MOSS VERBENA

1. Start moss verbena seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Soak the seeds in a bowl of water for an hour or two to determine which are viable. Discard the seeds that float and sow those that sink.

2. Fill individual 3-inch starter pots with a mix of three parts sterile potting soil and one part coarse sand. Leave the top 1/2-inch of each pot empty. Moisten the growing mix and allow it to drain.

3. Sow two moss verbena seeds in each starter pot. Press them onto the surface of the growing mix, and then cover them with a 1/16-inch-thick layer of soil. Gently firm the soil to anchor the seeds and mist with water.

4. Place the potted moss verbena seeds near a large window with eight hours of sun exposure each day. Warm the bottom of the pots with a germination mat. Set the temperature on the mat to between 70 and 75 F.

5. Check the moisture level in the soil mixture twice daily. Water if the soil feels almost completely dry on the surface. Mist the seeds with a spray bottle until the growing mixture feels moderately moist in the top 1/4-inch.

6. Watch for the first signs of sprouting in two to four weeks.

7. Increase watering slightly after germination. Drizzle water around the base of the moss verbena seedlings before the soil surface dries out completely. Avoid getting water on the seedling since excess moisture on the leaves increases the likelihood of fungal infection.

8. Move the moss verbena seedlings outdoors once nighttime temperatures stay reliably above 55 F. Place the pots in a sheltered area out of direct sunlight. Acclimate the plants to direct sun for a few days before transplanting them into the garden.

9. Transplant the moss verbena seedlings into a permanent bed once they produce at least one pair of true leaves. Choose a sunny planting site with loamy, draining soil. Space them 12 to 24 inches apart.