The best varieties of petunias are long known and loved, as well as new varieties and hybrids. Regular feeding of petunias in pots

For creating flower arrangements at home or suburban area used frequently . It maintains a colorful atmosphere and a rainbow mood. Beautiful large inflorescences and bright color made it popular among gardeners. On and terraces, on plots you can see varieties such as ampelous and cascading. The plant can bloom for several months, but requires some care.

Petunia (lat. Petunia) is a semi-shrub plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is grown as a balcony decorative flower, as annual crop in the gardens. The most popular are ampelous, cascade, spray petunias. The last species is slightly different from the first two - the shoots are erect, they grow like a bush. Today we will talk about ampelous and cascading petunias.

Description of ampelous petunias

First you need to figure out what the word "ampel" means? The name comes from the word of German origin ampel - hanging vase. From here, flowers are called ampelous, which are grown in hanging flowerpots, planters, baskets.

Ampelnaya has elastic falling shoots. Their length can reach from 30 to 120 cm. The leaves are soft, green with slight pubescence. On the shoots are placed many flowers in the shape of a bell. Their diameter ranges from 3 to 10 cm, depending on the variety.

Appearance also depends on the variety. The stems are directed downwards, hang down, have loops, are most often used for hanging pots, balcony boxes. Flowers can be single or double. The middle of a more saturated shade.

Note! On sale there are both pure and hybrid varieties of ampelous petunia.

Varieties

Ampelous petunia comes in unusual shades and different forms. Entered within 10 recent years hybrid varieties are more resistant, they are characterized by abundant and long flowering.

The best varieties of ampelous petunias are:

1. Surfinia- the variety is represented by a variety of shades (grown using cuttings). It is characterized by good branching, resistance to weather conditions.
2. - shoots of medium length, white flowers with a delicate aroma.
   
   
3. Velveteen- leaves and flowers have a velvety surface. It is considered a good honey plant.
4. Avalanche- a series of varieties represented by "Pink Avalanche", "White Avalanche" and "Purple Avalanche", characterized by high decorativeness and long flowering period, increased fragility.
   
5. Opera- flowers are predominantly red, pink and white, small buds.
   
6. Ekaterina- refers to hybrid varieties. The flowers are about 5 cm in diameter, have a yellowish-reddish hue.

Landing and care

Proper care and cultivation of ampelous petunia provides intensive flowering for several months. If this variety grows in standing containers, then the middle becomes not so lush, it thins. Therefore, it is preferable to use hanging pots.

Features of planting and flower care:

1. Seeds are recommended to be sown in spring. Many small-flowered varieties bloom in as little as 10 weeks, and large-flowered varieties in 12 weeks.
2. The earth is selected nutritious and loose, pre-moistened before sowing. Provides good drainage. Pebbles or expanded clay are placed at the bottom of the tank.
3. Ampel petunia seeds are pre-soaked in potassium permanganate.
4. Sowing needs sparse. The optimum temperature regime is 21-24 degrees. Already 7-10 days after sowing, under all conditions, the first shoots appear.
5. After the appearance of several full-fledged leaves, the seedlings swoop down on permanent place, planted in a pot should be 3-4 plants.
6. In order for the flower to take root, it is fed complex fertilizers once every 4 weeks. For abundant flowering, fertilizers are applied with a predominance of potassium and magnesium.
7. Plant care consists in watering and regular loosening of the topsoil. Moisturizing should be plentiful, in the hot season - 2 times a day.
8. For the splendor of flowering and a beautiful appearance, all dried buds are removed.
9. The place for transplantation is selected sunny, without drafts.

Making a plant on video:

Petunia is propagated much faster by cuttings. This is good way decorate the garden without acquiring a lot of planting material. Flowering with this reproduction is observed in a month. The procedure can be carried out in spring and summer. With south side plants are cut top part escape, if there is a flower, then it must be removed.

In the spring, rooting is carried out in the sand, in the summer you can mix the sand with the ground from the site in a ratio of 1 to 1. The earth mixture is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Before planting, the stem of the cutting is dipped in the Kornevin preparation and buried 2 cm into the ground, covered with a plastic container to create a greenhouse effect. After 2 weeks, landing is carried out to a permanent place. To obtain beautiful falling loops, the plant is not pinched.

Note! It is not worth planting an ampelous petunia with other plants, as it will not allow them to grow.

A variety of ampelous petunias in the photo:

Description of the cascading petunia

Cascading petunia has long and elastic stems, which can reach up to 1.5 m in length. They go first up, then down or up and sideways. The buds are large, the same size. The cap of the plant is not as dense as that of the ampelous, but quite voluminous. For this reason, the plant needs a lot of space.

They are characterized by fast growth and a longer flowering period. Used as a ground cover crop. Also suitable for hanging pots. Due to its properties, it is used for decorating hedges and supports.

1. Mona Lisa- Available in a wide range of colors. When planted outdoors, it will look like a groundcover. Has a large crown.
2. Petunia supercascade- an inexpensive large-flowered variety, represented by lilac, blue and pink shades.
3. Pirouette- Another inexpensive large-flowered variety, represented by purple, pink, red shades. Compared to other representatives, it is considered unpretentious.
4. Typhoon- a series of multi-flowered varieties Typhoon Silver, Tornado, Cherry. The length of the stems reaches up to 1.5 m, in a flower bed it grows up to 2 sq. m. flowers diameter - 5 cm.
5. shock wave- represented by red flowers with a dark core. Gives a round hat. Feels good weather- rain and wind. Shoots dense, not long, flowers small size. Suitable for regular standing pots.

Cascading petunias in the photo:

Landing and care

Features of planting a cascading petunia:

• seeds are sown in February-March;
• a layer of expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the tank, then covered with prepared soil mixture (clean sand and garden soil in equal proportions)
• sowing is needed sparse;
• cover the container to create a greenhouse effect plastic bottle or glass;
• airing is necessarily carried out once a day and daily watering is provided;
• after the appearance of three full-fledged sheets, they land in a permanent place;
• the capacity is selected large, at least 5 liters;
• to obtain a lush and rich composition, several (2-3) seedlings are planted in a flowerpot;
• in order for the plant to bush well, it is necessary to pinch;
• when grown not in a pot, allotted big square or a separate flower bed, as it scatters loops of 1-2 meters;
• the flower is sensitive to light, so the landing site should be sunny, but calm;
• Watering is necessary plentiful, especially in the hot season.

Note! They are also propagated by cuttings according to the scheme described above.

The difference between cascading and ampelous petunias

From the first time it is not always possible to distinguish an ampelous petunia from a cascade one. There are many similarities between them, but there are also differences:

• stems have different lengths, growth patterns and different densities;
• in the ampelous shoots look down, in the cascade - first up, then down and sideways;
• the color of a plant with ampels can be both monophonic and two-tone, and in another variety - monophonic;
• in cascade, the flowering period lasts longer than in ampelous.

Note! Varieties of ampelous petunias are considered the best for hanging planters.

The difference between ampelous and cascading petunias, video:

Comparative table:

Characteristics	Ampelnaya	cascading
stems	Up to 1.2 m	Up to 1.5 m
Peculiarities	fall down	Up, down, scattered around
Shades	More often two-tone	More often monochrome
buds	On one culture, the size of the flowers may vary	On one plant, flowers of the same size.
Pinching	Does not need	Needs
Bloom	The whole summer and the beginning of autumn	A little longer than ampelous
Landing place	Hanging compositions	Suspended compositions and in the open field as a ground cover
The soil	Garden fertile soil	Garden fertile soil
Care	Makes demands for watering and fertilizing	Requires moisture and nutrition
Growing methods	Seeds, cuttings	Seeds, cuttings

Overview of varieties on video:

Petunia - a waterfall of bright colors in the summer cottage, in the yards residential buildings. Varietal diversity will allow you to create an original and bright composition both in hanging planters and in the beds. Correct fit and care will allow you to grow a healthy plant, provide abundant flowering culture.

There is hardly a person who would pass by this wonderful plant indifferently, without stopping even for a moment to admire its beautiful flowering. Due to the ease of cultivation and care, it has become welcome guest in almost every home, on every garden plot or cottage. It's splendid living decoration- bright, impressive Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia.

Reviews

Flower growers generously share their experience in breeding petunias in networks, emphasizing their unpretentiousness and subtle grace. In their opinion, everyone can, observing simple rules, grow this wonderful flower, which will delight with its unique beauty throughout the summer.

Truly unique plant, able to adapt to a very different climate and any soil - Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia. Reviews are full of praise for her unpretentiousness in care and the unusual duration of flowering. Petunia lovers recommend that everyone who wants to decorate a terrace, balcony or flower bed pay attention to this beautiful flower.

Origin

Petunia Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascading (reviews claim this) owes its history to the beginning South America. perennial herbaceous plant belongs to the Solanaceae family and is a relative of the potato and tomato. The name of the plant comes from the Portuguese petun ("tobacco").

Petunia is loved and popular all over the world. But few people know that she has come a long and difficult path of 200 years to her popularity.

Description

This flower is not grown as an indoor flower, but it is believed that the best plant not to be found for decorating windows and balconies.

The leaves of the petunia are whole, sessile or on short petioles, have a different size and shape, are arranged alternately on the stems. The stems are branched, green, creeping, hanging or erect, depending on the variety.

The flowers are shaped like a funnel. They are terry and simple, large and small-colored. The colors are famous for the variety of spectra - from pure white, light pink and yellow to bright, rich blue, purple, red. There are varieties with a variegated pattern of flowers that combine various shades. The pattern of the edges of the petal can be smooth or fringed.

The petunia fruit is a box filled with the smallest seeds (up to 10 thousand pieces per 1 g), which remain viable for 2-3 years.

Petunia Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascade (reviews contain extensive information about the flower) is one of the many hybrids that are used as annuals in floriculture.

Varieties

All cultivated are called hybrids. It is known that the first of them appeared in the middle of the 19th century. There are 4 types of petunias:

• large-flowered (with flowers up to 10 cm in diameter);
• many-flowered with small (about 3-5 cm in diameter) flowers;
• undersized, dwarf (up to 15-30 cm);
• ampelous - these include the now popular surfinia and the Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia.

Most Popular

A great many hybrids and varieties of petunias have won the favor and true love of connoisseurs. Among them, the most popular are:

• Double Cascade.
• Gioconda.
• Ramblin (refers to Surfinia).

Petunia Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascade: reviews, photos

According to reviews, this hybrid is one of the most attractive varieties. A low, chic shrub with strongly branching shoots that are densely covered with flowers (about 5-6 cm in diameter) is a real gem of the garden. It has an excellent view when planting in hanging planters with a capacity of up to 10 liters. A huge plus of the plant, which the authors of the reviews emphasize, is its ability to adapt to a wide range of temperatures, which allows you to grow this variety in various climatic zones and also save it during the winter period.

The variety of coloring of flower buds is quite large. Gioconda happens:

• purple;
• pink;
• purple;
• scarlet;
• bright scarlet;
• orange;
• neon;
• salmon;
• white.

Of particular interest to lovers is the Gioconda purple multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia. In the presented photo you can admire the extraordinary beauty of the flower.

User reviews indicate that it turns out that growing a petunia in your garden is not so easy. It does not always work out corresponding to the images on advertising leaflets, the Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia.

Planting and caring for a plant, according to experienced flower growers, differ in some features. Experts recommend that everyone who wants to grow Gioconda in their garden or on the balcony adhere to a number of simple recommendations.

How are petunias grown?

Petunia Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascade, the cultivation of which is described in the reviews, requires the following:

• In the garden, she should be given a place well lit by the sun.
• Despite the thermophilicity and drought tolerance, petunia hardly tolerates excessively high temperatures and, as a result, is susceptible to spider mite damage. Prevention - small spraying.
• The plant requires regular watering, in hot weather, petunias should be watered in the morning and evening.
• Do not allow excessive moisture in the soil and stagnation of water in it.
• The plant should be placed in places protected from wind, which can break long shoots.
• Any relatively suitable for flowers, but most of all - loamy and sandy loamy. On the balcony for petunias, the composition should be used: hardwood and peat, coarse-grained river sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1.
• Once every two weeks during the entire flowering period, fertilizing with a complex fertilizer for flowers with a high content of potassium should be carried out.
• It is necessary to prevent the formation of ovaries, timely removing faded flowers, thereby stimulating the laying of new buds.
• In order to grow a beautiful plant, it is necessary to form a bush. To do this, pinch the shoots, which stimulates the formation of new branches and flowers, the plant becomes more lush.

Growing from seed

Today, throughout the spring/summer season in flower shops and on the market you can freely buy ready-made seedlings of petunias. Some people prefer to grow seedlings on their own. At the same time, experts recommend purchasing high-quality seeds from trusted suppliers.

Many varieties of petunia propagate by seeds, including hybrids, which include the Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascade petunia.

Growing from seed seedlings is carried out in March. The dates are dictated by the desired time of disembarkation or in the garden. Growing from seeds of developed seedlings lasts about three months.

The soil is pre-prepared for planting, sifted and watered abundantly. Seeds are recommended to be mixed with sand in order to ensure a more uniform distribution over the ground, then they are sown without embedding, irrigated with a spray gun. After that, they should be covered with a film or glass.

The optimum temperature for seed germination is 20-23 degrees. More high performance temperature or lack of light leads to stretching, lodging and damage to the plant by fungal diseases.

Seeds usually germinate in 5-7 days. Then the film or glass is removed. Water young seedlings, observing moderation and caution. The air temperature gradually drops to plus 18 degrees.

After the appearance of true leaves, seedlings must be dived into boxes, and after a month - into pots. To ensure compactness, the shoots are pinched, which in the future is an incentive for the branching of the plant.

If a petunia is planted on a balcony, one should proceed from the calculation: no more than 3 plants are planted in a 10-liter container. A denser planting leads to the fact that the plants are stretched, their decorative effect is lost.

Reproduction by cuttings

When propagated by cuttings, mother plants must be dug up in the fall, transferred to pots, cut old shoots and placed in a bright and cool, well-ventilated room for the winter.

The optimum storage temperature is plus 10-12 degrees with moderate watering.

With the onset of spring, young apical cuttings about 10 cm long should be cut from the plant. All leaves must be removed from them, with the exception of the top two. In order to improve the formation of roots, the lower part of the cutting should be immersed in a solution of phytohormones, then the cuttings are planted in loose soil with sufficient air permeability or in wet sand, they should be watered and covered with glass or film.

The optimum temperature for rooting is plus 20-23 degrees in the presence of good lighting.

It is necessary to monitor the maintenance of constant soil moisture. The roots of the cuttings are formed in about a week. After the appearance of leaves, the plants are seated in small pots, with the growth of petunias, the volume of pots should be increased. Further, the plants are cared for, as for those grown from seeds.

How to deal with diseases?

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

1. fungal diseases. Appear with dense sowing, excessive watering, improper selection of soil (too heavy). Seedlings can die from the development of root rot. It is therefore recommended:

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

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

To prevent fungal diseases, you should:

• choose light soil for sowing (PH< 6);
• steam the ground before sowing;
• sow and plant plants not too densely;
• stick to temperature regime;
• prevent excess nitrogen fertilizer content, 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;
• pest infestation ( spider mite, aphid, whitefly);
• development of true chlorosis (lack of iron).

Pest control methods include:

• spraying and washing the leaves with water or 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 (for whiteflies);
• the introduction of preparations containing iron (from true chlorosis).

New "champion"

Petunia F1 Gioconda multi-flowered creeping cascade - a recently bred hybrid, according to reviews, is a serious competitor to surfinia - recognized champions in the abundance of flowering. It reproduces exclusively vegetatively.

The breeding of this variety is considered a revolutionary breakthrough in breeding. It is the first petunia in the world to produce a staggering amount of flowers.

It is a plant with well-branched, powerful shoots 20 cm high, which are able to cover the soil when grown in open ground up to 1 m in diameter.

Variety F1 - Gioconda starry multi-flowered creeping cascading petunia (reviews confirm this) - adapts to the widest temperature range: plus 8-40 degrees Celsius.

When growing in containers, the volume of the latter should be sufficient, and top dressing should be carried out weekly to maintain the beauty of the plant.

You can carefully consider the F1 hybrid in the photo (Gioconda starry multi-flowered creeping cascade petunia).

Petunias of forty species are bred in the world, which are grown in gardens, front gardens, in rooms, on terraces and loggias. Popularity among gardeners ornamental plant acquired due to large, expressive flowers, bright varied colors.

Classification of petunias

Cultivated petunias are, in fact, reborn hybrids for the conditions of the area where long time grew. Flowers adapt to changed conditions, change indicators and it is almost impossible to find the original appearance of the plant.

Initially, varieties were chosen for breeding and growing petunias until the middle of the 19th century:

• white;
• purple-red;

After widespread By country, the first hybrid plants appeared, which differ from their ancestors in shades of color, survival, resistance to drought, etc.

In modern floriculture, petunia is divided into several types:

• plants with big flowers which delight the eye with their monumentality. Such flowers reach the size of a palm and quickly gain growth. The brightest representatives include Limbo and the Hit Parade;
• plants that have small flowers up to 5 cm, there are a huge number of them in the bush. These varieties belong to garden species, they perfectly fill the flower beds and gently fragrant in the late afternoon. These include Multiflora and Merlin;
• there are plants of small stature, which, in combination with tall relatives, create in gardens harmonious compositions. They are called dwarf, Duo Maiksid and Merlin are the most common in our country;
• so-called ampelous petunia, includes plant species that grow in a cascade, and their flowers are turned down. This variety is most suitable for growing in pots and hanging pots. The most popular varieties are Surfinia, Pirate, Rendula and Lavina;
• cascading varieties serve as an excellent shelter for decorative arbors and hedges, terraces and verandas. Their peculiarity lies in the random growth of shoots in all directions and the formation of lush hanging thickets. The most used varieties are Cherry, Ramblin, Silver, Typhoon and Rose;
• varieties have been bred that endure the harsh manifestations of bad weather. Their flowers are medium, a large number in the bush. These include terry Floribunda, Sonya and Celebrity.

You can see photos of varieties of petunias in the catalogs of ornamental plants.

Care for petunias in pots

Growing petunias in pots

seedling preparation

In order for petunia grown in pots to please the eye on terraces, balconies and loggias in spring, it is recommended to sow seeds for seedlings at the end of winter. To do this, the seeds of the plant are sown in soddy soil mixed with leaf humus. Peat and sand are added there. All components are taken randomly.

Before sowing, seeds are mixed with sand and poured onto prepared soil. Crops are not covered with earth. The containers in which the petunia is sown are covered with glass caps. As they dry, the seedlings are moistened using a sprayer.

When two leaves appear on the hatched plants, they are thinned out and planted at a distance matchbox from each other. If thin stems are significantly stretched upwards, then pour a little soil to strengthen them. In order for the bush to have more lush growth in the future, the tops of the seedlings are pinched.

Approximately thirty days before planting in pots on outdoors, seedlings are accustomed to low temperature during the week, reducing it indoors to 18º C at the beginning and bringing it to 15º C by the end of hardening.

Planting in containers

Plants selected for planting in this container are carefully placed in a pot, and then the gaps between the root systems are carefully filled with prepared soil.

Soil preparation in pots

When dealing with a planting mixture, the conditions for growing an ornamental bush are taken into account:

To achieve these characteristics of the soil, a hydrogel is added to it, which will serve as a regulator of air and water balance. There are ready-made pots for planting petunia bushes on sale, but they do not provide for the partial content of hydrogel. It is better to take the time and prepare the mixture in a pot with your own hands. The hydrogel is pre-soaked, the swollen particles are mixed into the soil at the rate of 1:5.

The following type of composite soil is recommended for planting in a flower pot. They take parts of the turf, add two shares of leafy soil, dilute with peat and humus, one part each. To keep the earth loose for a long time, add perlite to the in large numbers.

How to choose the size of a petunia planter?

Pots are used so that there is a five-liter capacity per plant of an ampelous or cascading variety; for a terry look, about three liters will be required per bush. If a we are talking about planting simple varieties, then they can be planted more often, 3-5 bushes can be planted in such a pot. If planted more densely, developing petunias will annoy each other, and a smaller number will look poor.

Successfully used as a planter for petunias plastic jars from under mayonnaise or paint. Plant one plant per container. Holes are drilled in the bottom of the pot to drain excess liquid. Experienced flower growers placed at the bottom, under a layer of earth, a small piece of foam rubber, which will absorb moisture. The material from which the pot is made does not matter. He may be from natural materials: clay or wood. Plastic containers have also proven themselves from a good side.

potted plant care

To appearance The bush was attractive, with faded flowers and seeds beginning to ripen from time to time. If the goal is not to collect seeds after the end of flowering, they simply save the plant from having to spend energy on the maturation of fruitful boxes.

Some bushes stretch their lashes very strongly by the middle of summer, the bush grows sparsely and produces few flowers. To correct this situation, long branches are cut to half the length. At the same time, they begin to feed and moisten the bush. After a short period of time, a lush flowering specimen of the petunia will develop.

Watering petunia bushes in a pot

If you place the planter under open sky, artificial watering and moistening should be reduced with the expectation of natural precipitation. A petunia under a canopy, where moisture does not fall from the sky, will require daily watering.

Although the petunia loves water, moisture should not stagnate in the roots, this will lead to rotting of the plant. Water flows out through the drainage holes. If there is not enough moisture, then the petunia dries out, but awakens with a timely change in the irrigation regime. To do this, in a pot with petunia, they begin to intensively shed water every day.

Outdoor petunia bushes in containers can easily suffer from heavy rain or even hail. It is necessary to have cellophane on hand for timely shelter of bushes from inclement weather. But, if the plant was beaten by hail, then it will restore its strength in a week, and the thinned bushes will perk up and will bloom more strongly.

A plant that has received a lot of water can be saved by timely care by placing the pot in a shady place and not watering until the soil is completely dry. At the same time, carefully loosen the earth in a pot to the very bottom.

Spraying the plant with moisture using a spray bottle will help deliver life-giving moisture to the leaves, bypassing the roots. It is impossible to carry out drip moistening on a hot sunny afternoon, because instead of benefiting the plant will receive complete harm - the leaves will burn in the sun.

Organization of plant nutrition

Petunia loves to consume mineral fertilizers in large quantities. It is almost impossible to spoil a bush with fertilizers. Most of all, a bush in a pot prefers potassium supplements. Carefully add peat and humus. These dressings in large quantities negatively affect the roots of the ornamental bush.

The initial top dressing is done on the ninth day after planting in a pot or pot. For this, nitrogen mixtures or nitroammofoska are used for the first time.

adult and strong plant during the flowering period, they are fertilized with phosphorus and potassium additives, superphosphates and potassium salt are used. Folk methods advise feeding petunias with ash from burnt wood. It is bought in specialized stores or used in the form of ash and ash from a fire or stove.

In order for the plant not to develop a disease called chlorosis, it is required to provide it with a sufficient amount of iron in the diet. The disease manifests itself in yellowing and falling leaves. Top dressing is carried out by spraying five times from a Ferovit solution sprayer every three days. Watering under the root is stopped until the plant is completely cured.

What are the diseases of beautiful petunias?

If you provide the plant with careful care, then no diseases will be terrible for him, but sometimes the bush becomes ill with the black leg disease. This disease is facilitated by abundant watering and unacceptable crowding of bushes in one pot. An ambulance will be the removal of diseased bushes from the pot, and with them most of the land. Neighboring plants are treated with fungicides.

Another unpleasant petunia disease - powdery mildew. It affects a plant located in a zone of sharp changes in heat and cold and sharp fluctuations in air humidity. The stems of a diseased plant are treated with sulfur preparations sold in garden stores.

Decorative petunia pests

Aphids lead to deformation of the leaves and general wilting of the bush. Colonies of white larvae are visible to the naked eye. A cause for concern may be the appearance of ants on the bush, which are very fond of visiting aphid habitats. The treatment is carried out by spraying with Aktara, Confidor, Arrivo, Kemifos.

The whitefly provokes yellowing and wilting of the leaves. When you touch a diseased plant, small white moths fly up from it. The plant is treated with the same means as against aphids, but Inta-C-M and Akgellik are also added.

Thrips affect the flowers and leaves of the plant, on which small silvery abrasions appear. The leaves gradually dry out in those places where insects lived. The fight is carried out with standard chemicals and the drug Inta-vir.

You can grow petunia at home in any conditions: in a hanging planter, stationary pots or in open ground. This plant will always give your home grace and beauty. The fragrance of petunia flowers will spread throughout the area. All friends will be happy to take photos of beautiful flowers.

Petunia is quite popular among Russian flower growers due to its expressive large flowers, which, depending on the variety, have the most diverse colors. In addition, by the evening it begins to exude a very pleasant aroma. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people want to decorate their homes with this flower.

How to properly plant a petunia in a street pot

You can, of course, grow these flowers outside the house or apartment in open ground. However, the most best option for the street - grow petunias in pots or planters. At the same time, of course, it is necessary to comply certain rules because otherwise you will simply ruin the plant.

The first thing to start with is, of course, seedlings. Seeds are recommended to be sown at the end of winter. Sod land mixed with:

• leaf humus;
• sand;
• peat.

Containers should be covered with glass caps. At the same time, the crops themselves are not covered with earth. Do not forget about the periodic moistening of seedlings - this should be done as they are poured. After 2 leaves appear on the germinated plants, they will need to be thinned out and planted. Most optimal distance here - 5 centimeters. It often happens that the stems are still too thin, but at the same time they have already noticeably stretched out. In this case, to strengthen them, you need to add a small amount of soil. The tops of the seedlings are pinched - in the future this allows you to achieve a more lush growth of the bush.

Before planting petunias in pots and moving them to the open air, it is recommended to accustom the flowers to a lower temperature and conditions other than indoor ones. There are numerous tips for this. According to the most common recommendation, at the beginning of hardening, the temperature should be 18 degrees Celsius, by the end - 15.

The next stage is the preparation of the soil in the pots. This is very important point– so that you grow up healthy and beautiful plants, it should be treated with all responsibility. It should be warned that the petunia does not like highly moistened soil. With an excess of moisture in the plant, the roots stop working normally. It is not difficult to guess the consequences of this. The soil itself should be water-intensive and at the same time light enough. To do this, it is recommended to add hydrogel to it - it will become a regulator of water and air balance. Here are the most optimal composition for landing:

• turf;
• 2 shares of leaf land;
• 1 part of humus and peat;
• a small amount of perlite.

Another important point is the size of the pot. As practice shows, for one plant of a cascade or ampelous variety, a container with a volume of at least 5 liters is needed. For a terry look, a slightly smaller container is suitable. In this case, a 3 liter pot will suffice. Simple varieties can be planted even more often without fear of any negative consequences. In particular, planting 3-5 bushes is allowed in a 3-liter pot. You should not plant less, because 1-2 petunias will look poor here. At the same time, a denser planting will lead to the fact that the plants simply begin to interfere with each other.

The variety of varieties of this beautiful and delicate flower is difficult to convey in words. Miniature and large, terry, small-flowered, large-flowered, floribunda, ampelous and surfinia - the first difficulty a grower faces is the need to choose a seed variety. After all, you still need to decide on the color of the future decoration of the garden or balcony.

The colors of the long-flowering petunia are similar to the result of the artist's fantasies. They are pure white or streaked, lemon, lilac, all shades of pink, scarlet and burgundy, with spots, stars and stripes. Proper planting and caring for a petunia, the photo of which is presented below, depends on the place of its cultivation: in a pot on the balcony and on the street or in open flower beds.

Peculiarities

Note characteristics in the care of this summer flower, which should be considered when planting it. In general, it is not difficult to care for a petunia, we will try to reveal the rules of care in more detail.

Petunia is a heat-loving and light-loving flower, therefore it grows well only in lighted places. Small-flowered varieties are better adapted to cool, damp weather, and large-flowered varieties cease to bloom in such conditions.

Grows on any fertile soil, but it develops better on loamy and sandy loamy, not acidic soils Oh. Liming of acidic soils has a positive effect on its growth, and moderate use organic fertilizers. Fresh manure is undesirable, as it leads to fungal diseases. Complex fertilizer is applied in the spring when digging the soil.

It tolerates short-term drought well, but prefers moist soil. It does not like stagnant water, so when grown in pots, planters or flowerpots, it needs drainage.

When choosing a variety, you need to consider the future location of the flower. When grown on a balcony or on a window in a flower pot, ampelous varieties are most often chosen, and upright varieties for flowerbeds and discounts.

Planting and growing seedlings

Petunia propagates mainly by seeds (less often by rooting cuttings). For planting, they take the number of seeds with a margin, since their sowing in early spring in low light or other adverse conditions does not guarantee 100% germination. Terry varieties sometimes give less than 50% germination. If there is no additional lighting for seedlings at home, then the seeds are sown in the second half of March. With special lamps, seeds can be sown in February.

The soil for seeds should have a light structure and contain a sufficient amount of nutrients. Upper layer 1 cm is desirable to sift to obtain a uniform consistency. Moisten the soil the day before sowing. Small seeds mixed with sand are scattered on the already wet ground, sprayed with water from a spray bottle, covered with glass (if it is not available, you can use a transparent film, in last resort- a newspaper).

In the absence of special mini-greenhouses for seedlings, good option containers will become plastic containers with a transparent lid. Dried seeds, coated with nutrients and a growth stimulator, are laid out on the ground one by one. Alternatively, seeds can be planted in peat tablets by placing them in a container with a lid. Condensation that appears on the lid, glass or film must be wiped off in a timely manner. All this can be seen in the photo on planting and caring for petunias.

After about a week, maximum two, the first sprouts appear, tiny and very fragile, so they need to be given Special attention and follow some rules to properly care for shoots:

• twice a day, the container should be turned on different sides to the light;
• spraying should be carried out only from a spray bottle, make sure that the soil is moist, but without moisture stagnation;
• daily airing for 5-6 minutes, lifting the glass or film, and when the first leaf appears on the seedlings, you can remove the shelter from them;
• when a second true leaf appears, the sprout is dived into a separate container (cups, containers, jars).

Plants are planted in a permanent place located in the open air from May, after the onset of a stable positive temperature (the exact dates depend on the region). If the sprouts have become cramped in the container, and the planting date has not yet come, a second dive into the container is carried out bigger size. They bloom 70-80 days after germination, so they usually plant a bush with buds or flowers in a permanent place.

To avoid the difficulties of adapting to outdoor night cold snaps, young flowers are gradually hardened. Seedlings are expected at temperatures up to +25 ° C, the sprouts that appear feel good at a temperature of +20 ° C, and after picking, the temperature should be reduced to + 16 + 18 ° C.

Planting and caring for petunia flowers at home

It is not necessary to have a garden or a flower bed to grow a beautiful petunia. A flowering plant grows well in flowerpots, and looks most advantageous in hanging planters on a balcony or window. The limited volume of the container leads to the fact that the care of petunias in pots requires more attention from the grower than when grown in open ground.

Transplant seedlings into flowerpots or containers for keeping outside the window or on open balconies after mid-May, when there are no more night frosts. If the balcony is closed for the night or it can be closed in case of a cold snap, then the seedlings are planted in permanent pots at the end of April. The planting density for plants in a limited container is 70 bushes per 1 m2. Most suitable varieties petunias for growing in hanging form - ampelous, that is, creeping, growing in length.

From a temporary container, seedlings are transplanted in the evening or cloudy weather into already wet ground, watered, the surface is mulched with peat. Mulch keeps moisture from evaporating and protects the soil from frost.

The composition of loose and moisture-intensive soil should include: humus, sand, soddy or leafy soil, peat. Perlite and hydrogel are added to lighten the earth, and lime is added to reduce acidity. Before filling the pots with soil, a 5 cm drainage layer is laid on the bottom: expanded clay, gravel, etc.

To grow a good petunia in a flowerpot, it is important to observe correct mode glaze. Plants in hanging pots require frequent watering under the root, especially on hot dry days - up to three times a day. During heavy and prolonged rains, containers with flowers should be brought under a canopy or on a balcony, as water harms delicate petals. Shelter may be required for strong wind, so it is better to immediately place flowerpots and hanging flowerpots in places protected from the wind.

Tip: Water the petunia in the evenings or on cloudy days so that the sun cannot burn the wet flower petals or leaves.

For better flowering, plants should be fed once every 10-14 days with organic or complex fertilizers with a high content of potassium, and if growth and development are slowed down, with stimulating solutions (Zircon or Epin). To maintain decorativeness, wilted flowers are removed in a timely manner.

Growing petunias outdoors

long and lush bloom and the brightness of colors contribute to the fact that petunias are often planted in flower beds, on alpine slides, in front gardens, decorate them with borders, while combining them with other colors. Planting and care in the open field is somewhat different from keeping flowers at home.

Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the second half of May, when night cooling is no longer expected. The distance between large-flowered bushes is maintained at 20–30 cm, between small-flowered bushes 15–25 cm, depending on the variety (see recommendations on seed packages). It is impossible to thicken plantings, as this can lead to diseases of individual bushes and even to the death of the entire flower bed. The landing site should be sunny and open, the earth should be sandy or loamy, perlite, humus, peat can be added to it. Before planting plants on the street, it is advisable to pre-harden them, taking them out for several hours in a cool room or on the street.

The land in the flower bed should always be moist and loose, weeded from weeds and fertilized. Distilled water is used for irrigation. Watering is carried out as the earth dries up, and at the root, so as not to injure the delicate flower petals. Withering flowers are removed to maintain an attractive appearance.

fertilizers

At different stages of development, the plant needs fertilizers:

• when planting seeds in soil or water for irrigation, growth stimulants (Zircon, Epin) are added;
• when shoots appear and after picking, watering is carried out with fertilizers containing phosphorus (P) for the development of the root system and nitrogen (N) for the growth of green mass (White Crystal, Agricola for ornamental plants);
• for a set of buds and good flowering, you need fertilizers containing potassium (K), which is responsible for flowering, and phosphorus (P) (Kristalon red, Kemira Lux, Agricola for flowering plants, Aquarin flower).

Garden stores sell liquid and dry fertilizers of various brands. The most important thing to pay attention to when buying is the ratio of N, P, and K. Dry fertilizers in the form of powder or granules are dissolved in water before use. Some gardeners, before planting, apply long-lasting fertilizers to the soil that dissolve gradually (superphosphate, nitroammophoska). But with such fertilizers, it is difficult to determine which nutrients the plants lack at a particular period of development.

The regularity of nutrient watering depends on the specific fertilizer and the recommendations indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging of the product. Usually it is 1 time in 1-2 weeks. If you want to feed more often, you need to proportionally reduce the dose applied each time. Top dressing can be carried out both under the root and “on the leaf”, and the concentration of the fertilizer solution for foliar spraying should be weaker than for watering “under the root”.