Mix Dwarf Strawflower Seeds

Start Dwarf Strawflower seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, or direct-sow once night temperatures stay above 50°F. These seeds need light to germinate, so scatter them on the soil surface and press them in gently without burying. Keep the medium at 70–75°F and only lightly damp, because oversoaked seeds rot before they sprout — that's the most common reason for poor germination. Strawflower seeds sprout in 7–14 days. Thin seedlings or transplant them to 8 inches apart once they show two sets of true leaves. 

Strawflowers need full sun — six hours minimum, ideally eight. They grow in almost any soil, but provide them with well-drained ground of moderate fertility and you'll get bigger flowers and sturdier cutting stems. Water only when the top inch of soil dries out, since this is a drought-tolerant plant and overwatering causes root rot. Skip the heavy fertilizing as well, because excess nitrogen pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers — feed with balanced fertilizer at planting, and that is enough for the whole season.

As it is dwarf variety, there is no need to stake flowers. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep the plant blooming for longer. Leave the last round to ripen seed in fall if you want to save seeds for the next season. For drying, cut stems in the morning while the outer bracts have opened but the yellow center is still tight and closed. Bundle 6–8 stems together, hang them upside down in a dark, dry room for 2–3 weeks, and they'll keep their color in storage for years.