Care and cultivation of petunias at home, TOP 7 varieties and their planting

Petunia decorate balconies, terraces, garden. Its exuberant flowering always attracts the attention of others. Breeders have bred many varieties and varieties of crops. Growing and caring for petunia is accessible to all growers. Also, a description and characteristics of the plant, information on the rules for sowing seeds for seedlings, as well as the cultivation of crops in the open field and in pots.

Description and characteristics of the plant

The petunia is an annual herbaceous plant. Shoots, depending on the variety, reach 15-120 centimeters. They can be straight or creeping.Oval leaves are green, pubescent on the surface. Since May, single flowers form on the shoots.

Buds can be single, double, fringed. The color of the petals is varied: white, pink, purple, blue, purple. In addition, the buds can be two-tone: with a star in the middle or with a contrasting color border. With proper care, petunia can grow buds all summer long. After the flowers dry, a box with seeds is formed.

Main varieties

Large-flowered, multi-flowered, ampelous, and dwarf petunias are popular among gardeners.

large-flowered

This type of culture is also known as grandiflora. Large flowers up to 12 centimeters in diameter grow on the shoots. The petunia is best kept on a terrace or balcony, as it does not tolerate bad weather. The best known varieties: Sonata, Pink Sky, Pikoti.

Multi-flowers

Such a petunia has smaller flowers, but much more grow on the bush. Buds of different colors form until frost. Bushes are unpretentious: they can be grown both in a container and in the open field. The most popular varieties: Mirage, Fantasy, Snow Globe, Duo Summer.

Ampelny

Ampelous petunia shoots are 30-120 centimeters long. The color palette is varied. The buds can be one or two colors. Plants with drooping branches decorate the terrace, balcony, loggia. The following varieties are popular: Black Velvet, Snow Queen, Mashenka.

Dwarf

Petunias, the shoots of which do not exceed a height of 15 centimeters, are classified as a dwarf variety. Flowers can be of different shapes and colors. The dwarf petunia is used as an edging plant in the garden, and also as a potted plant on the windowsill.

Popular varieties

Breeders have bred many varieties of petunias. The most popular are:

Milleflora

This is the name of a petunia with very small flowers. The diameter of the flower buds does not exceed 4 centimeters. The advantages of cultivation include long flowering, unpretentious to the conditions of detention. The bushes come with undersized, hanging shoots. Popular: Baby Gioconda Blue, Picobella Rose Star, Picobella Mix.

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Grandiflora

This is the second name of the large-flowered petunia. Buds up to 12 centimeters in diameter are single or double. The petals are regular or wavy. They place high demands on content, so they are grown in a sheltered location. Popular varieties: Pink Ocean F1, Double Cascade Burgundy F1, Lemon and Blueberry F1.

Sulphinium

This variety of petunia has a high growth rate and branching of shoots. The bushes are tall, resistant to adverse weather conditions. Shoots reach a length of 2 meters. Surfinia reproduces only vegetatively. Popular varieties: yellow, velvet blue, burgundy, hot pink, tumbelina Suzanne.

cherry

The Cherry F1 trailing petunia belongs to the Tidel Wave series of ampelous petunias. The height of the bush is 50-55 centimeters. The diameter of bright red flowers is 5-6 centimeters. The variety is resistant to adverse climatic conditions. Bushes can be planted both in the open ground and in a container.

Rambling

Ampel petunia Ramblin F1 has a bright color of buds. Culture petals can be colored blue, pink, peach. The plant can be used to decorate flower beds, loggias, terraces. The best known varieties: Sky Blue, Neon Rose, Burgundy Chrome, Salmon Capri.

Typhoon

It is a representative of ampelous petunias. They are distinguished by strong shoots and long flowering. The popular variety is Silver with white-pink buds, Red Vellyur with inflorescences, the petals of which are colored red.

Pink

Petunia Rose has a bright and long bloom. Its many funnel-shaped buds are pink in color. An unpretentious variety can multiply on the site by self-seeding. A delicate aroma emanates from the bushes during the flowering period.

Sowing rules for seedlings

If a gardener wants to see friendly petunia shoots, he should purchase planting material from trusted sellers. Since petunia seeds are very small, they cannot be buried in the ground.

How to choose the right planting material

Petunia seeds from different manufacturers can vary in quality. Therefore, before buying, it is advisable to search for reviews of each company on the forums. Seed bags should be dated with expiration dates. If the gardener buys outdated planting material, he cannot wait for the shoots.

Selection and preparation of containers and soil

For growing seedlings, a box with low sides is selected. It can be wooden or plastic, but always with holes made in the bottom to drain water. The substrate is selected light, breathable and permeable. It can be made independently by mixing turf or leafy soil, humus, peat, sand.

Direct landing

Seeds are sown in late February or early March. The procedure is as follows:

• the container is filled with a light and loose substrate;
• seeds mixed with sand are spread on the surface;
• sprayed with water from a spray bottle;
• cover with glass or transparent film;
• a box with cultures is kept in a room at a temperature of 22-24 ° C.

Every day, the lining material is removed, condensation is removed from it and the walls of the container. This will prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases.

Rules for caring for seedlings at home

In order for the seedlings to grow amicably, and then develop rapidly, they must provide the necessary conditions, correctly apply agrotechnical measures.

Lighting

The duration of daylight hours in the room where the seedlings are grown should be at least 16 hours. With a lack of lighting, phytolamps are used. Otherwise, the seedlings will be attracted to the light. The stem will become elongated, thin. In addition, good lighting promotes the formation of flower buds.

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Temperature regime

The seed boxes are kept at a temperature of 22-24°C until the seedlings hatch. After their appearance amicably, the temperature is lowered to 18°C. The room should be aired daily by opening the window several times a day for 15-20 minutes.

watering

The first watering of petunias is after germination. They irrigate the soil under the bushes pointwise, trying not to hit the stem and leaf plates. Water is used lukewarm, settled. The liquid should not stagnate, otherwise the bushes may marvel at the black paw.

Picking

Over time, there is little space for grown bushes in the box. They begin to fight over light and water. Therefore, when 4 true leaves appear on the plants, the plantings are thinned. Sampling is done as follows:

• the substrate in the container with the seedlings is moistened;
• loose earth is poured into small pots, deepening is carried out;
• each bush is gently lifted with tweezers;
• planting plants in new containers;
• lightly press the substrate, water the seedlings.

If necessary, transplanting can be redone by planting the petunia in larger pots.

Accompaniement

When 7 leaf plates are formed on the bush, the first pinching is carried out. It is necessary to simulate the growth of side shoots. After 25-30 days, the procedure is carried out again, pinching the developed branches. Thus, the decorative appearance of the petunia will be maintained.

To note! Petunias can be grown in special plastic seedling trays. If each seed is planted in a separate cell, there is no need to perform the picking procedure.

Alternative cultivation methods

Some growers sow the seeds not in a box, but in other types of containers.

In peat tablets

After a dive, the bushes suspend development for a while, as they need time to adapt. If the seed is planted in a peat tablet, this can be avoided. First, pour it abundantly with warm water so that it swells well. Then the seed is planted. When the bush grows, together with the shell, it is transplanted into a container.

Pot

Petunia can be grown in pots. A culture of different varieties with flowers of contrasting shades will look beautiful in one container. 2 bush petunia seeds or 3 bulbs are usually sown in a container. Plant pots with cascading whips are placed in hanging pots.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The bushes are planted in the spring, after the threat of recurrent frosts has passed. The procedure is as follows:

• abundantly water the bush in the pot;
• remove a hole of a suitable size;
• petunia plant, cover with a substrate;
• watered;
• the space around the bush is sprinkled with mulch.

If several bushes are planted, the distance between them should be at least 30 centimeters.

Outdoor Plant Care

Crop care consists of watering, feeding bushes, removing faded buds. To make the petunia bushy, the shoots are periodically pinched. To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, preventive treatments are carried out.

watering mode

Petunia grows a large number of flowering shoots. Therefore, it consumes a lot of water, especially when kept in pots. In dry, hot weather, the culture is watered in the morning and evening. The water is used well decanted.

top dresser

For the abundant flowering of petunias, feeding is necessary. Nitrogen is needed only in the spring to build green mass. Then a complex mineral fertilizer is used, in which phosphorus and potassium are in the first place. Top dressing is done every 10-14 days.

Remove buds after flowering

As the buds wilt and begin to dry out, the plant becomes less decorative. In addition, seeds can begin to form, which takes a lot of energy from the plant for its development. For these reasons, immediately after flowering, the buds of the petunia are removed.

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Training

Each grower can form a bush to his liking. To do this, you need to pinch the overgrown shoots. After that, the bush becomes spherical or ground, ampelous petunias will start branches in stages. In cold summers, to prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, the plants are thinned.

Accompaniement

This is one of the essential procedures used during petunia care.The first pinching is done even with seedlings. After that, the petunia begins to release side shoots. During the season, the procedure is carried out several times, pinching the side branches. When the bush begins to lose its decorative effect, it can be renewed by cutting off the shoots by a third of the length.

Loosening

After watering, the soil should be loosened. The agrotechnical method facilitates the access of water and air to the root system of the petunia. The procedure is carried out carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots. If the crop grows in the ground, remove the weeds growing around it.

Prevention of diseases and pests

In dry weather, a spider mite can settle on a petunia. Get rid of it by spraying an insecticide all over the bush. The same is true when attacked by aphids. Spraying can be done as a preventive measure. To prevent, as well as when diseases appear, fungicides are used.

Important! Weeds can carry harmful insects and pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, it must be removed from the circle of the trunk of the plant.

How to propagate petunia by cuttings

Not all crop varieties can be propagated by seed. Therefore, cuttings can be used. The procedure is as follows:

• cuttings are cut from the bush at an angle of 45 °, 5-8 centimeters long;
• the lower leaves are removed;
• the slices are dusted with a growth stimulant;
• cuttings are planted in containers filled with nutritious soil, watered;
• containers with landings are covered with a transparent film.

After about 2 weeks the cuttings will start to root. After that, the film is removed, the plants are treated normally.

Solve common problems

When growing seedlings, a florist may face some problems.

Seedling yellowing

Petunia leaves can change color with chlorosis. This is due to a lack of iron in the soil. The problem can be solved by spraying the bushes with the necessary substance. Another reason for yellowing of seedlings is excess moisture. The container should have holes to drain excess water. If the soil is acidic, the plants need to be transplanted urgently.

Twisting the foliage

There can be several reasons for the decline in the decorative appearance of petunias. The main ones are:

• dry air;
• lack of light;
• excess or lack of moisture in the soil;
• the presence of parasites and pathogenic microorganisms on the plant;
• lack of nutrients.

Having identified and corrected the causes of the problem, the florist will long admire the decorative appearance of his favorite plant.

Additional tips and tricks

Growing petunias is a fun process. Florists who have been growing it for a long time give the following tips and tricks:

1. Petunia seeds quickly lose their germination. Therefore, it is better to buy those that are in a package with a layer of polyethylene or foil.
2. Seeds should never be buried when sowing.
3. Water the potted petunia every day. If it is too hot, moisten the soil twice a day: in the morning and in the evening.
4. If a hydrogel is mixed into the soil, the moisture will last longer.
5. You need to add nutrients 30-40 minutes after watering.

Petunia is a beautiful plant that blooms spectacularly from early summer to late fall. If the florist correctly performs agrotechnical measures, the culture will delight him for a long time with its decorative appearance.