How and what to feed petunia seedlings to grow strong and healthy plants

Photo: stihi.ru Petunia is an eternal resident of flower beds, balconies, flowerpots and flower boxes. Different varieties differ in flower shapes and shades, so you can plant a whole garden from one species - and never repeat it. But in order for petunia seedlings to sprout well and delight with beauty, they need to be fertilized correctly and on time!

Feeding stages for good growth

Petunias are very voracious in terms of fertilizers. If you want to have blooming clouds of petunias all summer, you need to be prepared to constantly apply fertilizer.

First feeding

The first feeding of petunia should begin before planting the seeds in the ground. To do this, the soil is treated with a fungicide. After this treatment, petunias are not afraid of black leg.

Before the pick

Once the first shoots appear, it is important for them to maintain good lighting, temperature and humidity. If all conditions are met, then the seedlings need nothing more. But if one of the listed phases is disrupted, the plant must be sprayed with immunostimulants:

• Epin;
• Zircon;
• NV-101.

This feeding will help petunia seedlings withstand unfavorable conditions.

Important! Petunias, both seedlings and adult plants, need to be fed with macro- and microelements and vitamins at least twice a month.

After the pick

At the seedling stage, fertilizers also need to be applied. After the first two pairs of strong leaves appear, the seedlings should be transplanted into larger containers or individual cups. It is at this time that the first fertilizing is applied. A little universal fertilizer or fertilizer containing phosphorus is poured under the root.

In order for the seedlings to take root and take root faster, the plantings need to be slightly shaded for a couple of days.

A week later, if no troubles occurred with the seedlings, the relocation was successful, you need to feed them with nitrogen-containing fertilizer leaf by leaf. That is, spray fertilizer on young leaves from a spray bottle with small holes.

After 10 days, you can do another fertilizing with nitrogen. Then you should switch to potassium fertilizers for petunias. Alternating potassium and nitrogen-containing preparations will give a good result. At this time, and at any other time, the main thing is to prevent excess moisture. Before planting in a permanent place, they give very little phosphorus.

Also, immediately after picking, the plant requires preventive treatment against pathogenic microorganisms and fungi.

The following are well suited for these purposes:

• Potassium manganese solution;
• Phytosporin solution;
• Energen solution.

It is best to spray fertilizers over the surface of the soil and the lower parts of the plant from a spray bottle. This way the roots of the petunias will not be harmed.

When to start feeding petunia

Growing petunia begins with sowing seeds for seedlings. Fresh soil always contains a certain supply of nutrients.

Read more in the article: How to grow petunia seedlings from seeds at home

Therefore, the first 2 weeks after the sprouts appear, petunia does not need feeding. At this stage, it would be appropriate to add several crystals of potassium permanganate or the drug Fitosporin to the water for irrigation.

On a note! Starting from 2 weeks of age, young plants are fed by supplying a nutrient solution using a pipette to prevent an overdose.

What to feed to make them plump

Mineral fertilizers

Healthy petunia seedlings are low, strong bushes with bright green leaves. To achieve this result, you need to create a suitable microclimate and feed the plant with fertilizer containing calcium.

Due to this fertilizer, the roots will root more efficiently, and, consequently, the plant will be stronger and plumper. Any complex mineral fertilizer can be used as such fertilizing.

Also, for better root growth, you can use Radifarm, a physiological fertilizer enriched with vitamins and microelements. And

• Ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate. The plant is treated with ammonium nitrate when sprouts have just appeared. Because thanks to this feeding, the green mass actively grows. After a week and a half, foliar treatment with calcium nitrate is carried out.
• Nitroammophoska. This fertilizer is fertilized in May. After the bushes are well established. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 20 grams of the drug in 10 grams of water. Use immediately.
• Potassium monophosphate. It is used for bright flowering. To obtain a solution, 1 teaspoon is diluted in 10 liters of water. Used for sheet processing.

Important! Petunia really loves foliar feeding. That is, it is better to spray the plant with a spray bottle than to apply fertilizer to the soil.

Traditional methods

Fertilizers using folk remedies are very effective. One of them is banana peel . It contains a large amount of potassium, slightly less phosphorus. It does not contain much nitrogen, but it contains more calcium and magnesium.

From the substances it contains, it is clear that banana peels are very useful for the flowering of the plant and for the growth of green mass. It is best to use water extract from banana peels. To do this, you need to pour the skins of 3-4 bananas with three liters of warm water and leave for 4-5 days. Strain the solution and you can treat the plants.

There is a common expression: it is growing by bounds . And it is not without meaning. You can feed the yeast solution either at the root of the plant or along the leaf.

You can use both dry and raw yeast:

• Raw yeast is diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 5, and allowed to brew for 10-12 hours. Then the resulting concentrate is further diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. You can start feeding the plants.
• Dry yeast (10 grams) is diluted with the addition of granulated sugar (60 grams) in one bucket of water. Let the mash brew in a warm place for two days. Then dilute 1 liter of solution in 5 liters of water. The fertilizer is ready for use.

By fertilizing petunias with ash, they receive potassium and phosphorus. Using ash you can achieve lush flowering and healthy seedlings.

To achieve the result, petunia bushes need to be sprayed with an infusion of ash (one and a half glasses of ash per 10 liters of water, and you need to add a small amount of planed soap so that the solution sticks better to the leaves).

It is no less effective and simple to scatter ash in the aisles between the bushes. This method will not only feed the plant, but also repel ticks and slugs, and also reduce the activity of fungi.

B vitamins have proven themselves well as supplements.

• Vitamin B-1 is an excellent means for growing roots, therefore, the seedlings will be strong.
• Vitamin B-6 – Helps absorb nutrients.
• Vitamin B-12 is an excellent helper for long and abundant flowering.

To obtain a solution, one ampoule is diluted in a glass of water. Leaves and flowers are sprayed with the resulting solution.

Cow manure has long been an excellent fertilizer . It strengthens the immunity of plants well, including petunias. It is not at all difficult to prepare mullein, and it is absorbed much better than other fertilizers.

It is a leader in the content of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium. To prepare mullein, add one part of manure to five parts of water and let it brew for half a month, stirring the mixture daily.

Before use, 1 liter of liquid substance must be diluted in 10 liters of water. For greater effect, add 100 grams of superphosphate and 500 g of ash to a bucket of solution. Let it brew for 1-2 hours and begin processing.

For good growth of petunia seedlings, a solution of chicken manure is also used. In order not to burn the roots of the plant, the droppings are first diluted with water and a very small amount is consumed.

How to fertilize

When feeding, nutrients are applied to the root zone or sprayed on the leaf. Petunia responds well to alternating feedings. To carry out the event, you should stock up on a spray bottle with a fine scattering effect and a watering can with a long thin spout. Some gardeners use a rubber bulb.

Rules for applying fertilizer for seedlings:

• 1-2 hours before the procedure, water the soil in the seedling containers generously. Adding chemicals to dry soil can burn the roots.
• To prepare the working solution, use clean (preferably melt or rain) water without impurities. The temperature of the liquid should be several degrees warmer than the soil.
• Fertilizing is carried out in the early morning or evening, preferably in cloudy weather.
• The nutrient solution is applied to the soil, avoiding contact with the leaves of the seedlings. If this happens, the leaf plates are washed with water.
• Foliar feeding is carried out with extreme caution; a solution is prepared in low concentration.

After fertilizing, the seedlings are shaded for some time until the moisture on the leaves dries completely.

Special fertilizers

Even with proper care, sometimes petunia seedlings become pale or grow poorly. Let's look at how we can help plants.

Pale seedling

If the color of the leaves of petunia seedlings becomes not bright, but very pale, this indicates a disease such as chlorosis. That is, iron deficiency. Nitrogen and manganese deficiency exhibit exactly the same symptoms. For treatment, you need to feed the seedlings with iron chelate or Kemira complex fertilizer.

Sometimes these methods are not enough. In this case, it is recommended to use a folk remedy: a tablespoon of citric acid should be dissolved in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution should be watered over the plants. After a couple of weeks, the plant should again delight the eye with bright green leaves.

Seedlings grow poorly

Sometimes good, strong seedlings suddenly begin to grow poorly.

• In this case, firstly, you need to pay attention to the size of the glass in which it grows. Often the house becomes too small and the seedling simply does not have enough nutrients.
• It is also possible that the seedlings have a deficiency of nitrogen fertilizers . Nitrogen is “responsible” for the growth and formation of the aboveground part of the plant.
• But you shouldn’t forget about the roots. For a more powerful root system, phosphorus .

To correct these mistakes, you need to immediately transplant the seedlings into a larger container and add fertilizer. The concentration of the solution must be made 2 times weaker than indicated on the label.

It would be a good idea to feed with fertilizers containing iron, boron, magnesium, zinc and other substances.

For abundant flowering

To speed up the flowering of an already formed bush, you need to add potassium fertilizers. To do this, you can fertilize the leaf once with a one percent solution of boric acid or Planfotol. The holes on the spray bottle should be small enough.

For active growth of the root system and the absence of yellowness on the leaves, the planted seedlings should be fed with ammonium nitrate.

Sometimes petunia flowers don't look bright enough. In these cases, it will be necessary to treat the bushes of the capricious young lady with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. And reduce nitrogen fertilizers to a minimum.

The following fertilizers are best suited for these purposes:

• Kemira Lux;
• Aquarin;
• Crystallon;
• Polychem;

Plants need to be fertilized once every two weeks. But sometimes gardeners, for a more uniform supply of nutrients to the plant, fertilize them every 2-3 days. But they make the solution much weaker.

Important! For more luxuriant flowering, it is necessary not only to fertilize the petunia, but also to promptly remove faded buds.

Folk remedies

Petunias love feeding and constant care, so traditional methods will be very useful. Everything goes into use: from the usual ash to all kinds of herbal infusions. Let's share a few recipes!

Feeding petunias with ash

Ash is the best antiseptic, a useful source of potassium and a very nutritious phosphorus fertilizer. It is almost never used in its pure form, but a weak solution is perfect for watering petunias. Stir a half-liter jar of ash in a bucket of water and let it brew for a day, and strain before using.

Photo: kpug1170.com

Fertilizing with nettles

Young fresh nettle is rich in beneficial microelements. But in fact, any other greens are suitable for a nutritious infusion, including weeds. Fill a quarter of a bucket of grass with water, let it sit for 3 days and water the flower beds.

Feeding petunias with potassium permanganate

Potassium permanganate is a popular household antibacterial and antifungal agent. A weak pale solution prevents rotting and the so-called black leg. It’s not for nothing that almost all seeds are treated with potassium permanganate before planting.

Photo: news.myseldon.com

Yeast feeding

Thanks to the yeast solution, petunias grow better and beneficial microelements are absorbed faster. Dissolve 5 g of yeast and 30 g of sugar in 5 liters of water, and then let it brew for 3 hours. When using, dilute the yeast concentrate with another 5 parts of clean, settled water.

Feeding with citric acid

Weak citric acid will help regulate soil acidity. And at the same time it stimulates the rapid and intense flowering of petunias. Dilute 24 granules of acid and 15 g of copper sulfate into 6 liters of water. This mixture is suitable for both spraying and watering.

Feeding petunias with boric acid

Treatment with boron is necessary for abundant flowering of petunia and strengthening of the stems. To do this, dilute 2 g of acid powder in a bucket of water and use this liquid for irrigation. For spraying, you need a lighter solution - 0.5 g of powder for the same volume.

Photo: benzostihl.ru

Useful tips on how to feed petunia seedlings

• Fertilizers come in liquid, granular, and stick form that are dipped into the soil. It is most convenient to use liquid fertilizer. Since at any time you can change the concentration and amount of fertilizer used. In addition, it is distributed more evenly in the soil.
• Petunia responds very well to leaf fertilizer, that is, to irrigating the bush. Through the leaves it absorbs nutrients much better.
• For seedlings, the fertilizer solution is made weaker than for an adult plant.
• Do not forget that for seedlings it is important not only to apply fertilizers and fertilizing, but also to correct watering and temperature conditions.

Effective fertilizers for feeding petunia

Now there are a huge number of drugs on the market that are suitable for feeding petunia. You can choose the type of fertilizer yourself: capsules, ampoules or powder. All of them must be diluted in clean water. Therefore, you need to carefully read the instructions so as not to harm the plants.

The most popular fertilizers for petunia:

• "Uniflor Flower" . The drug contains many microelements, in particular magnesium and sulfur. These substances are growth stimulants.
• "Crystalon yellow." The drug contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron, iron, magnesium and copper. It is effective for strengthening roots.
• "Green Guy Aqua." The composition contains magnesium, iron, succinic acid and all the vitamins necessary for the plant. The drug helps accelerate growth, enhance budding and give the leaves a more saturated color.
• "Master Agro" Contains all essential microelements. The drug gives the leaves a rich green tint, protects plants from diseases, and stimulates long-term flowering.
• "Plantofol" is necessary for the formation of leaves.
• "Agrecol" . Improves growth, gives a rich shade to the leaves, and enhances budding.

A drug

Is it possible to feed petunia with urea, ammonium nitrate, and calcium nitrate?

• When petunia just begins to grow green mass, it is necessary to use urea or ammonium nitrate. To prepare a urea solution, you need to dilute 10 g of the component in 10 liters of water.
• If you decide to use ammonium nitrate , then it is enough to dilute 10 of the main ingredient in 5 liters of water. Fertilizer must be applied at the root.
• In order for nitrogen to be better absorbed, it is necessary to use calcium nitrate . It has a positive effect on the body's immune system and also accelerates photosynthesis. To prepare the solution you will need 1 tsp. substances per 1 liter of clean water.

Regularity is very important

First fertilizing: before planting seeds

The very first fertilizing should be done before the seeds touch the soil. The soil must be treated with a fungicide - this will save future flowers from blackleg. After the seeds sprout, it will be necessary to maintain a system of three unities: good light, warm temperature, sufficient humidity.

Flower shoots will grow peacefully, because they don’t need anything else. If this system is disrupted, then it’s time to use immunostimulants that are sprayed among the plants. Immunostimulants help to better tolerate adverse conditions. You can take zircon, epin or NV-101.

Important! Petunia flowers throughout their entire period of existence, from seedlings to the end of flowering, need nutrition at least 2 times a month.

Preparing petunia seeds for sowing seedlings

Preparing seeds for planting
Petunia is one of those plants that needs a warm climate and high humidity. Ideally, in order for the seeds of this flower to germinate well, they need to create greenhouse conditions. This means that simply putting them in the ground and sawing them will not be enough. The seedlings, of course, will eventually sprout, but it will take a very long time. Therefore, it will be better if you try to pre-sow seeds.

It will help you speed up the germination of seedlings, and as a result, you will be able to admire the brightly blooming petunia bushes literally at the beginning of summer. But keep in mind that proper seed preparation takes from 1 to 1.5 months, so if you want to plant petunia seedlings in open ground in early May, then you need to start stratifying in February.

Recommendations for preparing petunia seeds for sowing:

• First, you will need to find river sand of the finest fraction. If you pick it up frozen, then when you bring it home, be sure to let it warm up to room temperature (while making sure that natural moisture does not evaporate from it).

• When the sand is ready, pour it in a thin layer into a cardboard box or plastic container. Add petunia seeds here and mix everything thoroughly. Try to do everything carefully so that the seeds are not damaged.

• After this, take a piece of plastic film or just a thick bag and seal the box with the seeds with it. We put them in this form in the refrigerator and forget about them for 6-8 weeks.

• After this time, remove the container with the seeds from the refrigerator, separate them from the sand and transfer them to a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They must lie in this solution for at least 6 hours and after that they will be ready for sowing.

High-quality soil is the basis for rapid growth

The growth of petunia seedlings can be slowed down in unsuitable soil, for example, if its reaction is acidic (pH up to 5.3) or alkaline (pH from 7.4). When choosing soil for petunia seedlings, make sure that it is neutral (pH 6.4-7.3) or slightly acidic (pH 5.4-6.3). Despite the appropriate reaction, soils of frankly low quality are sold. For example, with a high content of low-quality peat, various foreign inclusions: branches, pebbles, debris. There are soils that are very poorly permeable to water. Let's say you water your seedlings, but the water is not absorbed into the ground and collects in stagnant puddles. They can remain on the surface for several minutes. Such soil is no good. It is very dense, non-hygroscopic, and therefore does not allow air to pass through. The roots in such a “chamber” do not breathe, are poorly nourished and, as a result, do not develop.

High-quality soils for seedlings are loose, light, and nutritious. Manufacturers often add a small proportion of organic fertilizers and vermicompost to them.

If you notice that petunia seedlings are not growing well, first inspect the soil. If the “diagnosis” turns out to be disappointing, change the soil.

Ideal soil composition for petunia seedlings:

• high quality peat
• turf land
• raising agents
• vermicompost

Brief description and cultivation features

There are many complex and mineral fertilizers that are recommended for caring for flowers. And both indoor and garden. But petunia belongs to both species.

It can be grown in flower pots indoors and outdoors as a hedge. Therefore, many questions arise about how to choose the right fertilizers for all types of petunias, seeds and sprouts.

Sowing dates will help determine plant groups. When purchasing, be sure to ask about this:

• hanging plants are sown in January;
• dwarf species: February-March;
• They work with small-flowered varieties after warm weather has stabilized, without soil frosts.

The last group should also be fertilized according to a special schedule. The fact is that the variety differs from the main species in its rapid flowering and development. Most petunias are sown after the snow melts. The first procedures are done at home.

Landing

Plastic cups are suitable for seedlings and seed material. The soil mixture is either purchased ready-made in the store or prepared in advance in the fall.

Preparatory procedures:

• collect clean soil without weed seeds, roots, or other debris;
• dry and add additional components;
• Among the additions to natural soil, the most suitable for petunias are: peat, humus, sand;
• All components of the home soil mixture are added in equal proportions.

It is not enough to create the right foundation for growth and flowering. Drainage accelerates the development of seedlings. It is placed on 1/3 of a cup, in the space between the soil.

The purchased soil mixture also requires additional processing: reseeding, adding ash. Calculation: 5 kg of mixture + 0.5 l of ash infusion.

Preparation of the infusion is simple. Even a beginner can handle it: pour 200 g of ash into 7 liters of water. Leave for 7-10 days. Stir regularly. The container with the infusion of ash must be covered.

If the seedlings grow poorly

When seedlings are not growing actively enough, this is a sign of a nutritional deficiency in the plant. There are a number of complex fertilizers that are good at stimulating the growth of seedlings of flower crops:

• Agricola;
• Crystalon green;
• Florist-Rost.

Fertilizers are applied a few drops at a time.

Biostimulants and Epin-extra, Zircon, natural biocomplex Chlorella suspension activate and increase the protective forces of plants. If, under the influence of temperature changes or frosts, plants fall into a state of stress, they relieve it and strengthen the vitality of the flowers.

Another direction: the use of non-traditional means - enrichment with B vitamins. Preparations B1, B3 (Nicotinic acid) and B12 are used in ampoules. One ampoule of the vitamin is dissolved in a glass of water. For small seedlings - 2 drops at the root; for older plants, spraying is suitable. Subsequently, the concentration is increased and fed once every 10 days.

Vitamins revitalize and support even very weak plants.

conclusions

Petunia is picky, but at the same time it perfectly accepts most of the fertilizers that are offered in agricultural stores. If you do notice that the flower is growing weakly over a long period of time, there is a unique stimulation option: vitamin B 12.

Or as they also call thiamine. The solution is made in 5 minutes: 1 ampoule + 200 ml of warm water. Application method: spraying.

The effectiveness of this application is noticeable literally immediately after application. But the main advantage: it is impossible to overfeed, the absorption of the vitamin occurs in a short period of time.

Petunia groups

Petunias are divided into groups, each of which has varieties that correspond to the characteristics of the group.

• Ampelous and cascading groups of petunias are better suited for planting in hanging flowerpots and multi-tiered flowerpots.
• Bush petunias are distinguished by lush bushes with restrained growth; they do not form long vines.
• Groups of double, fringed and large-flowered petunias are distinguished by the largest flowers.

Perhaps the most spectacular is the terry group of petunias - its flowers look like roses.

If the seedlings stretch

The stretching of seedlings occurs mainly from a lack of light. This phenomenon is often aggravated by high temperatures and frequent watering. Therefore, the first thing you have to do in this case is to provide the plant with optimal growing conditions and good care. This applies mainly to temperature and light conditions.

There are special preparations for plants that can reduce and optimize the growth of flower seedlings. They are called retardants. This group includes: Athlete, Strong, Stocky. Before use, you should read the instructions.