Growing in pots, indoors, what would happen if I sowed directly in the final pots?

[Skafidr]

As the title implies, I'm thinking about growing a couple of plants indoors during the winter. Now the "usual" starting method I'm familiar with is:

• drop seeds on starting soil mix
• put that on heat mat, covered so that humidity remains around, keep the surface damp
• wait for germination/until they have their second set of leaves
• transplant the bigger ones to individual 1" pots/remove from the heat mat
• wait till they out-grow it, transplant to 4" pots
• plant to their final container.

Now what would happen if I were to

• sprinkle the seeds directly onto the soil surface of their final container, deposit the heat mat over this
• wait for them to germinate
• remove the heat mat
• pluck the spouts that are to be discarded
• never transplant anything?

 

[deluxestogie]

The advantage of starting in small containers is that you have to commit fewer resources per seed. This is a benefit related to the scale of the grow (e.g. 200 final plants vs. 2 final plants). For a couple of potted house plants, there is no scale benefit.

Bob

 

[johnny108]

Balancing water needs with a new seedling in a big pot is actually kind of difficult.
You won’t need to water often, but that means less water/air movement around the roots, which slows growth.
As annoying as it may be- starting in a small container and repotting up gives more vigorous growth.
Transplanting also gives the plant a bit of rough handling to toughen the stem up a bit, but every indoor plant I’ve grown has needed a support stake, anyway.
Plus, transplanting the indoor plants gives you off season practice for the big game in spring.

 

[deluxestogie]

growing a couple of plants indoors

Plan:
Do one plant by starting small, and repotting upward. Do one plant by starting in its final pot. Report the results.

Bob