Dimorphotheca is an exotic African flower that appeared in Russia relatively recently. Summer residents like this crop because its flowering lasts throughout the summer. Dimorphotheca is grown as an annual. The bushes will bloom earlier if you first grow seedlings from seeds and then move them to a flowerbed. In order for this process to go smoothly, you need to take into account some subtleties.
Sowing time
Seedlings should go into open ground when warm weather sets in. In the Moscow region, dimorphotheca is planted as seedlings at the end of March. Residents of cool regions need to wait another 10-12 days.
Dimorphotheca will be ready to bloom within 2 months after the sprouts appear. You can plant the seeds in a common container or use peat pots for this. At a temperature of 20 °C, seedlings will appear 1.5-2 weeks after sowing; if the room is warmer, the germination process will accelerate.
Soil preparation
For planting seeds, regular soil from a gardening store, for example, “Universal” or “Flower”, is suitable. Such soil is neutrally acidic, contains a full range of nutrients, and has a loose structure. Agricultural companies process the soil in production; there is no need to further disinfect it.
Those who want to make their own soil mixture will need:
- 2 parts of garden soil;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part sand;
- 1 part peat.
The components are mixed well, and then the substrate is steamed in a water bath or calcined in the oven. The soil needs to be prepared 2 weeks before sowing so that beneficial microorganisms can multiply in it later.
Features of planting seeds
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the planting container. For this purpose it is convenient to use fine expanded clay or brick chips. Then you should put a layer of prepared soil. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the ground at intervals of 2 cm, and then sprinkled with dry sand and sprayed with a sprayer.
The top of the crops is covered with a transparent lid or film to create greenhouse conditions. The shelter is removed briefly every day for ventilation, and when shoots appear, they are removed completely. At the initial stages of development, seedlings need more attention. The soil should not dry out, otherwise the tiny plants will die.
Watering in the early stages of growth
As soon as the sprouts appear, the box with seedlings is moved to a lighted windowsill, where the temperature is maintained at 15-16 °C. An abundance of light and cold will help the seedlings remain strong and not stretch out. Each seedling needs moisture for development, but dimorphotheca can hardly tolerate excess water.
While the plants are small, it is better to use a syringe without a needle or a small syringe for watering. Using these devices, it is convenient to supply water precisely to the root zone. Only after 5-6 true leaves appear on the seedlings can it be watered with a watering can.
Picking rules
Dimorphotheca is one of those plants that painfully tolerate picking.This flower does not like replanting even in adulthood. Before planting the seedlings in separate pots, the seedlings need to be watered thoroughly.
The next day, armed with a small spatula or teaspoon, the seedlings are removed from the soil one at a time along with a lump of earth and transplanted into individual containers, for example, 0.5 liter plastic cups.
You need to make 2-3 drainage holes in the bottom of the cups with a hot nail. It is convenient to use a common tray for seedlings. You can also transplant the seedlings into a long wooden box, maintaining an interval of 10 cm between them. There is no need to rush into picking; dimorphotheca seedlings are planted at one month of age.
The seedlings are transplanted into the flower bed using the transshipment method with an interval of 15-20 cm, because in the future the bushes will grow. The place for this plant must be sunny and elevated so that water does not accumulate in the flowerbed. The same drought-resistant plants that do not need frequent watering are suitable as neighbors for the dimorphotheca.
