Godetia flower - growing from seed at home

Godetia is an annual that was first bred in southern California. About 20 plant species are known, but in Central Russia, the charming godetia grows most often. Below are discussed what godetia is, growing from seeds, rules of care to ennoble the garden with this ornamental plant.

General description of the godetia plant

The flower grows in the form of bushes, which reach a maximum height of up to 60 cm.It is also characterized by the following qualities:

• erect stems;
• different forms of bushes depending on the type: from spreading to pyramidal;
• voluminous flowers up to 12 cm in diameter are velvety to the touch, they are in the form of a bowl, which is collected by a brush;
• flowers have many colors (white, purple, purple, red, pink, peach);
• flowers are resistant to adverse environmental factors, do not fade in the sun and do not get wet during heavy rains;

This is how the buds look up close

• flowering lasts for 2 months after the first shoots appear;
• if sowing took place in open ground, flowering will begin in July, when growing seedlings - in June;
• flowering is observed for a long time, throughout the summer, ends with the arrival of the first frost or cold weather;
• seeds can be obtained from a box, it contains a large number of them.

Basics, rules of keeping at home

To grow a flower, you must follow the rules of watering, feeding.

• Watering. He should be moderate. The soil is watered more in spring and summer, when the temperature reaches its peak. If the weather is warm, but not hot, the amount of watering is reduced, but it is made sure that the soil does not dry out.
• Top dressing. It is carried out 1-2 times a month with the help of mineral fertilizers. It must contain a small amount of nitrogen. This should not be done more often, as there will be more green mass, but fewer flowers.
• Soil quality. The soil around the flower should be periodically loosened, weeds destroyed, then more oxygen and moisture will flow to the roots.

It is recommended to plant the plant in a place where there is a moderate amount of sunlight. The soil should be breathable, light, with a slightly acidic environment.

The scarlet shade of flowers looks most advantageous on a flower bed

What breeding methods are used at home

There are 2 ways to propagate plants: by seeds or seedlings. The grower should choose the method that is easiest but most effective for him.

• Seeds are sown in early April, late May. This method is easy, since if a mistake is made, growth will still occur. Sprinkle the seeds with sand and soil on top. They are buried 0.5 cm. The earth is respected using a spray bottle, and it is made sure that it does not dry out. Seedlings should appear in 2 weeks. They survive well even with occasional cold snaps.
• Sowing seeds before winter. This is done in late October or early November. Sprinkle the ground with peat 10 cm from above.With the onset of spring, peat is removed and the soil is loosened.
• Growing seedlings. The method is suitable for early flower production. They will bloom in June. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground in late March or early April. Seedlings are pre-hardened at a temperature of no more than 16 ° C before transplanting into the garden.

A step-by-step guide to growing from seed

Sowing seeds should be carried out at the end of March. To grow godetia from seeds at home, use containers 15 cm deep. Further step-by-step instructions:

1. The containers are pre-disinfected to prevent infection with viruses, bacteria, fungi.
2. Drainage and soil are poured into the bottom of the container, which was also previously disinfected.
3. The soil is slightly moistened so that it is completely saturated with liquid.
4. Seeds are planted on the ground, but not thickly.
5. Sprinkle on top with peat with a layer of 0.5 cm. You cannot press it from above, it should be easily distributed over the surface.
6. The container is covered with a film from above, the optimum ambient temperature should be 20-22 ° C.
7. When the first shoots appear, the film is removed to provide access to oxygen. Watering is carried out, but not plentiful.
8. Diving plants into personal pots. Preliminary, disinfecting procedures are carried out with the container. The long central root is shortened by 1/4 part.

By the time the seedlings get stronger, they can be transplanted into open ground. But for this there must be warm weather without return frosts at night.

When planting in the ground, the distance between the bushes must be taken into account. It is recommended to retreat 25 cm from each landing. If the bushes are still thick, they can be thinned out later in order to give the garden the correct landscape style and design.

White with pink splashes

How to collect and prepare seeds

2 months after the beginning of flowering, bolls will appear on the plant. They contain a large number of seeds inside. It is recommended to open them after the boxes turn dark brown. After that, they are dried for several days, then the seeds are removed.

The seeds can be planted in fall or spring. It is not recommended to do this in September, since the slightest warming can give a start to the first shoots, which will be destroyed by the approaching frost.

Selection and preparation of soil for sowing

The soil for sowing must be of a mixed type. To do this, you can buy a ready-made mixture or prepare it yourself from:

• turf land;
• peat;
• sand;
• perlite.

All parts are mixed in the same proportion. The mixture should be well moisturized, free-flowing and loose so that the roots can grow easily. They don't like soil that is too alkaline, so it should be slightly acidic. It can be deoxidized with lime, dolomite flour. These mixtures are added to the planting soil.

Optimal conditions for germination

In order for all seeds to germinate, you need to carry out the following care measures:

• provide an average humidity of the air and the soil itself, regardless of drying out or excessive moisture;
• ensure the temperature is not higher than 16 ° С, frosts for several days or more are unacceptable;
• flowers require adequate lighting up to direct sunlight. If this is not possible, you can set the lamp to a temperature of 20-22 ° C after the first shoots appear;
• you should periodically loosen the soil and weed the weeds, since the heavy soil and competitors on the site will not allow the seeds to hatch;
• you need to apply fertilizers with a low nitrogen content, which will allow the flower to grow faster and avoid many diseases.

If all conditions are met, the seeds will sprout quickly, after which the planting can be transplanted into open ground.

Godetia is a flowering plant that can be grown at home or in the garden. For its growth, you need to follow certain rules of care, but some violation of them will not lead to the death of the flower. Planting and care processes are elementary, so even a beginner in floriculture can handle it.