It’s probably hard to find someone who wouldn’t like petunias. They are very bright with many shades, lush and pleases their owners with long color and unpretentiousness. But, unfortunately, not every owner of a private sector or a country house turns out to curb this beautiful flower.

This is due to the fact that it is quite difficult to grow petunia from seeds for seedlings. But, if you follow fairly simple and simple rules and our recommendations for growing petunia seedlings at home, then very soon saturated inflorescences will delight your eye!

Since the price of ready-made seedlings is quite high, it will be quite expensive to green the house territory. Therefore, it is advisable to learn how to make petunia seedlings at home independently. Moreover, if you learn to grow it, then with other flowers you certainly will not have problems!

When to sow petunia for seedlings?

It is believed that already prepared sprouts should be planted in open ground in mid-June. Therefore, this means that the planting of petunia seeds for seedlings should take place in March. But, we draw your attention to the fact that if you want to get flowering as early as possible, then seeds should be planted already at the end of January. They will need from twelve to fourteen weeks for the seeds to sprout and they will finally grow stronger for transplanting. Also, this period is very important, because it is at this moment that the root system is laid and develops, which will make your petunias stronger and more resistant to weather changes. When to sow petunia for seedlings? The earlier the better!

Firstly, before planting a petunia on seedlings, you must correctly select and prepare the soil itself, in which you plan to plant future flowers. For petunia, it must be very nutritious, not heavy, retain moisture and let air through.

Therefore, it is most reasonable to buy ready-made mixtures for planting petunias for seedlings in stores. Now there is a huge variety of them, differing in price. The positive aspects of this decision are obvious. After all, this land is peeled, that is, sterile, which guarantees a painless germination of your flowers. Also, in such soil there are no foreign inclusions, which is so important when it comes to such small seeds as petunias.

However, it should be borne in mind that not every store mix will be "to the taste" of your flowers. If the substrate is too acidic, then the petunias will emerge rather slowly and germinate worse. That is why it is worth giving preference to peat of low origin (black), since they have optimal acidity.

By the way, if this happened - you noticed that the petunias sprout poorly and you sin on the substrate, and its acidity, then don’t worry, you don’t have to run to the store to buy a new one. You can lower your acid level at home. For this you need to add limestone or dolomite flour. Take a teaspoon per kilogram of soil.

If you decide to tackle the soil yourself, then you will need white, river sand, turf land and some peat. We mix all the components in the proportions of one share of sand, into two parts of peat and earth. Also, it is not superfluous to carefully sift the mixture, in order to avoid the ingress of large particles and various kinds of debris. In addition, we recommend additionally disinfecting the soil - heating it in the oven or pouring it well with boiling water.

The technique of planting petunias for seedlings

It is important to note that petunias are flowers that simply adore the light. Therefore, if possible, provide seeds and sprouts with additional lighting - if you decide to plant them in February. If this is not done, the seedlings will be very weak and will have a wilted appearance. If there is no possibility of additional illumination, it is better to wait until March, when the sun will be more active.

Also, it is worth taking care of the place where you will plant the seeds. The best thing is to get store containers for planting, which have opaque walls, or buy tablets from peat. Once everything is ready, you can proceed to the process itself, and here the planting of petunias with seeds for seedlings should already begin. In order to plant petunia on seedlings correctly, it is necessary to determine the seeds.

Now they are provided in two forms - granules and loose.

As a rule, in the form of granules, the seeds of hybrids are most often sold, which are distinguished by lush flowering and very saturated colors. Among them you can find interesting ampelous petunias, multi-colored, terry and many other non-standard types.

If we talk about the shortcomings of these varieties of seeds, then this is only an excessively high price and too few granules. On average, there are three to seven granules in the package, which will be very few if you plan to sow on a flower bed.

As for the pluses, there are a lot of them, for example:

• convenient size for sowing. The seeds themselves are very small, much smaller than grains of sand and therefore it is extremely difficult to plant them. But granules greatly facilitate this process. You only need to decompose the granules into an already prepared mixture and gently press down.
• Please note that there is no need to fill up with earth from above, since petunia is sown superficially.
• Granules should be laid out at a small distance from each other. After that, the container is wrapped in cling film or bag.
• Excellent shoot results. Compared to standard grains of sand, granules show a higher germination result. This is another advantage and a certain trick of sowing petunia seeds for seedlings.

As for loose seeds, the situation is more complicated with them. But, all the discomfort from use is offset by a fairly affordable and low price. Also, we draw your attention to the fact that in such packages on average about a couple of hundred seeds can be contained.

Planting petunia seeds for seedlings

If you have chosen a more affordable version of the seeds, but do not know how to plant the petunia on the seedlings correctly, we recommend using our instructions. We offer at your discretion several options for planting petunias for seedlings.

Option 1 (Planting Petunia Seeds)

select a mixture and prepare it for planting. About the types of mixtures and how to properly prepare it yourself, we spoke above.

Pour the soil with warm, room temperature, water.

Pour the contents of the package into a small plate and lightly rub the seeds with sand. After which, mix everything thoroughly.

Distribute the mixture of sand and seeds as evenly as possible over the topsoil in the container.
  Done! Now we just have to moisten the soil a little.

But watering from a bottle is not worth it, so as not to drive the seeds of petunias too deep. It is better to use a spray gun for these purposes.

So the planting of petunias has been completed. Now you just have to cover the containers with the substrate with cling film and put in a warm, well-lit place.

Option 2

This option is more time consuming. Before planting petunia on seedlings, you need to take a clean, white sheet and pour out the contents of the package.
  After we take a glass of water and toothpicks.

You can also use tweezers. We dip the tip of the toothpick into the water so that it gets wet and quickly clings the seeds to it. Transfer to a prepared container with soil. So do until all the seeds are planted.
  After, as in the first embodiment, sprinkle with water and wrap it with a film.

Option 3

To prepare petunia seedlings at home, you can also use the snow. Yes - yes, it didn’t seem to you, it was snow.

To sow seedlings of petunia on seedlings using snow, you must:

• take some snow and lay it on top of the soil. It is not necessary to press and level.
• pour the contents of the package onto the snow. Due to the fact that the snow is white, you can see if the seeds are unevenly distributed and correct the situation.
• When everything is ready, leave it for a while until the snow melts and places the seeds at the right depth.

Using this method, planting petunia seeds with snow, you do not need to water the seedlings, seedlings are already sufficiently moistened.

Petunia tricks of sowing seeds for seedlings in soil or peat mixtures

As we mentioned above, the earth before planting petunia on seedlings must be checked for alkali and acidity. Also, it is necessary to give preference to nutritious and fairly loose soil mixtures. Since they absorb liquid better, but at the same time remove moisture.

Stages of planting petunias for seedlings

Put drainage at the bottom of the container, it is best to use special expanded clay for these purposes.

Fall asleep on top of a larger screen.
  The remaining third, the smallest.

Next, spread the seeds in an even layer and sprinkle a little water from the spray gun. It is not necessary to ram or fill the seeds.
  We cover with cling film and send to a warm, well-lit place without drafts.

If you are looking for the easiest way to plant petunia for seedlings, then you should use special tablets from peat. To do this you need:

purchase peat mixes in the form of tablets in specialized stores;
  pour boiling water over them and allow them to cool;

using toothpicks or tweezers, place the seeds in the designated recesses.

As practice shows, such a method as planting petunia on seedlings using peat gives the best results, guarantees fast germination times and excellent quality of stems and roots. As you can see for yourself, there is nothing difficult in growing petunia seedlings at home, it is enough to have the necessary materials, a little free time and take advantage of our tricks of sowing petunias for seedlings.

Petunia seedling care

In order for the forces to be spent not in vain and the planting of petunias on seedlings would give a long-awaited result, it is important to provide future flowers with full and proper care.

To do this, ensure the correct temperature. In the room where the petunia seedlings are located at home, germinating, the temperature should be at least twenty degrees. But it is not worth overheating, it is considered optimal from twenty to twenty-three.

Also, petunia seedlings require a maximum amount of light. The most ideal option is a round-the-clock backlight using lamps.

In addition, special attention should be paid to the soil of petunias.

The earth should always be moist, but at the same time, you need to ensure that the water does not stagnate, as this is fraught with decay and the development of pathogenic bacteria.

The liquid that collects on the cling film also needs to be cleaned with a napkin or dry cloth.

Each sprout of petunia needs to be hardened. To do this, you need after the sprouts appear daily open the film.

We will reveal to you some tricks of sowing petunia seeds for seedlings and hardening:

• first, we make airing for a couple of minutes, so that future flowers are accustomed to a change in temperature.
• after, the time spent in the fresh air can be increased.
• seedlings can be fully opened only when at least one leaf appears on each stalk.

In addition, if you decide to start sowing petunias for seedlings, you need to think in advance about additional nutrition and top dressing. Of course, in the initial stages there is no need for this, but improving their protective functions is more convenient than ever. To do this, you can take the immune top dressing and dilute it in a spray.

Dive seedlings of petunias should be when the height of the sprouts reaches five centimeters. For these purposes, take a narrow and thin sharp knife and remove each sprout. In this case, pinch the root to a depth of approximately three centimeters.

After everything is ready, plant each individual stem in a separate container. It is important to note that sowing seeds for seedlings of petunias in separate pots gives the plant a chance to develop better and faster. It is believed that it sprouts more durable and healthy.

Difficulties encountered when planting petunias for seedlings

How to make sure that the planting of petunias with seeds for seedlings is correct, we told you above. But how to make seedlings strong and prepared for planting in open soil?

One of the problems that beginner growers encounter is sprouts that are too tall due to lack of lighting. In order to solve this problem, you need to dive the plant. At the same time, deepening petunia into the substrate to the area on which the castings begin to grow.

Another common nuisance that can occur with petunia during seed planting is mold on the ground. This can occur from heavy watering and excess moisture accumulated on the film. In order to eliminate this, it is necessary to remove the top layer of the earth and pour a new one. This must be done carefully so that the seeds of petunia are not removed with moldy soil, since they are not placed deep enough.

Too weak and sluggish sprouts. Also, this may be encountered by both those who first decided to start planting petunia seeds, and experienced gardeners. To solve the problem once and for all, seedlings need to be provided with more light, especially if the weather outside does not please, and provide additional nutritious nutrition.

The roots filled the entire container. Don’t worry, it’s great on the contrary! So it will be healthier to plant petunia seeds for seedlings of which you produced. Simply - simply take a box, a glass or other larger container and transplant your sprouts there. The main thing is to do this very carefully and transplant the earth with your lump, just filling the voids with the necessary amount of soil. In no case should you clean the roots of the substrate! At the risk of completely violating the root system and destroying the plant.

Petunia seedlings grow very slowly. This is normal. Initially, it will grow well, very slowly, since the formation of the root system is carried out at the first stage. But, already after a month and a half, everything is normalized and part of the plant above the ground will be quite actively developing.

If you want luxurious petunias full of life to spring from your seeds, pay special attention to daily watering. It must be carried out very carefully so as not to injure the plant once again. If this is not done, then the earth will dry out and seedlings will eventually die. In turn, if it is too plentifully poured, there will also be little sense.

Seedlings will begin to rot and a disease such as a "black leg" will appear, which is almost impossible to cope with.
  Hardening plays a huge role in the successful planting of petunias for seedlings. This will prepare the sprouts for planting in open ground, make them stronger and healthier. However, it is worth careful to ensure that the flowers do not stand in the draft and are protected from the flow of cool air.

Top dressing. No matter how sad it may sound, but without it you are unlikely to be able to grow good seedlings in truth. After sowing the seeds of petunia on seedlings and picking it, after about a couple of days ten can be fed. Initially, give preference only to spraying with useful substances, changing either mineral fertilizers or growth stimulants. After, when the plant is strong enough, you can enter the "diet" and top dressing for the root system.

Before transplanting petunia, sowing seeds for seedlings of which you produced in open ground, it also needs to be prepared. To do this, take the flowers out into the open air about a week before planting. It will be ideal to place them on the balcony or porch. Initially, "air baths" should be short-lived, but each time slightly increase the length of stay. After all, in three or four days, containers with plants should remain on the balcony for the night.

To plant petunia seedlings, it is best to choose a cloudy day or start the process in the evening. Planting under scorching sun is strictly prohibited!

Petunias are rather capricious and finicky flowers. Planting with petunia seeds is a very delicate and delicate matter. Not every gardener, even with a guard, agrees to take up this matter: either the seedlings do not sprout, then they are very weak and die, in general sheer misfortune. But, if you use our methods and tips on how to plant petunia on seedlings correctly, then already in this summer season your flower bed will turn into a colorful and fragrant flower garden!

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The homeland of this beautiful perennial Solanaceae family is the tropics of South America. But even in our mid-latitudes it feels excellent, pleasing the eye with long flowering, splendor, brightness and an abundance of shades of large flowers. It's about petunia.

Of course, you can buy ready-made seedlings for this southern beauty in a store, but if you want to surprise your friends with an unusual color or kind of a special hybrid, you will have to learn how to grow petunia from seeds yourself. This is not very difficult, but some nuances will have to be taken into account, and we will help you.

Step 1. Choosing Petunia Seeds

Petunia seeds themselves are very small, so many gardeners prefer dragee varieties. On the one hand, because of their size, it is more convenient to sow them, on the other hand, there is a risk that, with insufficient moisture, the shell will dissolve poorly and interfere with seedlings. There is no definite advice, the choice is yours.

Stage 2. Choosing a landing time

On average, healthy petunia should bloom 10-12 weeks after sowing. Therefore, the timing of planting petunias for seedlings depends on when you want to see flowering plants.

When to sow petunia for seedlings? Planting petunia for seedlings at home can begin in the middle of winter. However, provided that you have an additional light source for the full development of sprouts. With its shortage, young plants will be thin and frail, will not be able to fight diseases.

If you rely only on the windowsill and the sun, you will have to wait until the beginning, or even mid-spring, when daylight hours increase enough to help seedlings gain strength. However, it is also important here not to delay the deadlines, otherwise the flowering will noticeably move over time.

If you follow the lunar calendar, then in 2018 it is not recommended to plant petunia for seedlings on the days of the new moon (February 26, March 28) and the full moon (February 11, March 12). The most favorable dates are between February 13-16 and March 14-15 and March 20-22.

Stage 3. Preparation of seeds for sowing

Before you start actually sowing petunias for seedlings, you should pay attention to choosing the right soil and suitable containers, as well as the location of the future "kindergarten".

First, prepare shallow (about 10 cm) wooden or plastic drawers. Disinfect them with any antiseptic (Biotex, Antizhuk, Ecobio, Bosept), and put an additional piece of paper on the bottom of the wooden containers.

Then, placing a bit of expanded clay on the bottom of the drawers to prevent decay of seedlings, pour 2/3 of the height on the containers with prepared sifted soil.

Soil for seedlings of petunias can be different, here are some possible options:

• ready-made soil mixture purchased in a specialized store;
• a mixture of fertile soil and hydrogel (previously soaked in a suitable fertilizer) in a ratio of 1: 1;
• a mixture of humus, turf, lowland peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1.

Stage 4. Sowing petunias for seedlings

How to sow petunia for seedlings? Before planting the seeds, the prepared soil should be shed with boiling water or calcined in the oven to destroy possible pests (especially if you prepared the soil mixture yourself). It will be useful to shed the soil with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Petunia seeds (it is more convenient to use thin tweezers or a toothpick) sow on the surface of the processed, cooled and moist soil, do not sprinkle soil on top. If you use pelleted seeds, then for successful dissolution of the granules, you should additionally spray them already on the ground with water from a spray bottle (not from a watering can! Otherwise the seeds may be unnecessarily deep in the ground).

There are several other ways to plant small seeds, if this one seems complicated.

Then cover the container with transparent polyethylene or glass to create greenhouse conditions for the seeds (and then the young shoots). This option will save you from the need for daily watering and the option to damage the newly emerged shoots. However, it is necessary to ensure that condensate does not accumulate in excess - the glass (film) should be turned on the dry side every day, and the ascended crops should be aired (starting from 5-10 minutes a day and gradually increasing this time to 15-20 minutes).

For ease of germination, coated seeds are sometimes advised to be planted in peat tablets with a diameter of 3.5-4.5 cm. They are initially soaked in water, after swelling, excess water is poured and, placing the tablets in a tray, one petunia seed is laid out on the surface of each in the same way. . For better dissolution of the shell, you can optionally drip on top of the granule with water from a pipette. After a few minutes, you can "help" the seeds by gently smearing the softened shell. Then the peat tablets are placed in a tray and, just as in the above case, covered with a transparent lid and placed in a bright and warm place.

If the seeds were fresh, and the sowing technology was followed, wait for the first seedlings on the 3-4th day. Old seeds may take longer (up to 10 days) to complete the process.

You should not wait for seedlings for more than two weeks - even if the seeds sprout, the sprouts will be greatly weakened, and it is unlikely to get healthy plants.

Stage 5. Care of seedlings of petunias

The sprouts of petunias are very small, therefore, in the first days after their appearance, they need very gentle care.

Light mode. The location of the containers with future seedlings should be bright, otherwise you will not even get seedlings. In the first days of growth, lighting can be almost around the clock, in the future, an 11-12-hour daylight will be enough for the plant. If there is a lack of light, you should use the backlight (phytolamps, fluorescent or LED lamps that are installed at a height of about 20 cm above the seedlings), with an excess of direct sunlight - periodically shade the area or temporarily remove the boxes to another place.

Temperature condition.  The temperature of the contents of the trays with sprouting crops should be about 22-25 ° C (hybrid petunias are especially capricious in this regard). If the temperature is lower, the plants may not rise, if higher, they are very likely to get sick. As soon as the sprouts appear, to "harden" the plants, the temperature should be reduced: to 18-20 ° C during the day and 14-16 ° C at night. This can be achieved, for example, by moving the trays with seedlings farther from the battery.

When the first true leaves appear, you can finally remove the protective film (glass).

Watering the petunias.  Moisture mode is also very important for seedlings: excess moisture can contribute to decay of plants or infection with a fungus (black leg), and a drawback - to dry out petunias.

In the first week, it is enough to spray the soil with seeds 1-2 times a day with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Emerging shoots will require daily watering.

Water for these purposes is suitable soft, settled, without chlorine, room temperature, you can take melt water. You can water the seedlings in the "lower" way (through the pan), you can pour water on the inner walls of the tray, or you can - inject drip from a syringe directly under the roots of the seedlings.

In cloudy weather, it is best to water the seedlings in the morning, and in sunny evening.

Feeding seedlings of petunias.  Very weak seedlings 1-2 times for the entire period can be sprayed with a growth stimulant (Epin, Heteroauxin, Bud, Ovary, Bloom). 6-7 days after the appearance of the sprouts, you can feed them with mineral fertilizers (repeat this procedure no earlier than 10 days).

Stage 6. Picking of petunia seedlings

The correct seedlings of petunias are ready to dive at the stage of 2-3 real (not cotyledonous!) Leaves. This time usually comes 3-4 weeks after sowing.

In principle, picking plants at the cotyledonary leaf stage is also possible. This can be especially true in case of a black-leg disease, when it is required to isolate healthy plants from patients.

Pikivka is the transfer of seedlings from one common to separate, larger containers for their better development. For a dive, prepare each seedling a separate container with a diameter of at least 7 cm, with holes for the outflow of excess moisture at the bottom. With a wooden stick or dessert spoon, gently pick up a lump of earth with roots under the plant and transfer it to the "new house", where there is already a part of fresh soil, preferably already moistened and enriched with humus or granular fertilizer compared to the initial one. The seedling is placed in the hole so that the cotyledons are visible above the soil.

By the way, if you sowed seeds in peat tablets, then you can safely skip this stage of care, which is important for beginner gardeners who are afraid of severe damage to the root system during this process. Seedlings are placed in new pots directly in the "parent" tablets.

After 1.5-2 weeks after the dive, the plants are considered to be "mature enough" to continue hardening. Young petunia can gradually be transferred to a temperature of about 15 ° C at night and 18 ° C during the day. This can be achieved by regular ventilation of the room or by a temporary, but systematic removal of seedlings into the open air. Plus, every 14 days you can make fertilizing with a complex fertilizer for flowers (according to instructions).

Step 7. Growing Petunias: Pinching

At this stage, the appearance of the already grown plant is formed. If we want to see our petunia as a beautiful branching dense bush, at the stage of the appearance of three or four pairs of real leaves, you need to pinch it - with your fingers, carefully break off the top of the central shoot with a growth point. New shoots will grow from the sinuses of the remaining leaves, and the bush will turn out lush.

Pinching seedlings can be repeated after a couple of weeks - so even more shoots and, accordingly, flowering buds are formed in petunia.

Stage 8. Planting petunia seedlings in open ground

Before planting in the ground, petunia seedlings should already be sufficiently hardened to spend day and night in the open air.

In the middle lane, planting should be done after 12-14 weeks from the day of sowing seeds (usually this period occurs in late May - early June).

If this is not a balcony flowerpot, but a garden plot - choose a well-lit place with fertile loamy soil, dig it and fertilize. Try to land in the evening (when the sun is not so active) or in cloudy weather.

The distance between plants during planting depends on their variety (from 20 cm for small-flowered petunias to 30 cm for ampelous varieties), and the depth of the holes should be at least 10 cm.

Pre-seedlings are well shed in pots, and then, together with an earthen lump, they are transferred to a prepared hole.

The land between plants can be mulched with humus or peat, and the plants themselves must be protected from direct sunlight in the first days.

So, congratulations - the seedlings of petunia flowers have successfully passed all the stages of their development, and it remains only to wish you abundant and colorful flowering!

We hope you are convinced that growing petunia seedlings at home is a simple matter, although it requires certain skills.

Petunia has long conquered flower gardening lovers and has become No. 1 among the leaders in the number of varieties, in the number of grown specimens, and in their use in various compositions. She takes root well in flowerbeds, discounts, alpine slides, in a cache-pot and containers. And everywhere he feels excellent, adding bright, sunny colors to our world. Consider what petunia is needed for growing from seeds and when to plant seedlings.

Plant advantages

Why did the plant become so popular in a fairly short time? After all, growing petunias from seeds is not an easy task. But gardeners cope with these problems because they know what the result will be: a chic, bright bush covered with simple or double flowers with a wonderful aroma. It’s worth the work!

And the qualities that distinguish it from other colors are many:

1. cold resistance, which is especially appreciated by residents of the northern regions,
2. unpretentiousness and ease of cultivation,
3. you can grow yourself, and not buy seedlings in flower centers,
4. has many shapes and colors,
5. many varieties are fragrant,
6. good both in single and group landings,
7. blooms throughout the summer.

In addition, hybrids (F1) appeared on sale, which are completely unique in terms of survival, abundant flowering, and a variety of forms. There is plenty to choose from and create a unique floral arrangement.

Seed selection

Breeders offer a huge selection of seeds. This is great, but the choice must be approached consciously. Remember that hybrids for the next year will not give you a floral waterfall, such seeds are used once. Look at the expiration date on the packaging, because the seeds so “hatch” for a long time, and it will be unpleasant if they do not sprout at all.

Choose seeds based on your needs. What compositions do you want to create, what dreams and fantasies to realize? Maybe you need cascading or ampelous petunias. Terry forms may be interesting or simple, but so that the aroma surrounds your home.

Be sure to read the description on the back of the package, and the shape of the plant itself will become clear, how much space it will take, what diameter the flower will be. Now they sell all the seeds, mostly pelleted, wrapped in a nutrient film. There are not many of them in the package. And, as a rule, they are expensive. But do not spare money, because you need a good result. A beautiful, magnificent petunia originates from a small seed.

Soil composition and sowing tanks

It is best to use containers with transparent lids (it is possible with heating) in which plastic or peat jars, peat tablets, egg trays are placed. There are universal containers for sale: with jars inside, with a lid, with heating. All conditions in order to be able to grow petunia from the seeds of the house.

Tip: you can take different containers for planting, but remember that the seeds are very small, so the first time you need to cover the container with glass or transparent material to preserve moisture.

The composition of the soil consists of sheet land, peat, fine sand and humus. That is, the mixture is light and nutritious at the same time. The mixture is sieved and must be steamed for 1 hour (from diseases and weeds). At the bottom of the tank you can pour a layer of small gravel, you can also make a hole (which is best) so that the root system consumes the required amount of water. Petunia, when grown from seeds at home, is painful for a lack of moisture, so the soil should not dry out.

Pour the earth into each container, not reaching 1 cm to the top (for irrigation), slightly compact it, otherwise the seed may “fall” into the soil. In the center of the jar, make a small recess for planting.

Tip: It is desirable that the container was under one plant, and it could be removed without damaging the roots when you planted in a permanent place.

Rules for growing petunia seedlings from seeds

The main question of interest to gardeners is: “When to plant petunia from seeds with subsequent cultivation in open ground?” After all, large seedlings will be difficult to take root, and small ones will not have time to please us with flowers throughout the summer.

Petunias at home should be sown no earlier than mid-March, when daylight hours will be longer, and seedlings will be medium in size. You can plant seeds in the last days of February, but in this case, additional exposure is required. Germination of seeds requires a high room temperature - +25 degrees.

How to grow seedlings of petunias? Consider several ways:

• The seeds are mixed with sand, evenly sprinkled over the surface of the earthen mixture, sprayed from a spray bottle and covered with captivity.
• If the seeds are dragee-coated (covered with a nutritious membrane), then each seed can be placed separately in a peat tablet, making a small depression in it and closing it with a film.
• Compact the soil a little, cover it with snow in a small layer of 1-1.5 cm. Spread the seeds evenly on the snow. It will melt and the seeds will be on the surface of the soil. Cover the container with glass, place in a warm, well-lit place. You can put a table lamp next to it.
• In each individual peat pot, place the seed and cover with foil. Put the pots in the pan. So it is more convenient for you to monitor the seedlings, and excess moisture will be collected at the bottom of the pallet.

Tip: The seeds of this flower culture are small in size and do not need to sprinkle them with earth. But they need moisture: constant spraying is necessary in the same way as regular ventilation.

We can conclude that growing petunia from seeds is troublesome, but the result will exceed all your expectations!

Features of care for flower seedlings

If you do not have specific knowledge of how to grow seedlings of petunias, then we will tell you about this in stages:

At home, growing petunia on your own from seeds is not so difficult, because it is constantly supervised, and if all the rules of care are correctly followed, the seedlings will turn out to be strong and strong.

Tip: a pick of the roots should be carried out when the plant has already taken shape and has 4-5 leaves, i.e. when the plant is strong enough for such a procedure. Plants found in peat tablets do not dive.

The front of the work is large, but now there should be no question how to grow a petunia, therefore success in the form of bright, flower beds is guaranteed to you.

Petunia is the most common plant, both on personal plots and on balconies. Abundant flowering begins in early May and pleases with its beauty until the first serious frost.

Petunia flowers, planting and caring for them is considered an easy task, since the plants are not whimsical. But for its successful cultivation, you need to know certain rules:

• the plant loves sunlight;
• prefers sandy or loamy soils;
• does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of fluid;
• requires constant feeding (1 time in 12 - 15 days).

Planting petunia seeds for seedlings

Planting petunias with seeds, for early flowering, should begin in mid-February. A prerequisite for growing seedlings is the presence of the required amount of light. If in the room where it is planned to grow this component is not enough, then it is advisable to use.

The plant begins to bloom in 65 - 92 days after sowing seeds. It depends on the variety of petunia. The larger the flowers of the plant, the longer it takes to bloom.

Before planting petunia seeds, you should prepare:

• containers for landing with drainage holes;
• expanded clay;
• sprayer with water;
• covering material (it is desirable to use non-woven material, for example, spunbond, allowing the plant to breathe);
• selected seeds.

At the first stage, we prepare containers for seedlings:

• at the bottom of the cup, with pre-prepared drainage holes, pour a layer of expanded clay with a height of about 1 cm;
• we spread and lightly compact the soil mixture. A distance of 3 - 3.5 cm must be left to the edge of the container.
• we moisten the soil.

Getting to the planting of petunias. Since the seeds of the plant are quite small, when planting, you can use a mixture of seeds with sand. This will allow the most evenly placed seeds in the pot. You can use pelleted petunia seeds, but their cost is much higher than ordinary ones. Sprinkle the seeds of petunia with soil is not recommended. It is best to press them lightly until they are in full contact with the ground.

After planting the petunia, the boxes should be covered with covering material. Instead of material, you can use glass or polyethylene. In this case, the plants will have to be forced to air.

Under favorable conditions (ambient temperature 24ºС and humidity 98%), seeds germinate on days 7–9.

There is a simpler, but more expensive method of obtaining plant seedlings - planting petunias in peat tablets. For this:

• acquired fill with warm water and wait for its swelling and cooling;
• with tweezers place the seeds of petunia in the central hole;
• moderately watered.

Plants are dived into pots or into the ground along with the tablets. Damage to the root system is completely eliminated. For beginner gardeners, this method of growing flower seedlings is most preferred.

Ampel petunia is planted in the same ways as bush.

Growing petunia seedlings

When the seeds germinate and the first leaves of covering material appear from the box must be removed. Carefully water the plants and lower the ambient temperature to 18ºС.

At the first stage, petunia develops very slowly. Initially, the root system of plants is strengthened, and only then do the stems and leaves grow stronger. This stage lasts about 4 to 5 weeks.

During this period, you must monitor:

• soil moisture. It should not be dry or waterlogged.
• timely fertilizer application. For petunias, complex fertilizers or preparations with a high content of potassium are suitable.
• adequate lighting. In the daytime, the lamp should work at full power, and at night it is advisable to dim the light, but not turn it off completely.

For the development of strong and abundantly flowering plants after the appearance of several leaves, the top of the flower must be pinched. Fortified plants are transplanted into separate, more spacious containers and continue to care for seedlings according to all the above rules.

A month before the planting of petunias in the soil, the plants are quenched for 10 days. In the first half of the period, the daytime temperature near the seedlings should be 18 ° C - 20 ° C, and the night temperature 16 ° C. In the next five days, these indicators are reduced by 2ºС - 3ºС. After carrying out such a procedure, stronger flowers will least painfully transfer the pick to the open ground.

Video: how to plant petunia seedlings

Landing petunias in the ground

Let's move on to the question of how to properly plant a petunia in a permanent place:

• planting a plant is best in cloudy weather or after sunset;
• it is advisable to dive the seedling together with a lump of earth from the pot;
• the hole for the seedling should be at least 10 cm in depth and width;
• the distance between plantings depends on the variety of flower. For large-flowered petunias, it is necessary to withstand 23 cm - 25 cm. For small-flowered petunias, 18 cm - 20 cm is enough. Bushes of ampelous petunias plant at a distance of 28 cm - 30 cm;
• after transplanting, flowers are watered;
• for better rooting of the petunia, the earth around the transplanted plant can be covered with humus or peat. Such a shelter for a longer period to maintain moisture and protect the flower from possible frosts.

Petunia Care

Petunia care consists in watering plants, timely and constant feeding, removing wilted flowers.

Water the plant only in dry weather. It is advisable to carry out this procedure after sunset. When watering, water should not stagnate. Simply moisten the earth around the root system of the flower.

The first top dressing is carried out 9 to 11 days after the plant is transplanted to a permanent place. It is best to start feeding plants with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Nitroammophosk can be used.

For abundant flowering, during the formation of buds, it is preferable to use fertilizers containing a large amount of phosphorus and potassium, for example, superphosphate and potassium salt.

Petunia can be fed with wood ash. This fertilizer contains all the components necessary for the plant. Moreover, you can use both purchased fertilizer, and made independently, after a fire or from the stove.

An important component for the proper feeding of plants is iron. In the absence of a sufficient amount of iron, petunias can become ill with chlorosis. The first signs of the disease appear on the leaves: they begin to turn yellow and fall off. “Ferovit” will come to the rescue, with which plants are sprayed 3-5 times with an interval between sprayings of 2-3 days.

Wilted flowers should be removed from the plant. This leads to the formation of new buds and a long flowering time. To please petunia flowers, the planting and care of which is carried out properly, will be even more if you form a beautiful crown of the plant in time. For this, young shoots, aspiring to high growth, pinch. The procedure is considered correct if pinching is carried out after 4 - 5 leaves. After the operation, the plants produce abundant multidirectional shoots, which are necessary for the formation of a beautiful "hat".

Proper planting and care of the petunia leads to a long and rich flowering. Planting petunia seeds in the video will help novice gardeners to become more familiar with the procedure.

  - read here!

Video: sowing and picking petunias

Hybrid petunia or garden grows. The first variety appeared in 1839. In 1855, the first terry varieties  petunias, and in 1881 appeared large flowered. In the sixties of the last century, as a result of cell hybridization, ampelous petunias.

By flower size  Petunias are divided into two large groups:

1. large flowered, with a flower diameter of 7 to 13 cm;
2. multi-flowered - with flowers from 5 to 8 cm.

  In recent years, a group of varieties with small flowers has become very popular - with a diameter of 2 to 4 cm, called, naturally, small flowered.

Corolla Shape  Petunias are diverse, especially in large-flowered varieties. For example, in the Fimbriat variety, the edge of the petal is fringed; the Superbissim variety has a wide pharynx and a fringed edge. Terry petunias are not deprived of attention. Color  a lot: there are all shades of red, white, pink, purple and blue. Currently, there is not only bright yellow and orange.

You can admire beautiful petunias by looking at the publication:

How to breed petunia

Everyone loves petunias, but how to decorate your flower beds with these beautiful plants? You can, of course, purchase ready seedlings. Can i grow planting material  by ourselves.

Almost all hybrids and varieties breed seed. In addition, petunias breed well. cuttings  - it is only necessary to maintain the uterine plants. Plants from cuttings grow and bloom faster. But plants from seeds are more hardy and bloom more abundantly.

Sowing Petunias

Seeds Recommended sow from February to April, depending on the time of landing in open ground. At home, it is better to sow at the end of March, when enough light comes. Then seedlings can burst  on a warm balcony or in a film. With this sowing period, expect flowering in June.

Petunia seeds are very small, with virtually no stock of nutrients. Therefore, for the normal growth of seedlings the soil  must be:

• loose
• light in mechanical composition,
• nutritious
• acid neutral.

For sowing, it is better to take shallow bowl  with drainage hole. Fill the container with a substrate, leaving a rim of about 1 cm. Small petunia seeds are better mix with dry sifted sandso that they are more evenly distributed along the line. Sown seeds for quick germination sprinkle profusely  water. Then the crops not sprinkling with earth, it is necessary to cover with glass, or plastic wrap, or lutrasil, or thick paper. And maintain the temperature not lower than + 20 ° С.

Recently, petunia seeds in the form of granuleshaving a special shell of nutrients and drugs that protect seedlings from disease. Granules are much larger than seeds and easier to spread on the surface. Abroad, such seeds are called pili, and in our country - drageeous or granular.

When using granular seeds, remember that the main thing is not to dry themotherwise there will be no seedlings. Therefore, before decomposing pelleted seeds, it is necessary to wet the soil well and keep it moist until seedlings appear. In this case, it is better to water from the pallet through the hole in the bowl or to spray the crops from the spray gun.

Seedling Care

From simple seeds seedlings appear  4-6 days, and from dragees - 2 days later. After germination, seedlings need large amounts of light and moderate soil moisture. With a lack of light, the seedlings are pulled out, and if high humidity is added, then death is also possible. To avoid high humidity, the crops need to be slightly opened, and when the cotyledons open, the film is removed.

Seedlings from simple seeds appear on day 4-6, and from dragee seeds - 2 days later

Since seedlings initially grow very slowly, they can be kept in the same vessel for about a month. Then, when 3-4 real sheets appear, they pick out. A week after a dive, seedlings must be feed. If the plants are not stretched and have dark green leaves, then it is necessary to fertilize with easily soluble complex ones. If the plants are weak, with dark leaves, it is better to feed only. Usually, after a picking, top dressing is given after 7 days, preferably complex fertilizers. This will provide both good growth and plentiful flowering.

Petunias are easy carry a very tight fittherefore, in a small basket or planter with a diameter of about 15 cm, you can plant 2-3 plants. When there is no need to immediately get a richly flowering composition, it is better to plant seedlings less oftenso that the plants do not touch each other. Ampelic petunias  in a container where the plants are arranged in several rows, they are planted with an inclination towards the edge of the container. A step-by-step master class will tell you how to arrange the planting of these flowers, and a video will help you see everything with your own eyes.

Container petunia care includes olives and regular feeding. Until the plants have grown, you can feed with solutions of complex fertilizers. Strongly overgrown petunias are best sprayed on the leaves with a fertilizer solution. With a tight fit or strong growth, you need to regularly remove weak, decaying shoots, if necessary, thin out. Ampelny petunias after landing need to be pinched several times.

Do you plant petunias?