The safest way to grow petunias is through seedlings.
Instructions
Step 1
Every year, petunia takes up more and more flower beds and is very popular among flower growers and gardeners. This herb from the nightshade family fascinates with its beauty and variety of colors of lush flowers. Petunia is unpretentious and, when grown through seedlings, can decorate a flower garden from June to the very frost.
Step 2
Petunia seeds are very small, it is for this reason that they require special attention when sowing and in the first days of seed germination. Otherwise, the plant may die. We start sowing with the preparation of containers and soil for sowing seeds. Prepare containers, preferably clean, approximately 8 centimeters high, with drainage holes. We pour drainage from expanded clay or broken brick at the bottom of the container. The soil can be bought at a specialty store or prepared by yourself. Petunia loves fertile, loose and slightly acidic soil (pH = 4, 5). Soil composition: - equal parts of rotted humus, sod land, peat and one part of sand. Wood ash can be added to the potting mix.
We fill the container with soil to the brim, to disinfect the soil, pour it with Fitosporin solution or boiling water. Pour snow on well-shed soil, with a layer of 1-2 centimeters and sow small petunia seeds over the snow. We cover the container with a transparent covering material and place it in the heat, where crops will germinate. It is not necessary to hide from the light, as many flower growers recommend. The reason is that all small seeds are sown on the surface of the soil, without embedding in the ground, which means that light will not interfere with the germination of seeds.
Step 3
In about a week, the crops should sprout, it is important not to miss the moment of germination and lower the temperature in the room where the seedlings grow (in the daytime 18-20, at night 14-16 degrees), as well as provide the plants with a large portion of light. In the seedling period, the requirement for the soil will increase. No crust should form on the surface, which means that the soil should be moist. Seedlings can get the disease "black leg", which means that the soil should not be "swampy". Water in moderation using a spray bottle method. Petunia does not tolerate shading, we remove weak seedlings. When 3-4 true leaves appear, we plant the seedlings in separate pots. We teach the cut seedlings to a cooler climate with a gradual decrease in temperature, then your plant will be strong and healthy. In open ground, we sow in mid-May, observing the distance between the bushes of 15-20 centimeters. You can trim the top of the central shoot and the petunia will bush better. Over the summer, we carry out 2-3 dressings, cut off the faded buds and petunias will delight you with long flowering.
