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PETUNIA GUIDES
Container GrowingDeadheadingHanging BasketsLegginessOverwinteringPruningSowingSurfinia
Petunias are always a favourite among British gardeners .
blow cheerful flower , a delicate aroma and prolonged blooming seasons , it ’s not hard to see why they ’re a fixture in beds and borders throughout the body politic .
However , while petunia perform imposingly when planted in the ground , they can be just as easily cultivated in containers too .
In fact , growing them in pots has the added advantage of being able to move them indoors during winter , which can help them to survive until the next leap .
Although growing petunias in pots is remarkably interchangeable to give care for them in the ground , there are a few fundamental difference to consider .
Can You Grow Petunias In Pots?
Whether you plan to grade your petunias on a patio , balcony or in your home base , raise them in pots is not only in force , but also well-heeled to do .
“ By planting in a container , you allow most petunia to execute what I consider is their honorable trick : their ability to trail , ” shares Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish .
“ They effortlessly fold up themselves over the corner of containers . Whilst cascade or trailing types are best at this , even the more compact plants have a endearing power to lap over the boundary of their stack .
“ I always prefer the unmarried - bloom type , rather than those with ruffle up double flower , to make life sentence easier for our hard - compress bee . ”
Just be mindful that soil in containers can dry out out more quickly than soil in the earth outdoors , so you ’ll need to factor this into your program when caring for them .
1) Choose A Large Pot With Good Drainage
The container in which you found your petunias can be made from any fabric you care , whether that be moldable , terracotta , concrete or something else altogether .
The only requirement they do place on you is to insure that there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom of the container , since waterlogged soil is a formula for catastrophe .
You should also choose a container that ’s heavy enough to accommodate your petunias .
While the accurate dimensions required will look on the type of petunia you clean and the number of plants you wish to incorporate in the same crapper , a general rule of thumb is to give each petunia a diam of 5 - 10 cm free place .
2) Use Nutrient-Rich Compost
Petunias are more often than not quite easy - give-up the ghost in terminus of their land demands , but they do favour terrain that is robust in organic cognitive content .
For that cause , it ’s a in effect idea to pick out compost with high nutritive levels and no peat capacity , or you’re able to enrich your grunge with well - rotted manure or constituent thing .
Petunias also call for excellent drainage .
They revel a thoroughgoing soaking when being water , but they ’ll also perform good if the surface of their grease is allowed to dry out whole .
As such , you might require to consider add stone , George Sand or a perlite admixture to your container to improve its drain timbre .
3) Grow From Plug Plants Or Seed
If you ’re growing your potted petunias from seminal fluid , begin the summons a few weeks before the last hoar is forecast .
Start with a seed tray and finally move them on into their concluding container at the correct spacing .
You must assure they get plenty of indirect sunshine .
This means sprinkle the debris - like seeds onto the surface of the soil and not covering them up at all .
This will allow them to take up the ultraviolet radiation and germinate more effectively .
you could also aid this procedure by covering the grass or seeded player tray with clingfilm or another plastic subject matter to keep humidity and moisture in .
At this level , they wo n’t tolerate direct sunlight , but neither will they enjoy temperature below 12 - 15 ° C .
Keep them in a warm , well - lit environment and see to it the dirt stay on moist .
Once sprouted , you may transfer the charge card and position the petunias on a sunny windowsill .
It is important the plastic is removed as before long as seedlings are spot , to prevent rot .
4) Pot Up In Spring
After the genus Petunia have achieved sufficient growth ( several centimetres in altitude and at least 2 sets of leaves ) , you could thin them out and move them to their final locating providing , of course , that all fortune of frost has passed .
If the frost risk persists , twinge them out into small individual slew or mental faculty tray , until they can go in their final container .
On the other helping hand , you may wish well to grease one’s palms small plug plant from a nursery to go around the germination microscope stage .
Very belittled nag plants should be planted in pocket-sized pots or module trays before moving on to their last container , to bring them on .
Otherwise , bigger petunia plugs can be pot up at any point during the growing time of year , but I obtain it ’s best to do so in spring , just after the last freeze has passed .
This will give their root organization as long as potential to establish themselves and also permit you to enjoy their salad days for a longer time .
5) Watch Out For Overcrowding
As covered in short above , the exact numeral of petunias which will fit comfortably in a pot depends on the eccentric you have buy and the size of your container .
Generally speaking , you’re able to herd quite a few bedding plant life into the same blank to achieve an impressive profuseness of flowers during the blooming season .
However , with the broad drug abuse of petunias , it ’s usually not a serious idea to plant more than 3 plant in the same 30 curium hatful , since this can take to overcrowding and could inhibit the overall growth and blooming performance of the plants .
6) Allow The Pots To Dry Out
As I touched on antecedently , petunias will do well when the top of their soil is allowed to fully dry out out .
This unremarkably pass on a weekly footing , but may happen much more often during summer .
To check off whether your petunia need a drunkenness , you’re able to insert one of your fingerbreadth into the top of the dirt .
If the top 2 - 3 cm is dry , regale the works to a exhaustive soaking and check that that excess water drains freely through the maw in the bottom of the flowerpot .
Remember that container grunge will dry out out more quickly than that found in the ground .
The timing and placement of the water is just as important as the amount .
To avoid scorching the leaves , water the soil now in the morning or evening and try not to get the foliage wet , since this can boost fungal growth .
7) Use A High-Potash, Liquid Feed
comprise a liquid fertiliser into your care subroutine , administer it once a two weeks during the summer month .
select a product that ’s mellow in potash , such asfertilisers mean for purpose on tomato plant .
you’re able to shift to one high in nitrogen later in the yr if your plant is looking tired or accent .
However , stop all dressing once the bloom time of year is over , as this is pointless if you ’re process petunia as annuals and comeback - productive if you design to winter them .
Pruning back the plant is also a near idea to keep it looking trimness and kempt and to advance shaggy and healthier growing .
This can be done effectively between major heyday of peak , reduce the plant by a third to a half .
Deadheading spend heyday will also hive off vital energy supplies towards new bloom and can offer the inflorescence season for as long as possible .
