Today we cannot imagine a summer city without petunias. From May to autumn, this plant delights residents with its flowering, splendor and variety of colors. Petunia is unpretentious, so they plant it in curbs and rabatka, in flowerpots, and also in what the gardeners' fantasy tells. Gardening of petunias of balconies and loggias is widely used.
Currently, the most common hybrids are petunias. They are divided into four groups: large-flowered (up to ten centimeters in diameter), multi-flowered with small flowers, dwarf (15 cm high), ampelous.
At the end of May, the market begins mass purchase of petunia seedlings. All flower lovers want to have a plot blooming all summer in their area. However, petunia seedlings can be grown independently.
Planting petunias for seedlings begins in the second half of March. A flowering plant can be obtained in two - two and a half months, that is, in late May - mid-June. However, if at home there is the possibility of backlighting, you can sow in February.
In order for the planting of petunias to be effective, more attention should be paid to the preparation of soil mixtures. The substrate must be loose and nutritious, strongly acidic and alkaline mixtures must be avoided. The soil mixture can consist of two parts of humus, two parts of sod land, two parts of high peat, one part of sand. One of the tips is to sift the soil twice. The first time through a large sieve - this part will go down the pot or container, and the second time through a smaller sieve - for the top layer.
Before the planting of petunias for seedlings is planned, the soil mixture must be shed well for a day.
Petunia seeds are planted on the surface of the soil. Pre seeds can be mixed with sand. Sowing is carried out evenly over the entire surface of the container or pot. After sowing, the seeds are sprayed and covered with glass (polyethylene). The temperature required for seed germination should be 20-23 degrees. For the first five days, you need to spray the petunia seeds from the spray gun twice to maintain high humidity, but keep the roots dry.
Planting petunias for seedlings does not end there. On day 5-14, the process of seedling care changes. Now you need to turn the glass over in the morning and evening, spray daily. However, while maintaining high humidity, avoid excess moisture in the soil.
In the third week, the glass is removed. This is the stage of the first sheet. It is necessary to ensure that the plants do not get sick. If this still happened, you need to sprinkle the seedlings with dry sand and quickly pick out.
Pay attention to the care of seedlings of petunia. Humidity in the first stages should be high. As the plant forms, humidity decreases. If there are signs of a “black foot” disease, plants are generally watered only along the walls of the container. The optimum temperature for seedling growth is 17-18 degrees.
You need to plant a petunia at the moment when two leaves appear. One plant is planted in a plastic cup or pot with a diameter of 6-8 cm.
If the seedlings are for sale, then pre-sale preparation is necessary. It involves regulating the temperature at which the plants are located. As seedlings grow, the temperature needs to be reduced, up to 13-10 degrees at night. This technique will slow the formation of buds.
What else needs to be considered if planting petunias for seedlings is your first time? Of course, fertilizers and top dressing. In the second week, calcium and ammonium fertilizers are used twice. In the third week, fertilizer rates increase slightly, and growth stimulants can be used. Mineral top dressing is best done by foliar spraying.