Photos of different shades and types of Gioconda petunia: flower reviews

Distinctive features

This hybrid has achieved a breakthrough in the variety of petunias thanks to its extraordinary properties:

1. Has a large number of flowers: much more than any other petunia species. This number of flowers on a plant can be explained by the fact that it cannot produce seeds due to the colors of the male species.
2. Gioconda F1 flowers early, almost immediately after planting, and with good quality and care, they can bloom throughout the year.
3. This type of petunia has strong, thick stems up to one meter long that can cover any surface. Vertical petunia flower beds and decorative tree frames are ideal for this type of plant.
4. Gioconda is also known for its frost resistance. It can withstand temperatures from -7 to +38 and even 40oC. Among all its "brothers", this variety is extremely resistant. When the temperature drops, the plant does not die, but adapts - it simply hibernates and slows down its growth.
5. The variety is resistant to various diseases and pests of petunias, unlike other hybrid varieties, which is a plus for gardeners.

The flowers of this petunia reach a diameter of 7-10 cm, and the branches of the liana are up to a meter in length.

This is the type of frame that is popular for its shape. It perfectly supports the plant, allows it to grow and hangs freely on the ground.

In order for the plant to bloom longer and give more buds, you need to monitor the flowers and cut them.

An immense variety of petunias

The most beloved of garden and balcony summer houses appears in flower beds, ampels and flower girls as soon as the weather permits. And he does not leave the stage until the arrival of frost. Petunias are grown for early, regular and late flowering. Petunias bloom throughout the warm gardening season, and sowing dates determine when the seedlings are ready for planting and when the first flowers appear.

Petunias have become so common in urban landscaping and garden design that they almost feel like must-have plants. But when it comes to choosing seeds or varieties, everything is not so simple: petunias are very different and often completely different from each other both in their practical characteristics and in decorativeness.

Today, from bright labels, catalogs and advertisements, you can learn about a very diverse types of petunias, which can make even experienced gardeners dizzy. The varieties are combined into groups of varieties, separate collections and even variety mixtures are produced, not to mention selected stars with the status of elite hybrids.

Some petunias are presented as ampelous or integumentary, others as garden or potted ones, still others as container or for flower girls, and still others as universal ones. In fact, the variety of petunias is not at all so great and difficult, but it is still easier to understand the classification than it seems.

All petunias that can be found on sale, in seed catalogs and as seedlings are hybrid plants that have undergone long-term selection in order to improve their decorative characteristics. Species plants, like the old "first" varieties, have been ousted from the market by bright novelties, the number of which is replenished every year.

Petunias reproduce quite easily and are perhaps the most beloved annuals for experiments with their characteristics. All prestigious gardening companies and selection centers present their exclusive novelties at the main flower shows of the year.

Due to the fact that the number of petunia varieties has long exceeded a thousand, it is better to navigate in their diversity according to the basic characteristics of the variety.

Bushy (upright) petunia. Stan Blundell Creeping Petunia

Recommendations for growing and caring for the variety

Before planting a plant, you need to purchase good quality seeds from a trusted manufacturer. This is the first stage in the successful cultivation of the Mona Lisa. The plant needs good illumination - for 11 hours. The optimum temperature for the good development of a small petunia variety is +22 degrees. If possible, you should choose a warm, sunny place for planting.

Soil requirements:

• saturation with useful elements, loose soil, the soil must "breathe";
• the ability to retain moisture for a long time without stagnation.

To ensure the optimal acid-base balance, it is better to make your own soil. To prepare it you need:

• rotted compost;
• already decomposed peat;
• leafy land (sod);
• sand.

Mix everything in the same proportion, except for sand: take it in half the size of other ingredients.

La Gioconda, like all petunias, has small seeds. You will have to use tweezers to avoid losing them. When planting, it is enough to simply scatter over the surface of the soil, without deepening. The soil should be moistened and sprinkled with a thin layer of dry soil. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in early spring and late winter. Do not forget about the need to ensure a long light period.

Within a week, you can see the first shoots. They need air. After the seedlings have grown stronger, you can safely transplant to a permanent place. The sprouts require hardening. To do this, it is necessary to expose the seedlings to the open air.

Advice! Rooting of the Mona Lisa should be carried out in the evening or on a cloudy day. After rooting, water well.

To get the desired shape, you should pinch from above. In this case, the plant will delight the gardener with its splendor, density.

By following these recommendations, you can admire the lush bloom from year to year.

Every year there are more and more petunias on my balcony. But if last summer I bought seeds of various varieties and amazed the yard with a variety, this year I decided - let all flowers and stems be the same, only petals - different shades.

Therefore, since winter I bought only one variety - Mona Lisa. But already when germinating the seeds, it turned out that although there is only one variety, the stems of my plants will be different ...

How to deal with disease?

Petunias are quite hardy plants, but the presence of unfavorable conditions can still cause them to develop diseases or damage by pests.

1. Fungal diseases. Appear with dense sowing, excessive watering, improper soil selection (too heavy). Seedlings may die from the development of root rot. In this case, it is recommended:

• remove the diseased plant with a part of the land adjacent to it;
• treat all remaining flowers with fungicides;
• when watering, do not overmoisten the soil and prevent moisture stagnation in it.

Powdery mildew (white bloom on leaves and flowers) is also referred to fungal diseases. The cause is sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Measures to combat it include: removing the affected plant fragments, treating it with sulfur.

For the prevention of fungal diseases, you should:

• choose light soil for sowing (PH
• before sowing, steam the soil;
• sow and plant plants not too densely;
• adhere to the temperature regime;
• avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers, as well as stagnation of water in the soil.

2. Yellowing of the leaves. Causes:

• violation of the temperature regime, as well as the irrigation regime;
• damage by pests (spider mites, aphids, whiteflies);
• development of true chlorosis (iron deficiency).

Pest control methods include:

• spraying and washing the leaves with water or a weak tobacco infusion, pollination with ground sulfur (in the air), treatment with ready-made systemic insecticides (from spider mites);
• treatment with a solution (1: 1) of nicotine sulfate in soapy water (from aphids);
• treatment with permethrin preparations (2%) every three days (from whitefly);
• the introduction of preparations containing iron (from true chlorosis).

Peculiarities

A plant like petunia owes its name to the famous botanist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. It was he who first brought these flowers to France from Uruguay. The famous naturalist, however, was mistaken: he thought for some reason that it was a kind of tobacco. In reality, petunias belong to the family of Solanaceous plants. Before they could figure it out, the modern name had spread.

Most often it is grown in gardens as an annual. However, in nature, petunia has a long-term development cycle. Growing plants in indoor pots is also allowed. There, the flower will fill the space and even begin to hang outward. The stems of petunias are thoroughly branched and do not grow stiff (retain their flexibility and green color).

The trunks can be directed in different ways, depending on the specific species. It is customary to distinguish petunias with a creeping, upright or hanging trunk. The highest seedling height reaches 0.75 m. Regardless of the specific variety, the greenery is slightly covered with sticky hairs. Their maximum concentration is created on the foliage.

The leaf axils form short, elastic peduncles. Each peduncle becomes the basis for a single bud. The color of flowers in petunias is almost as varied as in roses. Despite the setting of single buds, the appearance of the crop is spectacular due to the large number of flowers.

Cascading

Cascading petunias are also called semi-ampelous (subspecies). Unlike real ampels, their stems are stronger and at first grow upward, forming a leaf cap. The stems of cascading forms reach a length of 1.5 m, they begin to fall down only when a certain green mass is accumulated. Flowers of the same size form on the plant - 4-5 cm.

Interesting series of cascading garden petunias

Popular varieties and hybrids of terry petunias

There are many varieties and hybrids of terry petunia, with every year there are more of them. They differ in the duration of flowering, the shade and size of the inflorescences, resistance to diseases, the height of the bush.

Large-flowered Valentine F1

Terry petunia Valentina is one of the most beautiful hybrids. It forms flowers early, retains a bright shade for a long time and is resistant to negative environmental factors.

The size of each flower is from 7 to 10 cm. The flowers are voluminous, spherical, strongly corrugated, with pronounced cuts on bright red petals.

Petunia Valentina reaches a height of 30-40 cm. The bush is branched, wide.

Burgundy

Petunia Burgundy is a hybrid that is resistant to cold snaps, wet and windy weather, precipitation. Rarely sick and affected by insects. Considered ideal for beginners.

The flowers are large, with many double petals located close to each other. Because of this, inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter look lush.

The flowers have a deep burgundy color known as burgundy. They are formed on the bush in such an amount that they almost completely cover all the leaves. Flowering lasts from May to early October.

White Sonata

White terry petunia Sonata (another hybrid, not a variety, as it is often called) will not leave indifferent any grower. Its main feature is its ultra-early flowering. The first inflorescences appear on the bushes in April, which is a month earlier than other varieties.

Large densely double inflorescences reach a diameter of 12 cm. They have many corrugated and cut petals, located in layers one above the other.

The color is white, without extraneous inclusions. The bush is densely covered with flowers.

The maximum height of the Sonata is 35 cm. It is not afraid of cold snaps and unfavorable weather conditions.

Double Cascade Blue

Terry petunia Double Cascade Blue strikes with its unusual color. This is one of the most interesting hybrids.

Double Cascade Blue is a large-flowered hybrid. The diameter of each inflorescence varies between 10-13 cm. The petals are wavy, with cuts. The flowers are spherical, large.

The color of the petals is dark purple. The inner side is covered with villi, which is why it acquires a bluish tint.

Despite the large-flowered nature, the bush is miniature, the height varies between 12-15 cm.

Pirouette

Pirouette is often used in landscape design. Large, lush flowers with strongly corrugated petals reach a size of 15 cm and resemble balls. On the bush, they are formed in large quantities.

The color of the Pirouette petals can be different, most have a white border at the edges. On the bush, specimens of white or pink color are sometimes formed with small blotches of the second shade, but such cases are rare.

Bushes are undersized. Their maximum height is 15 cm.

The most interesting option from this series is considered to be the Pirouette Parple petunia - purple flowers with a white border around the edges.

Duo

Petunia Duo looks simpler than the previous options. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and compactness. Popular with novice gardeners.

The flowers are medium in size, each up to 6 cm in diameter. The shade of the petals is different. There are red, purple, pink, purple, and crimson flowers of the Duo variety.

For terry varieties, the bushes are tall - they reach 35 cm.

Multi-flowered Tart Bonanza

Tart Bonanza is a multi-flowered petunia with an unusual color of inflorescences. This is the brightest variety described.

Differs in multi-colored inflorescences. There are flowers of purple, blue, pink, lilac and red shades. Some have white stripes on their petals.

The size of the buds varies within 5-7 cm. The petals are corrugated, without cuts.

Reproduction

Beautiful petunia flowers, regardless of the direct species and variety, can be propagated by cuttings. To this end, in the fall, it is required to transfer the mother plant in a container and cut off old shoots. Store such vessels only in a well-lit and sufficiently ventilated space. Watering should be moderate. It is desirable that the temperature in the room does not exceed 12 degrees Celsius.

• In the spring, when the plant releases shoots, you will need to carefully trim the cuttings, the length of which should reach about 10 cm.
• You will also need to carefully clean the stalk from the leaf blades, without touching the 2 leaves on top.
• Transfer the cuttings to a vessel with a solution of special phytohormones.
• Further, the cuttings will need to be moved into damp sand and covered with glass on top.
• The place where the cuttings will grow should be sufficiently light, and the temperature regime should be at least +23 degrees Celsius. Daylight hours should take at least 10 hours. If necessary, provide additional lighting in the room.
• After a week, the cuttings will grow roots.
• When the first leaves are visible, the flowers will need to be carefully transplanted into small pots.