Planting flowering plants with seeds is one of the cost-effective ways to fill your garden with amazing beauty. This article will discuss "How to plant any flower from the seed through 11 possible steps?" The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Most people may only focus on planting vegetable seeds, but the seeds of any kind of flower are a simple way to grow beautiful flowers in your garden.
You can start planting flower seeds in indoor environment, flower pot, outdoor, greenhouse or flower bed. The most critical factors for growing flowers from seeds are water, sunlight and suitable soil. Take care of it as you would any other flower, until the seedling grows into a beautiful flower. However, planting flowers may be different from one flower to another.
The annual flowers bloom as scheduled. Most of them will also plant their own seeds, so you only need to plant them again to enjoy their blooming years. Perennial flowers do not always bloom in the first year. If you are patient, you can build your garden at a lower cost than buying plants. If you dream of an endless colorful garden full of flowers, pick up a few bags of seeds and start using the following ten tips.
1. Select a container.
Choosing the right container is the first step in planting any flower seed. These may be plastic containers, peat containers, plastic plates, yogurt cups, cell bags, eggshells, etc. As long as it is clean, there are countless container solutions. However, seed starter containers must be clean, at least 2-3 inches deep, and have drain holes. There must be a drain hole in the container, because the over saturated soil will inhibit the growth of the seeds.
You can buy a seed starter kit, but don't spend a lot of money until you're sure I'm ready to start planting every year. Whenever you start sowing in a small container, you must transplant the first leaf of the seedling into a larger pot.
Please note that most flat bottoms and flower pots take up very little space, so make sure you have enough sunny areas to plant all the seedlings you started planting. In addition, if you want to plant various flowers commercially, it is better to buy an indoor greenhouse with more space than one flower.
2. Start with the best soil mixture containing nutrients.
Nurseries and horticultural centers widely provide prepared flower seeds, seed starter mixtures or potted soil. Do not use typical garden soil because it is too thick and contains weed seeds and species that can cause disease. Before filling the seed starting container, moisten the soil with warm water.
For example, you can fill each section with a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. To create a well drained soil rich in organic nutrients, mix the above three different types of soil equally. Pour the mixture into the flower container at a height of 3 ⁄ 4.
3. Sowing or burying seeds.
Depending on their flower species, seeds are sown or buried in the soil. You can use organic materials such as vermiculite or peat moss to cover hard seeds, while soft seeds should be covered on the top of the soil. To decide whether to bury them in the soil or leave them on top, read the seed package that comes with the seed.
4. Sow the seeds at a proper depth.
If the flower seeds you choose are planted underground, you can find the appropriate planting depth in the packaging instructions. The standard rule of thumb is to cover the soil with three times the seed thickness, but carefully check the planting direction of the seed package.
Some seeds need light to germinate. They should be left on the soil surface, but they can still keep in good contact with damp soil. After sowing, it will help to tamp lightly. Some seeds need light to germinate. They should be left on the soil surface, but they can still keep in good contact with damp soil. After sowing, it will help to tamp lightly. Use a spray bottle to water again after sowing.
5. Water the seeds.
Always use water at room temperature. Let chlorinated water stand overnight to dissipate chlorine, or use purified water. Stop using softened water. It is necessary to keep the soil moist frequently, but avoiding over watering will promote diseases that can kill seedlings.
Gently sprinkle water on the soil, but do not sprinkle too much, otherwise smaller seeds can be washed away. This can be done by sprinkling water with the palm of your hand or slowly pouring water into the container from a small dish. In any case, the soil should be moist, so the seeds should be kept intact.
Try not to sprinkle water on the leaves. In addition to over watering, a simple way to prevent this is to immerse the bottom of the container in water, allowing the soil to absorb water from the bottom until it is saturated. Some seed starter kits have a wicking pad that transfers water from the reservoir to dry soil.
This may be the best way to water the seedlings, but you should still be careful not to make the ground too wet. No matter what you do, don't stop watering and let the seeds or seedlings dry.
6. Keep constant moisture
Cover your flower seed container before germination, because this method is conducive to internal moisture. Typically, the seed starter kit has a plastic cover. Plastic bags can also be used, but do not lay them flat on the surface.
The plastic wrap or sealing cover can absorb water and help the seeds germinate. Make holes in the top of the plastic wrap so that the plants can breathe. The flowerpot can also be wrapped with a plastic bag to achieve a similar effect.
Remove the cover immediately after the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings grow up, reduce watering to partially dry the soil, but do not let them wither.
7. Keep the soil warm
Seeds need to germinate in warm soil. They germinate very slowly or not at all in too cold soil. At about 78 ° F, most seeds can germinate. The waterproof heating pad is specially designed for seed germination and can be purchased in most nurseries, horticultural centers and some supermarkets to keep the soil at a stable temperature.
Before the seeds germinate, you can put the seed tray on the refrigerator or other warm equipment. The temperature should be slightly below 70 ° F after germination. As long as the soil temperature is maintained at 65-70 ° F, the seedlings can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 ° F.
8. Fertilize and feed.
After the second real leaf grows, the seedlings are fed, and half of the power of liquid fertilizer is added every week. Add gently to prevent seedlings from moving out of the soil. Full strength liquid fertilizer shall be applied every other week 4 weeks before transplantation.
9. Provide sufficient sunlight for seedlings.
For example, the seeds of plants also like sunshine, but to a certain extent. In mild winter areas, you can plant sturdy seedlings in the south facing luminous windows. Further north, even windows facing south cannot provide enough light, especially in the middle of winter. Ideally, sowing requires 14-16 hours of direct sunlight per day to achieve optimal healthy growth.
If the seedlings begin to bend towards the window, it indicates that they are not getting enough sunlight. It is not enough just to turn the pot; You will need artificial lighting. Lighting kits may be issued from nurseries and mail order seed catalogs. Be sure to carefully follow the orders for these lighting kits.
If the seedlings begin to bend towards the window, it indicates that they are not getting enough sunlight. It is not enough just to turn the pot; You will need artificial lighting. Lighting kits may be issued from nurseries and mail order seed catalogs. Be sure to carefully follow the orders for these lighting kits.
10. Don't forget the air circulation
Circulating air prevents unnecessary diseases and enables strong stems to grow. Run a suitable y fan near the seed to create movement in the air. To stop blasting them directly, keep the fan away from the seedlings.
11. The seedlings should be hardened when transplanted outdoors.
If you plan to transplant the seedlings to the outside, please put them in a cool outdoor environment for 7-10 days to make them hard. This will allow them to adapt to temperature changes. Before the seedlings can be moved outside, they must adapt to the new and more severe environment. This operation is called "hardening".
Some flowers are not hardy and should be kept indoors. The seed kit should provide you with a variety of temperatures for the flowers to thrive. If a flower is hardy, it should be classified as hardy. Young flowers may not be cold resistant, but should still exceed 40 ° F (4 ° C).
