Unpretentious, magical, sophisticated - this is all about aquilegia. Simple at first glance, at the time of flowering it is filled with sophistication and charm. That is why it is so popular to plant it in gardens and shaded areas of the park.
Where the name of this flower comes from is not known for certain. Scientists suggest that because of the shape of the inflorescences, so reminiscent of small pitchers, our ancestors called the aquilegia aquilegia.
To get a strong plant that will delight you with its beauty for many years, it is better to grow seedlings yourself from seeds. But how to do it correctly? Let's try to figure it out.
Select and prepare seeds
For good germination and strong seedlings, preference should be given to seeds from trusted manufacturers or collected by yourself. It is also worth paying attention to the information indicated on the packaging. When choosing planting material, you should not take seeds that are more than 2 years old, since the percentage of their germination will be minimal.
To obtain strong sprouts, it is recommended to stratify the seeds before planting, or in simple terms, freeze them. Under natural conditions, after shedding, they fall into the soil, having lain in the ground for the winter, in the spring the plant is ready to germinate. Therefore, it is recommended to sow columbine in open ground in late autumn. But if this has not been done, this accelerated temperature drop procedure is necessary for spring seedlings. Otherwise they won't germinate.
It is better to start preparing for forcing seedlings at the end of January - February, because the stratification process takes from 4 to 5 weeks at temperatures from +1 to -4 degrees. They do this in several ways:
- Using cotton wool or cotton pads. Select a convenient container, at the bottom of which a cotton pad is placed. The seeds are sprinkled with a little water and covered with cotton wool. Everything is wrapped in film and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
- With snow. The seeds are placed in a container filled with slightly damp peat, covered with film and immersed in a snowdrift.
- With sand. The seeds are mixed with sifted clean sand. Before placing them in the refrigerator, they should be moistened and covered with film.
- With the earth. Seeds are sown in a container filled with soil or substrate, covered with a lid and stored in a cool place.
After 4 weeks, we take the planting material out of the cold and begin germination.
Preparing the soil
Aquilegia is a completely unpretentious plant that is suitable for any soil. But for seedlings it is better to take looser and lighter soil. There are ready-made substrates for this. But you can prepare it yourself. We do this in equal proportions from sand, humus from leaves and earth.
It is worth remembering that any soil must be disinfected to eliminate bacteria, pathogens or larvae contained in it. This can be done by subjecting the soil to heat treatment using steam or calcining it in the oven for 40 minutes, or repeatedly freezing it outside and bringing it into the heat for 3 weeks at regular intervals.
Choosing a container for planting
This is a plant with a taproot system; therefore, the container must be deep and with high sides. Or plant seeds in special ready-made containers with peat. Don't forget about drainage. The plant does not tolerate excessive watering or stagnant moisture.
We germinate the seeds
We slightly moisten the prepared soil and begin sowing. Cover the top with a thin layer of earth and cover with film to create a greenhouse effect. The optimal room temperature is not higher than +17 degrees. Germination will last from 14 to 21 days. The film must be opened slightly every day to prevent condensation and mold. This must be done within 15-20 minutes.
When the first shoots appear, the film is opened and the plant is placed in a warm place with sufficient lighting, but not in direct sunlight.
Caring for seedlings
In order for the seedlings to please with their strength and beauty, they need proper care.
Watering is carried out using a syringe. The water should be at room temperature, pre-settled beforehand.
After the third leaf appears, the seedlings are plucked, leaving a distance between plants of 5 to 7 cm. This must be done carefully, because the sprouts are very fragile.
To do this, pre-water the water carrier and after 20 minutes, use a stick to remove it from the soil. In the prepared container where we transplant the plants, make a small hole and place the sprout in it. Then sprinkle a little water.
Planting seedlings in the ground
This should be done no earlier than May - June.
- Before planting, it is recommended to water the plant. This can be done a few hours before transplantation.
- The holes are made at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other.
- The plant is removed from the container, placed in the prepared hole and sprinkled with soil.
- Water the seedlings.
If growing seedlings from seeds is very troublesome, you can do this in open ground. The optimal time for planting is mid-April.
