Planting pelargonium in peat tablets. Growing pelargonium from seeds. Sowing seeds in peat tablets

In the spring I bought two bags of pelargonium seeds. To my friend’s question: “Why? Geranium is easily grown from cuttings!”, I answered: “I want to try it!” I bought 10 peat tablets. Well, I planted my seeds in peat tablets. That's where everyone left. There were two types of pelargoniums with 5 seeds each:
"Chandelier Bicolor" from the company "Poisk":

And "Star of the Moscow Region" from the company "Russian Garden":

When I planted the first one, I broke one seed, and in fact it didn’t sprout...
I planted it in tablets and organized a greenhouse from cling film:

Already on the fourth day the plants began to sprout:

And on the fifth day those who ascended were already clearly visible:

Already two weeks after germination, I transplanted the first plants into cups:

Due to my inexperience with working with tablets, I removed the fabric from the tablets before planting them in cups. As a result, I broke the tablet in half along with the roots. But, based on the further growth of the pelargoniums - this did not affect anything - they all grew, although I specially marked the broken ones. Then I transplanted the rest and they began to grow in cups:

When the flowers grew noticeably, I decided that I didn’t need so many identical flowers and distributed the plants to family and friends. And in the end I was left with 2 Stars of the Moscow Region and 1 Bicolor Chandelier. I planted them together with other pelargoniums grown from cuttings in boxes outside.
Here is the far left: Star of the Moscow Region:

And here on the far left is the Bicolor Chandelier, and in the middle is the Star of the Moscow Region:

Pelargoniums with different flower colors. Terry varieties and large-flowered species appeared. I bought seeds of several colors zonal pelargonium.

It is zonal pelargonium that is found most often of the five main names of the pelargonium group, which differ in their structure and appearance. Typically, packages of geranium seeds contain 3, less often 5, pieces. Seeds germinate quickly, although not all of them. It is very good to use peat tablets for these purposes. After germination, the seedlings grow strong and they grow quickly. Flowering of pelargonium grown from seeds begins approximately 12-15 months after sowing the seeds. Several years ago I bought 4 packets of zonal pelargonium seeds. I grew the seeds in peat tablets. Seeds are not cheap. The number of seeds of each variety is limited. Therefore, you approach sowing seeds more responsibly. It is very convenient to grow geranium seeds in peat tablets at the initial stage. Geranium seeds are not small. You can press them a little into the peat tablets. Geranium seeds begin to germinate in 7-10 days.
At least that's how it was for me. Zonal pelargonium has beautiful inflorescences.

Flowering is long and abundant. You can choose seeds of very beautiful varieties of pelargonium. These are the varieties that can be grown from these seeds.

Bush divisions). Pelargonium hybrids that were grown from own seeds, do not have the properties of the parent. In order to preserve the necessary characteristics, they are propagated exclusively by vegetation.

Experienced flower growers are interested in growing this or that variety from seeds on their own. You can use store-bought or your own grains. A flower grown from seeds blooms more abundantly and longer than one grown from a cutting.

Features of planting material

In appearance, the flower seeds resemble coffee beans. They are located in the seed box. One of the sides is slightly convex, and the other is flat, with a pronounced dividing line. Color – rich brown. A small downy umbrella acts as a dense shell covering the seeds. After ripening, the capsule bursts and fruits appear in its place.

When flowers appear on pelargonium, you should take care of the seeds. The option of artificial pollination is possible. You can transfer pollen using a needle or tweezers. In the very center of the plant there are 10 stamens and 1 pistil with stigma. It is necessary to carefully take pollen from one flower and transfer it to the stigma of another, which should have bloomed a few days before. Pollination using this method can be done many times.

Now about how to collect ripened seeds. After pollination has occurred, 4-5 days later, the column begins to grow. The capsule fruit is pointed and elongated. The fruit will burst immediately after the seeds ripen. Slightly oblong seeds, which are covered with light fibers, hang on thin and dense threads.

Harvesting takes place when the grains are completely ripe. Dry, opened boxes are considered evidence of maturity.

Attention! It is necessary to ensure that the seeds do not fall out or germinate, because in this case, storing them will be impossible.

We invite you to watch a video about the collection and features of planting material:

Photo

In the photo below you can see what the seed looks like.

How to grow a flower?

When to sow?

Sowing pelargonium at home can be done at least all year round. The main thing is to provide additional light. The optimal period for the procedure is considered to be the end of February or March. Later sowing threatens excessive elongation of shoots, and flowering will not appear earlier than after 9-10 months.

Preparing soil and seed material

Important! It is preferable to plant pelargonium in a nutritious and light soil that allows air and water to pass well to the root system. You can germinate seeds in purchased soil or in home-made soil.

There are several options:

• Mix equal portions of sand, peat, compost and humus.
• Combine 2 parts garden soil with 1 part peat and sand.
• Dilute peat with perlite 1:1.

Before sowing, the substrate must be disinfected: bake in the oven for a couple of minutes. This is done to avoid infection. Fungicides or manganese are also used for treatment.

Careful selection of planting material ensures that the flower grows quickly and without problems. When selecting seeds, you need to pay attention to the following:

Seeds that have the following characteristics are unsuitable:

• Small in size.
• The presence of various deformations.
• Flat.
• The surface of the seeds is covered with spots.

How to plant?

Sowing with peat tablets

1. You need to take medium-sized tablets.
2. Place them in a fairly deep container and fill with warm water.
3. Wait until they increase 5-6 times.
4. Place the seed in a special hole and then cover it a little with peat from the tablet.
5. Next, the container is placed in a warm place, first covered with glass or thick film. Over the next 1-2 weeks, the first shoots will appear.

Selection of pot

To germinate pelargonium, you will need small pots, 3-4 centimeters deep. You can buy such a container at a flower shop or make it yourself. Growing takes place in a box or pot. The container should be selected according to the size of the roots. There is no need to replant until the plant becomes crowded.

Soil selection

should be fertile and loose. Clayey, loamy and acidic soils are not suitable. Experienced gardeners advise preparing the substrate yourself. In store-bought soil, the seedlings are weaker, the shoots are late, the bushes grow thin, the stems, on the contrary, are thick, the flowering is not lush and faded.

Aftercare

Humidity mode

Excessively wet soil has a negative effect on the flower. May cause a disease called blackleg. It instantly develops and destroys the plant. To avoid this disease, the pot must have a drainage layer and a hole through which excess liquid will drain.

How to water young shoots?

The watering regime must be observed. To form a beautiful and healthy bush, timely watering is required. The procedure is carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried. After planting in separate containers, water no more than 2 times a week. In winter, the frequency is reduced to once every seven days.

Growing pelargonium at home from seeds allows gardeners to get abundant flowering plant. Important conditions are the selection of seeds, compliance with all recommendations for planting and proper care for young shoots. Now you know everything about planting and caring for pelargonium.

Video on the topic

We invite you to watch a video on how to properly sow pelargonium seeds:

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Pelargonium or geranium is perennial, which is usually grown as indoor flower and which does not particularly bother you with self-care. Previously, geranium could be found in almost every house on the windowsill. Nowadays, planting pelargonium in open ground, because in the fresh air you can create much more lush flower beds that will look very beautiful and rich. Our article will discuss how to grow pelargonium for seedlings, successfully care for it at home, as well as when and how to plant it in open ground.

Naturally, the most common way to propagate pelargonium is to grow it from cuttings.

For detailed and visual information on how to propagate geranium from cuttings, see the following video.

Video: propagation of geraniums by cuttings

Now on sale you can find truly a huge number of varieties and hybrids geranium seeds, variety of colors and sizes which can satisfy any desires and needs.

By the way! If you are going to grow geranium in open ground, then it is better to buy special varieties that have medium-sized, strong and hard leaves, and these are zonal geranium, ivy-leaved geranium, etc.

When to sow pelargonium seeds for seedlings

Theoretically, you can sow geranium seedlings all year round, but it is more practical to sow pelargonium seeds in the second half of winter, since as your seedlings grow, the daylight hours will increase.

Thus, optimal time sowing pelargonium seeds for seedlings is January-February (maximum in March), because It will begin to bloom only after 5-6 months, just in time for summer.

Worth understanding! For growing in room conditions, if you have the opportunity to provide additional lighting, then, of course, you can sow pelargonium with seeds at any time. But if you are planning to plant in open ground, then do it in winter or, at most, in early spring.

In principle, you can sow even in November-December, then it will bloom in the spring - in April-May.

Important! If you sow in winter or early spring, then seedlings are a must add additional illumination, because she needs 12 hours of daylight.

Video: when and how to sow pelargonium (geranium) with seeds

How to sow pelargonium seeds correctly

In order for the growth and development of pelargonium seedlings to go in the right direction, it is necessary to select the appropriate container, suitable soil and properly prepare the seeds for planting.

Selecting a landing container

Planting containers are selected based on your capabilities and needs, as well as the number of seeds of future seedlings.

If you plan to pick, then you can sow in common containers, for example, in the same plastic containers (5-6 cm high).

If it is more convenient for you to grow without picking, then pelargonium seeds can be immediately sown in individual and relatively deep containers, for example, pots or cups (8-10 cm high). Naturally, they should have drainage holes for drainage excess liquid so that the water does not stagnate.

Important! If you take shallow cassettes, you will still need to transfer the seedlings from them.

If you want your pelargonium to bloom in a pot, then it must be at least 1 liter in volume.

Suitable soil

The soil for growing pelargonium seedlings should be loose and nutritious, as well as neutral in acidity. Therefore, any universal soil for growing flowers will suit you perfectly, but in general, it is ideal to take a special soil for geraniums.

It is very good if you prepare your own substrate, which will consist of turf soil, peat and sand in a 2:1:1 ratio. Instead of sand, you can use perlite or vermiculite.

Advice! To make the soil loose and soft before sowing, it can be passed through a sieve.

Seed preparation

Many gardeners quite successfully sow their seeds without any treatment, simply dry them in moist soil. But to increase germination, they should be scarified or soaked.

Pelargonium seeds can be scarified with sandpaper, in other words, slightly damage the shell so that the sprouts can easily adhere. However, this must be done very carefully, otherwise you will easily spoil your seeds.

Or you can simply soak them in cotton pads in a solution (some soak them in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution) for 20-30 minutes, in addition, this will also disinfect them.

Interesting! Pelargonium seeds come in 3 types - already scarified (i.e., cleared of the hard shell), coated and regular. Naturally, the first 2 types do not need to be prepared in any way; they can be sown immediately.

Direct sowing

Step-by-step instructions for sowing geranium seeds for seedlings:

• Fill the containers with soil.
• Make grooves (at a distance of 3-4 cm) or shallow holes (0.5-1 cm).
• Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
• Place the seeds at a distance of 2-3 centimeters from each other.

Advice! It is convenient to spread the seeds with a toothpick.

• Sprinkle the grooves or holes with soil.

Or you can fill it with river sand.

• Moisten with water from a spray bottle.
• In order for the seeds to begin to actively germinate, you need to create greenhouse conditions, in other words, achieve a greenhouse effect, which means you should cover the container with cling film or a transparent lid (if you have a food container).
• Place in a dark and warm place (above +20 degrees, according to some sources - +24-28 degrees).

Video: correct sowing of geraniums for seedlings

By the way! There is a rather interesting method of sowing, which gives earlier and higher germination: after you spread or sprinkle the seeds, you will need to pour boiling water over them. It's that simple!

You can also sow geranium in peat tablets.

Video: sowing pelargonium in peat tablets

Caring for geranium seedlings at home

As soon as friendly shoots appear (scarified seeds germinate within 3-4 days, just like soaked ones, but on average, most of them sprout after 7-14 days), the shelter must be promptly removed and the planting container moved to a well-lit place, but where the temperature is already lower - about +18-22 degrees during the day and +16-18 at night.

Further care consists of only moderate watering when the top layer of soil dries, using slightly warm, settled or filtered water.

Remember! Pelargonium does not like excessive watering and too wet soil.

Picking

The first picking of geranium seedlings is carried out when it has 2 true leaves. The procedure is quite standard. To do this, you will need individual containers (0.2 cups) filled with peat-based soil mixture (or, again, ready-made soil for pelargoniums), a spoon or other tool that will be convenient for you to carry out the picking procedure - remove the seedling from the common container.

Note! When picking pelargonium, it is very important to carefully take the seedling, and always with a lump of earth, so as not to damage the roots of the young plant, in other words, use the transshipment method rather than picking (when the roots are exposed).

Video: picking pelargonium seedlings

In the future, most likely, you will need another transplant into a larger pot (0.5-1 liter), this time exclusively by transshipment.

Important! The day before transshipment, do not forget to water your seedlings well so that the earthen ball does not crumble when moving it.

Video: transshipment of geraniums a month and a half after sowing

Top dressing

Advice! After picking or transferring seedlings, it is advisable to immediately water the transplanted plants with some special fertilizer for better rooting, for example, you can use “Rooter” or “Kornevin” to root system seedlings took root better in the new place.

During the initial period of growth, pelargonium seedlings can be fed nitrogen fertilizers, for example, ammonium nitrate or urea, and then (when the plant already has more than 5-6 true leaves) complex mineral fertilizers type nitroammophoska. Also at this time you can start doing foliar feeding(per sheet) calcium and/or magnesium nitrate.

Pinching

It is not necessary to pinch pelargonium, because many varieties are genetically designed in such a way that they themselves form beautiful branched bushes.

Advice! However, if you see that the plant is reluctant to branch, then for more powerful tillering you can pinch the geranium over 5-6 real leaves.

When and how to plant geraniums in open ground in a flower bed

Certainly! Everyone is accustomed to the fact that geranium is a home potted crop, but this does not mean that it cannot be grown in open ground.

As for the timing of planting geraniums in open ground, first of all you should monitor the weather - it should already be quite warm during the day, naturally, the return of spring frosts should pass, which means that pelargoniums should be transplanted into the garden from the second half of May.

Planting pelargonium in open ground is more than simple:

• chose and prepared a place;
• dug a planting hole slightly larger than the size of the pot;
• they pulled the seedling out of the pot (and didn’t forget to spill it first) and put it in a new place of residence;
• sprinkled with fertile soil on the sides, compacted around the seedling;
• spilled plenty of water.

As for the planting location, the plant should not be planted in an area that is too open, otherwise the sun will burn the leaves and the plant will have an unsightly appearance and poor health.

For geraniums it is optimal to find place in light partial shade.

However! Pelargonium will bloom most profusely in a sunnier area.

It also needs to be planted in places in the garden where there is no stagnation of groundwater or rainwater.

Video: planting pelargonium in open ground - when, where and how to plant

Care for geraniums in open ground

Pelargonium tolerates drought very well - it remains green for a long time and does not fade, and it also reacts normally to high humidity (rainy weather). However, this does not mean that it does not need to be watered at all. But you need to do this in moderation!

Note! Royal pelargoniums are not very suitable for open ground, because... Their flowers deteriorate greatly when it rains.

If you want your pelargonium to stand beautiful and bloom continuously, then be sure to get rid of faded flower stalks so that the plant does not waste its energy on ripening seeds.

Advice! And for the winter, you can transplant geraniums into pots and bring them home.

Video: transplanting geraniums from the garden in the fall and further care

In order for positivity to be observed in the growth and development of pelargonium seedlings, it is necessary from the very beginning to choose the right planting container, suitable soil, correctly prepare and sow the seeds and responsibly care for them at home. By taking a serious approach to planting flower seedlings in open ground, you are guaranteed to achieve beautiful flowering.

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