Petunias Info and Care

Petunias are very popular among gardeners. They have a gorgeous, full bloom and a long flowering period. These beautiful flowers come in many colors ranging from white, yellow, pink, purple, red, and blue. Not only that, but they come in many different patterns, so you’ll have a large variety of aesthetics to choose from!

Not only can this flower be planted in your garden, but is also the perfect flower to plant in hanging baskets or borders. It’ll surely add a pop of color to your life. However, nothing comes without effort, right?

To get the most beautiful and humongous blooms from your petunia, you’ll have to put in some time and energy. Even though this flower isn’t hard to care for, there are certain care techniques that you can use to ensure a healthy and happy plant.

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Types of Petunias

Petunias are divided into five types and each one has its own qualities. Let’s get into each of them one by one.

Multiflora Petunias

This group of petunias is known for its ability to tolerate wet conditions. It’s a perfect choice if you live in a rainy area. Multiflora petunias have smaller flowers, but the plant is filled with them. They’re most ideal for summer bedding or a mixed border.

Grandiflora Petunias

This plant has very large flowers, with large, glorious blooms. The best place to plant them is in hanging baskets and containers because rain can cause them damage. They might not be the ideal annual plant for you if you live in an area with hot, humid summers.

Floribundas Petunias

Their blooms can be called medium-sized. They are a middle point, between Grandiflora and Multiflora petunias.

Millifloras Petunias

These are the smallest flowers in the market, with a maximum bloom of 1 ¼ inch. They’ll light up any space, and will last you the whole season.

Outsidepride 500 Seeds Annual Petunia Multiflora Veined Flower Seeds for Planting

Growing in USDA Zones 3 - 8 as an annual flowering plant, Petunias are one of the most popular and well-known flowers that grace flower beds and borders, window boxes, hanging baskets, and planters of all shapes and sizes. Their brilliant color and long bloom season make them very rewarding to grow..
They prefer full sun to partial shade, rich well-drained soil, and an occasional trimming of spent blooms will encourage a continuous, full display of color. In frost-free zones, Petunias are perfect for fall and winter color, but in most zones, Petunias are grown for spring, summer and fall color.
This variety, Petunia Multiflora F2 Veined, is a mix of colors with all the blooms having darker colored veins. They are so pretty! Start the seed indoors 4 – 6 weeks before the last expected frost.
Press the seed into the soil but do not cover it. Keep the seed moist. With a temperature of 70F, germination normally occurs within 14 days. Transplant the Petunias outdoors after danger of frost has passed and space them 12 inches apart.
Sowing Rate: 2 - 3 seeds per plant to grow these 10 inch beautiful petunia plants.

Spreading Petunias

If you’re looking for a flower to put in hanging baskets or windows, these will be the perfect fit for you. These flowers form a beautiful and colorful groundcover as the flowers cover the whole stem. They are low-growing and can spread up to 3 to 4 feet.

Planting The Petunias

Now that you’ve picked the type of petunia you want, it’s time to know everything about planting them. Planting petunias is really simple, but a small error can cause major damage. So try sticking by the following instructions and you’ll be good to go!

When?

If you’re going to grow your petunia from seeds, you should start growing them indoors. It’s easier to control the temperature and humidity indoors. Sow the seeds 8-10 weeks prior to your last spring frost date. This makes sure that by the time the plant will reach a stable stage, there will be no signs of frost.

After transplanting them outdoor, keep an eye on the weather forecast and protect them from frost. These young plants are extremely sensitive and drastic changes in the weather can damage them.

Where?

Petunias have only a few requirements, so keep them in mind when deciding on a location. They need full sun, well-drained soil, and nutrients. So look for a spot with full sun exposure and soil that doesn’t stay wet. Make sure that the soil is fertilized and if it isn’t, try soil amendment using compost before planting.

How?

Plant the seeds in a small pot and put them in a spot where they receive the full, bright sun. Petunia seeds are very small, so they need a lot of sunlight to germinate. When the plant has three leaves in a pot, transplant it into your garden.

Keep in mind that the plants need to be spaced one foot apart. This will ensure that the roots have enough space to grow.

Tips For Caring For Petunias

To make sure that your petunias are as healthy as possible, you’ll have to take proper care of them. The following are some tips that will give you a healthy plant.

Water your petunias once a week.
Petunias thrive in full sunlight, so plant them where they’ll have that. If you’re planting them in a pot, put them near the window.
Prepare the soil before planting petunias. Make sure that the soil is well-composted with organic matter.
Fertilize the soil regularly. Water-soluble fertilizers, that are specifically designed for blooming flowers will be great for petunias.
Deadheading is an important part of the petunia flower’s care routine. It is a technique where the owner has to remove spent flowers from the plant. This will help the plant focus on producing more flowers, instead of seeding.
Try to avoid wetting the foliage and flowers, because this can lead to diseases in your plant.

Pruning Petunias

Petunias have the tendency to get leggy by midsummer. They start to produce blossoms at the end of their stems, making them appear skeleton-like. This happens to many flowers. The only way to cure this is pruning.

Pruning is a technique where the overgrown stems of a bush, plant, or tree are trimmed away. This increases growth and promotes blooming. In petunias, it is recommended to prune the shoots back to half their length when they appear lifeless.

Water the plants well and fertilize the soil after pruning. This will help the plant to grow new flowers and create gorgeous blooms.

Conclusion

Petunias are beautiful flowers and they easily add a burst of color to your garden. There are many things to consider before planting a petunia plant.

Which type of petunia do you want?
Are you willing to take out time to care for the plant?
Is your area compatible with the petunia’s growth?
Where will you plant it?

When you have an answer to all these questions, you’re good to go. There are many ways to take care of your petunia plant, and doing so will ensure a gorgeous bloom.

Hopefully, this was helpful and answered all your questions about petunias. If you have any more queries, comment them down below and we’ll get back to you!

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