Datura seed germination tips

Datura is a lovely flower that can be grown in pots for the patio or in the ground. It also is known as angel's trumpet, datura is not a commonly grown plant, mostly because eating any part of the plant can be deadly, so plant with caution, and you have to keep the seeds in a safe place. In some places, datura has become naturalized as it reseeds itself under the right conditions. In cold climates, datura is grown as an annual.



BENEFITS OF DATURA

1. Datura helps to heal spasmodic disorders and dealing with respiratory disorders, especially asthma. The leaves, seeds, and root of this plant have medicinal value.

2. Moreover, datura has been traditionally used for religious visionary purposes. It is also used as a hallucinogenic and intoxicant.

3.Datura is used as poison because of the presence of alkaloids such as histamine, and atropine.

4. The growing datura plant acts as insect repellent thereby protects other plants from insects.

5.The juice of datura plant is applied over the scalp to treat hair fall, hair loss and dandruff.



FLOWER SPECIFICATION

Light: Datura does best in full or close to full sun.

Water: Regular watering during the growing season

Fertilizer: Feed weekly with a weak liquid fertilizer that encourages blooming

Soil: L0ight, fast-draining potting soil is perfect. You can use fortified soils.

Temperature: Ambient temperature at about 70° F (21° C).




GERMINATION GUIDE

Any type of potting soil or seed starting medium will do, but using a soilless mix will help prevent fungal diseases such as damping off. Keeping the air around the seeds very moist until they germinate will result in higher germination rates. Placing the pots in a tray with a clear plastic cover or in a clear plastic bag and then closing it tightly will increase humidity. Open the bag or remove the cover as soon as the seedlings germinate. The seeds germinate fastest at temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Datura germination is erratic and can take anywhere from one to six weeks.

Step 1

Use a flat seedling tray and its deep will be 5 centimetres. Make sure you have plenty of holes in it for good water drainage.

Step 2

As the seeds are perfect in size then you can put the seeds over it by 1/3 after that cover the seeds with seedling mix only about 1 cm (one centimetre)

Step 3

Take equal quantity of sand, soil and vermicompost. Then mix all the three ingredients into one container.

Step 4

Sprinkle diluted fungicide water (2gm in 1-litre water) after sowing the seeds.We have to care about putting the seed because seeds will not go deep into the mixture.

Step 5

Thereafter spread the Datura seeds on the mixture. If your seeds are so tiny then you can spread water very lightly and carefully on the seed.Make sure that the water must be mixed with diluted fungicide powder.It is very important to notice to follow that the seeds will not to go very deep inside the mixture by speeding water on the seed if it happens then the fertilization of the seeds become difficult.

Step 6

Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a dimly lit area of the house. Lift the plastic daily to check that the soil is moist. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic. Expect germination within three to five days.

Step 7

Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area over a two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight.

Step 8

Minimum warm, above 60ºF (15.5ºC), is needed inside the container and it should be placed in the sunny area.After that, the whole thing should be covered with a poly bag and after 21 days later the plastic can be removed.

Step 9

watering can as it is required. place the container in a semi shaded place. Datura needs a proper sunny area to germinate it.


















GERMINATION CARE

After the seedlings germinate, they can relocate to a sunny south- or west-facing window. The soil is kept moist at all times, but not allowed to get soggy. Once the seedlings have three true leaves, they are fed every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. Pinching out the growth tips isn't necessary.




WARNING

Datura leaves and flowers contain toxic alkaloids and should not be planted where they may be consumed by children.