Godetia flower - growing from seed at home
Content:
Godetia is a flowering annual plant that is very popular with flower growers. The culture is unpretentious to growing conditions, but at the same time retains its decorative effect throughout the season. The flower can be grown even in regions with difficult climatic conditions, and the variety of its types and colors allows you to create bright, eye-catching compositions. Azalea godetia mixture is in high demand, since this variety is characterized by compact bushes, and the shape of its flowers resembles a rhododendron.
General description of the godetia plant
Godetia is a cold-resistant crop that can withstand frosts up to 3 degrees
This culture is a representative of the Cyprus family. Its homeland is considered to be North America, or rather Southern California. Godetia is a herbaceous plant with erect shoots. Their height reaches 35-60 cm. As the godetia grows, branched bushes are formed. But due to the abundant flowering throughout the season, its shoots can break under stress. Therefore it is recommended to install a support near the plant.
The leaves of this culture are lanceolate, up to 10 cm long. They are evenly spaced on the shoots. The color of the plates is bright green, and veins are clearly visible on the surface. The flowers of the godetia are large, up to 6 cm in diameter. The color of the petals can be various red-pink, salmon, scarlet, red-cream, red, crimson. Moreover, it can be monochromatic or combine several shades at the same time.
The flowering period of godetia begins in the first decade of July and lasts until autumn frosts. At the end, tetrahedral elongated fruit-boxes are formed, in which there are small seeds.
The root system of this annual is compact, located in the upper soil layer. Its growth diameter is 15-20 cm. Therefore, it is possible to plant godetia seedlings close, without fear that they will compete for moisture and nutrition.
Basics, rules of keeping at home
Godetia is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention. Therefore, growing a flower at home will not be difficult, even for gardeners who do not have many years of experience. But in order for the final result to please, it is necessary to adhere to certain maintenance rules and provide full care.
For godetia, you need to choose a well-lit window sill with light shading from direct sunlight. Therefore, the best option may be the east or southeast window.
When grown at home, the optimal maintenance regime for godetia is + 16-20 degrees. When the temperature drops, the plant's development stops, and when the temperature rises, the godetia flowers wither quickly.
This plant reacts poorly to a lack and excess of moisture in the soil.
Watering godetia, when grown in a house, is necessary only when the topsoil dries up. In spring and summer, moisturizing should be carried out 3-4 times a week, and in autumn, 2 times less often.
The azalea godetia looks very impressive, its cultivation requires regular feeding. Fertilizers should be applied at the root in the form of an aqueous solution.Their use is especially necessary during the period of bud growth and flowering. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizers intended for flowering crops.
If the growing conditions are not followed, the flower is affected by powdery mildew. The disease can be recognized by the white bloom on the leaves, which is the sporulation of the fungus. When signs of disease appear, it is necessary to spray the plant with Topaz, otherwise it may die.
Reproduction methods at home
For a plant like godetia, growing from seed is the best way to reproduce. To get well-developed flower seedlings by the beginning of the season, it is necessary to sow at the end of February. Growing godetia from seeds at home should be carried out taking into account some rules, so you should familiarize yourself with them in advance.
A step-by-step guide to growing from seed
It is necessary to sow for seedlings in wide bowls with a height of 7-10 cm. They must have drainage holes to remove excess water.
Step-by-step algorithm of actions:
- A layer of fine expanded clay should be laid at the bottom of the containers.
- Fill the rest of the volume with nutrient soil, without adding 1 cm to the top.
- Water and wait until moisture is absorbed, level the surface.
- Spread the seeds at a distance of 1.5 cm.
- Sprinkle them with a layer of earth no more than 0.2-0.5 cm thick.
- Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
Subject to all the rules, the seeds germinate in 10-14 days. But in order for the seedlings to appear at the appointed time, it is necessary to create favorable conditions.
When the seedlings grow 2 true leaves, you need to dive them into separate containers.
It is not recommended to delay with the picking of flower seedlings
How to collect and prepare seeds
Godetia seeds ripen one month after flowering. To collect them, you need to cut the fruit-boxes when they just start to darken. After that, they need to be dried, and then carefully remove the seeds. They should be stored in a paper bag in a dry place before sowing.
Before planting godetia seeds, they must be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Then rinse with plain water and dry until flowing. Such preparation will prevent the defeat of seedlings by fungal diseases at an early stage of development.
Selection and preparation of soil for sowing
To grow godetia seedlings, you need to purchase a substrate in the store. But if you wish, you can cook it yourself. To obtain a soil mixture, you need to mix the following components:
- 2 parts of sod land;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part leafy soil:
- 1 part sand.
Before planting seeds in the ground, it is necessary to pre-calcine it in the oven for 15 minutes. and let cool.
Optimal conditions for germination
Growing godetia from seeds must be carried out in compliance with the basic requirements of the culture. This will allow you to get strong seedlings and avoid serious mistakes.
Humidity
During the germination of godetia seeds, it is necessary to ensure the greenhouse effect. To do this, cover the containers with foil or glass to maintain a favorable humidity level. But at the same time, the crops should be ventilated daily and the collected condensate should be removed.
Temperature
The mode of keeping godetia during seed germination should be within + 23-25 degrees. A decrease in temperature can lead to the fact that seedlings will appear no earlier than after 3-4 weeks.
As soon as the seeds germinate together, the temperature should be lowered to +18 degrees.This will inhibit the growth of the aerial portion and stimulate root development. In this mode, the godetia should be kept for 1 week, and then the temperature should be increased to +20 degrees.
Temperature control is very important for successful seed germination.
Lighting
Until emergence, seed containers should be kept in a dark place. But as soon as friendly sprouts appear, they should be transferred to a well-lit windowsill, shading from direct sunlight.
Godetia is able to bloom profusely for 3-4 months, if it is provided with full care, taking into account the requirements of the plant. At the same time, you can grow a flower both in the open field and at home. But this will require growing seedlings annually, since it does not reproduce in other ways.
