Petunia is probably known to everyone, and everyone loves her. She is unpretentious and beautiful, looks good on a flower bed, window sill or balcony. Are you wondering: "How to plant a petunia from seeds?" - we answer. This method can be used by both landscaping specialists and amateur gardeners. In this article, we will look at the rules for choosing a place for this flower, talk about how to grow a petunia from seeds and how to care for it.
Choose a place
Petunias love to grow outdoors, preferring the sun and warmth. Therefore, before planting a petunia, choose a suitable place for it. In the garden, plant your flower in a well-lit place, but not in the sun, otherwise pests may infect the petunia. In the shade, flowering can become scarce, and the plant itself will stretch and lose its decorative effect.
Sowing seeds
Sowing can start in March. Before you grow petunias from seeds, prepare the soil. Use a mixture of garden soil, humus and sand. Moisten the soil, put it in boxes. Spread the seeds evenly and press lightly. You can immediately spray with a spray bottle so as not to wash off small seeds. Approximately througha week the first shoots will appear.
Picking and planting seedlings
Spread the seedlings into separate containers and water immediately. Petunias tolerate picking well and after this procedure they quickly gain weight. When the air temperature outside is stable with a plus sign, and the earth warms up enough, the seedlings can be transplanted into open ground. Keep the distance between seedlings at least 30 cm. If you plant on a balcony, the distance will depend on the size of the container. So, if your container has a volume of 10 liters, then plant no more than three petunias in one container.
Caring for petunias
It is not enough to know how to grow a petunia from seeds, you still need to properly care for it. To do this:
- observe the temperature regime from the moment of sowing the seeds (not lower than 20 degrees) until transplanting to the street, gradually lowering the temperature;
- choose the right soil (petunia loves loamy or sandy loam);
- regularly and abundantly water petunias, avoiding stagnant water;
- if your favorite flowers grow on the balcony, then try to protect them from rain and strong wind;
- feed your petunia with a high potassium fertilizer at least twice a month;
- remove flowers that have already faded, as well as ovaries;
- for the splendor of the plant, pinch the shoots.
Petunia diseases
Now that you know how to grow petunias from seeds and how to care for them,Let's talk about her possible diseases. All of them, as a rule, are associated with improper care. Most often, petunias are affected by fungal diseases, which can be avoided by observing the temperature and watering regimes. So, if you allow water to stagnate in the soil, the roots of the plant will begin to rot. And if a white coating appears on the flowers and leaves, then a sharp temperature drop has occurred, or the air humidity is too high. Maybe your petunia got too hot. Adjust the conditions in which your flowers live, and they will thank you with bright colors and lush blooms.
