Katarantus is a beautiful ampelous flower that can become an adornment of a balcony, a loggia, a terrace. In summer, bushes can be planted in open ground, where they serve as groundcover plants. Further information on the flowers of catharanthus, growing from seeds, when planted on seedlings and in the ground.
Advantages and disadvantages of growing catharanthus from seeds
The following advantages are characteristic of growing a crop from seeds:
- low cost of planting material;
- sowing can be started at any time;
- friendly seed germination;
- a large selection of planting material.
Catharanthus ampelous
The disadvantages of seed cultivation include the risk of acquiring low-quality material, the complexity of the procedure.
Additional Information! Katarantus is poisonous, therefore, agrotechnical work with adult bushes is carried out with gloves.
How to collect seeds
When keeping the flower outdoors, the seeds may not have time to ripen. Therefore, before the onset of cold weather, it must be brought into the room. Throughout the winter, the bush is carefully looked after: kept in a well-lit place, create the necessary humidity, watered, fed.
After flowering, a seed box is formed. Before collecting seeds of catharanthus, it must be allowed to dry well. After this, the box is torn, the seeds are poured onto a white napkin.
Catharanthus seeds
How to choose seed in the store
Breeders have bred many varieties of catharanthus. They can be with short or long shoots, their flowers have a diverse color. The most common varieties of Catharanthus are:
- Aristocrat. Shoots do not exceed a length of 50 centimeters. The diameter of the flowers is about 5 centimeters.
- Pacific Bushes are compact: their height varies between 25-30 centimeters.
- Burgundy. This is one of the varieties of the Pacific. Petals are painted in wine color. In the middle of the flowers is a white eye.
- Casanova. These are compact plants with erect stems. Raspberry petals.
- Pink. The name of the culture was for pink, similar to periwinkle, inflorescences.
These and other varieties of Catharanthus can be purchased at the flower shop. They are sold in paper bags. The packaging must be durable, without defects on it.
For reference! A reliable producer always indicates the number of seeds and the expiration date. Quality seeds of medium size, dark brown.
Inflorescences of Catharanthus Burgundy
The best time for sowing
If the florist plans to grow the flower indoors, he can start sowing at any time. With correctly performed agrotechnical measures, the cataractus is able to bloom for a long time.
If you want to decorate the site with flowers from spring to autumn, you need to sow the seeds in late February or early March. The grown bushes are then planted in containers or in open ground.
Preparatory stage for sowing seeds
Before you grow a catharanthus from seeds for seedlings at home, you need to study the rules of planting. The future decorativeness of the culture depends on correctly completed work at the preparation stage.
Capacity selection
For sowing pick up low, wide tanks. To do this, use wooden boxes, plastic containers, cassettes. There must be drainage holes in the tanks.
Seeds can also be sown in peat tablets. In this case, the seedlings adapt more easily when transplanted to the main container, since there is no violation of the root system.
Soil preparation
The substrate is selected light, air- and permeable. Seeds will develop well in the soil for pelargonium. It can be purchased at a flower shop or prepared independently from the following components:
- turf and leaf land;
- humus;
- peat;
- river sand.
For disinfection, the substrate must be calcined in the oven at a low temperature.
Important! The soil in which the seeds are planted should be kept at room temperature for at least 24 hours.
Soaking and disinfecting seeds
To prevent the occurrence of diseases, the seed material is soaked for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are dried by placing on a paper towel. Then soaked in an immunomodulating solution.
As a stimulant, you can take Epin. It is bred at the rate of 3 drops of substance per 100 grams of water. Seeds are placed in a solution 2-3 hours before planting.
Step-by-step process of sowing seeds at home
Prepared seed is planted as follows:
- at the bottom of the container lay drainage of small stones, broken brick, perlite;
- on โ fill with a substrate;
- make grooves with a depth of 1.5 centimeters, spread seeds in them;
- fall asleep, sprayed with water from a spray bottle;
- cover with glass or film.
The creation of greenhouse conditions will facilitate the friendly germination of seeds.
For inoculation of the cataranthus, a shallow capacity is selected
Seed germination conditions
The container with crops is brought into the room with an air temperature of 23-25 โโ° C. As necessary, produce watering. When shoots appear, the temperature is lowered to 20-22 ° C.
The covering material is removed every day to ventilate the sowing container. The walls of the container and the film are wiped with a dry cloth from moisture droplets. If this is not done, seedlings can become infected with fungal diseases. After biting the sprouts, the covering material is removed.
Seed germination schedule
Approximately 2 weeks after sowing the cataranthus, the first seedlings will appear. Their ground part is initially formed slowly, as the root system grows. After a month, young bushes begin to actively develop.
Seedling care
In order for the young bushes of the catharanthus to grow quickly, not be exposed to diseases, diseases and pests, they need to be provided with an environment close to the natural conditions of growth.
Water the plants carefully so as not to damage the delicate stems
Watering
Since the seedlings are thin, weak, water them gently. You can use a watering can with a narrow neck. It is necessary to try so that moisture does not fall on the leaves.
Irrigate the earth after drying of the top layer. After 20-30 minutes after watering, excess liquid is poured from the pan. Water is used warm, settled.
Note! A few days after watering, the ground between the plants is gently loosened with a toothpick.
Top dressing
Twice a month, seedlings are fed. Use ready-made formulations designed to fertilize beautifully flowering plants. The working solution is prepared according to the instructions on the preparation.
Before feeding, the earth is watered. Otherwise, the root system may be burned.
Lighting
Containers with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. Bushes will develop well on the south or west side of the house. At hot noon, plants need to be shaded, otherwise they may die from direct sunlight.
Air humidity
Catharanthus loves high humidity. Therefore, a vessel with water is placed next to the container. The grown bushes can be sprayed with warm water. To increase humidity, the container can be placed in a tray with moist expanded clay or pebbles.
Temperature
Comfortable temperature for seedlings - 22-23 ° ะก. Small differences in one or another side are allowed. The main thing is that they are not too sharp. If the cataranthus will winter in the room, its content is allowed at a temperature of 15-16 ° C.
Important! To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, it is recommended that the bushes be sprayed with fungicides and insecticides.
Dive schedule and timing
When 4 true leaves form on the plants, they begin to pick. Capacities are selected small, their diameter should not exceed 8-9 centimeters. The transplant is done carefully, as the damaged root system takes a long time to recover.
Dive step by step:
- the pots are filled with a loose substrate consisting of turf and leaf soil, peat, river sand, perlite;
- neatly remove the bushes from the landing box;
- planted in prepared containers;
- crush the ground slightly, watered with warm water.
After the 4th leaf appears, the bushes are planted in small containers
Pots with plants are placed in a well-lit place. If necessary, fill up with phytolamps. After 10 days, the young bushes are fed.
When to plant seedlings of Catharanthus in open ground
The flower can be planted on the site in spring, after passing the threat of return frosts. The soil should warm up to 20 ° C. The landing site is selected sunny, or slightly shaded.
Katarantus in the garden
Bushes of catharanthus are planted at a distance of at least 20-25 centimeters from each other. From spring to early fall, the plants are looked after: watered, fed, and loosen the ground. For the winter, bushes can be dug up, planted in pots, kept indoors until spring.
Katarantus is an ornamental plant similar to a periwinkle. Planted in open ground, it will become a decoration of the flowerbed. Ampel plant will look beautiful in a pot. His hanging lashes with flowers of various colors will effectively look on the terrace, balcony, loggia.
