Introduce seed-grown lavender to your garden
Growing lavender from seeds at home is usually straightforward. The plant is popular with housewives. This type of flower has not only a beautiful appearance, but also many useful properties that can cure a number of diseases.
Read also the article in the topic: lavender planting and care in the open field of the Moscow region!
Description of lavender
Useful properties of the plant:
- restores the work of the nervous system;
- normalizes sleep;
- is a good tool for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases;
- improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
- has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties;
- relieves muscle fatigue;
- improves joint function;
- restores the natural skin color;
- helps to improve hair condition.
Lack of light can lead to stretching of seedlings, which will negatively affect their further development. Therefore, in cloudy weather, it is recommended to install a lamp near the pot.
Recognizing lavender among many other plant species is not difficult. You can do this by looking at the leaves, buds, and smell. The plates are grayish-silvery. Lavender flowers are small. They can be either blue or purple. All are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.
A distinctive feature of such a plant is its rich aroma. The strong smell of lavender can repel insects. Therefore, it is often grown near private houses and in the country.
The flowering of this unique plant can be seen in summer. There are several types of lavender, but only one of them perfectly tolerates frost. To grow a winter-hardy variety, you should remember that you can do this with cuttings and grains. The second option is especially popular. It is by this method that it is easy to grow rare varieties that are difficult to acquire in the form of seedlings.
How to grow lavender at home?
It is not difficult to settle fragrant and incredibly beautiful flowers at home or on a plot. Before growing lavender from seeds, prepare them properly. It is best to buy grains in a specialized store. In order for them to rise well, special attention must be paid to the time of their collection. It is best to buy seeds from the previous year.
Seed preparation
Growing lavender at home should start with seed stratification. This procedure is needed in order to significantly increase the germination of grains. Preparation should start from winter or even from the end of autumn. To do this, you need to take wet sand and combine it with the seeds. Transfer the mixture to a small container and refrigerate on the lower shelf. Keep in this state for two months. The longer they are in the cold, the better. This will have a positive effect on the rate of their germination and the rate of development of seedlings.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
After this time, you can start sowing seeds. Choose a nutritious substrate for lavender.You can either buy it in a store or cook it yourself.
To do this, you need to connect:
- part of the sand (preferably river);
- two parts of humus;
- three pieces of garden land.
Before planting lavender seeds at home, the resulting substrate must be sifted well. It should be free of debris and large lumps. If this is not done, then small grains may simply not sprout.
It is also necessary to disinfect the soil. For this, the substrate should be thoroughly spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate or steamed.
Sow lavender seeds for seedlings in a container with good drainage. This is necessary in order to prevent rotting of the root system. After the pebbles or broken bricks are laid, you can pour the substrate. Place the grains evenly and sparsely. Top with a thin layer of sand and pour over everything with warm water.
For quick germination of grains, the container should be covered with glass or plastic.
The first shoots will appear in 25 days. If after a month the seeds have not sprouted, then the vessel must be placed in a cold place for 21 days. This time will be enough for seedlings to appear on the surface. After the seedlings appear, put the pot on the window.
So that young plants do not get stress from the unusual temperature, you should not immediately remove the mini-greenhouse. This should be done gradually.
As soon as the seedlings begin to grow rapidly indoors, you can begin to transplant them into separate flowerpots. The procedure must be carried out very carefully, since the root system of lavender is very delicate and fragile. The first time, watering should be done every day, little by little. The liquid should be used only well-settled, and preferably boiled.
Plant care in a flowerpot
To grow beautiful lavender from seeds at home, you need to follow some rules. Compliance with the recommendations will help achieve the desired result.
A place to grow. This type of plant prefers good lighting. Therefore, flowerpots with lavender should be kept on the western and eastern windows. In order for the bush to be healthy and bloom profusely, it must be illuminated from 8 to 10 hours a day. If in the summer period of the year these indicators are easy to observe, then in winter the opposite is true.
In warmer months, lavender vases can be placed on the terrace, loggia or in the garden. It is necessary to accustom plants to new conditions gradually. In the early days, the pot should be kept outside for no more than two hours.
Air humidity. The flower is not very demanding on these indicators, but still you should not experiment with it. The room in which lavender grows must be ventilated daily. In winter, when the heating system is working in the house, the flowerpot should be kept away from batteries and other appliances. If this is not possible, then the bush should be sprayed daily with settled water.
Irrigation. Lavender is a plant that loves moist soil. The flower should be irrigated with liquid at room temperature. In this case, the water should be well-settled.
In the summer months, watering is carried out once a day, and in the winter - once every three days. But in order not to harm the bush, you should check the condition of the topsoil before each procedure. If it is not dry, then watering should be postponed.
Top dressing. Lavender, like most plants, needs fertilization... Young bushes should be fed with complex preparations for 10 days. This should be done every seven days. Also, the mixture should be applied during the flowering period.
In order for lavender to please with long flowering, it is recommended to use nitrogen preparations.
When growing a flower, you need to ensure that it has enough light. Otherwise, the bush will begin to shed its leaves.
By knowing how to plant lavender seeds at home, you can grow a beautiful and healthy plant. If everything is done correctly, the bush will be fluffy, and the flowering will be abundant and colorful.