In this article we will consider all the nuances of growing salpiglossis from seeds, tell you how to choose the best place for planting, how exactly to plant and when. But first, a few words about the plant itself.
Salpiglossis is an herbaceous plant in the nightshade family, native to South Africa. This is an unusual flower with a spectacular, marbled color of petals (golden, white, purple, yellow), a velvet edge and clear veins. Its name is translated - "a tongue rolled into a pipe."
There are annual, biennial, perennial species. Among them, breeders bred low, medium, high varieties. Annuals are popular with us, such as Ali Baba, which reaches a height of 80 cm and is distinguished by a red, variegated color. The flowers have a persistent aroma.
Salpiglossis is grown in flower beds, along paths, near arbors, combine different species with each other, with marigolds, lobelia, petunia, lobularia. Dwarf varieties look beautiful on window sills, balconies, verandas, and are used for bouquets.
Growing Salpiglossis from Seeds
Propagate the plant by seeds. There are two ways - to sow directly in the soil or to first grow seedlings. In flower shops you can choose your favorite variety or collect on the site.
Growing from seeds immediately in open ground is ideal for areas with a warm climate. Flowering will begin in this case in June. In spring, when the weather is warm, you can start work in April-May.
At the selected site, humus, sand, wood ash are added to the ground. Peat increases acidity, and the flower loves neutral, slightly acidic and drained soils. Then they dig the earth, make grooves with a depth of 25 mm. Sown at a distance of 20-25 cm. Sprinkled with soil, watered. When the seeds sprout and grow by 3-4 cm they are thinned out, leaving strong sprouts.
When planting in the autumn, the seeds germinate earlier, but after severe winters this may not happen. To do this, first prepare the soil: before the frosts, make the necessary fertilizers, dig them up. Then you need to wait until the ground freezes so that the seeds do not begin to germinate ahead of time. Planted in the same way as in spring. For winter, they cover well with lutrasil, dry leaves, spruce branches.
Sowing seeds
In the middle lane, it is better to grow a flower seedlings. Seeds are highly resistant to diseases and pests, so they do not need to be processed. The plant prefers neutral, slightly acidic soil. The substrate is advised to sterilize in a water bath or in the oven for about 40 minutes. You can also purchase ready-made soil for flowering plants in the store.
Time to plant seeds for seedlings - early March:
- Prepare wide, shallow containers.
- Pour loose soil with the content of turf land, sand, ash in the proportions of 2: 1: 0.5.
- To reduce acidity, add a little peat.
- The soil is slightly moistened.
- Distribute the seeds over the entire surface without sprinkling, only slightly pressing into the soil. Make the distance larger.
- Moisten again with standing, warm water using a spray bottle.
If they are placed in separate containers, then 2-3 pieces are put (weak sprouts are then removed). Cover with a film, glass. At home, they select a bright place where the temperature is + 18 ... +20 ° С. Put paper on top, if necessary, to protect the shoots from direct sunlight. Seed germination is usually 80%.
Growing seedlings
A container with seeds is ventilated every day and irrigated after 2-3 days. 15-20 days after sowing sprouts appear. Shelter is not immediately removed, first for 1-2 hours, then 3-4. After the formation of the first pair of true leaves, they are dived into separate containers.
Do this carefully so as not to damage the weak root system.
Seedlings are placed on a lighted place, shading from direct sunlight. During intensive growth, be sure to pinch it before placing it on the garden bed. Watered sparingly, making sure that the soil does not dry out. At this stage, the plant may need support so that the thin and fragile shoots do not break. In cloudy weather they provide illumination with phytolamps.
Before placement in the ground, seedlings are hardened, taking to the street or balcony for several hours.
Landing
In mid-May, they choose a place for landing on a flower bed. The site should be moderately lit, loose, fertile. The place salpiglossis prefers sunny, sheltered from the wind, in partial shade it will bloom weaker.
Step by Step Actions:
- For two or one and a half weeks, they dig the soil, add ash, dolomite flour.
- Sand, humus or peat are added to clay soil.
- When the temperature is set at not lower than + 10 ° C, they dig it up even before planting.
- Sprouts are planted at a distance of 30 cm.
- First, seedlings are watered, then, together with a lump, they are lowered into the planting holes by the pass method and sprinkled with earth.
- Once again watered, if necessary, establish supports.
- The soil is mulched with compost.
The flower will bloom in June and will delight flowering until October.
Outdoor Care
Further care consists in regular watering under the root with warm water (they collect it in advance in a large container so that it warms up in the sun). Drying of the earth must not be allowed, otherwise the bush will wither and not recover. Overflows contribute to the development of fungal diseases. The earth after watering around the plants is loosened, weeds are harvested. In the evening in dry weather, spray the shoots.
They are fed with mineral and organic mixtures twice a month, especially during the flowering period. Withered, dried inflorescences are removed. Pinch the central shoots to form a beautiful bush.
Of the pests, a flower can infect aphids; it is destroyed by concentrated garlic infusion, soapy water, or insecticides. When stem or root rot appears, the bushes are dug up, destroyed, the soil is shed with fungicides. This can occur with frequent, heavy rains, heavy watering, low temperature, if the flower grows in the shade.
Mr. Summer resident informs: collecting seeds of salpiglossis
Salpiglossis is capable of propagating self-seeding if the weather is warm with rains. Summer residents can collect seeds in the fall in October. The largest inflorescences are left on the bush. After wilting, an oval box-shaped fruit is formed. It is cut, dried in a dark, dry place, the bushes are removed. Poured into a tissue bag, sown again in the spring. Seed germination persists for 4-5 years.
