Instead of making your florist richer this year, give your own home-grown flowers for Valentine's Day.
Of all the days of the year, Valentine's Day is probably the holiday most associated with flowers. Why pay high prices for impersonal, florist-delivered blooms when you can grow your own? Home-grown flowers will far outlast the cut variety and continue showing your love throughout the spring and summer!
A big-impact project such as growing flowers for a special occasion takes some consideration. You will need to allow for these 4 P's as steps in your project: Planning, Planting, Providing and Presentation.
Since they have a long blooming season and are easy to grow, a good choice for this Valentine's Day project is petunias. Petunias come in all the traditional Valentine colors of red and pink (such as Avalanche Red or Cherry), white (like Tidal Wave Silver), as well as some mixed color blooms (such as Razzle Dazzle).
Planning
Petunia seeds need time to germinate, so be sure to plan well ahead. Ten weeks before Valentine's Day, you will need to buy your materials and start the growing process. You will need:
* Petunia seed - Buy at your local garden store or order online. While there is a range of types and prices, better quality seed generally costs a bit more, but will produce better results. Multiflora or floribunda varieties will produce many flowers on compact, sturdy plants.
* Containers - Peat pots, made of peat moss and permeable, allow roots to grow directly through the planting container, making repotting easier when you are ready to transfer your seedlings to their presentation container.
* Potting soil mix - Buy a professional variety recommended for seedlings to get the best results. Some types have fertilizer already mixed in, eliminating the need for adding this yourself later on. Again, spending a bit more money on good potting soil will ensure better results.
* Watering materials - A few different tools for watering your plants at different stages will be helpful. In the beginning, you'll need a tub or tray large enough to hold you peat pots and about 2 inches of water. As your plants sprout and mature, a sprinkler watering can or mister spray bottle can be used for keeping the soil moist.
In addition, you need an indoor growing location, preferably with fluorescent lights, since mid-November is rather frosty in most areas of the United States.
Planting
When the time arrives to sow your seeds, fill your peat pots with moist potting mix. Petunia seeds are very tiny, so take care to spread them evenly. Since you will want 4-6 mature plants to fill your container, plant seeds in at least 12 peat pots to ensure a good selection as Valentine's Day nears.
Press the seeds down lightly on top of the potting mix, but don't cover them with soil. This will allow them to get the light they need to sprout. So that your seeds aren't disturbed, water them from underneath by soaking the peat pots in a tray of water. Be sure to keep the soil moist. Your petunia seedlings should germinate in 7 to 15 days. To help your seedlings along, put them under fluorescent lights for 12 hours daily. This mimics the light conditions they would get outside.
Providing
One to two weeks after planting, you will see the petunia seedlings appear. Thin (or remove) weaker seedlings to make room for stronger seedlings to grow. Make sure they get plenty of light daily, and keep the soil moist but not wet as they grow. Sun, food and good drainage are the keys to keeping petunias happy.
Presentation
As the long-awaited occasion nears, choose a pretty pot in which to display your gardening handiwork. Buy an enameled, ceramic pot in a pattern Mom or Grandma would enjoy, or paint your own name, message or design on a terracotta version. Choose the healthiest of your plants to fill the pot. Four mature petunia plants need a planter that is at least 12 inches in diameter. For more plants, you'll need a larger pot.
Fill the pot with potting soil until the petunias can be placed inside with the base of the plants about 1 inch below the rim. Place the petunias inside, spacing them evenly, and fill in the spaces with more soil. Tie a beautiful ribbon around the outside and your gift is ready to give!
After Valentine's Day, the seeds can be transplanted outside when it is warm enough in your area. Wait until soil temperatures are stable and above 60 degrees, and choose a spot that gets full sun to enjoy a bounty of blooms throughout the spring and summer!
