How to plant petunia seedlings at home

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Petunia is loved by gardeners for its long and colorful flowering. But in order to successfully grow flowers in the garden, it is important to know how to plant petunias for seedlings at home.

Landing dates

Petunia has a long growing season, so flowers are grown only in seedlings. If you plant seeds immediately in open ground, then flowering will have to wait for a very long time. Therefore, flower growers begin to deal with seedlings at the end of January. But many plant seeds in March, then the petunia will bloom in June and will delight with its flowering until the coldest days.

Planting time largely depends on the specific region. So, in the suburbs, as well as throughout the middle lane, seeds are planted during February. Moreover, if the seedlings grow on the southern windows, then at the beginning of the month, and if on the northern windows, then at the end of winter. Also, in late February and early March, sowing seeds is possible in the Leningrad region.

In mid-March, seeds are planted in the Urals - it's not worth it earlier, otherwise the seedlings will outgrow. Seeds are planted a week later in Siberia, here the summer is warm, but, unlike other climatic zones, it is short.

Many plant seeds according to the lunar calendar, and petunia is one of those plants that are usually planted on the growing moon.

Seed selection

Answering the question of how to plant petunias for seedlings at home, it is worth starting with the choice of seeds, because without high-quality planting material, it will not work to grow beautiful flowers.

When buying, we pay attention to the expiration date and, if the seed material has expired, then we immediately refuse, since the petunia quickly loses its germination. Trust only trusted manufacturers.

The choice of planting material largely depends on where the flowers will grow. If this is a pots, then take ampelous and cascading varieties, if a flowerbed, then bush. Flowers of the Surfinia and Multiflora group are distinguished by abundant flowering, and those who value the size of the flower should choose terry large-flowered varieties.

All petunias are divided into four groups. Ampelnye are suitable for growing on terraces, Floribunda looks better in group plantings, multi-flowered ones are distinguished by abundant flowering and large-flowered ones - with a flower diameter of 7 to 10 cm.

The timing of planting seeds also depends on the variety. For example, ampel petunia is planted 2 weeks earlier, since it takes more time for germination and development.

Soil preparation

The right soil is the key to healthy and strong seedlings. Petunia loves loose and fine-grained soil, low or neutral in acidity, in terms of nutritional properties - medium. The following types of soil are best suited for such a plant:

• loamy;
• sandy loamy;
• sandy-clayey.

You can buy the soil or make it yourself.

The composition is as follows:

• 1 part of the soddy land of sand;
• 2 times more peat;
• ½ part of ash;
• a handful of perlite;
• a spoonful of potassium fertilizer.

Another variant:

• 2 parts of sod land, peat, humus;
• a handful of perlite.

More options:

• 6 parts of peat and 3 parts of clay;
• 1 part of sand and peat, 2 parts of loam;
• loam and peat in equal proportions.

Sand can be replaced with coconut flakes, loam with perlite.

Regardless of what the soil will be, it must be disinfected. Spill with a weak manganese solution 24 hours before sowing or heat in the oven for an hour.

Seed preparation

You can plant petunias for seedlings from seeds purchased or collected by yourself. If the planting material is not from a flower shop, then before planting it must be prepared, namely stratified. It consists in the fact that 2 months before planting, the seeds are placed in a container with wet sand and kept in the refrigerator all this time.

If the seeds are purchased, then this procedure is not carried out, but the seed material can be checked for germination. To do this, the gauze is impregnated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, seeds are placed on it and left warm for a week. And those seeds that hatch can be planted.

Methods for growing petunias from seeds

There are several ways to grow seedlings. Each has its own pros and cons. You can experiment and choose a better option for yourself.

Peat tablets

Many growers want to know how to plant petunia seedlings in peat tablets. They are pressed peat, which is placed in a special shell made of mesh to maintain its shape.

Despite the fact that the shell is dense, it calmly allows air and moisture to pass through, and the plants themselves receive sufficient amounts of nutrients necessary for their growth and development. Sowing in peat tablets is quite simple:

1. We put all the tablets in a common container and fill it with warm (necessarily settled) water, wait half an hour.
2. After the indicated time, the tablets should be saturated with water and swell. If there is still water in the container, drain it, but if it seems that the peat is not sufficiently moistened, add some more water.
3. Place one seed in each tablet. If they are pelleted, then we moisten them first - just drip water on them.
4. Tighten the container with foil or cover with a transparent lid.

Before planting petunias on seedlings in peat tablets at home, it is important to find out the pros and cons of the method. Of course, this method is very effective, it provides good germination, the roots grow strong and healthy. At the same time, the use of peat tablets will allow you to do without additional containers, which will save space on the windowsill.

But the pills are expensive. It is also important to keep an eye on the moisture level, as peat dries quickly. Before planting, it is imperative to check the acidity, since it is often peat tablets that are not suitable for petunias, with the exception of rare varieties and pelleted seeds.

Into the snow

Novice flower growers know little about the fact that at home it is possible to plant petunias on seedlings with snow. The method is interesting, simple, does not require watering. The main thing is to act quickly before the snow melts.

How to plant petunias for seedlings with snow:

1. The container is filled with prepared soil, leveled.
2. They are covered with snow from above, the thickness of the snow cover should be from 1 to 1.5 cm.
3. Planting material is laid out on top.
4. Cover the container with a film or a transparent lid.

The disadvantages of this method have not yet been identified. It is noted that the seeds are clearly visible against a snow-white background, so it is easier to distribute them evenly over the entire surface.

With sand

The main advantage of this method is the even distribution of seeds over the soil surface. For sowing, you will need a common container.

The instructions follow:

1. Loose soil is poured into a container, leveled and moistened.
2. Seeds are sent to a separate container along with sand, mixed with a wooden stick.
3. A mixture of planting material and sand is evenly distributed over the soil surface.
4. The contents of the container are moistened again and covered.

The disadvantage of the method is in the careful preparation of the sand. It must be cleaned of impurities, calcined and dried. This method is more suitable for more experienced florists - skill is needed.

In cassettes

Growing seedlings in cassettes is especially popular with many, because this method allows you to avoid such an unpleasant procedure as diving. Each plant will have its own capacity, so the root system develops better.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. We fill the cassettes with prepared soil, moisten them.
2. Using a toothpick soaked in water, place the seed in the center of the cassette, lightly press it against the soil.
3. Sprinkle a little with soil on top, moisten it a little, cover it with a film or a lid, which is often sold in the kit.

For many, this is the best way, but some find it too painstaking.

The volume of earth in the cassettes is small, so it is important to monitor the moisture level.

Into boiling water

As an experiment, you can try this unusual method of sowing seeds. Many growers claim that it is the most effective and will allow even stale seeds to “wake up”. For planting, you need to prepare a container and preferably a coconut substrate.

Further:

1. The container is filled with a substrate, the planting material is laid out on top.
2. Pour boiling water over and immediately cover with a lid, and then wrap it with a towel, maybe a newspaper.
3. After 24 hours, the towel is removed, only the lid is left.

Not everyone decides on this method, they consider it too extreme. But even for the sake of interest, along with other sowing methods, it is worth a try.

Into a snail

Sowing seeds in a snail is a new, but proven method. In the snail, the seedlings can grow quietly until the very transplant into the already open ground. At the same time, the roots of the seedlings do not get tangled, they are easily removed, it is easy to take care of them, and the design itself will save space.

To make a snail, you need a simple backing that is placed under the laminate:

1. A 25 cm long tape is cut from the substrate, laid out on the table, and a layer of ordinary toilet paper is placed on top.
2. The paper is moistened and, stepping back 1 cm from the top edge, the seeds are laid out at a distance of 1-2 cm.
3. The planting material is sprinkled with soil (layer thickness - 1 cm), compacted a little.
4. A layer of toilet paper is again placed on top of the soil, which is sprayed with water.
5. Now the tape is carefully folded into a snail, fixed with an elastic band and placed in a container so that the seeds are at the top, covered.

If the seeds are planted close to each other, then the plants will not have enough light.

Seedling care

After sowing, seedlings appear in about 2 weeks, before that they are kept under cover in a room with a temperature of +23 to +25 degrees. And in order for the seedlings to grow strong and healthy, they need to provide proper care:

1. Watering. Petunia requires regular but moderate watering. Due to a lack of moisture, it will dry out, and excess can cause a black leg to appear. Seedlings are watered every day, monthly seedlings - 3 times a week.
2. Lighting. The plant is very fond of light, so if the seeds were planted in February, then phytolamps may need to be installed.
3. Picking. This procedure is carried out after the appearance of the first pair of true leaves. The work is very delicate, as the roots of the seedlings are very fragile.
4. Top dressing. After the emergence of seedlings, you need to spray the seedlings with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for two weeks. As soon as 3-4 real leaves grow, they are fed with the "Crystalon" solution, and 14 days after the pick, fertilizers are applied for root growth.
5. Topping. After a dive, you need to carefully tear off the top of the head at the central stem. If this is not done, then flowering will be poor.

Petunia belongs to plants that love warmth, therefore, it should be planted in a permanent place only when the threat of recurrent frosts has passed. This usually happens in mid-May, but it all depends on the region.

It is not so difficult to grow petunia seedlings, the main thing is to make sure that the plant receives everything it needs for its growth and development. This is the only way to plant healthy and strong seedlings in a flower bed, which will delight you with a beautiful and long flowering.

Outcomes

1. Petunia is grown only in seedlings due to its long growing season.
2. Sowing seeds can be carried out in cassettes, peat tablets, with snow, in boiling water and in other ways.
3. You cannot use old seeds for sowing, nothing will grow out of them.
4. Seedling care is watering, feeding, lighting, picking, and necessarily pinching.