Godetia is a spectacular plant that looks similar to an azalea, but is less demanding to care for. In southern climates, the flower is immediately planted with seeds in open ground. Where it is cooler, seedlings are grown first. This allows godetia to bloom earlier. In order for the seedlings to grow strong, you will have to take into account the general rules for sowing seedlings and the individual characteristics of the crop.
Sowing dates
The date for sowing seeds at home depends on when warmth comes to the region and it will be possible to transplant the seedlings into an open flowerbed. In the middle zone, return frosts finally disappear in the second half of May. In Siberia and the Urals, unexpected cold snaps may occur in early June. Godetia is planted with seeds from the middle to the last days of March.
Within 2 months indoors, the seedlings will gain strength and be ready for life outdoors. By the way, low-growing varieties of flowers can be grown in a container, which is very convenient. The flowerpot can be moved to another corner of the garden at any time, or godetia can be used to decorate the veranda. The plant is also suitable for decorating a city balcony.
Selecting container and soil
Godetia seeds are small, so they are usually sown in one box or other suitable container. Subsequently, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. The selected container should be wide and shallow.Make small holes in the bottom with a nail, awl or soldering iron to remove excess water. The soil for seedlings should:
- have a uniform structure;
- to be loose;
- contain nutrients.
Purchased soil meets all these requirements, but sometimes, due to the large number of seedlings, summer residents are forced to save money, so they use garden soil. Its composition and structure can be improved by adding additives in the form of lowland peat, vermiculite, and coarse sand.
In addition, the soil will need to be disinfected by keeping it in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 90 °C, or 5 minutes in the microwave turned on at full power. A more labor-intensive method is to use a water bath.
Sowing godetia for seedlings
To begin with, fine expanded clay is poured into the planting container, which will act as drainage. Then the prepared soil is laid, not reaching the top of the container 2-3 cm. The soil must be pre-moistened.
To ensure that the seeds are distributed evenly over the soil surface, they are mixed with sand. After sowing, a thin layer of dry soil is poured on top. The next step is to moisten the soil surface with a spray bottle and cover it with a transparent lid, film or glass.
The seedlings are placed on the windowsill. To wait for germination, you need to ventilate the crops daily, removing the cover for 15 minutes. At the same time, check the soil moisture. It should be moderate but stable. If necessary, the ground is sprayed with water from a sprayer. Shoots usually appear after 9-11 days.
Seedling care
Godetia grows slowly. Plant care must correspond to the stage of their development.Small seedlings are watered with a syringe or syringe. Only when the bushes have grown leaves can you use a small watering can with a narrow spout for watering. The earth should not dry out, but it should not be turned into a swamp either. Watering should be uniform and moderate.
At the initial stages, seedlings do not need fertilizers, since the soil contains everything necessary for the growth and development of plants. The first feeding can be done 8-10 days after picking, but only if the godetia slows down its growth. A complex fertilizer for flowers in a reduced dosage is suitable for this.
After moistening the soil, it is necessary to loosen its surface, preventing the formation of a hard crust. It is important that oxygen reaches the plant roots. Loosening is carried out carefully, trying not to damage the root system of growing godetia.
Picking into separate containers
The emerging shoots grow very densely. You cannot leave them in a common container for a long time, otherwise the seedlings will begin to oppress each other. As soon as the first pair of true leaves appears, it is time to pick. Plants are transplanted into separate containers or cassettes, where they will spend time before being transplanted into open ground.
The rules for preparing individual containers are the same as in the case of a common container for seedlings. You need to make several holes in the bottom, after which drainage is placed in each pot and soil is poured (the same as that used for sowing). Seedlings are watered the day before picking. During the procedure, tiny plants are taken out with a small spoon along with a lump of earth and transferred to a new “house”. The soil is carefully compacted with your fingers and watered.
The grown seedlings are transplanted into a flowerbed after preliminary hardening. It is better to do this using the transshipment method, so as to disturb the roots as little as possible. Plants are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other. In the future they will grow, and the planting will look denser. Godetia should be planted in the ground on a cloudy day.
