Godetia is a plant crop that is used to improve dacha areas and personal plots. Any novice gardener, whose knowledge about plants is kept to a minimum, can grow Godetia. To obtain a productive result, you will need to comply with sowing dates, rules for growing seedlings and subsequent care of Godetia.
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How to determine the sowing time of Godetia
Plant seeds are planted when warm days arrive. Small cold snaps are possible, which will only harden Godetia. In regions with a harsh climate, planting is carried out after the soil has completely warmed up and the air temperature has normalized. Flower crops are mainly planted in the spring, but some gardeners practice autumn planting in regions with warm climates.
Brief information about the plant
Godetia is one of the amazing plants that begin to bloom from the beginning of summer and continue to delight gardeners until mid-autumn, even when frost sets in. This extraordinary flower is simultaneously similar to an azalea, rose, petunia and bell, and also has a subtle, pleasant aroma.
Godetia owes its name to the Swiss botanist Godet, who was the first to study and classify the flower. Surprisingly, the plant is a relative of the well-known fireweed (Ivan-tea). Therefore, the places where this flower grows will suit Godetia’s taste.
Godetia varieties, which one is better to choose
Godetia grandiflora
Most often, gardeners grow two types of Godetia: Large-flowered and Pleasant. Large-flowered is distinguished by large inflorescences and a pink hue. This subspecies can reach a length of 30 cm. Popular varieties of Large-flowered Godetia are:
- Sweet summer.
- Memory
- Orange room.
Godetia Pleasant is distinguished by alternately arranged linear leaves. The height of the crop reaches 60 cm. The inflorescences themselves are of medium size and have a velvety surface of the petals. This subspecies blooms almost continuously from July to September. Popular varieties of Pleasant Godetia are Satin, Pink Grace.
Lovely
In appearance, this godetia fully corresponds to its name. Planting and caring for it are, again, usual for the species. You just need to take into account that the Lovely Godetia grows up to 60 cm, its bushes are slender but lush. Therefore, when planting, the flower must be given enough space. Its flowers are not very large, only 5-5.5 cm in diameter, but there are a lot of them on the bush, which always looks impressive. The petals are slightly widened along the edge, wavy or smooth, shiny. Their shades range from red to lilac. Godetia the Charming is good both in flower beds and in bouquets. It blooms until frost and produces a lot of seeds. Their germination lasts up to 3 years.
When to plant depending on the region
The timing of planting seeds to grow seedlings can vary significantly depending on what region of the country the gardener lives in.
In Moscow and Moscow region
In Moscow and the region, you can plant flowers in mid-late April, when the soil warms up to 15 degrees.
In the middle zone
In the regions of Central Russia, Godetia is planted for further cultivation in May-June.
In the Urals
Seed material is pre-planted in boxes in early March, and only after the soil has completely warmed up (by mid-June) is the crop transplanted into open ground for further cultivation.
In Siberia
In Siberian conditions, it is also prohibited to plant the plant directly in open ground. Initially, it is placed in small pots in mid-March, and then the crop is planted in open ground in May-June.
In the Leningrad region
When grown in the Leningrad region, Godetia can be planted in late April / early May.
Proper pruning
The tree hydrangea Anabel is beautiful, caring for it mainly involves proper pruning. This process must be approached responsibly. Improper pruning can completely destroy the beauty of the plant.
Young bushes should not be pruned until they are 4 years old. Starting from this period, branches need to be pruned in early spring. Cuts are made from the ends of the branches, retreating an average of 15 cm. Young shoots on an adult plant can be cut by a third. This is necessary for the formation of lush flowers. In the absence of pruning, the buds begin to become smaller over time.
Planting Godetia with seeds step by step
How to plant godetia seedlings when growing at home:
- Prepare and disinfect the container for sowing.
- Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the vessel and pour loose soil on top.
- Add a little sand on top and smooth it over the surface.
- Place the seeds in the ground.
- Sprinkle them with a small amount of soil.
IMPORTANT! To retain moisture and heat, the planting containers will need to be covered with plastic wrap.
Pests
Godetia is damaged by various insects gnawing leaf blades and shoots, such as:
- Slugs.
- Aphid.
- Fleas.
Aphid
Insecticides will help get rid of harmful insects. The following techniques will help you avoid insect attacks:
- Compliance with planting intervals prescribed by planting standards.
- Timely removal of weeds.
- Loosening the top layer of soil after watering.
- Planting nearby plants that repel pests, in particular, you can use marigolds and calendula.
Insecticides must be used in strict accordance with the instructions on the packaging.
How to plant Godetia in peat tablets?
To plant seeds in peat tablets you will need:
- Prepare a suitable large container. You need to focus on plastic vessels with high sides.
- Place peat tablets in a row at the bottom of the vessel.
- Pour some warm water to cover the bottom of the container.
- Leave the peat discs for 10 minutes to swell.
- Remove the tablets and discard the remaining water from the container.
- Place seed material one by one into the recess of the washer.
If the washers are small, you can use a toothpick to plant the seeds.
How to care for Godetia seedlings, what are the tricks?
Godetia seedlings require careful care. Therefore, the gardener will need to follow the rules of watering, fertilizing, and lighting.
The seeds of Godetia have sprouted, what to do next?
After the seeds germinate, you will need to monitor the lighting and watering of the crop. Seedlings should be stored in a well-lit place with an acceptable level of humidity. The gardener must take care that when growing the flower there are no strong drafts. Any exposure to cold air masses can lead to the death of the crop.
Watering should be regular but moderate. In order not to overdo it with water, it is recommended to use a spray bottle for these purposes. It will help not only nourish the root system, but also moisturize the stems and leaves of the plant. It is better to water the flower 3-4 times a week.
IMPORTANT! If the soil does not have time to dry out between irrigations, then it is better to skip 1-2 waterings and wait until it dries completely. Otherwise, the plant may be subject to rot.
How to feed Godetia seedlings?
It is worth feeding seedlings infrequently - 1-2 times a month. In the future, when growing flowers, when the flowering period begins, the frequency of procedures can be increased to 1 time in 10 days. The choice of fertilizer depends on the type of soil in which the crop grows. Most often, complex or mineral fertilizers are used.
Rules for picking Godetia
2 weeks after the first shoots of the plant appear, you can remove the plastic film. If the first leaves have already formed on the plant, you can start picking. To carry it out, you will need to prepare a soil mixture and a sterilized container. How to carry out the procedure step by step:
- Using a small shovel, place the seedlings on a flat surface.
- Separate seedlings that are entangled with each other.
- Trim the roots of Godetia by 2 cm. This procedure stimulates the growth of new shoots.
- Plant seedlings in larger containers.
During the process, the same soil composition is used as during planting.
Care
Godetia loves moderate watering with warm water up to the root of the bush, especially in hot weather.
For abundant flowering, it is advisable to feed the plants every 10–14 days with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer with microelements.
Suitable for godetia nitrophoska with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus, in the amount of 30 g of powder per bucket of water. The solution consumption rate is approximately 100 ml per plant.
Faded buds need to be removed - this will allow the plant not to waste energy on producing seeds. Under tall forms, you need to place supports in time to prevent the plants from falling over.
Tall plants are given additional support to which they are tied.
When to plant seedlings in open ground?
You can replant flowers in open soil after they have grown sufficiently and the ground has warmed up to 15-18 degrees. This is approximately May-June (for the Urals and Siberia). If the gardener has doubts about the readiness of the seedlings for transplanting, then you can measure its height using a ruler. If the readings exceed 6 cm, then it’s time to plant Godetia in a permanent place. If the stem height is still small, you should wait a few more weeks to replant.
For transplantation, choose a sunny area that is protected from drafts. It is recommended to plant the flower in places where weeds grow to a lesser extent. Otherwise, at the first rain, they will begin to grow abundantly and interfere with the full development of Godetia. Planting is carried out in previously prepared and loosened soil. It will also need to be mixed with sand and peat.
IMPORTANT! The owners will need to make small holes at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other, plant seedlings in them, compact the soil and water the plant generously.
Diseases
Godetia is not affected by viruses; all diseases have a fungal basis.
| Disease | Signs | Cause |
| Root rot | Plant wilting in constantly moist soil | Overmoistening of the soil during artificial irrigation |
| Rust | Stripes, spots, convex orange pads | Excessive watering, crowding |
| Downy mildew (downy mildew) | The appearance of angular drying spots on the leaves along with a white coating, shedding of buds | High humidity, watering with cold water, thickened plantings |
It is almost impossible to cure disease-affected godetia; all that remains is to remove the diseased plants.
Spraying with fungicides during budding will help prevent the disease.
Answers to constant questions
Below are the most popular questions from novice gardeners who decided to improve their plot with Godetia.
What soil should I buy for growing seedlings?
It is recommended to use ready-made flower soil combination kits, sold in hardware stores. You can also make your own mixture for planting. To do this, you need to combine loose soil with a mixture of peat and a small amount of sand. Mix all components and use as intended.
How can you stimulate seeds for further growth?
You can stimulate the seeds with ready-made solutions (for example, Energen for garden crops or potassium permanganate) or use organic means - ash, onion peel tincture, honey solution.
Why don't the seeds germinate?
Lack of growth indicates the following reasons:
- Incorrect landing technique.
- Lack of watering or excessive watering.
- Lack of fertilizing.
- Using unsuitable fertilizers.
- Lack of good lighting.
Also, poor seedling growth may indicate unsuitable soil for Godetia.
Why are seeds soaked?
Soaking is necessary to soften the outer shell of the seeds, remove essential oils (which slow down growth) and disinfect the planting material. There is no need to soak only those seeds that were purchased in stores. Most likely, they have already been processed at the enterprise.
How to harden Godetia?
Hardening is used 1-2 weeks before planting seedlings in open ground. To do this, you need to take it out into the open air every day, gradually increasing the amount of time spent in it.
What to do if Godetia seedlings do not grow?
It is necessary to loosen the soil and look at the condition of the stem. Perhaps it began to rot from excessive watering or, on the contrary, to dry out due to lack of moisture. You should also feed the plant with mineral fertilizer, which stimulates shoot growth. The reason may lie in the lack of light. Then you will need to move the pot for growing strong seedlings to a more illuminated part of the house.
Selecting container and soil
Godetia seeds are small, so they are usually sown in one box or other suitable container. Subsequently, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. The selected container should be wide and shallow. Make small holes in the bottom with a nail, awl or soldering iron to remove excess water. The soil for seedlings should:
- have a uniform structure;
- to be loose;
- contain nutrients.
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Purchased soil meets all these requirements, but sometimes, due to the large number of seedlings, summer residents are forced to save money, so they use garden soil. Its composition and structure can be improved by adding additives in the form of lowland peat, vermiculite, and coarse sand.
In addition, the soil will need to be disinfected by keeping it in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 90 °C, or 5 minutes in the microwave turned on at full power. A more labor-intensive method is to use a water bath.
