Content
Petunias are usually grown from seedlings. There are several ways of sowing seeds, one of the most interesting is sowing in the snow. It has some advantages over the conventional method used by most flower growers. The timing of the sowing of petunias on snow for seedlings will depend on the region.
Is it possible to plant petunia in the snow
Planting petunia seeds in the snow offers several benefits. For example, small brown seeds are easier to sow as they become more visible on a white surface. They can be laid out evenly and where necessary, whereas if you pour them on dark ground, it often cannot be done correctly.
When the snow melts, it will moisten the soil, fill it with melt water, which is much more useful than ordinary water. It is believed to perfectly stimulate seed germination after sowing and germination of seedlings, whereas plain tap water does not.
When the first shoots appear, you need to air the planting 1-2 times a day.
Sowing dates
You can plant petunias for seedlings in the snow at the end of winter - in February or in the first half of March. Sowing dates may vary depending on the climatic and weather conditions of the region and depend on the expected date of planting flowers in a greenhouse or on flower beds in open ground. Usually 2-2.5 months pass from germination to transplantation. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate so that the sowing takes place 2.5 months before the day when it will already be possible to transfer the seedlings to a permanent place. The plant loves warmth, the transplanted bushes can die from the spring cold snap, so they need to be planted in the ground only after the frost has receded.
When to plant petunia on snow for seedlings at home also depends on whether it is possible to provide it with all the conditions for growing indoors: temperature, humidity, and most importantly, lighting. At the end of winter and early spring, there is still not enough natural light; it is necessary to highlight the seedlings using phytolamps or fluorescent lamps.
The quality of such seedlings will be low, the beginning of flowering will be delayed.
How to sow petunia in the snow for seedlings
Before sowing petunia for seedlings with snow, you need to prepare everything you need:
- seeds of a suitable variety;
- thin plastic containers (food can be used);
- substrate;
- snow.
Before sowing, the seeds do not need to be processed and soaked, they must be dry. The containers are about 10 cm high with a small volume. A universal substrate is quite suitable, but it is best to take a special one - “for surfinia and petunias”. You can buy it at any grocery store. It is already ready for use and does not need any preparatory treatment before sowing.
If there is no ready-made substrate, then you can do it yourself. It is necessary to make a mixture of good clean turf or leafy soil, fresh moist peat and coarse sand. Take the components in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. Mix everything thoroughly. Before planting petunia on snow on such a ground for seedlings, it must be spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate in order to destroy pathogens and pests that may be there. Leave for a day, then dry before use, the substrate should not be too wet. The second way to disinfect the soil mixture before sowing is by heating it in a warm oven for 0.5 hours.
How to sow petunia in the snow step by step can be seen in the photo:
- Pour the substrate into the container, without filling it up to the upper edge by 2-3 cm. Place a snow layer 2 cm thick on top, compact it with a spoon.
- Sow seeds carefully at a distance of 1.5 cm from each other. If any of them fell in the wrong place, you can move it with a toothpick or a match.
- Sign the label with the name of the variety, cover the container with a transparent lid and place it on a light window sill.
You do not need to sprinkle the seeds on top with a layer of substrate. When the snow melts, they will settle and take the necessary position themselves.
Flower shoots should appear in about a week or one and a half. While it is cold outside and there is snow, you can melt it and water the plants with melt water. It is much healthier for plants than tap water. The water should be warm, warmed to room temperature.
Video about the sequence of planting petunias for seedlings in the snow:
How to sow pellet petunia on snow
Seeds of varietal plants are sold not only in colorful paper bags, but also in small plastic flasks. They usually contain pelleted seeds. Dragee are granules, colored in a bright color. They are also small, but much larger than normal seeds. Dragee casing is a specially selected mixture of growth stimulants, disinfectants and nutrients. They help plants to grow faster, protect them from infection with fungal diseases.
Sowing granulated petunia on the snow is easier than untreated, the pills are very large, it will be much easier to place them according to the scheme. The sowing process itself looks exactly the same as in the case of ordinary seeds:
- Prepare planting containers, substrate, seeds and snow.
- Fill containers with soil mixture. You do not need to moisturize it.
- Lay a layer of snow on top, level it and tamp it.
- Spread the seeds over the surface at a distance of 1.5 cm from each other. You do not need to sprinkle with soil on top.
- After sowing, cover the container with a lid and place it in a well-lit place.
Then everything will happen, as in the first case: the snow layer will gradually melt, the seeds will settle down. The shells on them will gradually dissolve and the germination process will begin. Seedlings can also be expected in about 1-1.5 weeks. When caring for plants, they can be watered with warm melt water, rather than chlorinated tap water.
Granules or dragees are much more convenient to sow
Conclusion
Sowing petunias on snow for seedlings is carried out in late winter or early spring. Melt water stimulates seed germination and the growth of small seedlings. To get the best result, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of sowing, and then the care of the seedlings.
