How to Grow and Care Petunia Flowers

Petunias flowers are one of the most popular flowers in the world for sowing in flower beds or pots. These easy-to-grow petunia flowers have outstanding flower colors, patterns, and the longest flowering period. Petunia is mostly grown as an annual flower. There is a lot of variation within the petunia genus. The majority are offered for sale as hybrids, and they can have single or double trumpet-shaped blooms, ruffled or smooth petals, striped, veined, or plain colors, a mounding or cascade growth habit, and even some varieties are scented.

The petunia flower is originating from South America. The petunia flower comes in a variety of colors from ultra-brilliant pink, to red, purple, white, and soft pastel shades. Even you can see petunia flowers in any color from black to botanically elusive blue in color and most of the cultivars produce bi-colored flowers. The size of flowers also depends on the cultivar which is either single or double-sized flower.

Different cultivars have different growth habits. Some of the cultivars grow as trailing types while some perform best in pots or containers. The foliage is hairy and slightly sticky.

The plant grows at a height of 6-18 inches and they can spread for about 18 inches wide even some cultivars go about 4 feet wide.

Petunia color patterns add pop to the lawn and are often used in borders, containers, hanging baskets, and seasonal ground cover. You will be amazed to know that some cultivars even have fragrances.

Before you know about their growth requirements you need to be well aware of your growth zone. Petunia grows mostly as an annual flower in all zones but can be grown as tender perennials in growth zone 9-11.

Types of Petunias Flowers

Petunias come in a wide variety of appearances and maintenance requirements. Based on their characteristics, the petunia varieties are divided into different groups. Some petunias are more suited to container growing, while others are better for massing in the garden.

1-Grandiflora

Grandiflora petunia cultivars contain very large flowers and are best grown in containers or hanging baskets. But this group does not tolerate hot, humid climates. Grandiflora and multifloras varieties are spaced about 12 inches apart in full sunlight conditions.

2-Multiflora

Multiflora petunias are the most durable and prolific. They have smaller flowers than Grandiflora but they have more flower numbers and are ideal for summer bedding or mixed border. They are more tolerant to wet weather.

3-Floribundas

Floribundas are intermediate between the multiflora and grandiflora groups. Similar to multiflora types, they are free blooming and have medium-sized flowers.

4-Millifloras

Petunias sold as milliflora varieties are significantly smaller than other varieties. Even little the flowers are barely 1 to half inches in diameter, they are abundant and bloom the entire season. These are planted at a space of 4-6 inches.

5-Spreading or Trailing Petunias

These cultivars are low-growing and spreading growth habits and can spread up to 3-4 feet. These cultivars produce flowers along the entire length of each stem and that’s why they form a beautiful, colorful groundcover. They can also be used in window boxes or hanging baskets.

Some Petunia Cultivars to Grow in Your Garden

Grandifloras

‘Sugar Daddy’ (Petunia Daddy Series), the purple flowers are veined with dark colors.

‘Rose Star’ The rose-pink flower is striped with a white center.

Floribundas

‘Celebrity’ This petunia are compact flower-producing series and rain-tolerant. The flowers reach 2-3 inches across.

‘Madness’ these series has large-sized petunia flowers, about 3-inch flowers in many streaked and solid colors.

Double Madness’ Petunias are compact and floriferous with big, 3-inch flowers.

Millifloras

‘Fantasy’ forms neat, compact mounds.

Trailing Petunias

‘Purple Wave’ these cultivars produce big flowers of deep rose-purple.

Wave’ this series is available in a multitude of colors. They are weather tolerant, disease-resistant, and heavy-blooming.

Other Cultivars

‘Carpet Series’.  The most popular cultivars are grown compact and produce flowers earlier. The blooms are 1/2 -2 inches in diameter, and are come in a wide variety of colors, and are ideal for ground cover.

‘Heavenly Lavender’. These cultivars produce early blooms and the blooms are compact and double.

Primetime’ This series produces compact and uniform, covered with 2^1/4 inch flowers.

 

How to Care for Your Petunia Flowers

Know about the Light Requirements of Petunia flowers

Petunia varieties like full sun for better growth for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. But petunias that are grown in summer must be protected from harsh sunlight, especially the strong afternoon sun. This helps the plant to keep fresh and bloom better. The more shade they receive, the fewer flowers they’ll produce. Impatiens are a better choice for blooming in shady places. Petunia needs full sun to grow and they will become spindly in low light and doesn’t produce flower well in shade. Petunias like full sun to partial shade. The harsh sun and extreme heat in summer can cause a temporary cease in blooming.

What are the temperature and humidity requirements?

The ideal temperature of petunias is roughly 60-75^oF (15-21^oC) during the daytime and 55-65^oF (12-18^oC) at night time. The plant can tolerate about 40^oF (4^oC) temperature. Frost or freezing temperatures will damage the plant and even in severe conditions can kill the plants. The petunia plant prefers low to moderate levels of humidity.

Which Soil is Preferred by Petunia Flowers?

Petunia prefers light, fertile soil with excellent drainage. They can tolerate a wide range of soil types but like slightly acidic soil pH. The plant must be 6-8 inches apart. If your soil is heavy clay then mix it with loamy or sandy soil.  The petunia plant performs best in sandy or clay loamy soil. If you have poor soil spread the organic matter 2-3 inches thick, and incorporate it into the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.

How to start your Petunia flower?

The easiest way to start a new plant is to buy young plants from a nursery. Be careful while purchasing nursery plants that they are short and compact. Leggy petunias with flowers are already settled, so don’t purchase them.

You can also start your plant from seed. If you want to start through seeds, start the seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your zone’s projected to last frost date.

How to grow petunias from seed?

Fill the seed starter cells or trays with seed-starting mixtures.

And on top of a wet seed-starting mix, scatter the tiny petunia seeds.

The petunia seeds are very small and need a higher amount of light in order to germinate, so gently press them down, but avoid burying them.

Apply water only with a fine mist or shower.

Cover the container with clear plastic sheets.

Place the container in a warm spot but out of direct sunlight. Seedlings start appearing within 7-10 days.

Remove the plastic sheets once the seedling emerges.

When the seedlings reach at 3-4 true leaf stages transplant them into well-prepared soil or in pots or containers.

Plant them 6-8 inches apart to fully cover the area.

Water Requirements of Petunia Flowers

All flowering annuals don’t like dry soil for longer periods or to sit in soggy soil. Provide 1-2 inches of water at regular intervals to your petunia flowering bed on a weekly basis. However, some trailing or spreading types of petunias or potted petunia typically needs more frequent and deep watering. Keep in mind, too much water can rot their roots, and also result in leggy petunia plants with few flowers. But don’t let the soil dry out more than 2 inches down. The container must have proper holes to run away extra water, otherwise, this creates issues.

How much Fertilizer do need for Your Petunia Flower?

At the time of soil, preparation adds compost or balanced fertilizer according to the requirement of the soil, according to the soil test. Fertilize them every two to three weeks with a liquid fertilizer made for flowering plants. Spreading or trailing types of petunias need more fertilizer amount than other varieties. For container-grown plants incorporate slow-releasing fertilizer into the soil.

Pinching or Deadheading of Petunia Flowers

If you want to get more branching or a fuller plant, pinch back the stems after some time of plantation. Deadheading can increase the number of flowers and attractiveness of the plant, especially for the larger-flowered petunias. To further know about the deadheading of petunia flowers click here.

Problems with Petunia Flower

There are few serious insects or diseases that attack the petunia plant.

Aphids.

Due to the Aphid attack petunia plant becomes misshapen and its leaves turn yellow in color, ultimately falling. The produced flowers are distorted. The sticky ‘honeydew’ are also seen on leaves. Wash the damaged plant with water to cure from disease. Apply insecticidal soap on plants. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen and provide slow-release fertilizers.

Slugs/snails

With the attack of Slugs/snails, irregular holes appear on leaves and flowers. The slimy secretion also appears on plants and soils. To protect your plant from this damage hand pick the insects. Avoid a thick amount of bark mulch.

Diseases

Petunias can also be susceptible to fungal diseases, such as gray mold, especially in rainy climates. So, if you live in wet areas choose varieties with higher moisture tolerance.

Other common problems with petunias

Leggy Stems

This problem is most often caused by low light availability. To recover from this problem deadhead flowers regularly, pinch back the stems, and place the plant in a full bright location. To know further about how to prevent your petunia from becoming leggy click on the link here.

Wilted flowers or leaves

There are several reasons for wilted flowers or leaves of petunia, but the most common problem is water, either too much or too low water. Check the soil if it’s moist and provide them with water on a regular basis. If the soil is dry, water your petunia plants.

Some Interesting Uses of Petunia Flowers in Your Garden

Petunias are a popular flower for giving a yard an instant boost of color. They have a wide range of applications and are highly adaptable. Here are some suggestions.

Place them in seasonal landscaping beds as colorful embellishments.

Grow them separately in window boxes and hanging baskets or among other hardy plants.

Use them in containers as filler or spiller plants.

Petunias may be grown in large groups to create a striking color canopy.

You can plant a single color along a path or with other taller plants to make a breathtaking border of Petunia flowers.

Petunia flowers may be used to rapidly fill in empty patches in your garden and prevent weeds.

You can plant your petunia near deck or patio to keep mosquitos away.