Petunias: How to Grow Them in Pots and in the Garden

They come in many colors and break up the monotony of greenery. They have an intense fragrance. Petunia is a plant that should never be missing from our gardens and balconies.

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how to grow petunias

HOW TO GROW PETUNIAS

It is a plant that should never be missing in our gardens, on the terrace and even simply on the balcony. And that's because the petunias, easy to grow, have several qualities that make them precious. They come with various colors which can enrich a balcony or even complete flowerbeds, gardens and terraces. They have a perfume Very intense and pleasant. They break the monotony of the greenery. Their flowering is prolonged, and it's no coincidence that they have always been cited in Romantic literature. But be careful: you must not step on them, so if space is not safe, then it is preferable to grow them in a pot.

Petunias are native to theSouth America where they were classified more than forty speciesThese flowers are characterised by very branched bushes, which have a height varying from 25 to 60 cm. Some of them have a prostrate shape and spread low over the Plot.

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PETUNIAS ORIGIN

Petunias are distant relatives of potatoes, tobacco, of the chili pepper and of the tomato and their name derives from the Portuguese term “petum” which in the Native American language “Tupi-Guaranì” means “tobacco”.

Le leaves They have a light down on the surface which makes them quite sticky to the touch and flowers They have a tubular shape that opens into a rather wide corolla.

Anyone who wants to grow petunias should know that these plants grow well in a temperate weather and in a soil whose temperature is never lower than 15%, because they are very afraid of frost. These are plants that love the Sun: in fact, an exposure of at least 8 hours a dayIf kept in too much shade, petunias may not flower at all.

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WHERE SHOULD PETUNIAS BE PLACED?

La cultivation It can happen in a pot or in the garden, but in both cases the Plot The chosen one must be soft and rich in organic substances.

If you grow them in a pot, get a deep one if you prefer the bush petunia; if you opt for that one instead cascade, a rectangular container will do the trick. At the bottom of the pot, place a bed of gravel and shards that will drain the water and then spread some topsoil, specifically for potted plants, mixed with garden soil. Start by buying a packet of seeds (which simply need to be covered with a thin layer of soil) or a small, already-grown seedling.

HOW TO SOW PETUNIAS

Sown between February and March, strictly indoors to allow the seedlings to grow in the warmth, preferably in a humid environment, until they reach a height of at least 10 cm.

When they are strong enough, you can transfer the petunias to garden or transplant them into a larger pot with fertilized soil, taking care to remove any dried and withered flowers, which hinder the plant's further growth.

SOIL AND WATERING OF PETUNIAS

Fertilize the Plot throughout the growing season is essential, as is the indispensablewatering which must take place during the summer season every two/three days but without exaggerating.

Petunias, with their thin stems and large flowers, are, due to their shape, plants fragile who fear the wind and heavy rains, so it is always best to grow them in protected places, especially if planted in the garden.

HOW TO KEEP PETUNIAS BEAUTIFUL?

To keep petunias beautiful and not waste the uniqueness of these flowers, you need to do two things, in winter and in spring-summer.

  • During the winter, it is a good idea to remove any dry or rotten flowers, remove any leaves that are turning black, and cut off any dried shoots.
  • In spring and summer, however, remember that petunias need light and sun. But don't overdo it. And after 3 p.m., try to ensure the plant can be placed in a shaded area, perhaps with a tent.

WHEN PETUNIAS BLOOM

Petunias bloom very generously and abundantly: they begin in spring and end in autumn. The flowers come in a wide range of colors, from white to pink, from blue to purple, from lavender essence  From mauve to lilac. They can be solid or variegated: they are ideal for hanging pots to decorate homes, gardens, and terraces. The key to having abundant flowers is to remove the faded ones, to encourage the growth of new buds.

PETUNIA PESTS

The pest that most commonly attacks this plant is the red spider mite, which turns the leaves grayish-yellow and covers them with a silky web. In this case, it's necessary to combat the pest by purchasing plant protection products. Viruses can also cause disease in petunias, including alternaria wilt and tobacco mosaic. In such cases, it's best to uproot the plants and burn them to prevent the viruses from spreading, as there are no products capable of eradicating them.

THE RIGHT FLOWERS FOR YOUR HOME FOR ALL SEASONS:

 

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