You don't have to buy student flowers in advance at the hardware store, as you can easily collect the seeds yourself. In gardening stores you can also get seeds for unusual marigold varieties that germinate excellently and quickly grow into strong young plants. Since the Tagetes is a light germinator, there are a few important points to consider so that the seeds sprout reliably.
How do you sow marigolds as a light germinator?
The sowing of Tagetes is done as a light germinator by covering the seeds very thinly with soil and placing them in a warm, bright location. After 1-2 weeks, the cotyledons should appear and the plants can be pricked with two pairs of leaves.
What are light germinators?
All plants whose seeds only germinate under the influence of light are known as light germinators. The seeds must therefore not be covered with substrate or only covered very thinly.
Sowing student flowers
You will need these tools:
- Flower pots or growing trays
- Special potting soil
- A sprayer filled with water
- Transparent plastic bags or a growing cover
- Tagetes seeds
Now it's time to sow:
- Pour the potting soil into the container and press it down lightly.
- Use the spray bottle to moisten the soil but do not soak it.
- Spread marigold seeds and press carefully.
- Spray with a little water. Make sure that the tiny seeds are not washed away.
- Cover the container with the hood or plastic bag to create an artificial greenhouse climate.
- The ideal location is a warm, bright but not full sun spot on the windowsill.
- Ventilate daily to prevent the formation of mold and rot.
Under these conditions, the cotyledons appear after just one to two weeks. Once the small marigold plants have formed the second pair of leaves, the seedlings must be separated
Pricking marigolds
The densely sown marigold flowers must be pricked out so that each plant has enough root space. If you refrain from separating, only the strongest seedlings will prevail.
You will need:
- A wooden or special piercing stick
- Many small flower pots
- Potting soil mixed with sand.
- A sprayer with water
- Fill pots with substrate, press down.
- Moisten the soil.
- Press a hole in the substrate with the pricking stick.
- Carefully lift the marigold plants out of the cultivation container with the pricking stick.
- Insert the plants and press the soil carefully so as not to damage the sensitive roots.
- Wet again with the sprayer.
Since the marigold is quite sensitive to frost, the small plants may only be transplanted outdoors when there is no longer any risk of subsequent frosts.
Tip
Slowly get the marigolds used to the changed conditions and initially only place the flower pots with the young plants on the balcony or terrace during the day.
