We grow geraniums from seeds - tips for beginner growers. How to grow geranium from seeds

Pelargonium (aka geranium) - an unpretentious plant originally from South Africa, it serves as a wonderful decoration of the garden, balcony, room. Many practice the cultivation of geraniums at home from seeds, but it is worth noting that only regional geranium breeds in this way. What kind of soil does a flower like when planting and how to properly care for it?

Preparing for sowing

Pelargonium loves loose, sufficiently air-and moisture-permeable, neutral, slightly alkaline soil. Therefore, before you start growing, you must properly prepare the earth mixture. You can use several options:

peat, compost, humus, sand (proportions 1: 1: 1: 1);
peat, sand, garden soil (proportions 1: 1: 2);
peat, perlite (proportions 1: 1).

The most favorable time for sowing is the end of winter — the beginning of spring (February, March). But when using the backlight, geranium seed can be planted in October, November, December, January. Such periods are associated with the fact that, starting from January, the light day increases, respectively, geranium develops well, grows compactly, blooms in late spring or early summer.

If you sow it later, the plants are likely to greatly stretch and bloom only after 9 months.

Tip! Before sowing seeds, do not forget to disinfect the soil, because pelargonium seedlings often suffer from blackleg disease. This can be done with the help of a weak pale pink solution of manganese, a biological fungicide (for example, Fitosporin).

Planting seeds

Before proceeding to the reproduction of geranium seeds need to scarify them (clear of hard shell). Use fine-grained sandpaper. It is necessary to rub until the hardened leathery layer is disturbed or completely removed. Then the seeds will sprout together, in about a week (the cultivation of uncarirified seeds may take several months). Purchased geraniums are usually already processed.

Next, the seeds must be soaked in warm water for 3 hours. After this period, they must be spread out in pots at a distance of 5 cm from each other and sprinkled with a layer of 0.5 cm of earth on top. Do not forget about watering seeds. It is best to spray them from the dispenser with distilled water at room temperature. After that, over the seeds, you should tighten the dense plastic film or put the glass, and then put in a well-lit, warm place (at least 22 degrees).

Council About 1-2 weeks after sowing the seeds, when there will be friendly shoots, the film or glass will need to be removed.

Pelargonium care

It is important to understand that the rapid growth of geraniums at home is possible only with careful quality care. In order for the plants to grow strong and healthy, you need to water them in a timely manner, maintain the optimum air temperature in the room, fertilize them, and when they are strong enough, make a picking.

. The frequency of soil moistening depends on the season; in winter, pelargonium needs to be watered after about 7-10 days, in summer - every 3 days. It is good if drainage is installed at the bottom of the pot, the flower does not like an excess of moisture and tolerates drought more easily. You can find out when a plant needs watering due to dry soil, it should dry to a depth of 2 cm.
Lighting. Pelargonium grows well if there is enough light in the room. However, direct sunlight is better to avoid, it can lead to fading of the flower, leaf fall. It is optimal if the geranium is grown in bright diffused light for at least 16 hours a day. In the summer, it is good to take out plants to the garden or to the balcony, the loggia, there is more not only light, but also air.
Temperature. Pelargonium does not like sudden changes in temperature, especially when sprouts are just about to hatch from seeds. It is best if the room temperature fluctuates between 20-25 degrees. For adult plants should not be allowed to cool below 7 degrees Celsius.

Picking Approximately 2 weeks after seed germination, when 2 true leaves appear on the plants, they will need to be transplanted into separate containers of approximately 10 cm in diameter. If the seedlings by this time had time to stretch out, then when planting them it is better to bury them in the soil by 1-2 cm.
Top dressing. 2 weeks after the dive, special complex fertilizer with a high content of potassium and phosphorus should be introduced into the ground. It can be used according to the instructions "Agricola" or "Effekton" (for colors). Feed geranium need every 2-3 weeks from March to October, in the winter they should be stopped.
Topping. To prevent the plant from going tall, it is pinched over a 6 or 7 leaf. In addition, already mature plants need autumn and spring. Particularly weak shoots must be carefully cut, it will provide good tilings and abundant flowering. Also, do not forget to timely remove old flowers. Approximately 1-1.5 months before the planned flowering pinching should stop.

Council It is very important to be able to identify the negative states of the geranium. So, when reddening the leaves, the temperature in the room should be increased, when yellowing, to increase the watering, to reduce it when darkening or mold, and when the lower leaves fall off, the lighting should be improved.

Transplant to the garden plot

Plant transplanting to a flower bed or street flower beds is carried out in the spring at the end of May (when the threat of frost is over). Before several days, the soil and the ground in the pots are moistened so as not to injure the roots when digging. It is important to bear in mind that pelargonium loves space, so seedlings are placed according to the scheme of 20x20 cm. Growing outdoors can continue until the first frost. In order for geranium to continue to delight in its flowering at home, it must be dug up, and planted together with an earthy clod in a pot.

Tip! It is important to bear in mind that only pelargonium with simple flowers of 5 petals propagates with seeds. Terry varieties, geraniums with chocolate leaves, butterflies and tricolors cannot be grown from seeds.

Growing geraniums at home is a simple matter, this unpretentious flower grows quickly. With the right care for the year, it reaches a height of 40-50 cm, and blooms about 3 months after the first shoots. Coloring of flowers can be the most diverse - pink, white, red, salmon, carmine. Especially beautiful is the combination of several shades, for example, white-pink or white-red geranium.

In addition, pelargonium is also very useful. Its juice has an excellent disinfecting property, slightly crushed leaves are used for ear inflammation, osteochondrosis, and radiculitis. Also, geranium leaves are used as a remedy for ear ticks in domestic animals. And growing a flower in the garden allows you to scare various pests from neighboring plants.

Bush divisions). Pelargonium hybrids that have been grown from their own seeds do not possess the properties of a parent. To preserve the necessary characteristics, they are propagated solely by vegetation.

It is interesting for experienced flower growers to independently grow a particular variety from seed. You can use your purchased grain. A flower grown from seed blooms more abundantly and longer than the one that grew from a cutting.

Features of planting material

It looks like flower seeds resemble coffee grains. They are located in the seed box. One of the sides is slightly convex, and the second is flat, with a marked dividing line. Color - rich brown. A small downy umbrella acts as a dense shell covering the seeds. After ripening, the box bursts and fruits appear in its place.

At emergence of flowers on a pelargonium, it is worth taking care of seeds. Possible option of artificial pollination. You can transfer the pollen using a needle or tweezers. In the very center of the plant there are 10 stamens and 1 pistil with a stigma. It is necessary to carefully take the pollen from one flower and transfer it to the stigma of another pistil, which was supposed to bloom a few days before. Pollination by a similar method can be done many times.

Now how to collect the ripened seeds. After pollination has occurred, after 4-5 days, the bar begins its growth. The fruit is a box - pointed and elongated. The fruit will burst immediately after the seeds ripen. Slightly oblong seeds, which are covered with light villi, hang on thin and dense threads.

Harvesting takes place when the grains are fully ripe. Dry open boxes are considered to be witnesses of maturity.

Attention! It is necessary to ensure that the seeds do not fall out and do not germinate, because in this case, their storage will be impossible.

We offer to watch a video about the collection and features of planting material:

A photo

In the photo below you can see what the seed looks like.

How to grow a flower?

When to sow?

Pelargonium sowing at home can be carried out even all year round. The main thing is to provide additional light. The optimal period for the procedure is the end of February or March. Later sowing threatens to overstretch the shoots, and flowering will not appear earlier than in 9-10 months.

Soil and Seed Preparation

Important! Pelargonium is preferable to plant in the nutrient and light, allowing good air and water to the root system. It is allowed to germinate seeds in purchased soil or in the soil of its own preparation.

There are several options:

Mix equal portions of sand, peat, compost and humus.
Combine 2 parts of garden land with 1 part of peat and sand.
Peat diluted with perlite 1: 1.

Before sowing, the substrate must be disinfected: ignite a couple of minutes in the oven. This is done to avoid infection. Also for processing fungicides or manganese are taken.

Careful selection of material for planting, guarantees the growth of a flower quickly and without problems. When selecting seeds, you need to pay attention to the following:

Seeds that have the following characteristics are not suitable:

Small in size.
The presence of various deformations.
Flat.
The surface of the seed is stained.

How to plant?

Sowing with peat tablets

You need to take a pill of medium size.
Put them in a rather deep container and fill with warm water.
Wait until they increase 5-6 times.
Place a seed in a special hole, and then slightly cover up with peat from a tablet.
Next, the container is placed in a warm place, pre-covered with glass or thick film. Over the next 1-2 weeks, the first shoots will appear.

Pot Selection

To germinate pelargonium, you need small pots, 3-4 cm deep. Such a container can be bought at a flower shop or made yourself. Growing takes place in a box, pot. Select the capacity should be in accordance with the size of the roots. It is not necessary to repot until the plant becomes crowded.

Soil selection

should be fertile and loose. Clay, loamy and acidic soils are not suitable. Experienced growers are advised to independently prepare the substrate. In store soil, saplings are weaker, late shoots, bushes grow thin, on the contrary, thick stems, flowering is not luxuriant and faded.

Aftercare

Moisture mode

Too wet soil adversely affects the flower. May cause a disease called "black leg". It develops instantly and destroys the plant. In order to avoid this ailment, there must be a layer of drainage in the pot and an opening through which excess fluid will flow.

How to water young shoots?

Watering mode is definitely worth to follow. For the formation of a beautiful and healthy bush requires timely watering. The procedure is carried out only after the top layer of soil dries. After picking into separate containers - watering no more than 2 times a week. In winter, the frequency is reduced to 1 time in seven days.

Growing pelargonium at home from seed allows growers to get a richly flowering plant. Important conditions are the selection of seeds, compliance with all recommendations for planting and proper care for young shoots. Now you know everything about planting and caring for pelargonium.

Features of the cultivation of pelargonium seed

To grow geranium without problems and quickly, you need to spend careful selection planting material. Seeds should be brown with a slight matte sheen and a moderate shade.

The shape of the seeds should be oblong, having small depressions on the sides, the shell is leathery and dense, size - large enough.

If you come across flattened, small, deformed, as well as seeds that differ from the desired tonality and are covered with spots of different flowers, set them aside. Planting such material will not be able to provide the desired result.

The seeds of some geranium species, especially the ileum, do not germinate for 2–3 months, which causes panic and frustration for novice gardeners. As a result, the care of the plant completely stops.

To maximize the time required for germination conduct the procedure of scarification, that is, to remove part of the shell in order to ensure unhindered access of nutrients directly to the seed.

Independently, this can be done with fine or medium-grained emery paper, which will remove the top layer without forming disruptions to the plant.

If you need to achieve the fastest germination of pelargonium - wipe 2-3 times the seed on the sandpaper with slow rotational movements.

Preparing the soil for growing geraniums from seeds

The substrate can be purchased at a special flower shop, but it is likely that the soil will be supersaturated with minerals.

Such conditions for pelargonium are not very favorable - shoots appear several times (2–3) more slowly, and the bushes have thick stems and short stature, flowering is scanty.

Geranium Soil better to make yourself. This will require:

high quality peat (1 part);
river sand (1 part);
sod land (2 parts).

To avoid contamination of the flower with various diseases (which is especially important for ampel varieties), before planting the seeds the substrate should ignite in the oven 2-3 minutes.

You should not be afraid that the organic compounds and nutrients in the soil will be destroyed - pelargonium also feels fine in the unfrozen soil and does not require the use of dressings.

Also for the treatment of soil, you can use high quality fungicide. Only in this case you should wait 3-6 hours before planting seeds.

What can be grown pelargonium from seed? For germination geraniums are perfect small compact pots or trays, 3 cm deep. You can buy containers in special stores or make them yourself.

How to grow a plant from seed

After filling the pots with soil, sprinkle the surface of the soil with warm water and leave for one day to warm the ground to the required temperature (21-22 ° C).

Then with a finger or a suitable tool. make small holes at a distance of two cm from each other. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil one cm thick.

Soil needs to be moistened again a little and cover containers with filmin which small openings are preliminarily made to allow air access.

At home, geraniums need to ensure optimum temperature and light, but in no case put the pots with planted seeds on the windowsill.

When the first soft-green sprouts appear, remove the cover so as not to create conditions of high humidity for the plant. Now it is time to put the pelargonium pallets on the window sill to provide the plant with sunlight, otherwise flower cultivation will take two to three times longer.

In order to obtain a healthy shrub with strong stems, as well as to strengthen the root system, the soil must be periodically loosened. After the appearance of two true leaves, pelargonium should dive and transplant the bush into a narrow and high container.

Waiting for the fifth leaf to appear in pelargonium - the seedlings should be pinched. This will ensure the growth of the most branched bush, otherwise - you will get a plant with a long thin stem.

Home care for pelargonium from seeds

Pelargonium does not need to create any special conditions for further growth and development, but still requires some care.

Observance of the elementary rules of plant care guarantees its protection from pests and various diseases. In case of excessive wetting of the substrate, the probability of defeating the geranium is fungal diseases.

In addition, too hot and dry air can trigger the appearance of the whitefly. In these cases, to fix the problem special preparations are used.

Pelargonium or geranium is a flower that is very easy to care for. It will decorate not only the room, but also a balcony, terrace or garden. At home, to grow such pelargonium as in the photo can be from seeds.

Features of the cultivation of pelargonium

It should immediately make a reservation that only zone geranium can be grown from seed. Other species breed slightly differently.

Pelargonium seed selection

To avoid possible mistakes, you need to carefully select and prepare planting material. When choosing seeds should pay special attention to the following points:

1. Color. Quality pelargonium seeds have a rich brown color. Slight haze and slight shade is allowed.

2. Form. The developed seeds are oblong, on their sides insignificant depressions are visible.

Size 3. Planting material is quite large.

4. The shell. Pelargonium seeds are characterized by a dense leathery shell.

If the planting material has all these qualities, then it can be purchased. It is worth refusing to buy small, flattened, deformed or stained seeds. From planting such material can not expect a good result.

Pre-planting seed treatment

As already mentioned, geranium seeds have a dense shell, making it difficult to germinate. Sometimes seedlings have to wait quite a long time, and the seeds still do not germinate. The reason for failure in improper treatment of seeds before planting or its absence.

Before planting, geranium seeds must undergo scarification - a procedure for removing a thick film. Independently carry out this procedure is easy. For this you will need fine sandpaper. With its help, only the upper dense layer is removed from the seeds, and no deep gaps remain.

It is necessary to process each seed separately, rubbing it on sandpaper several times.

Selection of soil for growing pelargonium from seeds

Geranium prefers a light nutritional mixture, which passes water and air to the roots of the plant well. For germinating seeds, you can use ready-made store soil or make it yourself. There are several options:

Mix in equal proportions peat, sand, humus and compost;

Connect two parts of garden land with one part of peat and sand;

Dilute peat with perlite in a 1: 1 ratio.

If it is possible to prepare the substrate for growing independently, then it should be used. In the purchase of soil seedlings appear later, saplings are weaker, the bush forms thin stems, flowering is scanty.

Before sowing seeds, the prepared substrate should be disinfected to avoid further infection of the flower. To do this, roast it a few minutes in the oven.

Tip! For soil treatment, you can use high-quality fungicides or manganese. But landing should be postponed for a day.

The most favorable time for sowing seeds is February or March. If you sow pelargonium later, the plant is strongly drawn out and blooms only after 9 months.

Sowing Pelargonium Seeds

Seeds are sown in shallow pots or bowls, the height of which does not exceed 3 cm. If there are no special containers, then trays from semi-finished products and any improvised packaging will do.

The containers are filled with substrate and sprinkled with plenty of water, then left to warm. The recommended soil temperature is 21-22 degrees.

Prepared geranium seeds are soaked in warm water for three hours, which contributes to the emergence of seedlings. Further, they are laid out on the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into the ground. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of loose substrate.

Landings covered with glass or plastic bag, take out to a well-lit place where the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees.

Important! After one or two weeks, when shoots appear, the containers need to be gradually opened. From this point you need to monitor the soil moisture.

Pelargonium care after germination

In order for the plants to grow healthy and strong, they form a beautiful bush, you need to take good care of them. Geranium needs timely watering, dressing, soil loosening, warm climates, pick picking and pinching.

Watering and feeding

A frequent mistake of beginning flower growers is excessive soil moistening, which leads to an insidious disease - a black leg. It develops very quickly and destroys all saplings. To avoid this, it is necessary to make a drainage layer in the tanks for planting and the holes for the drainage of excess water.

In addition, the irrigation mode is also important. Seedlings are watered as the soil dries, trying not to fill them. After picking in separate containers, plants are watered no more than twice a week. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to once every seven days.

Geranium is fed for the first time two weeks after the picking. To do this, use fertilizers for flowering plants rich in potassium and phosphorus, for example, Agricola.

Periodic feedings - once every two weeks. In winter, the cortex is stopped.

Lighting and air temperature

When caring for young seedlings, you need to remember about their need for light. It is better to arrange capacities with seedling on east or western windows. On the south side, shading from direct sunlight, which in winter can damage delicate foliage, is required.

In the period of active growth and the formation of shoots geranium should be covered for at least 16 hours. If there is not enough natural light, then in the evening they organize extra lighting. In the summer, flower pots are carried out on the balcony, terrace or garden.

In the room where pelargonium is grown, it is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature. It should be at the level of 20-25 degrees. In winter, an adult plant can withstand a short temperature drop of up to 10 degrees. But for young shoots such fluctuations are destructive.

Pelargonium Picks and Pinching

In order for the plant to have a developed root system, it must be grown in separate containers.

Pick up seedlings carried out after the appearance of two true leaves. For further cultivation choose narrow and high pots, with a diameter of about 10 cm. If the seedlings are a little stretched, then they can be slightly buried in the ground.

In order for geranium to have a beautiful bush shape and not stretch out, it must be regularly pinned.

The first pinching is carried out after the fifth true leaf. In the future, the flower is regularly pruned in spring and autumn, while all weak and thin shoots are cut. Forming a bush stop for 1.5 months before flowering. Geranium blooms in room conditions three to four months after planting. The photo shows the nip places.

As you can see, the cultivation and care of pelargonium is quite simple. It is enough to surround the saplings with care, and multicolored hats will soon appear on the windowsill. If desired, in May, pelargonium can be planted on a flower bed, where it will delight with flowering all summer. Before the onset of frost, the flower is transplanted back into the pot and brought into the room.

Pelargonium zone - a bright and useful pot plant. It will not only decorate the beds, but also scare away various pests.

Foreword

Pelargonium seed breeding is very simple. However, before proceeding to work, it is worth exploring its features. After learning about such important things as temperature, humidity and rules of care, you can start growing a plant without fear of losing the grown seedlings.

Pelargonium is one of the most common indoor plants. Her flowers can be semi-double, double and simple. The plant is grown not only because of its beauty, but also because of the presence of useful properties. It quickly removes a severe headache, resists poisons, and a decoction of flowers is recommended for people with stomach problems. The leaves of these plants can quickly stop bleeding, remove purulent accumulations and heal cuts. Often the leaves are used for a decoction taken by hypertensive patients. Such a remedy helps to cure nervous system disorders. In addition, pelargonium bushes filter the air well.

Pelargonium seedling

All of these properties are pushing lovers of the beautiful and useful for planting this plant. As a rule, people who plant flowers for the first time begin the event by selecting and buying seed. In this case, great attention should be paid to its appearance and the variety that you wish to propagate. In most cases, plant seeds go on sale already peeled and ready for planting. However, if you previously planted plants in your home and use the collected seeds for further reproduction, then they should be carefully treated with sandpaper before planting. In this way, you remove the hard peel that would hinder the germination of the seedlings.

In addition to the preparation of seed, it is worth exploring several important factors. These include:

planting period;
suitable soil for this;
conditions in which seedlings will germinate;
features of care;
germination of seedlings;
picking seedlings.

Each of these factors is important in its own way. Not adhering to at least one rule, you risk losing plants.

Video: New Pelargonium Planting Method

Most experts in the field of floriculture argue that there is no definitely better period for planting a plant. At the same time, in practice it is best to germinate the leaves planted from seeds in November-April. It is during these five months that flowers should be planted. For planting will need to prepare the necessary inventory. You will need turf, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1, sand and peat in a ratio of 1: 1 or perlite and peat in the same proportion. Soil combinations abound, however, you must choose the most suitable option for you. In any case, to grow flowers, you need to stick to all.

Pelargonium seeds

Planting material needs to be prepared immediately before sowing. For this, the seeds are soaked in Zirconat room temperature for 2 hours. It is recommended to sow the seeds at a distance of 4 cm. After this, sprinkle the seeds with a small amount of soil and moisten with settled water in the room. It is very important that the soil layer over the seeds is not thicker than 5 mm. Make sure that during the germination of seedlings the ground was abundantly moistened with warm water. After planting the soil with seeds cover with a transparent film or glass.

To quickly seedlings seedlings, keep the temperature at 18–22 ° C. Capacity with seedlings should be in a well-lit room, where direct sunlight does not fall.

If you adhere to all these rules, the period of germination of seedlings will take no more than 40 days, and the first seedlings will hatch within two weeks after planting. As soon as the first 2–3 leaves appear on the plants, it is worth transplanting them into larger vessels. After 3 months after that, the first flowers can be seen on the bushes.

Planting and cultivation of pelargonium seeds requires proper care from the first days. Potted varieties of this plant are unpretentious in the care, but there are a few nuances that are worth remembering. First, the plants must be provided with sunlight. Bushes are not afraid of direct sunlight, but you should not allow a long stay of seedlings under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. This can lead to leaf death.

Seedling flowers

Secondly, it is not necessary to water the grown seedlings very often. However, moisturize the plants abundantly. It is best to do this every time you find dry soil around the bush. In winter, water the flowers less often. Thirdly, for the cultivation of pelargonium maintain optimum temperature conditions. In summer, the ideal temperature will be at 22 ° C, and in winter - at least 15 ° C.

In order for the plant to bloom as long as possible, take care of good drainage in the tank. With it, the water will not stagnate on the bottom, and the roots of pelargonium will not begin to rot. As a drainage suitable expanded clay, which must be laid out at the bottom of the vessel. To ensure the health of the root and aboveground systems of a plant, it must be fed. This can be done no more than 3 times a month. For bait fit any store organic fertilizer. Do not forget to cut off flowering inflorescences. So you increase the flowering period of plants.

Finding that you are not caring for plants is simple enough. There are a number of symptoms for this. If you notice that the edges of the leaves are red, then you need to raise the temperature in the room. If the leaves turn yellow, then watering will be necessary. If the leaves are dark, most likely, you too often watered the bush. It will need to be removed immediately. Another sign of waterlogging is the appearance of gray mold on the leaves. Also, if you notice that the lower leaves fall from the plants, it means they lack light.

One of the mandatory stages of self-cultivation of a plant is the pickling of a seedling. Replant it is necessary to acquire at least 2 fully formed leaves. It is best to immediately dive plants in separate containers. To do this, carefully take one of the bushes and carefully divide its roots into 2-3 independent seedlings. The most important thing is not to “miss” the time that is suitable for the transplant, otherwise it will be very difficult to unravel the roots. For picking pick containers with a diameter of at least 12 cm.