In temperate climates, ageratum is grown as an annual. Sowing seeds at home allows you to prepare seedlings for the arrival of warmer weather. In this case, ageratum will please you with earlier flowering. The seedling method of growing a flower has its own subtleties, which are important for gardeners to know about. There are 5 main points to consider.
Timely landing
Each crop has its own timing for sowing seeds. The desired date is determined taking into account the climatic characteristics of the region and the characteristics of the plant. Ageratum seedlings should spend 60-70 days at home. Plants are planted in the flowerbed when it becomes warm and the threat of return frosts has disappeared.
Sowing dates taking into account the climate:
- in the Moscow region, seeds are planted in mid-March;
- for warmer regions, the beginning of March will be suitable days for planting;
- Residents of the Northern Urals and Siberia should postpone sowing until April.
It is important to observe the deadlines, since seedlings that are not ready for planting will be too weak, and overgrown ones will get sick and take a long time to take root in a new place.
Suitable container and soil
Ageratum is compact in size; its seedlings also do not grow large. Taking this into account, you can sow in a common container. The container should be wide, with low sides and drainage holes in the bottom.For this purpose, you can use a plastic container, cassette containers, a tray for semi-finished products or sweets.
The culture is considered unpretentious; any soil that contains nutrients and has a loose structure is suitable for it. You can purchase ready-made soil called “Universal” or “Flower” at a garden store. If a lot of seedlings are needed, gardeners prepare their own land to save money. Peat, sand and humus must be added to garden soil.
Vermiculite can be used instead of sand. The mixture must be steamed in a microwave, oven or water bath to destroy fungal spores, bacteria and pest larvae. Disinfection is carried out 10-15 days before planting; the soil microflora must be given some time to recover.
Sowing scheme
Before sowing, a small drainage is placed at the bottom of the container and a layer of prepared soil is poured, not reaching the edge 2-3 cm. The soil is spilled in advance so that it is moderately moist. Then the seeds are spread over the surface of the soil using tweezers. Ageratum planting material is quite small.
The seeds are distributed over the surface at intervals of 1 cm. Sowing of ageratum should be superficial, the seeds are only slightly pressed to the ground. Then the soil is sprayed and covered with a transparent lid or film to create a moist environment under the shelter.
Seedling care
Seeds should germinate at a temperature of +22-24 °C. Shoots will begin to appear in 5-7 days. While waiting for this moment, the crops must be ventilated daily and, if necessary, re-sprayed with water.As soon as the sprouts appear, the shelter is removed. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, it is advisable to reduce the temperature by 3-4 degrees and maintain this regime for a week.
Soil moisture should be moderate; the soil should not be allowed to dry out or become waterlogged. It is most convenient to water small plants using a syringe or syringe. Seedlings need light to grow and develop. In cloudy weather, turn on the backlight using a phytolamp or a fluorescent lamp.
Picking, preparation for landing in the ground
While the seedlings are at home, they are picked twice. The first time, the seedlings are planted more freely, leaving a distance of 4-5 cm between them. Later, the ageratums are planted in separate cups with a diameter of 7-10 cm.
You can immediately plant the plants in separate containers, avoiding unnecessary hassle. 6-8 hours before picking, water the seedlings so that the soil sticks to the roots. When starting to plant, the seedlings are picked up and taken out along with a lump of earth, helping themselves with the handle of a spoon or a toothpick, and then transferred to pre-prepared holes.
After picking, the plants need to be protected from bright sun, so they are placed away from the window. And after 3-4 days they return to their original place. After a week, young ageratums can be fed with complex fertilizer at half the dosage.
2 weeks before the expected date of planting on the site, the seedlings begin to be hardened, gradually accustoming them to the open air. First, the window is opened only for a short time. Just before planting, the plants are taken out to the open balcony.
Having competently carried out all the stages of growing seedlings, gardeners will receive strong bushes ready for transplanting into the ground. Plants are planted at intervals of 20 cm, miniature species are placed more densely. Squat ageratums will perfectly decorate slopes and alpine hills. Landscape designers often use the plant to create a floral “stream,” and gardeners can take advantage of this idea.
