Can verbena be sown in the hot summer?
In fact, through careful observation, we can find that verbena grows very slowly in summer, so summer is actually not very suitable for sowing verbena. If you sow verbena in summer, the germination rate may not be that high.
In fact, in China, the best time to sow verbena is generally spring and autumn. Only when sown in the right season will its germination rate be high and will it be able to grow quickly!
Now everyone knows whether verbena can be sown in summer! For verbena, besides its sowing time that we need to understand, we also need to know some precautions for sowing. So what are the precautions when sowing verbena? Keep reading and take a look!
[Image] Verbena sowing methods, how to grow verbena seeds
Verbena is not afraid of heat, not afraid of cold, blooms often, comes in a great many colors, blooms profusely easily, and is a rare gem among flowers. However, the pitiful germination rate of verbena sowing has always made beginners and experts alike shrink back. Although cuttings can propagate very quickly, getting new flower colors still depends on sowing verbena. Below, let's look at the seed sowing method for verbena and the practical sowing experience of flower enthusiasts.
How to grow verbena seeds 1. Preparation of verbena planting and sowing toolsPrepare flower pots, verbena seeds, soil, gardening tools, a watering can, etc.
2. Steps of the verbena seed sowing methoda. Prepare the verbena seeds. In fact, there is no need to specifically buy them. If you see some planted in a nearby flowerbed or at a friend's home, just pick some seeds from them. They are relatively fresh and very convenient. But a reminder: everyone can try sowing verbena, but it cannot be guaranteed to germinate smoothly every time. The reason will be mentioned later.
b. Before sowing, it is best to keep them away from light and soak them in warm water for 24 hours. The sowing time is generally spring or autumn, and the best germination temperature is around 20 degrees. Its growing temperature is 16 degrees. Prepare a flower pot and soil. For the soil, it is best to use peat soil with coarse sand added, leaf mold, etc. After sowing the seeds, do not cover them with too much soil.
c. Be mentally prepared, because its germination rate is not high, possibly only around 50%. So when many flower enthusiasts say that after sowing there is either no germination at all, or very few sprouts, perhaps only one or two out of ten seeds germinate, this is also normal. So later another propagation method will also be introduced to everyone.
d. In summer it grows relatively slowly, but it will still bloom. At this time, it can be placed on the side of the balcony. Although it usually likes sunlight very much, if slightly shaded, the leaves will look even more emerald green and beautiful. Because summer temperatures are high, remember to water frequently.
e. In the rainy season it will bloom less, so do not let the soil in the flower pot become waterlogged. If there is too much standing water and drainage is poor, it is easy for the roots to rot. So pay attention to placing it on the balcony, in a place where rain cannot reach. Usually, just keep the potting soil moist; if the air is humid, even better.
f. Usually, look at the soil in the pot. If it has become compacted, use a trowel to loosen the soil, making its soil soft and breathable and better for drainage. Then apply some organic fertilizer. This way it will bloom, or bloom more. In winter it is relatively cold-tolerant, and above zero degrees is no problem. Basically, here in central China, even when it snows, it will not be damaged by freezing when left outdoors.
How flower enthusiasts sow verbena seeds (experience section)1. First fill the plug tray with already very moist peat. After filling, I sprayed a small amount of water again, pressed lightly, and made the peat level.
2. Sprinkle on the verbena seeds. I did not treat them in any way. There were no conditions in the dormitory for cold stratification.
3. On top of the seeds, cover a thin layer of dry, unmoistened peat, completely covering the seeds, because verbena germination needs to avoid light.
4. Press the surface lightly, then gently spray water over it, just a tiny tiny bit! Do not use much! This bit of water is not to moisten the seeds, but to keep the layer of peat on top from being blown up by the wind.
5. Place in a shaded spot. No covering is needed, no moisture retention is needed. If you feel it is dry, spray a little water. Do not let it stay very moist all the time. This is the key point. Use "not dry" as the standard. Do not let it be damp, but also do not let it dry out completely...
6. Within about a week, the little seedlings will poke their heads out wearing their caps. At this time, more water spraying is needed, because high humidity makes it easier for them to shed the caps. If it is too dry at this time, the seedlings will get stuck inside and have difficulty shedding the caps. Once the caps fall off, they can be put in the sun. Once they germinate, it is a success. Verbena care is still very easy~ Give it more sun
Verbena sowing (lazy person's method)
Verbena is not afraid of heat, not afraid of cold, blooms often, comes in a great many colors, blooms profusely easily, and is a rare gem among flowers. However, the pitiful germination rate of verbena sowing has always made beginners and experts alike shrink back. Although cuttings can propagate very quickly, getting new flower colors still depends on sowing verbena.Before this, I had sown it 3 times. The first time, I direct-sowed it like other flowers, with a germination rate of 30%, which was rather sad. The second time, in the middle of summer, I germinated them on paper towels, and they all rotted... The third time, I germinated them on paper towels, cold stratified them, and more sprouted, around 70%, but after being put into soil, for some unknown reason half of them rotted again, and the germination rate still stabilized at 30%..
PS: These three times all used new seeds from that year. Old seeds can be given up on..... Their germination is poor to begin with, and old ones are even..... So I resolutely gave up.
After looking up relevant materials in the library, I found that verbena seeds produce a substance that inhibits germination when they take in water, leading to a very low germination rate. After asking many flower enthusiasts on the forum, most succeeded under semi-dry, semi-moist conditions. The conclusion is that verbena sowing cannot be too moist, which is very different from sowing ordinary flowers and plants.
So this year I sowed verbena like this, still using seedling peat. The specific steps are as follows:
1. First fill the plug tray with already very moist peat. After filling, I sprayed a small amount of water again, pressed lightly, and made the peat level.
2. Sprinkle on the verbena seeds. I did not treat them in any way. There were no conditions in the dormitory for cold stratification.
3. On top of the seeds, cover a thin layer of dry, unmoistened peat, completely covering the seeds, because verbena germination needs to avoid light.
4. Press the surface lightly, then gently spray water over it, just a tiny tiny bit! Do not use much! This bit of water is not to moisten the seeds, but to keep the layer of peat on top from being blown up by the wind.
Place in a shaded spot. No covering is needed, no moisture retention is needed. If you feel it is dry, spray a little water. Do not let it stay very moist all the time. This is the key point. Use "not dry" as the standard. Do not let it be damp, but also do not let it dry out completely...
Within about a week, the little seedlings will poke their heads out wearing their caps. At this time, more water spraying is needed, because high humidity makes it easier for them to shed the caps. If it is too dry at this time, the seedlings will get stuck inside and have difficulty shedding the caps. Once the caps fall off, they can be put in the sun. Once they germinate, it is a success. Verbena care is still very easy~ Give it more sun, and do not let it become leggy!