Balloon flower Germination ,Growing ,Care, Use and its Benefits.

Balloon flower is a native plant.It has many colours like pink, white, blue and many others.During the fall of frost, it is turned into golden color.It has beautiful fragrant that is why many butterflies attract with it. Balloon flower required full to partial shade.

SPECIFICATION OF BALLOON FLOWER


Season: Annual
USDA Zones: 3 - 10
Height: 12" - 18"
Bloom Season: Late Spring, and again in late summer
Bloom Color: Purple
Environment: Full sun
Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.8
Temperature: 75 - 80F
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days
Depth: 1/4 inch

Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 6- 8 inches

GERMINATION GUIDE

Most important: Avoid Rainy day or a cloudy weather for sowing the seeds.
You will definitely get nothing unless you wait for the bright sunny day and clear weather.

• Please check the forecast before sowing the seeds on the following website :
• http://www.msn.com/en-gb/weather?wealocations=wc:inxx0038
•  Select your Area
• Check the local weather. It will let you know whether forecast for about 7 days of your city

Use a flat seedling tray and its deep will be 10 centimetres, and fill seedling media ( OR Take equal quantity of sand, soil and vermicompost. Then mix all the three ingredients into one container.)  within 3/4  of the rim with a sterile potting soil or sieved vermicompost.

Fill the tray with diluted fungicide water (2gm in 1-litre water). Make sure you have plenty of holes in it for good water drainage. And  Allow the soil in the flat to absorb the water through the bottom drainage holes until the soil surface becomes moist.

Sow seeds on the soil surface apart 2 in. Press on the seeds lightly with your fingers so they are in full contact with the soil, but don't cover them with soil because they require light to germinate.

We have to care about putting the seed because seeds will not go deep into the mixture.  and set the flat inside.

Moist again with diluted fungicide water ensure the soil surface it's evenly moist. Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a 60 to 70 degree Fahrenheit location or in an artificial area of the house that receives indirect light to germinate.

Lift the plastic after two days  to check that the soil is moist or not. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic.

The Balloon flower usually sprouts within 14 to 21 days.Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area with six to eight hours of daily sunlight for two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight. Water the seedlings when the soil surface feels dry.

Transplant the Balloon flower outdoors or in a new pot when they are about 8 weeks old and about 4 to 6 inches tall. Plant at them 6 to 8 inches apart on the ready ground with same depth were they growing at previously.



FERTILIZING
Balloon are fast growers and heavy feeders and benefit from regular applications of fertilizer. Mature trees may require as much as 1/2 pound actual nitrogen per year. Apply fertilizer monthly, just prior to heavy pruning.


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.

LOCATION AND SOIL
Balloon loves the sunny and warm exposure. It is a tropical plant but very much adaptable to temperate climates with moderate winter, when grown on the ground.

For growing guava in pots choose a quality potting mix or make your own substrate using equal parts compost, sand, and soil.