Petunia - annual flower

In autumn and summer, balconies and front gardens of many gardeners are decorated with a surprisingly beautiful plant - petunia. With proper care, the annual flower is able to please the eye with its lush, bright buds for a long time.

general information

Petunia (flower) is by far the most popular annual. It is grown on almost all continents. Breeders around the world with great interest are creating more and more new species of this plant, each of which is unique and attractive in its own way. Petunia is a shrub plant that is grown indoors. Its inflorescences resemble a funnel. In shape and size, they are found large and small, simple and terry. The palette of colors is very wide - from white, light yellow, to rich red, purple and pink. Petunia is a flower that begins to bloom on 70 - 80 days after sowing. The buds develop about seven days.

Petunia flower. Growing

As a rule, seeds are sown in mid-March. Then in May-June it will already be possible to enjoy the bright buds. For this plant, you can use any soil, with the exception of alkaline and strongly acidic. At the same time, the earth should be loose, nutritious and well allow excess water to pass through. For planting, it is best to use humus, turf or leafy soil, sand and well-decomposed peat in equal proportions. Mix all components well and sift through a sieve. Moisten the soil, scatter seeds over the surface and sprinkle them with spray water. Sprinkle everything on top with a small amount of earth (2 mm).

Cover the pot with paper and periodically water it. Petunia (flower) feels great at a temperature of 20 degrees. The first week twice a day should be sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After seven days, you can start feeding the plant. First, it is better to use water-soluble fertilizers, and then growth stimulants can be purchased. However, they are recommended to be used no more than three times for the entire growing period. The flower "terry petunia" is best propagated by cuttings taken from queen cells, which in winter should be kept in greenhouses at a temperature of +10 degrees.

Care

Petunia is a rather whimsical plant. In order for the flower to feel comfortable, it is necessary to take into account some conditions of its maintenance. Petunia loves the light, so for planting it is best to choose open sunny areas. The flower needs abundant watering, especially in the summer season. Every ten days it is recommended to feed the petunia with organic fertilizers. Soil with weak or neutral acidity is best suited for planting. This plant loves warmth. When the temperature drops, it stops blooming. Due to the fact that petunia has very fragile shoots and delicate petals, it must be protected from rain and wind. Throughout the flowering period, dead buds should be removed. Thanks to this, new young flowers will appear faster.