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The plans of many flower growers at the end of winter include growing salpiglossis from seeds at home so that by mid-May the seedlings of this unusual elegant flower can be planted in open ground. Bright, colorful gramophones with an elegant pattern of mother-of-pearl veins, as if drawn with a thin brush on the inner surface of the petals, invariably delight and fascinate.
It is not surprising that everyone who happened to see salpiglossis during its flowering period definitely wants to “invite” this miracle to their own garden. This is not so difficult to do, because this plant reproduces by seeds. If the climate allows, you can wait until the end of spring and plant them directly under the open sky. However, it is better to put in a little effort and take care to grow seedlings. The troubles will justify themselves: in this case, the flowering of salpiglossis will come earlier and will be longer.
Description of salpiglossis seeds + photo
The seeds of this plant ripen in autumn. After the end of flowering, in place of the wilted heads of salpiglossis, fruits are formed in the form of oval-shaped boxes with two compartments. Each of them contains up to 6 small dark seeds.
Each fruit – a box of salpiglossis contains a large number of small dark seeds, which, if stored properly, germinate perfectly for 4-5 years.
As a rule, if a grower wishes to obtain seed of a particular variety of Salpiglossis from his site, he will remove most of the withered buds, leaving only a few of the largest inflorescences. From them, he will subsequently collect the seeds.
If you do not do this, simply leaving all the boxes on the bush, then under favorable conditions, the plant can also multiply by self-sowing. It is likely that, once on the soil surface, some of the seeds will successfully overwinter and germinate for the next season.
The nuances of growing seedlings
Growing salpiglossis from seeds at home involves knowing some features that may come in handy.
In particular, you should keep in mind the following important nuances:
- Sowing salpiglossis directly into open ground is possible only in southern regions with a warm and mild climate. This should be done before winter or in spring (at the end of April or at the beginning of May). In the middle climatic zone, it is more expedient to sow salpiglossis for seedlings at the end of winter in order to transfer already grown and strengthened plants to the site in the spring.
- This flower is very sensitive to transplants. This should be taken into account in the process of caring for seedlings. The picking of seedlings is carried out early in order to injure vulnerable roots as little as possible. The transfer of plants to a flower bed or garden bed is carried out carefully, they are immediately determined to a permanent place and planted together with a clod of earth.
- The flowering of salpiglossis cultivated by the seedling method begins earlier and lasts longer than that of specimens sown directly in open ground.
- The seeds of this plant do not need stratification, soaking or any other preplant preparation. High resistance to the effects of fungi and pathogenic microorganisms is inherent in them by nature.
Rules for sowing salpiglossis for seedlings
Growing salpiglossis from seeds for seedlings follows the rules. By providing a favorable environment and organizing care taking into account the preferences of the plant, you can easily get strong and healthy seedlings for your own site.
You can sow salpiglossis for seedlings both in individual cups and in wide containers filled with a light, nutritious, non-acidic substrate.
When to sow salpiglossis for seedlings
The timing of planting salpiglossis seeds directly depends on the estimated time of transfer of plants to open ground. Since the seedlings of this flower are usually rooted in a permanent place in the garden in mid-May, it is necessary to sow it for seedlings no later than the end of March or the beginning of April.
Tank selection and soil preparation
A suitable container for germinating salpiglossis seeds can be a wide shallow container, small pots or cups, peat tablets.
A suitable soil mix can be purchased at the store, it is important that it is loose, light and nutritious. However, it will not be difficult to prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, you need to mix the following components:
- sod land (4 parts);
- fine river sand (2 parts);
- wood ash (1 part).
Before sowing seeds, the soil should be disinfected by choosing one of two methods:
- heat in a water bath for 1 hour;
- bake in the oven for 40-60 minutes.
If the seeds were planted in individual containers, they will not need picking.
Sowing seeds of salpiglossis for seedlings
The procedure for planting salpiglossis seeds for seedlings is as follows:
- A layer of drainage is placed in prepared containers (small pebbles, expanded clay, foam plastic crumbs). From above fill with a substrate and moisten it from a spray bottle with warm, settled water.
- If one wide container is selected, then the seed is evenly distributed over the surface of the soil with a toothpick dipped in water. In the case when individual cups or small pots are prepared, 2 to 5 seeds are placed in each of them. It is impossible to deepen them, it should only be slightly pressed to the surface of the earth.
- At the end of sowing, the soil is sprayed again with warm water.
- If the containers are individual, for convenience they are put together on a wide tray or pallet.
- Salpiglossis crops are covered with a film or glass on top and placed in a warm (+ 20-22 ° C) place with moderate lighting.
Practical recommendations on how to properly sow salpiglossis for seedlings and how to care for it at the initial stage contains a video:
How to grow salpiglossis from seeds
From the moment the seeds are planted to the organization of the transfer of plants to the beds, caring for them plays a key role in obtaining healthy Salpiglossis seedlings. It is not complicated, but must be organized correctly.
Microclimate
At the initial stage, the seedlings of the plant need a moderate amount of diffused light. Direct sunlight harms salpiglossis. After 10-15 days, after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are additionally illuminated with the help of a phytolamp, extending their day to 12-14 hours a day.
It is desirable to maintain the temperature in the room at a level of 20 ° C heat.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Watering seedlings of salpiglossis should be moderate. It is advisable to carry it out with settled water at room temperature, spraying moisture over the surface of the soil with a spray bottle. It is necessary to ensure that the earth in the “greenhouse” does not dry out, and in a timely manner to remove drops of condensate that form on the inside of the glass or covering film.
Watering seedlings at first is most convenient from a spray bottle.
At the stage of growing seedlings, it is not required to fertilize salpiglossis. In the future, after planting in the ground, it is advisable to feed a couple of times a month with a complex mineral composition for flowering plants. Ash can be used as an organic additive.
Picks
Picking seedlings of salpiglossis according to individual containers is performed early – at the stage of formation of their first pair of true leaves. It should be noted that the roots of young plants are very delicate and fragile, so the procedure should be carried out very carefully, digging and transferring each sprout into a glass or pot along with a clod of earth. Successfully carried out picking contributes to the strengthening and further development of seedlings.
As a rule, after this, a support is installed for each of the small plants so that the stalk that grows leaves does not break under its own weight.
Salpiglossis seedlings are picked early – at the stage of formation of their first pair of leaves
Pinching and hardening
An important stage in the formation of a beautiful bush in the future is the pinching of salpiglossis. It begins to be performed already at the seedling stage, when the length of the shoots reaches about 10 cm. The tops of the seedlings should be carefully broken. Before transferring plants to open ground, it is advisable to repeat this procedure 2-3 times, and then carry out on a regular basis, at the same time getting rid of faded heads and withered shoots.
Before planting salpiglossis grown from seeds in a permanent place in the open air, it must be hardened. This is done gradually. In the first couple of weeks after sowing, the “greenhouse” is removed for 10-15 minutes a day, airing the seedlings and removing condensed moisture. After the seeds of salpiglossis germinate, their time spent in the fresh air is gradually increased, and then the shelter is completely removed.
Transplant into the ground
Seedlings are transplanted into open ground in mid-May, after the threat of return frosts has finally passed. Young plants are planted on a prepared site at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, transferring them to the holes along with a clod of earth on the roots. Then the bushes are watered, supports for the stems are installed and the soil is mulched with grass compost.
Conclusion
Growing salpiglossis from seeds at home is not such a complicated procedure as it might seem at first glance. The seed material of this plant does not need preliminary preparation and within 4-5 years from the date of collection retains high germination. It is important to plant the seeds in time in loose, nutritious and non-acidic soil, provide them with a warm and adequately lit place, and also protect them at first from the bright rays of the sun and fresh air with a home-made “greenhouse” made of dense transparent material. Subject to regular moderate watering, gradual hardening and properly performed picking, by mid-May, the gardener will have strong, healthy and beautiful seedlings at his disposal, which can be successfully transplanted into a flower bed and admire the flowers in about a month.