Petunia: when to plant and how to grow?

Proper cultivation of flowers from seedling seeds

People often have questions about petunias, growing from seeds, when to plant them, or why the plants don't turn out so beautiful. The main thing is not to rush to blame the manufacturers and flower shops from which you buy the seeds. There are various nuances and details that you need to know to successfully plant these seeds. flowers for the garden.

Flower shops and other sources offer a variety of varieties of this plant, depending on your preferences and tastes. Most often, choosing the wrong seeds for starting seedlings results in poor flower germination. Pay particular attention to the production period on the packaging. Experts recommend seeking assistance from gardening organizations and reputable flower shops. For planting, use only fresh seeds. When is the best time to plant petunias from seed in 2016?

Creating seedlings for a beautiful flower

February is the most favorable time for sowing trailing petunia seeds. This plant is powerful and attractive. Therefore, the flower needs to gain stability and mass to clearly display its graceful appearance. Even if a gardener misses the sowing date, this will not affect its growth. It's important to know when exactly you want to grow the flower.

Double and large-flowered plants should be planted much later, usually in early or early March. For earlier germination, flower seeds can be sown in late January. From sowing to seedlings until flowers emerge, it takes about 2.5-3 months. Gardeners are interested in petunias. growing from seedsWhen to plant: a video can be found on one of the Internet portals.

The seeds of this beautiful flower are dark brown, sometimes yellowish. Their diameter is no more than 0.4-0.7 mm, making them quite difficult to handle. To facilitate seed sowing, manufacturers produce large-flowered, trailing, and double varieties in granulated capsules.

Gardeners typically prefer to plant double, large-flowered, and trailing petunia varieties. The latter two varieties are available in special capsules. Unlike regular seeds, pelleted ones slightly slow down the growth process and reduce the storage period. However, people don't know how to care for petunias, how to grow them from seed, or when to plant them: photos can be found online.

Initial preparation of soil for seedlings

The size and shape of the containers or pots don't matter. When using any container for seedlings, make a small hole in the bottom to ensure good moisture circulation. Small plastic containers are available at any store. They are quite convenient for starting flower seedlings. Typically, one container is enough to sow 10 flowers.

Experts strictly prohibit growing the plant in soil with high acid and alkaline content. The main composition for formation soil: leaf mold or sod soil, topsoil, fresh humus, sand. To neutralize soil acidity, lime should be used. How to start caring for petunias, growing from seeds, and when to plant in March?

To avoid confusion, experts recommend using a universal soil. It's based on peat with fine fertilizer particles. The soil should be perfectly clean and level, with a soft texture. This will allow the plant's young roots to become more stable and take root faster.

Some gardeners may use special peat-based tablets. However, it's best to sow petunias in pots or containers. Young roots tend to have difficulty absorbing soil. Therefore, if the soil is overwatered, the peat will begin to oxidize, damaging the plant's root system. However, in this situation, peat can be useful for growing other plant species.

Seed sowing of beautiful petunia

Failures can occur during this process of seedling growth. If a gardener sows the plant's seeds incorrectly, the flower may fail to germinate indoors.

First, fill the container with soil, about a quarter full. While you're doing this, remove any small particles. Even if the soil is perfectly moist, it should be watered additionally. This will make the process easier and eliminate the need to water the seedlings with a watering can or spray bottle.

Petunia The seeds are very small, so they shouldn't be covered with soil, but rather sown directly on top. In this case, pelleted seeds can make the process much easier. To do this, take a toothpick and lightly moisten it with water. Then, carefully transfer the seeds to the soil and distribute them so that each plant has some space. This will make transplanting the flower easier later.

The granulated substance is highly hygroscopic and begins to absorb moisture and decompose almost immediately. If a seed is misplaced, it should be moved quickly, otherwise it will not be possible to move it later. It is also advisable to label the seeds and write the date on them. Afterwards, the container can be covered with regular glass or transparent film. When should petunias be grown from seed, or when should they be planted as a trailing flower?

If sowing seeds from granules, repeat the process in a different container. First, moisten the soil and level the surface. Next, distribute the seeds evenly over the soil layer without covering them with soil. It's best to choose areas that are as smooth as possible, free of small lumps and uneven surfaces.

After sowing, the seedlings should not be watered. A small amount of water will prevent the seeds from being compacted. Therefore, they should remain on the soil surface. Next, cover the pot or other container with plastic wrap or regular glass. This creates a miniature greenhouse at home. The cover will be needed until the first sprouts appear. The room temperature should be between 20-30ºC.

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Caring for seedlings

Until transplanting and picking seedlings outdoors, they should be kept in a bright, well-lit room. Provide high levels of light for 14 hours a day, otherwise the plant will not be able to adapt to the open ground. A table lamp can be used for this purpose.

Petunias also shouldn't dry out. Therefore, the gardener should monitor condensation and avoid high humidity. Therefore, watering should be done carefully from a small container with a small sieve or spout between the side and the soil. If water gets on the seeds, the sprouts may not emerge. When should petunias be grown from seeds, and when should they be planted according to the lunar calendar?

In about a week, the seeds should sprout and produce their first leaves. After some time, the plant should be ventilated and the temperature gradually reduced. Increase the amount of time the seedlings are left outdoors each day.

This will allow you to properly grow the flower at home and plant it in the garden or on the balcony. Don't forget about subsequent care. It should grow as a healthy and strong plant.

Petunia is one of the most popular types of flowers with soft and delicate shades (There are flowers that are very similar to petunia - these are lobelia). They can vary in flower shape. Petunias are wind- and rain-resistant, so they grow well in open areas.