Eleven Questions About Petunias, the answers to Which Every Florist Wants to Know

Surely many will agree with the statement that theory and practice are different things. Take at least the cultivation of petunias from seeds: when you read articles about crops, watering and fertilizing, everything seems to be clear, detailed and understandable. And when you go to practice, the situation immediately changes: one thing is unclear, the other you want to clarify. We decided to help Petunia lovers-so that they do not have to turn over dozens of articles, chose the most pressing questions and answered them!

If you are reading this article, surely you have a question about petunias. We hope he was included in this collection!

Question 1:is it possible in may to sow petunias immediately in the open?

The simplest varieties of garden Petunia can be sown not only in may, but also in the winter – the plant reproduces perfectly by self-seeding. With modern hybrids, such a focus will not pass – they are more capricious, demanding to the conditions of detention, especially in the seedling age.

Judge for yourself whether it is possible to provide pampered hybrids such conditions in the open:

• sowing surface, at least to a depth of 1-2 mm;
• until the emergence of shoots temperatures must be within +23…+25°C, as soon as the sprouts appeared, it is desirable to reduce it to +18…+20°C and +15°C at night;
• constant soil moisture. Drying Petunia can not stand, young seedlings can die in a matter of hours. But waterlogging is undesirable, otherwise all kinds of rot can not be avoided. If the first condition can be contrived to perform, then what to do if the rains charge?

Even if at the cost of your considerable efforts petunias have grown in the open ground, calculate how much time they will delight you with flowering, if the first flower appears after 55-80 days (depending on the species, growing conditions, intensity of pinching, fertilizing and so on) after sowing.

Question 2: when it is necessary to sow Petunia that it blossomed in April-may?

It is impossible to answer unequivocally: the conditions for growing seedlings are different for everyone (lighting, temperature, fertilizing — everything matters for the development of plants!).

I think the Petunia seed test results would be the best answer. The reports describe in detail the growing conditions (can be compared with their own), the dates of sowing and the appearance of the first flower in various hybrids. At the same time, you can read the comments – they also have a lot of useful information from gardeners who do not participate in the testing, but petunias are grown not for the first year.

Question 3: how long should we wait for shoots?

Noticed: if the shoots did not appear for two weeks – longer sense to wait no. Belated sprouts may appear 30 days after sowing, but they still will not be of any use: the plants will definitely lag behind in growth and development, worse to bloom.

If the pathogen appears in the flower garden, strong healthy plants will be able to repel the enemy, and “those that are not very” will necessarily fall into the list of his victims. Where there to resist the enemy, they have barely enough strength just to exist.

Question 4: how to slow down the growth of seedlings?

There are several ways: the easiest – transshipment in a large capacity. The second is also simple, but not available to all: to make seedlings in the cold (corridor, greenhouse, greenhouse – any place where the temperature does not rise above +10…+15°C).

The third way I personally do not like, but sometimes you can not do without chemistry – use growth regulators.

Question 5: quickly dries up the soil in street pots with petunias. What to do?

When planting, add hydrogel, perlite or vermiculite to the soil, mulch the soil. If possible, pull over the flowerpots shading grid.

From personal experience can say, that in some places summer none of listed ways – not the exit. Yes, the earth in pots will not crack in dust in a day, but it is necessary to water unambiguously in the morning and in the evening. How else, if the temperature in the shade rolls over +40°C and the wind is bursting with heat all day, as if someone forgot to turn off a giant hair dryer? How not to water it for weeks if the night temperature does not fall below +28°C?! Well, where it’s cooler, of course, all these little tricks will work.

Question 6: what and when to feed Petunia?

Petunias fertilize constantly, starting with the seedling age: from the moment of appearance of the second real leaf, 2 weeks after picking in a separate container.

For the first feedings will approach the solution of complex fertilizers or NPK. Before the appearance of Petunia buds should increase as much as possible the green mass, so the fertilizer must be nitrogen. With the beginning of flowering pass to fertilizing phosphorus-potassium preparations.

Question 7:how to pinch petunias?

I hasten to please those who do not really like to carry out this procedure (well, sorry for the flower) – modern shrub varieties in pinching do not need and vengeance overgrown side shoots without our participation. Basket aimed at growing long shoots, so the side to give in no hurry-that they can help a little. Some common strict rules topping petunias I could not be found, the opinions of growers on this account different.. But most still recommend removing the top of the shoot over 5-6 sheets.

Question 8: why do petunias turn yellow leaves?

Most likely the plant does not absorb iron, as a result – chlorosis. The reason may be overflow (excessive soil moisture does not allow the roots to fully absorb nutrients), watering with hard water (calcium accumulates quickly in the soil, it latches).

It is possible that Petunia uncomfortable because of the heat, and it may be that she is just hungry!

Question 9: why did Petunia stop blooming?

The most likely reason – not cut faded stems: the plant tends to tie the seeds (even hybrids try, though they do not work) to the detriment of flowering.

Another possible reason – lack of nutrition, that is, exhausted soil resources, no or insufficient fertilizing. Or your Petunia lacks light: life in the semi-darkness, too, will affect the flowering is not the best way.

Question 10: why does Petunia stretch out and not Bush?

Perhaps this is its biological feature-not all Basket petunias tend to get side shoots. Or the plant is sorely lacking in light.

Question 11: how to propagate Petunia cuttings?

You can root the cuttings in the ground:

• cuttings are cut from the mother plant;
• the lower leaves are removed completely, the upper cut to a third or half – so the cuttings will be easier to take root. The cut of the stem (you can first dip it in water) is powdered with a root formation stimulant, planted in a greenhouse;
• ventilation begins after 7-9 days, gradually accustoming rooted cuttings to the new conditions of detention.

And even cuttings of petunias good form and building up roots in a solution of rooting stimulant.

Well, have you found the answer to your question? If not-ask it in the comments, we will look together!