What factors affect the growth of flower seeds? These five points must be mastered

Seed quality problems

When buying flower seeds, pay attention to the production date and shelf life marked on the packaging bag. In addition, when buying seeds, you should have a basic understanding of them. Generally speaking, seeds sown in spring usually bloom in summer and autumn; seeds sown in autumn usually bloom in spring and summer, except for woody flowers. If the sowing period is reversed and there are no certain off-season cultivation conditions, it is difficult to achieve the expected flowering goal.

Inadequate seed treatment

Seeds that germinate easily can be treated by soaking. For example, scarlet sage seeds can be soaked in warm water at room temperature of 40°C for a full day and night, rinsed clean, and then sown. For hard seeds, such as asparagus fern, peony, orange jasmine, crape myrtle, and winter daphne, it is best to soak them in hot water at 40°C for about 48 hours before sowing them into potting soil, and they will sprout and grow after 20-30 days. For plants with a short dormancy period that germinate easily, such as pearl bush and redbud, soaking the seeds in warm water at 40°C-60°C for 24-48 hours allows them to be sown directly. Some flower seeds need a certain period of low-temperature treatment to promote after-ripening and break the dormancy of the seed embryo so they can germinate, such as lilac, wintersweet, and some herbaceous flowers sown in autumn. Some flowers have the characteristic of double dormancy of the radicle and hypocotyl, that is, their radicle needs to go through a high-temperature stage of 25°C-32°C for 1 to 2 months or longer before dormancy can be broken, such as the seeds of fringetree, viburnum, and Chinese peony.

Unreasonable sowing period

Seeds that are large, have a hard outer coat, or contain oil, such as the seeds of Chinese rose, rose, pomegranate, kumquat, and southern magnolia, are suitable for sowing in autumn. Seeds that are smaller and have a thin, loose outer coat, such as chrysanthemum, asparagus fern, garden balsam, crape myrtle, and Chinese trumpet creeper, are suitable for sowing in late spring. Seeds that need high temperatures to germinate should be sown promptly after maturity. For example, cyclamen, cineraria, and amaryllis should be sown in early summer.

Sowing quality problems

Flower sowing has two forms: open-field sowing and pot sowing. Both require loose, aerated soil with fine particles and good drainage. It is better to use fertile soil rich in humus and with moderate acidity and alkalinity, which is beneficial to seed emergence. Specific sowing methods include broadcast sowing, row sowing, and hole sowing. Before sowing, water thoroughly, and after sowing, cover with plastic film to prevent the soil from becoming too dry and affecting seed germination and emergence. The sowing depth is generally preferably 2.5 times the diameter of the flower seed.

Ignoring the influence of light

After flower seeds are sown, appropriate light can increase soil temperature and induce seed germination. It is especially important for seeds to break through the seed coat and put out roots and sprouts. This not only affects the seed emergence rate, but is also directly related to whether good, strong seedlings can be grown. Therefore, from sowing to the seedling transplanting stage, the light needs of flower growth should be met as much as possible, and the light intensity should be a gradual transition from shade to weak light and then to natural light.