Contents
Often, flower growers notice that the leaves of petunia seedlings are curling. However, their color does not change. This is a sign that the plant is under stress. It is necessary to establish the causes as soon as possible and take urgent measures.
Why do petunia seedlings curl leaves
There are several factors that cause this phenomenon – non-compliance with the rules and various diseases. The fact is that petunia seeds are sown very early – in January or February. This is not the most favorable time for growing seedlings in a city apartment. Winter is characterized by short daylight hours. In addition, during the heating season, the air in the apartments is characterized by low humidity – less than 50%.
Insufficient lighting
Even on the windowsills on the south side at this time of the year, the seedlings have little light. For its full growth and development, the duration of the light period should be at least 10 hours a day. In low light, the leaves of petunia seedlings curl down. The situation is aggravated if places far from the window are used for cultivation. Cloudy winter days worsen the situation, when even during daylight hours there is not enough lighting.
In order not to curl the leaves of the petunia seedlings, you can put wide bowls of water nearby
Insufficient air humidity
Low indoor humidity can cause petunia leaves to curl. It is known that hot batteries significantly reduce the humidity of the surrounding air. Since the heating season is in full swing in winter, the lack of moisture in the air has a detrimental effect on young plants.
Violation of the water regime
Foliage twisting is observed when irrigation conditions are violated. The reason for this phenomenon can be both an excess of moisture and its lack. Seedlings are watered every 2-4 days. The signal to replenish moisture is the drying of the top layer of soil. Water is taken at room temperature. Moisten the soil, try to prevent water from falling on the leaves and stems. Excessive watering is detrimental to the plant. With increased soil moisture, the seedling runs the risk of dying from a black leg.
Abundant irrigation after a drought is especially dangerous. If for some reason the plant has not been watered for several days and the earth ball has dried up, the soil should be moistened in small portions, gradually restoring the optimal water regime.
Excess nitrogen in the soil
Nitrogen affects the increase in green mass. If there is too much of it in the composition of the soil for seedlings, the leaves will develop intensively. The vein, located in the center, is somewhat behind. Over time, the leaves become uneven, the edges begin to turn up, down or to the sides.
Micronutrient deficiency
It has been noticed that with calcium deficiency, the leaves of young petunias twist up, with phosphorus starvation, lack of sulfur or boron – down. If there is not enough copper, the side edges of the sheet are wrapped down.
Viral diseases
The most dangerous cause is viral infections. Infection can occur through soil or seeds. Seedlings can be affected by tobacco and cucumber mosaic viruses. At the first disease, the edge of the leaf plate twists up, becomes covered with necrotic whitish or gray spots and strokes, and gradually dries up. With a second infection, waviness appears along the edge of the leaf, yellowish spots form on it. Infection with viruses can contribute to the death of seedlings.
You can not spray the petunia with water, the plant does not tolerate moisture on the leaves and stems
aphid
Aphids settle on young plants, feeding on their juices. Insects are located on the tops of shoots and leaves. On their surface, a light transparent sticky coating is found. This is insect excretion. Gradually, the affected leaves curl, deform and die.
Aphids on petunia seedlings need to be treated with insecticides
What to do if the leaves of the petunia curl
After finding out the reasons, measures are taken to normalize the conditions for growing seedlings.
The lack of sunlight is compensated by artificial lighting. Purchase phytolamps or use conventional fluorescent lamps. They are placed at a distance of 60-80 cm from the seedlings.
Do not place lamps too close to plants. This can lead to overheating of the seedlings.
To prevent curling of petunia leaves, it is necessary to install artificial lighting until mid-March
You can increase the humidity in the room in the following ways:
- put a humidifier in the room;
- reduce the temperature of heating devices;
- next to the seedlings place water in open containers;
- hang a plastic film curtain between the battery and seedlings, moisten it regularly;
- pour pebbles into the pan and make sure that it is constantly wet;
- hang heaters with wet sheets.
If the twisting of seedling leaves is due to an excess of nitrogen and a lack of trace elements, they try to adjust the composition of the soil by adding the missing components. Every 10 days, plants are fed with mono-fertilizers or complex mineral compounds without nitrogen.
If signs of viral diseases are found, the plant cannot be treated. In order not to infect the rest of the seedlings, they dig it up as quickly as possible and throw it away. The earth is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
When aphids appear, seedlings are sprayed with insecticide solutions – Intavir, Fufanon, Iskra, Aktara. If there are many insects, the treatment is performed 2-3 times in 10 days.
If the family has children or pets, chemicals are stored and used in compliance with the necessary safety measures.
Petunia seedlings should be watered when the top layer of the substrate dries out.
Prevention
Preventive measures begin at the stage of preparing the soil for seedlings and seed material.
For the soil, a mixture is prepared from garden soil, adding peat and sand to it. Fresh manure is not used. It has a lot of nitrogen. You can add perlite or vermiculite and mustard cake. This will make the earth more loose and moisture permeable.
To remove viruses and fungal spores, the soil is steamed in the oven or spilled with boiling water.
Seeds before sowing are pickled in a solution of potassium permanganate, “Fitosporin” or the drug “Maxim”.
A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the seedling container, and only after it is the soil poured. This prevents waterlogging of seedlings.
Boxes with seedlings are placed on the brightest window. After the seeds sprout, they try to provide artificial illumination.
They also monitor the humidity of the air, taking timely measures to increase it. Observe the regime of watering seedlings. Provide timely feeding of plants with complex fertilizers containing the necessary trace elements.
Conclusion
Having discovered that the leaves of petunia seedlings are curling, experienced flower growers find out the cause and take urgent measures to eliminate it. Proper agricultural technology and timely disease prevention are the key to strong healthy seedlings and future lush flowering.
