Petunia is a beautiful flower in its variety, one of the most popular in our open spaces. Delightful flower beds, flowerbeds, curbstones hanging from hanging flowerpots, plant cascades delight our eyes, delight us with a subtle, unique aroma from early summer until autumn. Flowers are unpretentious, drought-resistant, not afraid of heat, have an enviable adaptability to different environmental conditions. Caring for this plant is not particularly difficult, but the process of growing, planting seeds has its own nuances. How and when to plant petunia on seedlings you will learn by reading the information below.
- Time and conditions for planting petunias
- Petunia seeds - how to collect?
- How to grow petunia seedlings in peat tablets?
Time and conditions for planting petunias
This factor depends on how quickly you want to get blooming bushes of this flower. If you have a specially equipped place( for example, on the balcony) and lights, then you can start seeding in late January or early February. According to the advice of experienced gardeners, it is preferable to plant it according to the lunar calendar for flowers in 2018 on certain dates.
If you want to see the lush bloom already in May and enjoy the results of your work, then this is exactly the case when you need to put petunia on seedlings in late January-early February.
When planning the planting dates, consider the characteristics of a variety or hybrid, their earlier or later flowering. In different varieties, the time interval between the appearance of the first flowers is approximately 1 month. Early species begin to bloom in two months from the moment the first sprouts spit, later ones - in about three.
The most acceptable temperature for seedlings is + 23-25 ° С, if this index is lower, the plant development will be slowed down.
содерж back to content ↑Petunia seeds - how to collect?
Seeds are found in old, already faded petunia flowers. For seed selection, lower testicles are best suited, as these are the very first flowers. They have time to mature well by the time of collection, before the beginning of the autumn rains. If your petunia was planted in the spring, then in July-August you will be able to stock up on samples of exactly those varieties that you like best.
The seeds of this beautiful plant are very small, smaller than the poppy seed, they only need to be harvested when fully ripe. It should take 2-3 months from the beginning of flowering. It is best to store them in a paper envelope to avoid fogging. In the absence of nearby sources of moisture, petunia seeds can be stored for very long.
It is also worth mentioning the coated seeds, which are much more convenient to plant. Small, almost weightless seeds of petunia are rolled into a special nutrient sheath, consisting of substances that activate growth.
You can buy petunia seeds in any flower shop, as well as on the shelves of specialized markets. Such seeds sit one ball in a pot or a peat tablet, and ordinary seeds are simply sown, it is very difficult to ration them. The difference will be only in the number of seedlings: sprouted simple seeds give a thicker growth.
содерж to content ↑How to grow seedlings of petunias in peat tablets?
Sowing seeds in special peat tablets is ideal for petunias. This is a fairly easy and economical method of growing.
A peat tablet is peat pressed into a small, flattened round shape, wrapped in a thin natural fiber net. Each such "washer" has a recess for the seed. Its height is about 1 cm.
Immediately before planting the seeds, peat tablets are soaked, water helps them to swell in height( up to 5 times).Thus, the resulting form is an optimal medium for seed growth, which retains moisture well and protects sprouts from harmful fungi. In addition, peat "washers" contain nutrients that positively affect the growth and pomp of the plant.
Planting petunia seedlings in peat tablets is as follows:
- Choosing peat tablets 3-4 cm in diameter - this is the optimal size for the development of petunia.
- Soak them in boiled water at room temperature for 7-10 minutes.
- With a pair of tweezers or a wetted tip of a wooden toothpick, immerse several seeds or a single ball( if the seeds are pelleted) in the tablet groove and pour in a little.
- In order to activate growth, seeds need sunlight, so they cannot be buried - just lay on top of the soil.
- To create the required microclimate, peat tablets should be covered with plastic film or glass. This coating should not touch the surface of peat tablets.
- For favorable development, the pill form should be placed in a warm place. At a temperature of + 25 ° C, you will be able to see the shoots after 7 days, but if the temperature drops below + 20 ° C, the shoots may not rise at all.
Petunia shoots in peat tablets Tablets should be moistened periodically, but not overdone with watering. Also detrimental to germination too bright sunlight. Diffused light and moderate moisture - optimal conditions for seedlings of petunias. Water can be poured into the pallet tanks with peat tablets.
At first, sprouts are very vulnerable, they require a lot of attention. To maintain uniform growth and prevent excessive stretching, it is desirable to lower the temperature of the content to + 17-20 ° C.Regular airing of seedlings is also recommended.
Peat seedlings grown in peat tablets do not need a pick. Only if the root system has made its way through the shell of the “washer” and planted in open ground early, will it be necessary to transplant the seedlings into pots or other larger containers.
Petunia seedlings are planted in the pot. Petunia transplant rules:
- For transplantation, you can use ready-made seedlings( sold in flower shops).
- The tablet with the seedling is immersed in a pot, carefully filled with nutritious primer.
- Try not to damage the roots of the plant, also do not bury the pill in the soil.
- The ground level must be equal to the top of the "washer".
After 10-12 days after transplantation, you can begin to harden the plants - daily provide them with access to fresh air. After warm weather is established outside, petunia can be planted in the garden.
Petunia seedling is ready for planting on the flowerbed A characteristic feature of petunia is slow growth at the beginning. During this period, it is not necessary to overload the plants with fertilizers or excessive watering, since the forces of the seedlings are activated on increasing the root system. All stages of the growing process should be carried out correctly: when to plant petunia on seedlings, how to take care of it, when to transplant, when to plant. Hope you all know that now.
Petunias grown from seedlings With the observance of all the rules, an excellent result will not take long to wait, and a luxurious petunia will become a real decoration of your site.
