Gardeners' opinions
Reviews of those who have been growing flowers for more than one year say that petunias are an excellent option to decorate a garden, create a flower arrangement, arrange flower beds, gazebos, recreation areas, verandas and terraces.
Some gardeners point out that the most important thing is to plant the seeds correctly. And if sprouts have already appeared, it is no more difficult to grow flowers than other, less whimsical species. In the garden, too, there are no special difficulties, the main thing is to remember that flowers need sun and good moisture, but not excessive.
Due to the fact that petunia has hanging shoots, it is convenient to place it on vertical surfaces. In this regard, many flower growers use it to decorate multi-level compositions, alpine hills, fences.
The color spectrum of petunias is so diverse that you can decorate the corners both motley and more restrained. Blue is cool, white has a calming effect, yellow pleases and cheers up, red brightens the garden even on a gloomy rainy day. The choice is up to the growers - who likes what.
How and how to fertilize petunias is described in the video.
Features and varieties
Petunia "Avalanche" has several varieties, differing in size and shades of flowers, but they are united by the fact that the bushes bloom all summer and autumn, a lot of buds are formed.
- Ampel petunia "Yellow (or Gold) Star" has a yellow core, from which rays radiate to the petals, which resembles a star. Therefore, this flower will look harmonious both on flower beds and in suspended structures that can decorate the walls of a house, a fence or a balcony. The plant grows very well and has many shoots.
- The Purple Star Avalanche has spectacular purple-red funnel-shaped flowers with a contrasting white star in the center. Suitable for hanging baskets, balcony boxes, since the shoots, when they grow, hang down and form an avalanche of flowers.
- "Avalanche pink" is distinguished by a pink center, which also looks very gentle and beautiful.
- Avalanche blue star looks brighter and more contrasting.
- "White Avalanche" is also able to complement compositions where both "Pink Avalanche" and "Red Avalanche" will look harmonious.
The series of these petunias includes flowers that can be successfully combined with each other in flower beds and in flower arrangements due to a variety of colors.
Regardless of the name of the ampelous petunia, flower care is the same. The plant needs a sufficient amount of light, moisture and heat. Therefore, in the southern regions, it can grow more magnificently and bloom more abundantly than in the northern ones.
It is very common to buy packets of petunia seeds under the name "Paint Mix".
Planting and leaving
The seeds should be sown in February with the nutrient composition prepared. And you shouldn't put them deep - they should be on the surface. But the soil must be loose enough. In this case, the container with seeds must be covered with transparent glass or film. A pick is necessary when two leaves appear on the sprout. If the weather is often cloudy and gets dark early, you can arrange additional lighting for the plants. It is necessary to spray gently from a spray bottle with settled water at room temperature.
In May, seedlings are moved to open ground, choosing a well-lit place for this. The distance should be left from 30 to 50 centimeters, since the bushes usually grow well and take up a lot of space.
When planting a plant in open ground, you need to take into account the climatic features of the region.In some, it is already warm in early May, while in others, night frosts are also possible in the middle of the month. To avoid trouble, it is good to season the seedlings before planting. To do this, within two weeks, for several hours, it can be taken out onto the balcony with open frames or outside, if it is a private house. Then the sprouts planted in the ground will not be afraid of a drop in temperature and will go through the adaptation period perfectly.
During the summer, the plant does not require complex maintenance. It is enough to make sure that the soil is not dry and water the flowers as it dries. Water is poured directly near the root, trying not to get on the flowers. Another important point is loosening the soil. So it is saturated with oxygen, moisture is retained in it longer.
The plant will benefit from applying mineral fertilizers to the soil several times during the summer. Potassium and phosphorus are considered the most suitable, especially during the growth process. It is necessary to dilute liquid fertilizers at the rate of no more than five grams per bucket. Usually, watering and feeding is done at different times, for example: watering - in the morning, and fertilization - in the evening.
We should not forget about weed control. They need to be removed, as they take away nutrients from the plants and give the flower bed an unkempt look. To make them appear less often, and the soil retains moisture longer, mulching can be done.
If you plan to plant a bush in a flowerpot or flowerpot, you need to select a deep container. The roots of the petunia grow significantly, and miniature pots for these flowers will not work. In addition, you need to plant one seedling in one pot - it will grow and be lush. And two or three bushes growing in the same container will not get the correct development.
Petunias can be susceptible to diseases such as blackleg. Especially this danger lies in wait for young, still immature sprouts. At the same time, they rot, droop and eventually die. Perhaps a stagnation of moisture has formed, in this case, you need to try to adjust the irrigation scheme. And to combat the black leg, you need to use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Petunias are annuals, but some gardeners dig up bushes before frost and place them in an apartment.
