Reason #78: The miracle of a seed.
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
Welcome to my first journey into starting seeds indoors! Have you ever thought about how incredibly miraculous a seed is? It seems utterly impossible that a tiny, seemingly insignificant seed becomes a thriving, branching, blossoming plant. It’s in total faith that we plant seeds, believing they will grow and that their best is yet to come. Believing that the impossible can and will happen!
Starting seeds has deepened my gratitude for the simple yet profound miracle of God’s creation. He brings life and beauty from the smallest, humblest, and most unassuming places—like the minuscule space of seed, into which an entire ecosystem's worth of possibility is packed. Like the tiny baby born in a manger, into which an entire promise for redemption and restoration was fulfilled. Every day, as I check on my little seedlings and watch them sprout into life, I’m reminded of God’s power, goodness, and grace and the responsibilities we carry as stewards of His good gifts to us.
If you’re new to seed starting, I encourage you to try it for yourself! There’s nothing quite like witnessing life emerge from the earth, a sweet reminder that even with “faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).
Getting Started: My First-Timer’s Steps to Starting Seeds Indoors
As a newcomer to gardening, starting seeds indoors felt like a daunting task. However, with a little research and preparation, I found that it could be incredibly simple and rewarding. Here’s the big picture:
Soil goes in container. Seed goes in soil. Seed in soil needs water and light.
Simple right? Reading back on what I wrote above, it almost sounds like a Dr. Seuss book! Here are some more details and a breakdown of the steps I took.
Step 1: Gather information
I consulted the seed packets (as well as online information and books) for things like planting depth, whether light or dark is needed for germination, germination time, and total days to maturity. Following these instructions makes a big difference in seed success! For example, I might have started seeds too early without knowing the days to maturity, resulting in them outgrowing their indoor containers before it’s warm enough to transplant outside!
Step 2: Gather supplies
Before diving into the planting process, I collected everything I would need:
Seeds: In my case (mid-January in Zone 5b), I most recently sowed Campanula Rotundifolia, or Harebell, which is a native variety of campanula from Prairie Moon Nursery. (For the past month, it has been artificially stratifying in my refrigerator).
Seed Starting Mix: A potting soil designed specifically for starting seeds helps prevent diseases and provides the right texture for sprouting. I started with Coast of Maine Sprout Island Blend.
Container(s): You can use seed trays, pots, or even repurpose items like egg cartons or yogurt cups. Just ensure there are drainage holes or create some if needed. Also, use a cover for containers (like plastic wrap). In my case, my seed starting kit came with clear plastic dome lids.
Watering Can or Spray Bottle.
Light Source: A sunny windowsill may work, but if you lack natural light, consider grow lights (mine are simple shop lights from Menards).
Optional, but helpful: A pencil or “dibber” to make a small hole for seeds, if needed.
Step 3: Soil goes in container!
I filled my containers to the top with soil, tapping against my work surface to ensure the soil was settled. The soil should be damp but not soaking wet.
Step 4: Seed goes in soil!
Make a hole as needed, referring to the seed packet for planting depth. I needed to surface sow for my Harebells, as the seeds are tiny and need light to naturally break dormancy and germinate. For other seeds, I will drop 1 or 2 seeds into each hole and add a light dusting of seed starting mix as needed (refer to information from the seed packet and/or online resources).
The seeds are so small you can barely tell they’re there! I had to zoom waaaay in! :)
Step 5: Water carefully
Keeping the soil consistently moist is vital, but be careful not to overwater, which can lead to rot. Using a spray bottle to mist the soil gently is a great idea in these early stages. Because my seed starting kit came with a tray base, I was able to let them sit in an inch of water to soak moisture up from below (also called “bottom watering.”)
To maintain humidity, lightly cover your container(s) with plastic wrap (or dome lid) until the seeds have sprouted. Place your container(s) in a warm area of the house to encourage germination. According to my research, seeds will usually sprout before watering is needed again. Check soil moistness after 2 or 3 days and water again if it is dry.
Step 6: Light
(Above, Snapdragon seedlings emerging one week after being sown)
Once the seedlings emerged, I removed the plastic dome lids and moved the trays to my grow lights; making sure they receive at least 12-16 hours of light each day. If using grow lights, keep them a few inches above the seedlings and adjust them as they grow taller. If natural light is an option, rotate the pots to ensure they grow evenly.
Soil. Seed. Water. Light. It’s an honest-to-God miracle.
Continue to check your seedlings daily and gently water when the soil becomes dry. I plan to feed mine a small amount of fish plant food weekly after they grow true leaves. And, of course, when they outgrow their trays (or at about 2 inches tall), hopefully, the weather will be warm enough for me to start transitioning them outside. So, stay tuned for more! Sign up for my email newsletters here for updates twice a month, or check out my social media for updates on my seedlings’ progress! And please share your own experiences in the comments below!
Until next time, may our seed-sized faith grow in tandem with the seedlings that we tend. As we plant, water, protect, and prune, may we be ever reminded that only God causes the growth, for without Him a seed remains a seed. With Him, miracles happen.
“May their roots work deep, finding rich soil. May their leaves and buds be wakened by gentle sun and watered by ample rain. May the strength of their fragile beauty in bloom give pause to passers-by, who will meet in their sweet scent and radiant forms whispering of grace, stirrings of the spirit, and the awakenings of eternal hungers, that can be met and satisfied only in You. Let these flowers, O Lord, bear witness in their deepest natures to eternal things. Let out lives also, O Lord, do the same.” (Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy, “A Liturgy For the Planting of Flowers”).
“Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20).
Interested in God, but want it simplified for you? Read this post for the good news of Jesus boiled down to four main points.
