As we retreat indoors for the colder months, many of us gardeners will be waiting impatiently for spring to come back around so another busy growing season can commence. But, what if I told you growing doesn't have to wait until we're back in our yards? There are actually a number of easiest houseplants to grow from seed that you can get started with right now.
That's right, plenty of the best indoor plants can be grown from seed indoors, rather than purchased as full plants. It's by no means a quick process, but a little patience and perseverance can make this indoor garden project fun and rewarding.
I already love to propagate my houseplants from cuttings to share with loved ones, so the idea of growing brand new houseplants from seed seems like a beautiful gift to give. Here, I explore three of the easiest houseplants to grow from seed, with insights from a plant expert on how to make it successful.
3 houseplants you can grow from seed
The easiest houseplants to grow from seed can be grown at any point in the year, so long as you maintain a controlled indoor growing environment.
When growing them in the colder months, consider using indoor growing systems to help add extra warmth and light for seed germination. This includes using a seed mat (from Amazon) and grow light (from Amazon).
1. Coleus
Not only is coleus one of the easiest houseplants to grow from seed, it's also one of the most unusual houseplants to grow.
You might be more familiar with it in a garden setting, especially if you live in US hardiness zone 10+, but these tropical beauties are also popular as variegated indoor plants.
To grow coleus from seed, you want to simply press coleus seeds (from Amazon) into the surface of seed-starting potting mix. Don't cover them with soil, as these seeds need light to germinate.
You should then keep your seeds in a warm spot, like a sunny windowsill, and keep them consistently moist (you may even consider using a humidity dome from Amazon). You'll likely spot seedlings after just a couple of weeks.
Once established, Plantum plant expert Marina Prokaten advises, 'Bright, indirect sun works the best for this plant. Direct sunlight will cause leaf scorch. Put it on any window that isn’t south-facing.'
2. Wax begonias
Wax begonia is a beautiful indoor flowering plant that blooms in colors from red, pink, and white. They're the easiest type of begonia to grow from seed, with begonia rex (like this plant from Walmart) being much more challenging.
It's best to use pelleted begonia seeds (from Amazon) which are coated and easier to handle. Uncoated wax begonia seeds are as tiny as dust and very hard to work with.
Just like coleus, begonia seeds need light to germinate. Gently push them into the surface of seed-starting compost (like this from Amazon) without covering them.
You should then keep your begonia seeds somewhere bright, ensuring they get around 12 hours of light per day, and maintain temperatures between 70–75°F. You can employ the help of grow lights for houseplants if needed.
Make sure to also lightly water the seeds for consistent moisture. A spray bottle (from Amazon) is often preferred when growing begonia from seed, to provide gentle watering without disrupting them.
Seedlings will usually appear after a few weeks, so a bit of waiting is required. They're susceptible to damping off, so ensure they have good airflow and you don't overwater them to encourage robust growth as they establish into full-size plants.
3. Asparagus fern
This is actually a houseplant I'm attempting to grow from seed, as I love indoor ferns. Asparagus fern is one of the most charming you can get, with soft, elegant fronds.
You can find asparagus fern seeds on Amazon, which will need soaking for 24 hours before planting 1/4 inch deep in a seed tray (like this one from Walmart).
It's key to provide lots of warmth for asparagus fern seeds to germinate, ideally 70–80°F which can be achieved with a seedling heat mat (from Amazon).
By keeping the soil consistently moist, but not soggy, you'll spot seedlings after three to six weeks. These are slow-growers when started from seed, so some patience is required.
'The best option for your fern will be part shade. Direct sunlight will turn an asparagus fern yellow,' Marina notes. 'It also doesn’t mind being a little bit pot-bound and can do without repotting for up to two years,' she adds.
FAQs
Can you collect seeds from houseplants?
While you can technically collect seeds from houseplants, it is very unlikely if your plant has only ever grown indoors. This is because plants need to be pollinated to produce seed.
This also requires your houseplants to flower before they can be pollinated, which is also very tricky to achieve for many tropical indoor plants in a standard home environment (unless, of course, it is an indoor flowering plant).
Growing houseplants from seed requires some patience, as it does take a little while for the plants to grow to an established houseplant size. If you want some faster results, try the easiest houseplants to grow from cuttings and using methods to speed up houseplant propagation.
