How To Grow Pampas From Seed
Pampas grass seeds require loose, well-drained, moist soil for germination. Plant the seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last potential frost in spring. Keep the plants indoors during the first winter to protect young plants from frost if seeds are planted later than spring.
✅ Pour an even mixture of moistened peat moss and light sand into a 4-inch diameter planting container.
✅ Place five evenly spaced pink pampas grass seeds on the soil surface in the planter. Lightly press the seeds into the soil; do not cover them with potting mix.
✅ Water the soil until moist to the touch but not soaking wet. Add water slowly so the seeds don't wash away.
✅ Cover the planters with a clear plastic food storage bag. Place the open end of the bag over the planter to allow air circulation and control soil temperature and moisture.
✅ Place the planter next to a sunny window that receives six to eight hours of direct or filtered sunlight daily. The room temperature should be between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination success. You can place the planters on a seed germination mat, on top of a radiator or near a vent to provide additional heat in cooler rooms.
✅ Mist the seeds daily to maintain an even level of moisture in the soil required for seed germination.
✅ Keep the soil moist to the touch but not wet. Excessive moisture can rot seeds and seedlings.
✅ Allow one to two weeks for the pink pampas seeds to germinate and reveal seedlings. If each of the five seeds germinates, leave all the plants in place to grow as a single bunch.
✅ Transplant the pink pampas grass outdoors when plants reach a height of 3 to 4 inches. Plant the grass in holes twice the diameter of the original container, or 8 inches in diameter, and the same height as the pots. Space each plant 8 feet apart to allow the pink pampas to reach maturity. Select a site with full to partial sunlight.
✅ Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark mulch around the pampas grass clumps to aid in moisture retention and help prevent weeds. Do not push the mulch directly against the stems.
✅ Water the plants regularly to keep the soil moist for the first growing season. As plants mature, they should require watering only once a week (more often during hot, dry months).
✅ Fertilize the pampas grass plants with a complete fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, four times a year at a rate of 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per 100 square feet. Spread the granular fertilizer evenly around the plants; try not to put the fertilizer directly on the plant stem.
✅ After fertilizing, water thoroughly, to protect the pampas delicate roots from salts.
