Content
Growing a lumbago flower from seeds is the most commonly practiced method of propagation. Theoretically, cuttings and division of the bush are possible, but in fact, the root system of an adult plant tolerates damage and replanting very poorly.
It is not difficult to obtain sleep-grass seedlings at home. To do this, it is advisable to take fresh seeds, prepare them properly and sow them in suitable soil. If you keep them warm and in the light, setting up a “mini-greenhouse” on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, don’t forget to carefully water and regularly ventilate the seedlings, and at the right time plant them in individual pots, by the end of summer the lumbago can be planted on the site. Flowering, however, will have to wait: the first buds of dream grass seedlings usually appear only in 2-3 years.But then, unpretentious elegant bushes, generously strewn with large, bright, fluffy cups or bells, will be the best decoration of the garden for 8-10 years with the arrival of early spring.
Features of growing lumbago from seeds
To successfully grow common lumbago from seeds at home, you need to study the features of the seedling method of propagation of this plant. It is also important to pay close attention to the timing and rules of sowing.
A photo will help you imagine what lumbago seeds look like:
The seeds of the lumbago are oblong in shape, enclosed in a dense shell and have pubescence in order to be carried by the wind
They are formed after the end of flowering of the sleep grass inside its fruits - boxes shaped like nuts. The seeds themselves are long, in a dense shell, with pubescent hairy awns, which help them scatter far in the wind. Once on the soil surface, the seed undergoes natural stratification, periodically getting wet and drying out. The hygroscopic awn gradually “screws” into the ground, drawing the seed there. Its hard outer skin gradually softens and allows the sprout to emerge.
Here's what you should keep in mind when planning to acquire this beautiful and healing primrose on your own plot:
- Shooting seeds should be collected when they have time to fully ripen, but have not yet scattered. This usually happens at the end of June-July. Mature seeds will be easily separated from the receptacle.
- The lumbago seed remains viable for 2-3 years. Freshly collected seeds can be germinated without prior preparation. Those that are 1 year or more should be hardened in the cold and kept in a growth stimulator.
- Seeds of alpine lumbago necessarily require stratification. This does not depend on the timing of their collection.
- If different varieties of lumbago grow in one area in close proximity, then interesting hybrids can be obtained as a result of cross-pollination.
- Sleep-grass grown from seeds does not always retain the color of the flowers inherent in the mother plant.
When to sow lumbago for seedlings
It is necessary to plant lumbago seeds for seedlings from mid-February to the end of March. This will allow the seedlings to grow sufficiently during the spring and summer so that in August they can be successfully moved into open ground.
How to plant lumbago seeds
Before you start growing lumbago seedlings from seeds, you should prepare. It is advisable to stratify them in advance, and to stock up on convenient containers and a suitable soil mixture by the scheduled planting date.
Selection of containers and soil preparation
It is most convenient to use a wide, shallow container (wooden box, plastic container) for sowing lumbago seeds for seedlings. A prerequisite is the presence of a sufficient number of holes in the bottom of the container to drain excess moisture.
It is most convenient to sow lumbago seeds in a wide, shallow container with holes in the bottom for drainage.
The soil for lumbago seeds should be light and loose. You can mix leaf soil or purchased substrate and fine river sand in equal proportions. A day before the intended sowing, the soil needs to be well moistened.
Preparation and stratification of lumbago seeds
Stratification of seed material imitates the effect on it of a certain temperature and humidity under natural conditions. This process stimulates the awakening of seeds and their transition from the dormant phase to the growth phase.
1-2 months before sowing, a container with seeds mixed with wet sand should be placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for stratification
To germinate sleep grass, so-called “cold” stratification is performed. 1 volume part of the seed is mixed with 3 parts of wet sand, peat or sawdust, placed in a plastic bag and placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 1-2 months.
Immediately before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds for a couple of hours in a stimulant solution (Epin, succinic acid). This will enhance their ability to germinate.
How to sow the seeds of lumbago
The correct way to plant lumbago seeds is as follows:
- The prepared seed material is evenly distributed over the soil surface. The most convenient way is to carefully place them at a distance of a couple of centimeters from each other, using tweezers.
- The crops are lightly pressed into the soil, but not buried. It is permissible to lightly sprinkle them with fine sand on top.
- Spray the lumbago seeds with warm, settled water from a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with glass or plastic film, forming a “greenhouse”, and place it in a bright, warm place.
Sleep grass seeds should be evenly distributed over the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into it, but not deepening
How to grow lumbago from seeds at home
Growing lumbago from seeds at home requires proper care. In the optimal case, the first shoots can be seen within 2 weeks after planting. However, it happens that germination is delayed for a longer period, up to 6 weeks.
Microclimate
To successfully “awaken”, lumbago seeds require warmth and plenty of light.
It is advisable to keep the “greenhouse” with them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, protecting it from drafts and maintaining a constant temperature at + 22-25 ° C.
If natural light is not enough, you can organize additional illumination of the crops with a phytolamp.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Growing sleep grass from seeds to seedlings involves moderate watering with settled water at room temperature. It is best to spray it from a spray bottle over the surface of the soil, making sure not to over-wet it. The frequency of watering should be such that the substrate does not have time to dry out, otherwise the lumbago seedlings will die.
The presence of a “greenhouse” helps maintain a high level of humidity. It is necessary to ventilate the seedlings daily, removing the cover for a few minutes and removing condensation that has accumulated on its inside. After the sprouts appear, their time in the fresh air is gradually increased. Subsequently, the film is removed completely.
After the sprouts begin to appear, you need to check that they can successfully shed their seed coats. If some of them fail, you need to help them by sprinkling the thick skin with warm water several times a day to soften it.
In order for small plants to take root better, you can carefully make a small hole in the soil next to the sprouted seed. It is most convenient to use a toothpick for this. A thin root of the sprout should be directed into the hole, and then carefully sprinkled over it.
You should know that lumbago seedlings do not need feeding before planting in separate pots.
Picking
Sleeping grass is planted in individual containers at the stage when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves. It is best to choose deep pots or cups with a diameter of 60-80 mm. The composition of the soil mixture is the same as for sowing seeds.
At the stage of appearance of 2–3 true leaves, the seedlings are ready for picking
Perform this procedure like this:
- prepare a hole in each cup - deep enough so that the root of the seedling can be placed in it without bending;
- carefully transfer the lumbago sprout there;
- sprinkle a little soil without deepening the root collar;
- lightly compact the soil and water it.
Further care
Caring for a lumbago sown with seeds after picking the seedlings before planting them in the ground involves the following actions:
- systematic watering and maintaining sufficient soil moisture;
- providing plants with sufficient light;
- application of a balanced mineral fertilizer diluted in water once every 2 weeks.
Transplantation into the ground
Lumpy, grown from seeds using the seedling method, can usually be planted in the ground as early as August or early September.The place should be illuminated, but with light shade, optimally - on a small hill, eliminating stagnation of water at the roots, with light and loose fertile soil. Shooting seedlings are planted in holes at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other, without deepening the root collars.
In late autumn, sleep grass should be covered with coniferous spruce branches, straw or agrofibre to protect it from freezing in winter.
Conclusion
Growing a lumbago flower from seeds using seedlings does not involve much hassle, but it allows you to get strong and healthy young plants that will successfully take root in the garden bed. It is optimal to take fresh seed, pre-stratify it and sow it under film in light, loose soil. The plants will need a sufficient amount of light and heat, timely, careful watering, and as they grow a little, picking into separate pots. If the seeds were sown at the end of winter or early spring, they can be transferred to a permanent place in open ground with the onset of August. Sleep grass bushes look very beautiful during the flowering period, are unpretentious, resistant to diseases and pests and will certainly be able to add their own notes to the symphony of beauty of any garden.
