Starting Geraniums from Seed
By 250 News
Saturday, January 24, 2009 03:58 AM
Many gardeners keep their geraniums from one year to the next and take cuttings but there are other gardeners who enjoy starting their geraniums from seed and are successful.
If you want to start your geraniums from seed you need to start the seed now (January) because they need a long time before they start to bloom. On average depending on light, temperature etc. a geranium will bloom 16-20 weeks after it has been sown. The seeds are already available in the garden center and so are the necessary containers, soil etc. to get you and your seeds started.
You want to use a light medium to start geranium seeds such as a starter mix. You also need containers to place the soil in. I like to use a tray with no holes and place the soil filled inserts inside the tray so that I can water from the bottom. When using this method you need to be careful that you do not overwater as there is no where for the water to drain out. Always use clean containers, so use either new containers or wash out your used containers with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
Fill the container/inserts with starter mix to within ½ an inch from the top. Wet the soil so that it is moist but not wet. I place about an inch of warm water in the bottom of the tray so that the soil soaks it up from the bottom. After an hour, drain off any excess water that has not been absorbed. Sow the seed carefully ½ inch apart and cover carefully with a thin layer (1/8 inch) of starting mix. To prevent damp off which is a fungus that can kill seedlings, spray a fine mist of ‘Damp Off’ diluted with water over the soil covered seed and then cover the entire tray with a plastic dome specifically made for this or you could use a sheet of plastic which will keep seeds moist. For best results use bottom heat by using heating cables, or mat (both available at the garden center) or you could place the tray on top of the fridge or any other warm surface. The soil temperature should be 21-24 Celsius till the seeds have germinated.
Once the seeds have germinated anywhere from 5-21 days you have to take off the plastic dome. Make sure that the soil is always moist but not damp as moisture is important in keeping young plants alive. Always water from the bottom using room temperature water. To grow strong, healthy plants you need to give them 12-14 hours of bright light every day. You can use grow lights or fluorescent lights placed 4-6 inches above the young seedlings. Keep seedlings at room temperatures during the day and a little cooler (16-18 Celsius) at night.
If seedlings are too close you can prick out the weaker of the two by snipping it with a pair of scissors. After the first set of true leaves has grown the young seedlings are transplanted into individual 3-4 inch pots filled with a good quality potting soil. Do this carefully by picking them up by the leaves as the seedlings are tender and break easily. Water them from the bottom with warm water and keep the room temperatures at 21-24 for the first 7-10 days to encourage root growth, and after that night temperatures can be cooler. Fertilize with plant starter to help encourage root growth.
Continue to give the plants lots of light moving the fluorescent/grow lights up as the plants grow. For bushy plants, pinch out the growing tips. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with 20-20-20 an all purpose fertilizer.
As spring approaches the plants need to be hardened off to get them ready to be planted outside. Harden plants off by cooler temperatures. In late April early May start placing the plants outside in a protected area during the day and bringing them in at night. To promote flowering switch fertilizers and use 15-30-15 a flowering plant fertilizer.
-Jos
Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Garden Centres in Prince George
Highway 97 north at Northwood Pulpmill Road
Highway 16 West at Kimball road
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