Bells can not only decorate your home area, but also create a festive mood; the flowers look good in compositions, as well as in solo flowering. Even a novice gardener can grow bell seedlings, but it is still better to study the specifics of care so as not to destroy the seedlings.
Selection of seeds and planting rules
When choosing seeds, it is better to give preference to trusted producers, and you also need to decide on the type and variety of bells so that there are no surprises when flowering. It should be taken into account that plant care requirements may differ depending on the type; it is better to ask the seller in advance or read the necessary information on the Internet.
Bell seeds have good germination; it is not necessary to prepare them for planting: gardeners claim that they did not notice a difference in the number of seedlings from prepared seeds and regular ones. It is recommended to sow bell seeds in March. First you need to prepare a clean container 6-8 cm high; drainage holes are required. The bottom of the container is covered with a drainage layer of perlite or expanded clay with a fraction of 1-1.5 cm. Next, the container is filled with soil and at the same time leaving 2 cm in reserve to the edges (space for sprouted seedlings). Bell seeds are small and do not require deepening; it is enough to distribute them evenly around the perimeter of the container. Before and after sowing, the soil is moistened using a spray bottle with clean water.Next, the container is closed with a lid to create a greenhouse effect.
The right soil
The main criteria when choosing soil for planting bell seeds:
- ease;
- water permeability;
- breathability.
You can choose a universal store-bought soil for flowering plants or prepare the desired mixture yourself. The best option is turf soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 6:1:3. All components must first be disinfected by baking in the oven. After just two weeks, the first shoots appear. Peat tablets are also used as soil for bell seedlings. This is convenient; all gardeners note the rapid germination of seeds planted in this way.
Pick on time
Bells need to be picked at the stage of appearance of 2-3 leaves. To do this, prepare a 250 ml pot with drainage holes in advance; the soil must be chosen the same as for the seeds. To facilitate the process of removing seedlings from the container, it is necessary to water them first - an hour before picking. The prepared soil is poured into a new container, a hole is made and 3-5 seedlings are deepened into this hole. The seedlings will need to be shaded for a couple of days, and then placed in a sunny place and ensure a comfortable temperature.
Lighting and temperature conditions
For good germination of bell seeds, you simply need high-quality lighting and normal temperature conditions; otherwise, the seedlings will develop slowly and quickly elongate.The optimal temperature for seed germination varies from +20 °C to +22 °C, in the future it can be lowered by a maximum of 2-3 degrees. Do not forget to ventilate the greenhouse until the shoots appear (once a day for 10-15 minutes). The ideal location for seedlings is an east window; heating devices will not interfere. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, the seedlings must be illuminated with phytolamps or LED lamps. Daylight hours for bell seedlings are at least 12 hours.
Features of watering
Bell seedlings need systematic but moderate watering. Before seedlings emerge, you can water the seeds only with a spray bottle; the soil should always be slightly moist, but not swampy. You need to make sure that during watering the seeds are not washed away with soil; you need to water very carefully. After germination, you can proceed to the standard watering procedure.
Growing bell seedlings is quite simple if you follow the tips that will help you enjoy the sight of your favorite flowers from the first year of growth. As a rule, seeds take root well and, with proper care, develop much faster than those sown directly in open ground.
