Content
Eustoma is a flowering plant with high decorative qualities. Growing crops in temperate climates is fraught with difficulties. But, according to florists, sowing eustoma seedlings in peat tablets is the easiest way to get bushy plantings, densely covered with luxurious buds.
Peat tablets for growing seedlings traditionally have the shape of a washer
Advantages of sowing eustoma seeds in peat tablets
Modern industry produces tablets intended for growing seedlings of flower crops. The basis of the product is pressed peat. To maintain the shape of the substrate, non-woven material is included in the composition. Products are available in several sizes. For various types of plants, tablets are offered taking into account the parameters of future seedlings. Specifically for eustoma, it is better to choose peat washers with a diameter of 36-42 mm.
In the last decade, seedling tablets have become very popular among gardeners and farmers.The advantages of this type of industrial product are undeniable:
- There is no need to find containers suitable for growing seedlings.
- During picking, fragile shoots and developing roots are not injured. Transplantation takes place using the transshipment method.
- The composition of the substrate ensures moisture and air tightness and an optimal balance of nutrients. In addition, the growth stimulants included in the tablets contribute to the appearance of friendly, healthy shoots.
- The presence of antifungal drugs in the composition prevents the development of pathogenic microflora.
Thanks to these qualities, the process of planting and caring for demanding plants is greatly simplified. All agricultural operations require less time and labor.
Landing dates
All varieties of eustoma have a long growing season - more than five months. In this regard, sowing of the crop should be planned at an early date. It is better to plant eustoma seeds in peat tablets in December-February. With later sowing, flowering will begin not at the beginning, but at the end of summer.
How to plant eustoma seeds in peat tablets
The result of sowing a flower crop depends on the quality of the organization of the procedure. When growing a demanding eustoma, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules and perform all manipulations in accordance with a given algorithm.
Seed preparation
It is convenient to use granulated seeds for sowing. They are coated with a special compound that forms a hard shell, which improves germination.In addition, pelleted seeds are larger in size, making them easier to sow.
How to soak peat tablets for eustoma
To place the peat washers you will need a spacious but low container. The container for disinfection should first be treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Dry tablets are flat in shape, so before sowing the seeds they must be saturated with moisture. For this purpose, peat products are placed at the bottom of the container and filled with settled water at room temperature to a height of 3 cm. After some time, the tablets will swell and noticeably increase in size. If there is a lot of moisture, then it is drained and the peat washers are lightly squeezed out. Excess water can cause the seeds to rot or become moldy.
It is advisable to add a nutrient solution, for example, Epin, to the water with which peat tablets are poured.
Rules for planting eustoma in peat tablets for seedlings
To plant seeds in peat tablets, you will need tweezers. If you don’t have one, a regular wooden toothpick or canapé skewer will do. The landing process includes the following steps:
- Granulated eustoma seeds are placed in a flat container.
- Press a small depression into each peat disc.
- Wet the tip of the toothpick with water.
- The seed is hooked with the tip of the stick and transferred to the center of the tablet.
- Irrigate the seedlings with settled water from a fine spray bottle.
The coating covering the seeds quickly dissolves. The container is covered with a transparent lid and placed in a warm place.
Experienced florists recommend using a Chlorella suspension solution to wet toothpicks.
Further care of seedlings
Seedlings develop better under a closed lid or a film stretched to maintain a comfortable regime. The container is placed in a warm place at a temperature of +20-25 0Happy day and +15-20 0Happy night. The room where the greenhouse is located should be bright, but the seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight.
When will the shoots appear?
The first shoots appear after 7-8 days. The sprouts of eustoma are small, since the main forces of the plant are spent on the development of the root system. The culture at this stage needs careful care.
After the eustoma in tablets has sprouted, the young shoots then need additional lighting. The plant needs at least 12 hours of daylight. To obtain the required energy, the container with the seedlings is placed under a fluorescent lamp.
Eustoma seedlings are susceptible to fungal attack, so it is advisable that when watering, water does not fall on them from above. It is best to feed seedlings with moisture from below. The greenhouse should be ventilated daily for 15-20 minutes to prevent condensation from forming, which could damage the delicate sprouts.
With the appearance of the first pair of true leaves on the seedlings, the seedlings begin to adapt to drier air. For this purpose, the ventilation time of plantings is increased to twice a day for 30 minutes in the morning and evening. Gradually they are moving towards removing the cover completely.
With the onset of spring, if there are a sufficient number of sunny days, it is possible to exclude additional illumination of seedlings with a lamp
Transplanting eustoma from peat tablets into a pot
As a rule, eustoma seedlings from peat tablets require picking. The fact is that often when sowing several seeds fall into the container. Emerging plants need adequate nutrition. Shoots with 4-6 true leaves should be thinned out, leaving the strongest bush.
The next stage is transferring the eustoma from peat tablets into cups. To carry out the procedure, prepare individual containers with a volume of 200-250 ml. These can be cups (pots) made of peat or plastic. For products made of artificial material, drainage holes should be provided at the bottom.
When using plastic cups or pots, care should be taken in preparing the soil mixture. You can, of course, purchase ready-made soil in a specialized store, but the produced compounds have one common drawback - a lot of peat, but few nutrients. The optimal composition of the soil mixture for eustoma:
- peat – 2 parts;
- turf soil - 1 part;
- humus (compost) – 1 part;
- coarse sand – 0.5 parts.
To neutralize the acidity of the soil mixture, it is advisable to add wood ash. The soil made up of these components in the specified ratio is quite loose and nutritious.
In order to increase the survival rate of eustoma after transplantation, an aqueous solution of Kornevin is used for irrigation.
The prepared soil should be treated with a fungicide solution for sterilization. The procedure for moving seedlings consists of sequential operations:
- The soil mixture is poured into the pot in a layer of 3 cm.
- Carefully, trying not to touch the sprouted shoots, remove the shell from the tablet so that the roots completely take over the space of the new container.
- The peat puck is placed in a pot, the voids are filled with soil. The root collar of the bush should be at ground level.
- The soil is compacted; if the soil settles, it is added.
- Water the ground around the bushes with settled water, being careful not to splash it on the leaves of the seedlings.
Tall varieties of eustoma intended for growing as a houseplant need to be transplanted into a permanent container as they develop. For this you will need large pots. Take a soil mixture with the specified composition, but additionally add mineral fertilizer, for example, Nitrophoska, at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. for 3 liters of soil. It is necessary to thoroughly mix the fertilizer with the soil to avoid burning the roots of the seedlings. The process is organized as follows:
- A drainage layer of expanded clay 3 cm high is formed at the bottom of the pot.
- Pour in the prepared soil mixture.
- The seedlings are carefully removed from the pot.
- The bush is placed in the center of the flowerpot, filling the voids with soil mixture.
- Water the transplanted plants, trying not to get water on the leaf blades.
The eustoma is placed on a window located on the sunny side. The plant is fed once every 12 days with mineral compounds and watered regularly.
A growing crop requires plenty of moisture, but the water should not stagnate in the tray
Conclusion
Sowing eustoma seedlings in peat tablets is a lengthy process that requires strict adherence to the rules developed by agricultural technicians.Enthusiasm and painstaking work will bring the desired result - bushy plants with gorgeous flowers will decorate your apartment or garden.
