Content
- 1 Is it possible to grow heuchera from seeds?
- 2 Features of heuchera propagation by seeds
- 3 When to plant heuchera seedlings
- 4 How to plant heuchera with seeds
- 5 How long does it take for heuchera seeds to germinate?
- 6 Why doesn't heuchera sprout from seeds?
- 7 How to grow heuchera from seeds
- 8 Transplanting heuchera seedlings to a permanent place
- 9 Tips for growing heuchera from seeds
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 Reviews on growing heuchera from seeds
Heuchera is a perennial plant with decorative leaves of the Saxifraga family. They grow it in the garden for decoration, because the foliage of the bush changes its color several times during the season. Seedlings are not cheap, so planting heuchera from seeds is quite justified. However, it is necessary to take into account all the features and subtleties of seed propagation.
Is it possible to grow heuchera from seeds?
Heuchera is very easy to grow by seeds, however, it is worth considering that with this method most of the varietal characteristics are lost. It is useless to collect seeds for further planting from your own bushes. They do not retain the qualities of the mother plant. For planting, it is better to buy seeds at a flower shop.
The most commonly found seeds on sale are Heuchera pilosa seeds. The leaves of this variety are brightly colored.From such a mixture you can grow seedlings with purple, dark purple, black-brown and bronze colors.
Emperor`s New Clothes heuchera seeds are especially popular among gardeners. It is a mixture of varieties with wavy and ruffled leaves that can be dark cherry, emerald or light green.
Features of heuchera propagation by seeds
When purchasing seeds, you should pay special attention to their expiration date. The fact is that planting material retains its germination capacity for no more than six months. However, in a vacuum foil bag they can be stored for about 1.5 years.
Before planting, a shift of heucheras is prepared, but stratification can be dispensed with. The herbaceous shrub is grown in seedlings, because it is very difficult to care for small seedlings in the garden. It is easier to get a container plant that is completely ready for replanting. Although some gardeners practice sowing heuchera seeds in open ground before winter, somewhere in October or November.
Heuchera seedlings take root well in a new place, since the seeds are collected from released varieties. They winter well and withstand the vagaries of weather.
When to plant heuchera seedlings
It is best to sow heuchera seedlings from the end of March or at the very beginning of April. If the seeds are planted earlier, the seedlings will have to be illuminated, because natural light is not enough in winter. If you plant early in spring, you can do without this. The daylight hours are already increasing and the sprouts will have enough light.
How to plant heuchera with seeds
Propagating heuchera by seeds is a fascinating activity, but it is worth remembering that young plants grow and develop very slowly. You shouldn’t be afraid of this and don’t try to speed up their growth in every possible way.
Preparation of planting containers and soil
To get healthy shoots of heuchera seeds, prepare a nutrient substrate. To do this, mix the following components:
- peak peat;
- washed river sand;
- garden soil;
- wood ash.
For two parts of the earth, take one part of all other components and 200 g of ash. All components are thoroughly mixed and after that the finished substrate is sent to the oven to disinfect it. There is no need to cultivate store-bought soil for planting decorative deciduous crops.
Regular plastic boxes are used as containers for growing heuchera seedlings. Initially, the seedlings are in a common container, after which they are picked and grown in separate containers before transplanting. The boxes are pre-treated with an alcohol solution, potassium permanganate or special preparations to kill pathogens.
Seed preparation
Heuchera seeds are quite small and cannot be sown evenly. Experienced gardeners recommend mixing planting material with sand. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for 20 minutes. in a solution of potassium permanganate, preparations "Kornevin" or "Zircon" to stimulate their growth. You can put the seeds in the refrigerator for several days, where the temperature is no higher than +5°C. There they will swell and be ready for sowing.
How to properly plant heuchera seedlings
Drainage holes are made in the containers where the perennial will be grown. A layer of expanded clay or other material is poured onto the bottom and the containers are filled with nutritious soil.
To grow seedlings, heuchera seeds are not buried, but distributed on the surface of the soil. The plantings are generously moistened with a spray bottle and covered with film. The containers are placed in the brightest place, but they are shaded from direct sunlight.
How long does it take for heuchera seeds to germinate?
After planting at home, heuchera seeds are provided with a suitable microclimate so that seedlings emerge together. The air temperature is maintained at +20… +22°С.
The first sprouts in containers can be noticed only after 2-4 weeks, in some cases longer. But there is no need to worry too much about this. Growing heuchera from seeds is a very slow process.
Why doesn't heuchera sprout from seeds?
There are many reasons why seeds do not germinate after planting. And one of them is improper storage. Planting material must be stored in accordance with all requirements. It is best to keep seed packets in a cold room or on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Since under normal conditions they quickly lose their germination capacity.
In addition, the absence of seedlings for a long time indicates that the plantings were not properly cared for. Before the sprouts appear, the container must be opened every day for ventilation, otherwise the ground will become moldy due to high humidity. Spray the soil as needed. Containers protect against drafts, especially during ventilation.
How to grow heuchera from seeds
To grow a beautiful heuchera from seeds, as in various photos, you need to put in a lot of effort.
The seedlings are very delicate and require special care. An inexperienced gardener can easily destroy tiny seedlings at the initial stage of cultivation.
Conditions for growing heuchera from seeds at home
When the first shoots of heuchera appear after planting the seeds, they are provided with care. The film is not completely removed, but only lifted for a few minutes a day for ventilation. You can completely remove the shelter when a pair of true leaves appear on the seedlings. This is necessary to create the necessary climate, because delicate seedlings require high air humidity.
The air temperature in the room is slightly lowered so that the sprouts do not stretch. At night, +18°C is enough, but during the day it is maintained at +20°C, at all stages of cultivation.
In order for heuchera seedlings to develop well, they need at least 12 hours of light per day. Containers with plantings are rotated during cultivation so that the seedlings grow evenly. The lighting should be bright, but the seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight. On cloudy days they provide backlighting.
Watering and fertilizing
Water the heuchera seedlings very carefully, trying not to soak the soil. This can cause fungal diseases. Thin seedlings are very sensitive to soil moisture. To avoid mistakes in watering when growing, it is better to use a syringe or small syringe for these purposes. The seedlings need to be irrigated once every few days, after which be sure to ventilate the container.
Heuchera seedlings are fed after two true leaves appear on them. They use complex mineral fertilizers, but dilute them in low concentrations.
Picking
Heuchera seedlings grown from seeds are planted in separate containers when they are strong enough and a third leaf appears on them. You can plant in a common container, but leave a distance of 5 cm between plants.
For the first time after transplantation, the plants are covered with film and put in a shaded place so that they take root well. Then they are grown as usual.
Hardening
In May, seedlings begin to be taken outside so that they get used to the surrounding conditions. At first, the pots with plants are left for a few minutes, and the time is gradually increased. Before transplanting, the seedlings are left outside overnight. Containers with plants are left in the shade so that they do not suffer from the scorching sun. In the evening, be sure to check the soil moisture and water the plantings if necessary.
Hardened seedlings will tolerate replanting better, quickly adapt to new conditions and begin to grow. 10-14 days are allotted for hardening.
Transplanting heuchera seedlings to a permanent place
Heuchera is transplanted into open ground at the end of May or beginning of June, when night frosts have passed and a stable temperature has established. The timing differs in different regions.
If heuchera seedlings were grown in a greenhouse, then transplanting to a permanent place can be postponed until autumn. However, you need to remember that there should be enough time before the first frost for young plants to adapt and take root. For the winter they must be covered with spruce branches.
Tips for growing heuchera from seeds
In order for the shrub to fully reveal all its qualities, it needs to find a suitable place for growing.It is best to plant heuchera in partial shade, where the sun's rays will hit the leaves only in the first half of the day. The soil for growing is preferably loose, nutritious and well-drained. Areas with marshy soil or lowlands are not suitable for planting heuchera. The plant does not tolerate stagnation of moisture at the roots.
Heuchera bushes do not grow quickly, so leave a distance of up to 20 cm between plants. The holes are prepared in advance and filled with humus. Seedlings are planted together with a ball of earth so as not to injure the root system.
It is easy to grow heuchera in open ground. The shrub is unpretentious; it needs proper watering, weeding and timely feeding. Water the heuchera 2 times a week, but during periods of drought you will have to moisten the soil every day. Moreover, water should be poured only into the root zone, but not onto the leaves. In summer, the bush is watered in the evening and early in the morning. To maintain soil moisture, you can mulch the heuchera with humus.
A few hours after watering, the soil is loosened to provide oxygen access to the roots, and weeds are removed. From time to time the bushes are hilled, as young shoots appear around them.
Heuchera is fed in open ground 2 times per season. Mineral fertilizers are used, but in low concentration. In the second half of summer, all feeding is stopped.
In the southern regions, heuchera winters well in open ground without additional shelter. However, in the northern regions, where winters are harsh or snowless, in the fall the bushes are mounded high, mulched with dry humus, and covered with spruce branches or covering material.
If you follow all the recommendations for sowing seedlings and growing heuchera, the shrub practically does not get sick and is not affected by pests. However, improper watering leads to the following common diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- rust;
- root rot;
- leaf spotting.
Affected bushes are treated with copper preparations, but they do not help against root rot. Sick plants will have to be uprooted. The planting site is disinfected so that the fungus does not spread to neighboring plants.
Of the pests, heuchera is the most annoying:
- slugs;
- snails;
- caterpillars;
- nematode;
- weevils.
They need to be controlled with insecticides. Treatments are carried out several times per season. Heuchera is sprayed for the first time in early spring, when the leaves bloom. Then several more times at intervals of 2-3 weeks.
If there are few pests, then you can try traditional methods. Dusting plants and row spaces with mustard powder, ground hot pepper or eggshells helps against caterpillars, snails and slugs. The insect's delicate body cannot tolerate such contact, so they leave. Some gardeners catch slugs by hand. To do this, install a cardboard trap in a shady place in the garden. Every evening you need to remove all the snails and slugs that are hiding under it.
Conclusion
Planting heuchera from seeds is not much different from growing other plants. However, the bush loses its decorative qualities, which may be unimportant for amateurs. Heuchera does not require special care; simple manipulations are enough, and the plant with bright foliage will decorate the garden for many years.
