Planting petunias is an easy way to add bursts of color to your landscape, either in garden beds or cascading in hanging baskets and window boxes. The petunias bloom very profusely and are available in almost all colors except blue. These flowers have broad, trumpet-shaped flowers and branched foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. Within the genus of these plants there is great diversity and most are sold as hybrids: simple and double flowers, ruffled and smooth petals, striped, veined and monochromatic flowers, mounding and cascading growth habits and even some with fragrance. Find out how to care for your beautiful, long-blooming petunias here - find the right location for them, etc.
Petunias are relatively easy to cultivate.The colorful flowersneed regular watering, pest control and mulch to thrive. They primarily bloom in the summer, but can also start blooming as early as spring and continue blooming into the fall until temperatures drop and frost occurs. Extreme summer heat can also cause a temporary interruption in flowering. Older petunia varieties usually need to have dead flowers removed to keep them blooming. Many newer varieties do not require petal removal, but still benefit from it to maximize their flowering.
Find the right location
When you plant petunias or hanging petunias, you should first choose the location carefully. Your beautiful flowers should receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. They like bright, direct, full sun - except in areas with very strong sunlight. They should also be protected from extreme weather conditions, for exampleby moving potted plantsin a protected area or by temporarily covering the garden beds.
Water these flowers regularly
Petunias require regular watering and feeding throughout the growing season (spring through fall). They have relatively shallow roots and depending on the planter and sun exposure, some plants may need to be watered daily. Check the soil and observe foliage health to determine the correct watering schedule for your plants. The soil should be moist after watering to a depth of 15 to 20 cm.
Caring for petunias: Which soil is suitable?
Petunias prefer light, fertile soil that offers good drainage. They tolerate a wide range of soil types as long as they are well-drained. They also like a slightly acidic pH value in the soil.
Caring for petunias: Fertilizing helps them
Successful petunia plants benefit from the occasional application of liquid fertilizer, either applied directly to the soil or sprayed in diluted form over the foliage. Fertilize your petunias or hanging petunias at the time of planting with a balanced fertilizer. It is also helpful tosome compost in the groundto incorporate. Then fertilize with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every two to three weeks from July until the flowers die back in the fall. Some of the spreading varieties require weekly fertilization, so pay attention to your plant's individual care needs.
Don't forget to mulch
Avoid a common care mistake by mulching your flowers in a timely manner. A good layer of mulch around your petunia plants will help protect the roots. This keeps the soil temperature even and saves water. Organic mulch also suppresses weeds and continually decomposes to provide plants with nutrients. Some good options for natural mulch include: wood chips, shredded bark, shredded leaves, and dried grass clippings.
How to prune petunias
To keep your plants looking their best, you should take some time to care for them. When planting young flowers, you should cut back the stems to encourage more branching and a fuller plant. How far you have to cut back depends on the plant. If it is a short, stocky seedling, it is sufficient to cut it back 2 – 3 cm or less. However, if it is lanky and has reached 15 cm, you can cut the trunk back by half. This makes the petunias bushier because the side stems develop more strongly.
Avoid mistakes: cut off flower heads
To promote flower formation, you should regularly cut off all dead flower heads, including the part that bears the flower. This will prevent your plant from going to seed. With this type of complete flower head removal, you can keep your plant alive and blooming all year round when you bring it indoors and in the winterkeep as a houseplant.
Fight the pests
Aphids area widespread pest, especially on young petunias. If you notice curly, sickly leaves or spot insects, make no mistake and remove the affected leaves or treat them with insecticidal soap. A chemical-free way to get the problem under control is to plant in a mixed culture.
* Important tip:
Although petuniasare easy to care for, they sometimes struggle to survive a particularly cold winter. They also don't cope well with frost. So leaving them outside in winter can prove to be a fatal decision. Be sure to avoid this mistake! If you anticipate severe weather conditions, consider planting your petunias in containers and keeping them indoors during the winter months.
