Features of propagation of petunias by cuttings

Petunia, with its lush buds resembling roses, is so beautiful that flower growers endure her whims in leaving, timely watering, fertilizing and spraying so that it blooms. But it creates more trouble during reproduction, because it is very long and difficult to grow from seeds. This begs the question - is it possible to cut petunia at home and if so, how?

In the article we will talk about the intricacies of growing this plant from cuttings, as well as detailed instructions for planting in the ground and possible problems.

What is this plant?

Petunia is a perennial herb native to South America. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, like tomato and potato.

Its leaves are like tobacco leaves. They are sedentary, whole or on short cuttings. The shape and size depend on what type of plant (more than 1 thousand) is grown in the garden.

The arrangement of leaves on branched green hanging, erect, or creeping stems is alternate. Petunia flowers look like a funnel. They are simple or terry, small or large-flowered, snow-white or light yellow, blue or pink, red or colorful. Petals along the edge are fringed or smooth. After flowering, a box is formed - a fruit with small seeds.

Breeding methods

• Seed propagation - the most time-consuming. Seeds in flower shops are expensive (how to collect the seeds yourself?). Sowing them with extreme caution and not deviating from generally accepted rules, not all of them emerge, but if they do, they die.
• Seedlings. Some gardeners buy expensive ready-made seedlings, which are transplanted into good soil and soon enjoy the view of a beautiful petunia in a flower pot.
• Cuttings - the best way to reproduce.

Is it possible to carry it by cuttings?

Yes, petunia is successfully propagated by cuttings and does not need special knowledge or dexterity for this. Adhering to the simple rules of care, the shoot will take root and bloom in 7-8 weeks.

How to cut - the rules of the home

1. Careful selection of cuttings. It is cut from a healthy branch, which is located on the southern part of the crown.
2. Correct pruning. At the bottom, a section is made under the lower kidney, and on top - in front of the very top, leaving up to 2-3 cm of the internode.

   REFERENCE! A node is a section of a branch with a kidney. The internode is the gap between the nodes.

3. Preparation before landing. On the part that is stuck in the ground, there should be no leaves. Otherwise, they will rot, and with them the stalk.

When is the best time?

The best time for terry plant varieties is February-May. Experienced flower growers are engaged in the grafting of ampelous petunias and caliberhoa year-round, they create suitable conditions for germination, water the cuttings on time, and in winter the plant is additionally illuminated in the house.

Training

A suitable stalk is picked and cut while the plant is blooming. The best time for selecting material for cuttings is August and the very beginning of autumn, that is, September. Having cut it and landed in the ground in the fall, after 2 months they notice an ovary on it. If this is not included in the florist’s plans, then the shoot should not be weaned before March, but for this it will be necessary to arrange suitable conditions for wintering for the petunia.

The uterine bush, from which cuttings are cut, is treated regularly to prevent possible diseases and protect it from pests. For processing, they buy insecticides and use them according to the instructions so as not to encounter undesirable consequences. Before cutting off a suitable process, the uterine bush is fed with vitamins and fortifying additives (urea, urea, magnesium, potassium humate). They accelerate rooting and contribute to the rapid strengthening of the process.

How to cut correctly?

• 6-8 cm - the optimal length of the process cut from the uterine bush. If it is longer, rooting will occur later.
• The shoot will take root faster if 2-4 pairs of leaves were on it before cutting.
• The apical processes are cut off, noticing the cessation of shoot growth. They are firmly rooted in the ground.
• After a cut with a change in the prepared container do not hesitate. Otherwise, the stalk may not give root.

How to save material from autumn to spring?

Autumn is not the best time to cut petunias. The cuticle does not have time to give roots, because important processes slow down. If the roots appear, and a little later the leaves, the sudden death of a young plant due to the sudden cessation of root growth is not ruled out. Cut stalks will not last until spring. To propagate the plant by cuttings in spring, they act differently.

• In September-October, they dig a flower, cut stems up to 5 cm on it and transplant it into a pot. A layer of drainage is laid at the bottom.
• The pot is brought into the house and placed on a well-lit window sill.
• In winter, water the plant and feed it, but not often.
• They also maintain the temperature in the room, preventing it from rising above + 10-15 degrees Celsius.
• The flower comes to life in late February. New buds and processes appear on it. At this time, it is possible to cut off the shoots by rooting them in soil or water.

Landing

Rules for planting petunias:

1. After selecting and cutting suitable cuttings, place them in a solution with phytohormones. This increases the chances of petunias propagating by cuttings.
2. After that, they are planted in boxes for which land is prepared in advance.
3. Sand or loose earth is poured into the boxes.
4. A drainage layer is not needed, since after rooting the plant is transplanted into another, separate container.
5. The distance between the two cuttings is 2 cm, and the depth of penetration is not more than 4 cm.
6. After planting, water the plant and cover with glass.
7. The box is rearranged on the window and waiting for at least one pair of leaves to appear.

Rooting

• In the ground.
• In a glass of water.

How to root in water?

This method is suitable for rooting most varieties of petunia.. It is not suitable for cuttings of terry flower varieties.

1. Preparation of an opaque container made of metal or plastic with water.
2. The choice of the process and its clipping from the healthy stem, leaving a length of 10-12 cm. Cutting it off, cut off all the leaves on it.
3. Prepared stalk is immersed in a container of water. There should not be several processes in it, since everyone needs space.
4. Creating a greenhouse effect by covering the container with plastic wrap or a bottle.
5. Capacity put in partial shade.
6. After 7 days, the first roots appear, and after 10 days the young plant is transplanted into the nutrient ground.

Choosing the right time

Cuttings of petunias are carried out in late summer or winter. The season affects the growth and development of the processes, but how?

• Propagation by cuttings in the winter. The main feature in carrying out the procedure in winter is that they prepare for it ahead of time - in the summer, at the end of August.
  1. Uterine bushes are dug up in the garden and transplanted into a medium-sized pot.
  2. Before that, cut old shoots on them.
  3. The temperature in the winter is + 10-15 degrees Celsius (otherwise, illumination with lamps and lamps will be needed).
  4. The air in the room should not be dry, but watered when the leaves are lowered.
  5. During the winter, new sprouts appear on it, cutting them off in late February - early March, you can propagate the plant.
• Propagation by cuttings in summer and closer to autumn (August - early September). Cutting off the shoots at the end of August, the grower is faced with the fact that on 5-10 days roots appear on them. They are stuck in a glass with loose earth, put on a well-lit window sill and after a while they notice that they have begun. Having passed them in a cache-pot with good soil, they are watered and fertilized, and after 2 months they can bloom.

What to do after the procedure?

After landing, you must:

1. Maintain the room temperature in the region of + 20-23 degrees Celsius.
2. At the end of spring, when daylight hours are still short, put a fluorescent lamp on the windowsill for illumination.
3. To water.

If you meet the conditions from the list above, cuttings will take root and take root on the 7th day. After the appearance of a pair of leaves, it remains only to transplant them into a more nutritious soil and take care of it as an adult plant.

What if something went wrong?

Although petunia is a hardy plant, but if you do not create suitable conditions when grafting, it will fall ill and die. It is not watered beyond measure, it is not planted in heavy soil until the roots appear, otherwise it dies from the "black leg". Signs of this disease are darkening and softening of the basal part of the process. When the processes are accepted and overgrown with leaves, they are transferred to a larger diameter pot.

After a couple of days, they notice a white coating on the leaves. It is evidence of a fungal disease called powdery mildew. The plant is sick due to sudden changes in temperature and humidity. You can save him by removing all the affected parts and treating the healthy ones with sulfur.

Conclusion

Do not propagate petunia seeds. A new plant is obtained by cuttings. To do this, choose a suitable stalk and root it in water or soil.

Watch the video: Rooting wave petunias with Lauren Quarltere (December 2024).