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Replanting petunia is necessary during picking, and then into separate pots for growing on the balcony or in open ground in flower beds. It is not necessary to strictly follow this sequence. Most gardeners transplant only once, transferring the seedlings to larger pots. Then they can be placed on the balcony, in flowerpots, on the veranda or terrace.
How to transplant petunia seedlings into a pot
If you plan to grow flowers in the open ground in a flower bed, do exactly two transplants of petunia seedlings:
- The first (picking) is from common seedling boxes into individual containers, for example, peat cups.
- The second is from separate pots for a flower bed.
The timing, features of transplantation and rules of care at each stage are described in the following sections.
When to replant petunia
Planting of seedlings is planned at the stage of appearance of 2-3 true leaves. They form 3-4 weeks after planting the seeds or 2-2.5 weeks after the appearance of mass shoots. The seedlings grow together, so picking is done in one day.
As for replanting into the ground or into pots for outdoor cultivation, it is most often done after the May holidays, in the second ten days of the month. Specific dates depend on the weather and climatic characteristics of the region:
- in the middle zone, Moscow region, the transfer is carried out in mid-May;
- in the Urals and Siberia, work begins in the second half of the month;
- in the southern regions, you can plan to transplant petunia as early as the end of April. This is acceptable if the temperature at night does not drop below +14 °C.
Choosing a pot and soil
To properly replant petunia at home, you need to choose a suitable pot and prepare the soil. Containers for picking can be small in volume, from 200-300 to 500 ml. Peat pots are best because the seedlings do not need to be removed from the ground during the second transplant. It is enough to plant directly in a pot, the material of which decomposes in the soil and serves as a natural fertilizer. If they are not available, you can also use plastic cups or special cassettes.
Seedlings can be grown in cassettes
For growing in pots on the veranda, balcony, or windowsill, pots made of any materials are suitable - ceramics, plastic, plastic. The main condition is that they must have drainage holes at the bottom to drain water. The volume depends on the type of plant:
- hanging or cascading varieties require spacious 5-liter containers;
- 1 liter is enough for simple petunias;
- terry varieties need three-liter pots.
As for the soil for replanting, it can be purchased at the store (a universal mixture for seedlings is suitable). Or prepare it yourself in the fall by mixing black peat with humus and sand in equal quantities. Or take turf soil, compost and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1.
It is recommended to disinfect the soil for transplanting petunias beforehand. To do this, use a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter) or keep the mixture in the freezer for several days. If you don’t have time, you can put it in the oven for 20 minutes (temperature 120 degrees).
Transplanting petunia into a pot
Replanting petunia into separate pots is quite simple. Regardless of which pick is made (first or second), the technology is approximately the same:
- A few hours before transplanting, the plants are thoroughly watered so that a dense earthen ball forms around the roots.
- Fill the new container with soil mixture to 2/3 of its volume. You should not fill it completely, because during watering in the future the soil will subside a little, and then you can gradually add new soil.
- Mark a small hole in the center, the depth of which depends on the size of the seedling. For the first petunia transplant, 2-3 cm is enough, for the second - 4-5 cm.
- The seedlings are removed from the old container for transplanting into a new one. This must be done especially carefully during the first picking of petunia, since the root system is still very weak. The plants are removed with a spoon, tweezers or a stick, separated from each other, if necessary, unraveling the root cuttings.
- Next, they are transplanted into new containers and the soil is carefully compacted. Immediately after transplantation, you can treat it with a fungicide, for example, “Fundazol” to prevent blackleg.
- Again, water each petunia seedling well, being careful not to get it on the leaves. In order for the seedlings to take root better in a new place, you can prepare a solution of Epin, Kornevin, Energen or another growth stimulant.
During picking, seedlings are transplanted into plastic cups
Aftercare
After transplantation, the strengthened petunia seedlings are placed in a cool and slightly shaded place for two days. The temperature should be below room temperature - optimally within 16-20 degrees. It is in such conditions that the roots take root quite quickly, and the seedlings do not stretch, but develop quite normally. Next (on the third day after transplantation) they are placed on a well-lit windowsill and grown at room temperature of 18-22 degrees.
Caring for seedlings is quite simple. Water it twice a week, constantly maintaining a moderate level of soil moisture. The soil is periodically carefully loosened or a new layer is added (the second option is preferable). Also, after transplantation and two weeks later, it is recommended to feed with complex fertilizer, for example, Kemira Lux. 10-15 days before transplanting into the ground, the seedlings are hardened by taking the containers out onto the balcony or veranda.
Transplanting petunia into open ground
Petunias are transplanted into flower beds only in the second half of May, when the threat of return frosts is minimized. You must first select a suitable place - it should be well lit and dry (lowlands are excluded). The basic rules for transplantation and care are described below.
Site preparation
Petunias grow well in fertile and loose soils with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. The site should be prepared in advance - two months before replanting, the soil is dug up and compost or humus is added in a bucket for each square meter. If the soil contains a lot of clay, sand or sawdust up to 3-5 kg is embedded in it for the same area.
How to transplant petunia into the ground
Algorithm for transplanting strengthened petunia seedlings into the ground, onto a flower bed:
- First you need to level the surface and mark several holes at intervals of at least 20 cm. For large plants, leave a distance of 25-30 cm.
- A small layer of stones is placed at the bottom.
- A few hours before transplanting, the seedlings are watered.
- Then they are carefully transferred from the pots, preserving the earthen lump.
- Plant in the center of the hole, compact the soil a little.
- Then lightly water and mulch after a few days.
Plants are transferred to open ground or pots for outdoor growing in the second half of May.
Outdoor care
Petunia is unpretentious. To ensure normal flowering and avoid diseases, you must follow the basic rules of care:
- Water the plants at least once a week, and in hot weather - twice.
- Feed a week after transplantation, and then every 10-15 days until mid-August. Use complex mineral fertilizers in alternation with organic matter, for example, mullein infusion 1:10.
- The soil is periodically loosened and weeds are removed if necessary. You need to work carefully, especially after transplanting the petunia, since the root system of the plant is located in the surface layer of the soil.
- Flowers are periodically inspected and treated against fungal diseases and pests. Fungicides and insecticides are used.
For lush flowering, fertilizer should be given every two weeks.
Possible mistakes
Transplanting petunia seedlings into cups and then into pots, cache-pots or open ground is not so difficult. But sometimes plants develop poorly and stretch out, which will have a bad effect on their flowering in the future. To avoid such phenomena, you need to familiarize yourself with the mistakes that novice gardeners often make:
- If seedlings lag behind in development, the main reason is due to improper temperature conditions. It is a mistake to think that after transplantation it needs to be grown in a warm place - on the contrary, the temperature should be below room temperature (16-20 degrees and no higher).
- The first days after transplantation, petunia needs to be shaded, for example, using a white cloth.
- If the stems are too thin and the seedlings begin to stretch, the reason is due to a lack of light or too high a temperature.
- If the leaves turn yellow, dry out and fall off, it is necessary to increase watering and also regularly give the plants complex fertilizers.
Conclusion
Petunia transplantation at home should be done 1-2 times. Seedlings require mandatory picking after the appearance of 2-3 leaves. Seedlings can be immediately transferred to separate pots or small cups. They are moved to open ground no earlier than mid-May. Next, you need to regularly water and feed.
