Due to its unique adaptability to various soils, climates and cultivation conditions, petunia has become one of the most beloved crops for most landscapers and florists. It does not require special care,
planting petunias in the ground, containers, planters or balcony boxes occurs quickly and without any effort. It gives fragrant and bright cascades of flowers that delight us with all shades of the rainbow, from the first days of summer to the very frosts.
Petunia belongs to the family of nightshade, semi-shrub or grassy genus of perennials, it can be from 10 cm to 1 m high. Under natural conditions, grows in tropical regions of South America. It is mainly Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina. One of its species, Petunia parviflora, is also found in North America.
Petunia refers to heat-loving and
photophilous plants. It grows well in sunny open areas. But you need to know that large-flowered representatives are more thermophilic than small-flowered petunias, and may cease to bloom in cold damp weather. In the dry period, the plant requires abundant watering, but will suffer from stagnation of water. In order to have long flowering, petunia should be regularly fed. Start dressing a week after planting and do this until the month of August with an interval of 7-10 days. Complex fertilizers are great for plentiful flowering, especially if they contain potassium to a greater extent. Feeding
with humic and organic fertilizers (mullein infusion) gives the same result.
Planting of petunia in the ground at a permanent place occurs immediately after the completion of spring frost, the plants tolerate the transplant perfectly. In the middle lane of our country, this happens in May, usually in the second half.
And despite the thermophilic culture, its modern varieties calmly endure cooling, but only to positive low temperatures. This is especially true for the multiflora group. In the conditions of large cities, the planting of petunias in the ground begins in late April, meaning the already flowering seedlings.
It is best to plant seedlings in the evening or on cloudy days, after which the beds are spilled abundantly with water. The distance between the seedlings depends on the variety and type of planting. If it is a flower bed, then 15-20 cm for multi-flowered varieties, 20-25 cm for large-flowered varieties and at a distance of 25-30 cm, ampelous petunia is needed. Planting and care in containers, flowerpots, balcony drawers is somewhat different from soil planting. In them, the distance between the seedlings can be no more than 10 cm.
After seedlings are planted, soil around it should be mulched with humus or peat, this helps to preserve moisture in the soil and protects plants from possible frosts.
The planting of ampelous petunia and caliberhoa should take into account blowing winds that can severely damage plants. Therefore, for these varieties, places protected from the wind should be chosen. Usually for ampel petunias hanging baskets, balcony or window boxes are used. Especially they will look in combination with lobelia, verbena, ivy, zelenchuk, pelargonium and other ampelous plants. In flower beds, petunias look great with fuchsia, sweet peas, chlorophytum, lobularia, balsam, irises, pansies, tulips, hazel grouses and so on.
Whether petunias are planted in the ground, hanging flower pots or flowerpots - in any case, these flowers will be fun. Especially when there are a lot of them, and the flowers completely cover the shoots and leaves.