How To Grow Petunias From Seeds?

Flowers add colors to any place. Petunias are one of those plants which have long-blooming and are available in different colors. If you choose petunias then you will see beautiful blooms continuously throughout the summer. The shape of the flowers is just like a trumpet. By growing petunias in your garden, you can add attractive colors. Petunia is a versatile plant that needs little maintenance and is perfect for containers, borders, or bedding. Different Varieties Of Petunias Generally, petunias come in pelleted and non-pelleted varieties. If we talk about pelleted seeds, they are larger and uniform. There is no need to thin them later. WAVE SERIES If you are looking for a spreading variety of petunias then the wave series is perfect. This variety can grow 4 feet wide and you will see blooms abundantly on this plant. It can tolerate heat and drought. You can grow a wave series in hanging baskets, raised beds and planters. MULTIFLORA SERIES This type of petunia gives more blooms than other varieties. The important benefit of this type is that it can tolerate harsh weather like wind and rain. For containers or raised beds, this variety is perfect. HYBRID SERIES This is a climbing variety that can grow up to 5 feet. The width of the plant can be 4 feet if it grows on the ground. GRANDIFLORA SERIES This is the very oldest type of Petunia which has large flowers. You can grow this variety in flower beds and pathways. Are Petunias Difficult To Grow From Seeds? This is a misconception that it is very difficult to grow petunias from seeds. If you use poor quality seeds or compost and hope you will get stunning flowers from this plant it is not possible. Using incorrect sewing techniques is another reason for your failure. Seeds need favorable conditions for germination if you fulfil all the requirements of the petunia seeds for example temperature, water, and light then you will find petunias are no more difficult to grow from seeds. The Best Time For Sowing Petunias Seeds If you want colorful blooms in early summer then the best time for sowing the seed is 12 weeks before the expected date of the last frost. March is the best month for sowing seeds and getting plants ready to bloom in June. How To Grow Petunias From Seeds? Make sure you are buying high-quality seeds from any nursery or gardening store. If the seeds are of good quality then there are bright chances that you will be successful in growing petunias from seeds. The important point to remember when you are planning to sow seeds of petunias is they are heat-loving plants so you can't plant them early in the garden. If you do so they will sit and sulk and finally rot. In this article, we are going to discuss with you how to grow Petunia from seeds. It's not easy to grow petunias from seedlings but it is a cheap way of cultivating more petunias. Make sure you follow all the steps. Step 1: Try To Get Pelleted Seeds Petunia seeds are very tiny so you should try to get pelleted seeds because they are very easy to handle especially if you are a newbie in gardening. Step 2: Prepare The Seeds For Sprouting Suitable conditions are very necessary for sprouting the seeds. Make sure you provide all the essential requirements for the seeds. As you are preparing the seedlings at home, the temperature of your house should be 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 to 29 degrees centigrade. The seeds are very small in size so spread them on fresh damp potting soil or sphagnum moss. Sprinkled the seeds in this way so they don't crowd at one place.After spreading the seeds press them into the growing material very gently.Now the seeds need water.Now cover the seeds with the help of a clear plastic wrap and place the trays in a bright and warm spot but away from direct sunlight. Within 7-10 days you will see the seeds will start sprouting. Step 3 : Take Care Of The Newly Sprouted Seedlings After the germination of seeds, you should remove the plastic cover from the trays. Now place the trays at a cool and bright spot. At this stage, they need 64 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and at night the temperature should be 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 18 degrees centigrade. Water the seedlings every few days. Step 4: Place The Petunias Seeds Beneath Fluorescent Lights As you are preparing the seedlings in your home that's why it is not possible to provide full sun exposure. It is better to place the seedlings beneath the fluorescent lights. The distance between the light and petunias seedlings should be 4 to 6 inches. There is no need to use expensive light fixtures. You can also use ordinary fluorescent light tubes. They also work well for providing an appropriate amount of light to young seedlings. The direct light works great for preparing your seedlings for transplanting. Step 5: Transplant Seedlings When the height of the seedlings reach 4 to 6 inches and have 3 true leaves it means that they are ready for transplanting. Now transplant is seedling in small and single peat pots. Feed with diluted fertilizer when the danger of the last frost passes you can plant your seedlings outside in your garden. Step 6: Harden The Young Plants When you see the day is sunny then put the pots outside but at night bring all the pots inside your home to provide warmth. This step is very important and you should do it for several days especially before planting them outdoors permanently. Cloudy days are perfect for transplanting your seedlings outside your garden. If you transplant them on a sunny day then the shock will be worse. Read More HOW TO GROW CARROTS IN Ag RAISED BED?HOW TO PLANT OKRA IN A RAISED BED?HOW TO GROW BEETS IN A RAISED BED? Caring For Your Petunias You will get a real sense of satisfaction when you grow your stunning flower petunias from seed. Following are the tips for you to care for your petunia plants to get more flowers from them and make your garden colorful. Encourage New Growth Encouraging growth and flowering from side shoots you should do deadheading but it depends upon the type which you are growing. If you were growing grandifloras or multiflorus in your garden then you should wait and when the height of this plant reaches about 6 inches then you should pinch them back as this will encourage the development of flowering shoots. If you are growing Milifloras then you should avoid pinching. You will get constant blooming throughout the season if you pinch off faded blooms from your Petunia plants. Fertilizer Fertilizer is very important in the growth of any plant but it doesn't mean that you over-fertilize your plants. In that case, your plant will start looking healthy but not producing blooms. In this situation, you have to reduce the number of fertilizers so you will get beautiful flowers in your garden. It is better to fertilize your Petunia plants every month. If you are growing double flower cultivators then a weekly dose is enough for them. Water Like over-fertilizing, overwatering is not good for petunia plants. Overwatering will result in root rot and mold. Make sure your plants get water once a week. If you see flowers wilt before blooming it means they are not getting water evenly. If the weather is dry and hot then you can increase the frequency of water. If you are growing spreading types of petunias then they need more water than other types.Growing petunias in the containers then also need more water but it depends upon the volume and size of your plant. In container gardening, petunias need water regularly.You can use your finger to check the soil if you feel it dry then you should water your plant. This is a simple and easy way of checking the water needs of your plant. Pests Aphids and caterpillars are pests that can destroy your Petunia plants. If you want your plant to try healthy li then you should get rid of these tiny monsters. You can easily control the population of aphids by a strong blast of water. You should continuously do this until the aphids are gone.If you see black droppings and holes in the leaves or buds it means your plant is affected by caterpillars. You can give us insecticide to get rid of this problem. How Can I Make My Petunia Plants Bushier? If you want to regulate the size and shape of your petunia plants then you should control or maintain the temperature. The temperature should be below 10 degrees centigrade or 50 degrees Fahrenheit will discourage the growth of central shoots of Petunia plants. It encourages the development of side shoots. If you want to get more flowers from your Petunia plants then you should sow the seeds in early spring and keep the temperature cool. Read More How To Grow Green Beans In Raised Beds?How To Grow Eggplant In Raised Beds?How To Grow Dragon Fruit In Pots?