Secrets of growing and timing of planting petunia seedlings

Petunia - one of the beautiful plants that is characterized by long flowering and bright colors. Growing petunia seedlings at home is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the sequence of work. In the future, there will be no difficulties in growing other plants.

Content:

• Selection of seeds and timing of planting petunias for seedlings
• Growing petunia from seeds: methods
• How to properly care for seedlings

Selection of seeds and timing of planting petunias for seedlings

When growing seedlings on a windowsill, the optimal time for sowing seeds is mid-March. It can be planted earlier if it is possible to provide additional illumination with a special lamp. In this case, planting is carried out in the last days of February.

For seeds to germinate, the temperature must be at least 25 degrees. It is also necessary to take into account other points. If the windows are directed north, then it is better to postpone sowing until the beginning of April. If the windows face south, then you can plant the seeds in early March. It is important to know that early landing and insufficient light supply will affect the development of seedlings.

Young plants will grow slowly and become elongated and weaker. It is impossible to grow beautiful flowers from such plants. There are also some things you should know when choosing seeds.

The seeds can be pure or in a shell. The latter are expensive, but they are protected from mechanical damage and disease. Pure seeds are cheaper, but not all seeds can sprout.In most cases, it does not matter much what seeds will be used for sowing. The main thing is to sow and grow seedlings correctly.

Growing petunia from seeds: methods

For cultivation, you can use containers or special peat tablets. For planting, use containers or small boxes. The growth and development of plants will depend on the composition of the soil mixture. Priming for petunia it should be loose and breathable. You can buy ready-made soil for planting seeds.

Peat, turf, and humus in equal quantities are used as soil mixtures. One part of sand is added to this mixture. Mix everything well so that there are no lumps. The soil must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. When using purchased soil, before planting it is recommended to add 500 g of ash and 250 g of perlite to 5 kg of soil.

It is also necessary to add 20 g of potassium fertilizer. After preparing the soil, you can begin sowing the seeds. Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the container. It does not allow moisture to linger in the container and protects the roots from rotting. You can use crushed stone or expanded clay. Next, fill the pot with soil.

There is no need to sprinkle the seeds with soil, as they need light to germinate. It is enough to spread them on the surface using a toothpick. The top of the container should be covered with polyethylene or glass to create greenhouse conditions.

You can also use plastic containers with lids. Boxes with seeds must be placed on the windowsill. You cannot water the seeds, as they are very small and will go into the ground. It is necessary to spray the seedlings using a spray bottle. You can add a solution of potassium permanganate to the water.

Video tutorial on how to properly grow petunia:

If peat tablets are used for planting, they must first be soaked in water. Sowing seeds is carried out in the same way. This method of growing petunia seedlings is the most effective. The seedlings do not require subsequent picking and can be planted immediately in open ground.

How to properly care for seedlings

The first shoots appear 2 weeks after sowing the seeds. During this period, the temperature must be reduced: in the daytime no more than 20 degrees, and at night it should not exceed 16 degrees. If necessary, additional lighting can be used. During the day, seedlings should be illuminated for about 16 hours.
Feeding can be carried out when seedlings appear.

First, foliar feeding is performed using mineral water-soluble fertilizers. With the appearance of the first leaves, picking is carried out. Early picking should only be done when crops are dense or if there are signs of disease. This is a very responsible and painstaking job. You need to prepare transparent cups in advance and fill them with soil.

Next, the sprouts are transplanted along with a small lump of soil. Sprouts develop slowly, as strength is needed to build up the root system. Adult seedlings need to be transplanted into a larger container. It is recommended to plant seedlings in open ground after spring frosts.

Transplant better on cloudy days. If the variety of petunia is large-flowered, then the distance from each other should be 20-25 cm, and for multi-flowered petunia a little less - 15-20 cm. The soil must be mulched to protect it from cold and retain moisture.When caring for petunia seedlings, it is important to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the soil. Excessive watering can provoke the development of a fungal disease - blackleg.

To maintain normal soil moisture, it is recommended to water by placing the container in a pan of water rather than watering from above. It should be remembered that for irrigation it is better to take settled water at room temperature. By following all the recommendations for growing petunias, you can get full-fledged seedlings and create a beautiful flower garden.