My problem is that when a seedling emerges, it is extremely frail and thin.

I feel like I should put them outside instead. Perhaps they need more warmth?

Assuming these are for winter flowering?

Spraying isn’t helpful. It would just contribute to the mould without providing sufficient water to the plants. So don’t worry that you haven’t done it. The medium needs to be fully moist from the start. After that there’s usually no need to water for a good while if there’s a lid. Does the container have drainage holes?

Once germinated the seedlings need lots of light which they won’t be getting on a shelf in the kitchen. That’s why they’re thin and frail. At this time of year you would probably do better to start them outdoors with some shade. It’s unlikely they need more warmth.

I had problems with mold and damping off until I started using this.

https://www.miraclegro.com/en-us/products/soils-amendments/miracle-gro-seed-starting-potting-mix

Also, use clean plastic small pots to start. Do not use "peat" pots or cardboard egg cartons or toilet paper rolls. The card board molds. Most of what they call peat pots now contain a lot of paper.

floral_UK and Sherry,

I really appreciate your advice.

Yes, these pansies are for planting over the cold season, they do really well here for half a year between October and May.

Trouble is I really need more of them this year and I'd rather not pay a ton at the nursery for transplants. I was really hoping to be able to grow my own but so far, no luck.

I will have to restart because that tray was covered in mold, most were not germinating at all, and the few that did were insanely spindly.

I was able to identify my mistake as having over-soaked the medium when I set up the seeds.

But that still doesn't clarify the entire process for me, for a second try.

Yes, I used small plastic containers, made especially for seeds - small but long/deep for roots to grow. I also used organic medium for seeds.

I first dampened the medium and mixed well. I filled in each hole with damp medium, planted my seeds as instructed, watered again, covered slightly with medium, and then I covered with a dark plastic lid with holes for aeration.

Unfortunately, when I watered, I accidentally soaked the medium because I used the sink shower instead of lightly spraying them.

But I thought it was OK as the water drained through the holes.

But the peat-based medium probably retained a lot of water anyway.

I placed on a kitchen shelf where I also have lights, which I was going to leave the seedlings under after I removed the plastic lid, post-germination.

Before any significant germination happened, the tray got covered with mold.

Because the dark plastic lid I covered with had some holes, I was afraid it would allow in too much light through those holes and the seeds wouldn't germinate.

So on top of the lid I added some dinner mats. This was probably the nail in the coffin because it cut off almost any air circulation.

I will try again, watering carefully with no mats on top of the lid.

However, I remain very confused about the role of the darkness lid. I do understand these pansy seeds need dark to germinate, but how much dark really?

I have seen many videos where they advise covering the tray with a dark plastic bag, or plastic lids, etc. Well, if you do that and the seeds germinate, they will start out so spindly because as they come out, they have no light!

Considering they don't all germinate exactly at the same time, when does one remove the plastic lid? Because as soon as they germinate, they need serious light immediately.

I am thinking to try them again outside, in the shade; but here I am afraid of another mistake: it's very hot and humid here right now and I am afraid these cold-loving plants will not like coming into this world under these conditions.

If I try them again inside, should I cover with the dark plastic lid again? Or should I leave them only with some medium spread on top of the seeds?

I can try the same thing with more careful watering and not adding those silly mats on top of the dark lid, for better air circulation.

It sounds like you have to walk such a fine line with the watering, the darkness, and then removing the darkness lid as soon as a seeding pops its head out.

If so, then what about those that are yet to germinate?

Those still need the dark!

It' still so confusing to me!

Any extra advice is greatly appreciated.

I started pansies from seed last winter for spring blooms. It was slow and erratic germination. Here's my suggestion. Concentrate on avoiding damping off (fungus taking down new seedlings. Give them very good light as soon as you see 20% or so germination, preferably bright outdoor light. Floral is right that you are better off starting them outdoors at this time of the year. I would not give up on the current lot. I found that need for darkness is not that critical in the sense if you spread your current mix which has seeds that haven't germinated outdoors, you will find more seeds germinating randomly in the next few weeks. I would say start seeds outdoors, cover with some potting mix and that will probably provide enough darkness.

You might look into plug plants. They’re cheaper than plants and very good for winter pansies and someone else does the hard part. These were grown from plugs.

The starting formula will give enough darkness. Outside in the shade. Don't let it stand in water, but keep moist. No cardboard. You should be able to find pansy seeds everywhere. Check the dollar stores. Don't over think this.

Plastic trays that salad mix, tomatoes,mushrooms, and cut up fruit come in, make great seed starters. also, milk and water gallon jugs, 2 liter drink bottles, etc. Great way to recycle.

I am sorry to piggyback this but I wanted to start some pansies too for the fall but I am also confused by all that I read. Some places say the seeds need 12 to 16 weeks before the flowers will be ready to plant and others say 8 weeks. I wanted them for the month of October. I purchased a mix of black and orange seeds but I haven’t done anything with them for fear they wouldn’t be up and growing by mid September. Any advise would be wonderful. Thanks in advance. If I am too late this year I will hold the seeds til next Summer. I was going to start in the shade outside. I don’t have any grow lights to keep them from getting too spindly. @floral. I never heard of plugs. I will have to look into them for the future. Pansies are my favorite. I know they don’t survive the heat of our Summer but I can’t help but buy some every spring and fall.

12 to 16 seems about right if started in winter/early spring indoors. It took 13 weeks for first blooms to show up for me last winter/spring. Admittedly my lighting/sunlight situation was far from optimal. It might be quicker for those started in summer probably. But don't count on full bloom in 8 weeks.

Oh, and plugs are 6pack or such plants that you get at the nursery.

Lol. I never knew they called them that. That is what I always try to find but the stores are smart and make you purchase preplanted arrangements of pansies. I had purchased a small potted yellow plant at jewel in March that lasted until the end of June. They are beautiful one day and just dead the next in the heat. I also did not think they would come back so I did not keep them. Not so smart!!! If I cut them short would they have come back in fall?

@ getgoing - thanks for the help. I will try them next year for fall 13 to 16 weeks out from September. I have trouble not buying seeds because they are so much cheaper than actual flowers and I want to be good at this seed growing so I keep finding more things that look and sound like hardier flowers to try to sow in winter. Thanks again for the quick response.

I tried but couldn't save them through the summer here. All but one of dozens died but worth a try. I have ongoing infestations of root rot fungii and broad mites. So a lot more plants die than would in the normal course.

Oh, and why not just start a few as a trial run so you know what to expect next year?

I threw away the moldy medium with the seeds I planted a week+ ago. It wasn't going anywhere.

I'll do over, place them outside in shade, and I will be more careful with the watering.

For October / November planting I may need to get some plugs. But the really beautiful ones I see at my local nursery don't seem to come in plugs. :(

@grt going. Great idea!!! I think I will try a few seeds to just do a trial run for next year. Thanks for the suggestion.

You guys gave me ideas. Now I have started a bunch of pansies, nemesia, stocks, calibrachoa, sweet pepper and penstemon seeds today! I know I shouldn't be doing that this time of the year. But frankly, it is much easier to start seeds right now - no need to have them indoors, no heat mats, no grow lights, no damping off. Also, I tend to bring everything indoors for the winter to sunny windows with supplemental grow lights. That way, almost everything tends to behave like a perennial. The only plants that stubbornly refuse to keep going are the portulaca grandiflora. Petunias, purslane, Pentas, calibrachoa, coreopsis all thrive indoors in winter and keep blooming. I will probably leave pansies outdoors and see if they survive. Not sure if nemesia would survive indoors but we shall see...

Floral, I don't think we get annual plugs by mail order much out here at a reasonable price, if at all.