Starting seedlings outdoors.

I'm wonderin why I dont hear of anyone startin seeds outdoors? Why does everyone choose to start seeds in cups indooors under light? I have seeds germinatin right now and I think im gonna put most of them in cups right outside on the deck, maybe ill start a couple under fluorescents indoors and do most of em outside. Any reason why noone does this?

weather control

yeah but you probly get better growth outside, plus its not natural. Anyone know anyone who germinates and then puts seeds in cups directly outside?

why do you think you would get better growth? you have more bugs outside you cant control the climate. If you want to do it it probablly would work im just saying growing indoors is alot easier.

Because the sun is alot more bright and with the CO2 outside.. And i dont have bug problems with other plants, only spiders that like to spin webs from leaf to lead or cup to cup, they dont affect the plants though.

ok well go for it

I have experience indoor and outdoor. The key challenge with outdoor is maintaining soil moisture during germination in the sun and wind. Insects are a problem, too. Pillbugs love young plants. Indoors the environment is completely under your control.

Heat makes seeds germ much faster, can't have controlled constant heat all day in nature most the time unless it's super hot. Better survivability of the seedling till it gets big and old enough to handle any of the things that can't be controlled outside.

4 years later.......
idk

lol, I think the OP is long gone. Did you have some kind of question about growing outdoors?

I was wondering the same thing, ive seen some videos where people just have their plants out from seed...
If im having problems with indoor lighting, can i just leave them on my balcony? they get plenty of light, then bring them inside for the night?

Yes you can start them outdoors. Wet your potting mix first and let the excess water drain, then get your seeds and put them in a cup of water for 15 minutes. Push them into the soil no more then half an inch. Less is better. Then pinch the soil over the hole. Place in a sunny spot, ideally on the southern part of your property so they get morning sun instead of the hotter mid-day sun. Mist the soil with fresh water every day in the morning or after noon. In three to five days it will sprout.

Once sprouted, look for something to protect it against pests. Mature healthy plants can fend off attacks, but seedlings can't. Start indoors or in outside cold frames if possible. Large containers off the ground are safer then those at ground level. A basin or moat around the plant helps quite a bit. Most insects hate aluminum foil. Slugs and snails hate copper. Diatomaceous earth can be applied before hand and mixed into the soil to deter insects. Don't forget about gofers, field mice, and cats. Think of creative ways to protect against all these threats and more.

Thanks alot man, ill try this method, ive been germinating the seeds before planting them first... is that fine too?

Yeah that works too. When you transplant the pre-germinated seeds, keep misting the top layer every now and then so it doesn't dry out.

alright thanks