How to Plant Columbine Seeds

Overview

Columbines flowers are loved by gardeners for their soft colors, and by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds for their sweet nectar. Columbine seeds require a period of cold dormancy called stratification to germinate. To plant your columbine seeds directly into a garden, it must be done in the fall so they will germinate in the spring. To start columbine plants indoors, an artificial stratification process of placing them in a cold environment for several weeks will be necessary. Apart from stratification, planting columbine seeds indoors or outdoors is a fairly simple process.

Planting Columbine Seeds Indoors

Step 1

Fill the plant pots or flats to the rim with a seed-starting potting soil mix.

Step 2

Water the seed pots enough to naturally settle the potting mix.

Step 3

Lay one to two Columbine seeds on top of the soil mix and cover lightly with additional soil.

Step 4

Give the soil a mist of water from a spray bottle.

Step 5

Cover the plant pots or trays with plastic wrap and place them on the bottom shelf of a refrigerator. Leave alone for 30 days.

Step 6

Take the seed pots out of the refrigerator and place in front of a warm, sunny window until the seeds germinate, which can take up to four weeks. Continue to monitor the soil to make sure it is moist. Water when necessary.

Step 7

Plant the seedlings outdoors in your garden when they are 3 inches tall.

Step 8

Fertilize the columbine plants once a month with a basic fertilizer, but it is not necessary. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Direct Planting In Ground

Step 1

Rake the planting area clear of all leaves, weeds and other debris.

Step 2

Wet the soil to provide moisture.

Step 3

Place the seeds on top of the moist soil and cover them lightly with soil. The seeds should begin to sprout in the spring.

Step 4

Fertilize the columbine plants once a month with a basic fertilizer, but it is not necessary. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.