There are two ways of multiplying petunia - seeds and cuttings. The second, vegetative variant, is used mainly for terry rare varieties and for breeding hybrids that do not yield seeds. In this case, this method is even simpler than seed, since the adhesion of cuttings is almost equal to 100%.
Time of conduction of cuttings
Reproduction of petunia by cuttings is best done in the spring, although this can be done at any other time of the year. Just in the spring period, for young plants, natural conditions are created for increasing lush foliage and tying a large number of buds. But in the rest of the time the seedlings will have to be lightened, moreover, following a certain temperature regime.
To cut the petunia in the spring, it will be necessary in the summer to take care of the wintering of the uterine plant. For this, in August, a petunia bush is dug out, with a large earthen lump being transplanted into a pot and left in the fresh air until it freezes.
After that, in autumn the plant is brought into a cool room, where the temperature will be from 11 to 15 ° C. In this case, the bush will have enough natural light. If you do not manage to keep the petunia in the cool, you can safely put it on the sunny windowsill. Watering is not often done - as the soil dries out.
In spring, around February-March, you can start cutting. Everything depends on the region and its temperature regime at this time. The plant blooms after two months after cutting the cuttings and, on the basis of this, cut into seedlings.
How to cut cuttings of petunia
For the reproduction of petunias by cuttings, not the apical shoots but the root shoots or the lower branches are chosen. The stalk should have 3-4 internodes. Leaves, except for the upper ones, are removed, and those that remain are cut halfway, so that the plant maximizes its efforts to build up the root system.
It is possible to propagate petunia with cuttings in water or directly in the soil. The second option is more practical and reduces the likelihood of fungal disease in young plants, so it is used more often.
Planting and caring for young plants
Seedling requires a loose nutrient soil, which is pre-spilled by Phytosporin or a similar agent. The drop is deepened into the earth by one interstice and covered with a transparent film. Every day, the greenhouse needs to be ventilated, removing excess moisture, and spraying the soil. Regularly every two weeks, fertilizing plants.
As a rule, roots appear on the tenth day, and the stem begins to develop. Two months later, these are small bushes, which can be used to make the first clothespin, stimulating the development of lateral shoots. Once the warm weather is established, the plants are ready for transplanting into the ground or in ampelnye pots.