If the chess flower feels comfortable in its location, it often expands itself and forms dense carpets of flowers over the years. But you don't have to leave the sowing to nature and you can also propagate the plant yourself this way.
How to propagate checkerboard flowers by seeds?
To propagate checkerboard flowers by seed, harvest mature seeds from the plant and stratify them by cold germination by storing them in moist sand in the refrigerator for about 4-6 weeks. Then sow them in potting soil and finally put them outdoors.
Harvesting seeds
You can get the seeds of this attractive early bloomer in any well-stocked garden market. Alternatively, you can harvest them yourself. Allow the flower heads to fully ripen and then carefully remove them.
Sowing time
The optimal time for sowing is between August and February. Depending on the time of sowing, the small plants are further cared for indoors after germination and are not moved outdoors until the next autumn.
Stratification of the cold germinator
The checkerboard flower is a cold germinator, so the seeds must first be stratified. This means that the seeds must be exposed to cold stimuli before germinating.
Do the following:
- Fill a plastic bag with some damp sand.
- Put seeds in the bag and mix well.
- Leave in a warm place for a few days.
- Do not close the bag completely to prevent mold formation.
- Then place the bag in the refrigerator for four to six weeks.
- Do not put seeds in the freezer, it is too cold here.
Sowing
Since the fine roots of the seedlings are still very sensitive, it is recommended to use special growing soil (€6.00 on Amazon). Fill seed trays with the substrate and spread the sand-seed mixture over the surface of the soil. Since the chess flower is both a light and a dark germinator, it is sufficient to cover the seeds very thinly with soil. Then water well with a sprayer. Cover the seed trays with a hood or clear plastic bag to create a greenhouse environment. Don't forget to ventilate daily to prevent mold formation.
After sowing
Place the bowls in a bright but not full sunny place where temperatures are around twenty degrees.
Make sure that the seeds do not dry out. If necessary, water the small chess flowers carefully with a sprayer, but avoid waterlogging, which promotes rot.
Pricking
As soon as the small plants are about ten centimeters tall, they are separated. Continue to care for the small chess flowers in a protected place on the balcony or terrace until early autumn. Only then will the offspring be transplanted into the bed.
Tip
Checkerboard flowers can also be propagated by breeding bulbs. After the plant has grown its foliage, carefully dig up a bulb. You can now separate the tiny daughter bulbs from the mother bulb and reinsert them in another location.
