Houseplants that Grow From Seeds - You Will Be Surprised! (2023)

Maybe you have had houseplants for years or perhaps you are new to caring for plants. Whatever your situation, you may have considered growing your own houseplants from seeds.

After all, you can do it with your vegetables, so why not with houseplants? Well, I have good news for you. There are some houseplants that are easy to grow from seeds.

What houseplants can be grown from seeds?

Lots of houseplants are hard to grow from seeds. This can be discouraging however here is a list of ones that grow quite easily. African Violets and Succulents or Cacti are easy to grow. Asparagus Ferns and English Ivy as well as certain Palms can be grown from a seeded without a lot of fuss.

I have also grown Peace Lilies and Coleus with little effort. For the animal lovers out there, Cat Grass is also something that can easily be grown from seed.

African Violets

There are more than 20 varieties of African Violets and they have beautiful flowers. You can have a lot of fun growing these.

These can be propagated by taking a cutting but there is no reason why you can’t also grow some from seeds. To grown African Violets, you will need a special African violet soil mix and grow lights.

Plant your seeds in the seed cups and water. Cover with saran wrap and place 10 inches from the lights. They should have a lot of light in the beginning.

I leave my lights on for 12-14 hours a day. Once the seedlings are 2 inches high, remove the plastic wrap and re-plant the seedlings into pots.

Succulents

Succulents are planted in a similar method to African Violets. They need cactus soil to flourish. The seeds are ridiculously small and can easily become uncovered when you water them.

These also need lights for 12 hours a day and saran wrap or a shower cap over them to keep the moisture in. Once they have grown a few inches, they can be moved to a terrarium but not before they are sprouted.

Cactus

Cacti need to be planted in gritty soil that drains well. Cover the seeds with soil and then add a top layer of fine grit or vermiculite. Cover them with plastic and leave them somewhere warm.

They will begin sprouting in a few weeks. The plastic can come off then. Mist them regularly but water only when they are dry. When they look like little Cacti, they can be potted. Use tweezers to move them as they will be prickly!

Asparagus Ferns

Despite its name, this plant is neither a fern nor is it asparagus. It is, however, a pretty little fern that can be grown easily from the seeds.

The red berries on this fern each contain at least 1 seed. Some contain as many as 3 seeds. To plant the seeds, cut open the little berry and pop the seed into a glass of water for 24 hrs.

The seeds can then be planted in seedling cups with some moist soil. They should germinate in 3-4 weeks if they are kept in a room-temperature environment.

I cover mine with plastic wrap. Once the ferns have seedlings with 2 leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into pots.

English Ivy

English Ivy is a bit harder to germinate than some of the other ones in this article. The seeds germinate best when they have been kept in the fridge for a month or two. Once they have been kept there, pop them into a glass of lukewarm water for 24 hours.

From there, they can be put in seedling cups. This seed needs to be pushed firmly into the soil but not buried. Keep the soil moist but not soaked and you should have a plant growing in several weeks’ time.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies take years to mature from seed to full-grown plant but in my opinion, are worth the effort. They are easy to grow and can be planted directly into a seedling cup, covered lightly in soil.

The seeds will get soft and turn yellow as they mature and prepare to grow, so don’t be alarmed by this. Despite their long maturing time, peace lilies are one of the prettiest houseplants, and growing your own is sure to impress those around you!

Coleus

This plant needs to be bottom heated to a temperature of 65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes the seeds 12-21 days to grow into seedlings. Once they are seedlings, they need direct bright light. I put mine under growing lights for a few weeks until they are hardy and ready to be transplanted.

Cat Grass

Cat Greens are called this for a reason. They are safe and even good for your feline friend to munch on. They are easy to grow. Plant these seeds in a shallow, slim pan with drainage holes.

Place the container someplace that gets indirect light and cover with plastic wrap until it has germinated. It should only take a few days for the grass to grow.

At this point, take the plastic wrap off and place the pan in an area with more light. Let it grow at least 4 inches before feeding it to your kitty.

Is it better to soak seeds before planting them?

Sometimes it will help seeds germinate but overall, most seeds do not need to be soaked. The downside to soaking seeds is they can drown if you use too much water. They should be soaked for no more than 24 hours maximum if you do decide to go this route.

What soil is best for growing seeds?

It is best to use seed-starting soil. These mixes contain perlite, peat moss, vermiculite, or coconut coir fiber. These will ensure the proper nutrition for the seeds. They have a fine texture and make it easy for the seed to be planted but not covered too deeply.

Conclusion

There are many plants that are easy to grow at home with a little patience. It is always better to grow them under grow lights and in seedling trays with a seed starting soil. That and a little love, and you will have homegrown plants in no time.