Description of the petunia plant, photos, recommendations for planting and care, how to propagate correctly, methods of combating diseases and pests, interesting notes, species and varieties.
Petunia belongs to the Solanaceae family. The native area of growth falls on the territory of the South American continent (mainly in Brazil), where a tropical climate prevails. Under natural conditions, petunias can be found in the vastness of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina, and also not in the lands of Uruguay. And only a single species of petunia small-leaved (Petunia parviflora) grows in North America. According to data from various sources, the genus includes 15–40 different species. They began to cultivate petunias in the 18th century, but after a hundred years, thanks to the labors of breeders, hybrid varieties began to appear, among which there are both annuals and perennials. The latter are used for growing in pots and in the garden, which are in high demand among gardeners.
| Family name | Nightshade |
| Growing period | Perennial and annual |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous or semi-shrub |
| Breeding method | Often seed, rarely vegetative |
| Landing period in open ground | May or early summer |
| Landing rules | Seedlings are planted at a distance of 15 cm from each other |
| Priming | Drained, nutritious |
| Soil acidity values, pH | 6, 5-7 (normal) |
| Lighting degree | Sunny or semi-shaded place |
| Humidity parameters | Prevent the soil from drying out |
| Special care rules | Apply iron supplements |
| Height values | 0.2-0.7 m |
| Inflorescence shape | Single flowers |
| Flower color | Varied one-color or two-color, speckled and veined |
| Flowering time | May to October |
| Decorative period | Spring-Autumn |
| Application in landscape design | Flowerbeds and borders, mono-compositions, planted in pots, balcony boxes and garden containers |
| USDA zone | 8–11 |
The genus got its name thanks to the French word petun, which is called tobacco in Brazil. This is because the open flowers of these delicate plants resemble the open corolla of tobacco flowers in their outlines.
Among the varieties of petunias, there are both annual and perennial species that take a herbaceous or semi-shrub form. The stems can grow erect or spread over the soil surface. They are characterized by dense branching, since the formation of stem processes of the 2nd and 3rd order occurs in them. The height of petunias varies from 20 cm to 70 cm. In cross section, the shoots are rounded, on the surface there is pubescence of simple or glandular hairs. The color of the stems is a pleasant green shade. Leaf plates that unfold on the shoots grow in succession, devoid of petioles (sessile). Their sizes are different, and the outlines are very diverse. The foliage is entire, there is pubescence. The leaves are also painted in green color.
Flowering, which began in June, extends throughout the summer months. The arrangement of the buds is often single, the size of the opened flowers is large. Occasionally, an unpleasant aroma may be present. Petunia flowers are both simple and double. They sit on shortened pedicels originating in the leaf axils. The structure of the flower is symmetrical in several planes, that is, it is actinomorphic. The flower is formed by a corolla and a cup.
The calyx has a division into 5 sepals, which are 1/5 or 1/6 of their length at the base. The outlines of the sepals are narrowed or wide, their color is green, there is dense pubescence. The corolla is adorned with five welded petals that form a funnel. Corolla shape is correct, resembling a star. The length of the tube depends on the species and can be either short or long, narrowed or wide. The tube is loose on the cup. Inside the flower there are 4–5 stamens, which are spliced with a tube up to half of their length. Anthers have an elongated shape, they are formed on long filaments.
After pollination, the petunia has a fruit, which is a box with two valves. When it is fully ripe, it cracks, opening access to small, multiple seeds.
The plant is easy to care for and can become a worthy decoration of a garden or premises, since the splendor of flowering is its indisputable advantage. At the same time, a large number of types and forms will be able to satisfy the needs of any grower.
How to grow petunia: planting rules at home and outdoors?
- Growing place this luxurious flower should have a sufficient degree of illumination, since only in this case it will be possible to enjoy the unusually lush flowering.
- Soil for petunia pick up loose and nutritious, neutral acidity (pH 6, 57). Compost, river sand and a little peat chips are also mixed with garden soil.
- Planting petunias in open ground should be carried out when return frosts cannot destroy delicate plants. This period starts in May or early June. It is advisable to select the evening hours for this. The hole for the plant is prepared in such a way that an earthen lump that surrounds the root system can easily fit in without destruction. When planting, it is recommended to use the transshipment method when the earthen lump does not collapse. The container is simply turned over and the plant is carefully shaken out of it. Before that, you can knock on the sides of the pot. After the seedling is set in the hole, its root collar should be flush with the soil in the area. When planting in a pot, the root collar of the petunia should also not deepen. The planting container should have holes in the bottom for the drain of excess water. After planting, the soil next to the bush is easily compressed and watered. The distance between seedlings can be 10-15 cm, as the plants can easily tolerate thickening. However, this can cause the onset of powdery mildew disease when the soil will not be able to dry out.
- Watering. It is important when caring for petunia so that the soil never dries out, but you should not bring the substrate to acidification during watering, which can lead to the onset of fungal diseases. Watering should be especially frequent (daily) in hot and dry weather.
- General advice on care. It is recommended to periodically remove the blooming buds so that they do not interfere with the opening and formation of new ones. The soil when grown in open ground must be periodically loosened.
- Fertilizers when growing petunias, it must be applied regularly, starting a week after sowing. Nitrogen-containing preparations will help build up green mass, while those containing potassium and phosphorus stimulate and support flowering. The main thing is to protect the plant from chlorosis, therefore it is recommended to use formulations that contain iron and magnesium (for example, Mr. Color Anti-chlorosis). Top dressing is carried out regularly every 14 days, the funds are added to the water for irrigation. Such soluble fertilizers with a full complex of vitamins and minerals, such as Kemira and AVA, have proven themselves well.
- Preservation of petunias in winter … It is usually easier for gardeners to grow a new plant by sowing seeds than to preserve it in the fall. But still there is an opportunity to save not only individual cuttings, but the entire bush. With the arrival of autumn (September-November), the bush is carefully removed from the soil and placed in a pot with nutritious soil. It is important to do this before the cold begins. The temperature of the winter content should be 10-15 degrees Celsius, but a high level of lighting is needed. You can place a pot of petunia in a cold greenhouse, winter garden, on a veranda or on a glassed-in balcony, the window sill of an apartment building is also suitable. Watering at this time is poor, and top dressing is not applied. When the bush begins to bloom at the end of winter, then you can begin to feed it and moisten the soil as usual. With the arrival of spring, the bush is left in a pot, taken out into the street or planted again in a flower bed. Its shoots are used for cuttings.
- The use of petunia in landscape design. Basically, such plants (ampelous or bush species) are grown as mono-plantings, to decorate a flower bed, balcony or terrace (if planted in garden containers) or as a pot culture (when planting is carried out in pots). But because of its bright and lush flowering, it is possible to carry out a combination with other annuals. In this case, it is possible to form decorative and colorful phyto-islets not only in the garden, but also on the home porch or near the gazebo.
Read also about planting scented tobacco and outdoor care rules.
How to propagate petunia correctly?
Seed propagation is almost always available as it is fast, but if you want to preserve the parental characteristics of the plant, then vegetative propagation is suitable.
Reproduction of petunias using seeds
Since the seed material is very small, the growth rate of future seedlings is slow, therefore it is recommended to grow seedlings. Sowing is carried out in early February. Since there is still not too much light, additional lighting will have to be carried out so that the duration of daylight hours is 12 hours. If it does not work out to highlight, then the sowing is shifted to the beginning of spring. With this sowing regime, petunias can be expected to bloom in July or August, while in February, the bushes will begin to bloom in May.
To carry out sowing, shallow containers are used, you can take plastic containers with a lid. Since the seeds of the hybrid petunia are in the form of granules, they are easy to spread over the soil surface. However, such a granular seed degrades longer and will sprout 5 days later than normal seed. For planting, a ready-made seedling substrate is used. It is laid out in containers, compacted and leveled a little so that the seeds, due to looseness, do not fall into the depths. The soil is watered before sowing so that the seeds do not disturb afterwards. Due to their small size, ordinary seeds are distributed over the soil with a match or a toothpick. They can also be mixed with river sand to facilitate distribution. Each seed is lightly pressed into the substrate. After distribution, the container is covered with a lid or plastic wrap.
Many gardeners use peat tablets, the thickness of which in dry form will be less than 1 cm, but swelling with moisture, they turn into columns enclosed in a shell. These devices facilitate subsequent planting in open ground or a pot without a dive.
After sowing, petunia seeds hatch slowly, only after 2 weeks. All this time, the container should be located in a well-lit place, at room temperature (22-24 degrees) and with additional lighting. When shoots appear, it is advisable to lower the heat indices by 4–5 degrees for hardening. When 7 days have passed, the temperature is made the same again.
Important
When caring for crops and seedlings, you need to ensure that the soil does not dry out, but the bay is also prohibited. Ventilation is carried out daily to remove condensation.
When the petunia seedlings are 5 cm in height, a dive is performed in separate pots. For their transplant, they take the same soil and continue to grow it under a transparent film. When the height of the plants is equal to 10 cm, then pinching of the tops is needed to stimulate branching. The pinching is repeated every 10 days. A week after the picking, petunia seedlings are fed. When the stems are not pulled out, and the leaves are dark green, then complex preparations are used (for example, Kemiru). For weakened seedlings, it is recommended to take nitrogen-containing products. Transplantation into open ground can be performed after the threat of recurrent frost has passed, while plants move into pots as they grow.
Reproduction of petunias by cuttings
Plants that will be grown by rooting cuttings will grow and bloom faster. Such reproduction is done to preserve the uterine bushes. However, seedlings from seeds are distinguished by greater endurance and an abundance of flowers. At the end of winter or at the very beginning of March, if there are petunia bushes (which include such species as miniature, ampelous or terry), then blanks are cut from the tops of the shoots. Their length should be 4–6 cm. There are two pairs of leaves on the handle, but only two of them are left. Planting is carried out in pots filled with nutritious soil (peat-sandy) or soil for seedlings, but then a little sand is poured upward. The distance between the cuttings should not be less than 2 cm. A glass jar or a plastic bottle with a cut bottom is placed on top.
The care will consist in airing, moistening the soil, supplementary lighting and maintaining heat in the range of 20-24 degrees. After 1-2 weeks, the cuttings take root and are transplanted into separate small pots (no more than 5 cm in diameter). Also, the pinching of the tops is carried out, which continues to be repeated every decade. The soil is taken suitable for petunias and when the seedlings grow up and no longer fit in the pot, the container is changed or, under suitable conditions, they are planted in open ground.
Methods of combating diseases and pests when growing petunias
The plant is tender, but even with good care, there is a possibility of being hit by harmful insects, which can be introduced on seedlings, planting material, or they will come from neighboring areas. It is important to periodically inspect the petunia bushes and, if uninvited "guests" appear, immediately carry out processing. Most often, she will suffer from the following pests:
- Spider mite, determined by whitish cobwebs and spots on foliage. Insects suck nutritious juices from the leaves, which will lead to its drying and discharge, subsequently the possible death of the bush.
- Thrips - small bugs of black or dark brown color, distinguishable from the back of the leaf. When they appear on petunias, the foliage becomes covered with dry spots and stripes of a whitish tone, deformation of leaves, flowers and buds occurs, and the bush withers.
- Aphid, whose colonies can also cause plant death. Small bugs, green or black, suck out juices and lead to yellowing of foliage, its deformation and wilting. It is necessary to remove the pest quickly and immediately, since it can be a carrier of viral diseases for which there is no cure. A sign of the presence of aphids is a sticky coating, which becomes covered with parts of the petunia.
Insecticidal preparations such as Aktara, Decis, Confidor and Actellik work well against these pests. They must be applied following the manufacturer's instructions, and after 7-10 days, re-processing. With aphids, you will have to fight until the very last bug, otherwise you can expose the blooming beauty to a viral infection.
Among the diseases that can occur in plants, petunias bring more harm:
- Powdery mildew, in fact, a fungus, due to which the leaves take on the appearance of doused with lime mortar, giving way to a fluffy bloom and the foliage, curling up, begins to dry out. At the same time, it is important to reduce the dose of fertilizers containing nitrogen, if the plantings of the bushes are thickened, then thin out and adjust the watering. In the fight, spraying with fungicides (Skor, Topaz or Fundazol) or infusions of garlic gruel or mustard powder will help.
- Gray rot also a disease of fungal origin, but the damage affects both the root system and the aerial part. In this case, the plant can be lost in a few days. A spot of light brown color appears in the lower part of the shoots, and when it dries up, then its place is replaced by a fluffy bloom, after which the whole plant dies. It is important when caring for petunias to regularly inspect the bushes and remove all fallen leaves, buds and flowers. Reduce the number of fertilizing with nitrogen, but increase preparations with potassium and phosphorus. Apply the above fungicides or Maxim and Trichodermin.
- Blackleg a rather aggressive disease that quickly destroys seedlings. But the danger is that the attack easily passes from one seedling to another. Its signs are darkening in the root part of the plant, the stem softens and rots. The leaves underneath turn yellow and tough, and then curl. Seedlings are easily removed from the soil by simply tearing off the root collar. To avoid it, you should pickle the seeds, sterilize the pots and soil before sowing, do not flood the soil and use only warm water for irrigation. Bordeaux liquid or Fitosporin-M is used to fight. From folk remedies, an effective infusion of onion peel or marigold flowers.
It happens that due to a lack of iron and magnesium, which affect photosynthesis, chlorosis appears. Then the foliage turns yellow, and the color does not change on the veins - dark green. It is recommended to periodically feed with preparations such as Ferovit or Antichlorosis, which include the compounds missing for the plant.
Interesting notes about petunia flower
Usually, when cultivating, gardeners opt for a hybrid garden petunia (Petunia x hibrida) or Petunia axillaris, Petunia intergifolia. The year 1839 was the date of the appearance of the first variety, which was bred by breeders, but already in 1855 varieties appeared, characterized by a double flower structure. In 1881, the newly formed varieties began to have large corolla sizes. The 60s of the XX century became successful for breeding under the influence of hybridization at the cellular level and ampelous petunias.
There is no information that petunia is used in pharmacology, but Chinese doctors claim that the aroma of flowers has a very beneficial effect on the human body. The smell of petunia flowers improves the performance of the body, while all vital systems are affected: the digestive, circulatory, immune, cardiovascular, and also the central nervous system.
Petunia species
Since today there are a large number of varieties, in order to simplify their classification, the breeders decided to divide the plants according to the outlines of the bush, the parameters of the height of the shoots, the diameter with full disclosure of flowers and the number of petals in the corolla.
By the outlines of the bush
it is customary to distinguish: bush, ampel and cascade petunias.
Bush petunia
is a variety that includes a large number of representatives. This includes varieties with small parameters in height and dimensions of the corolla diameter (no more than 0.5 cm) and plants with high stems, the opening of the corolla in flowers of which reaches 1.6 cm. An important feature of all these varieties is highlighted - pruning is not required during cultivation … To stimulate the bushiness of the shoots (their growth on the sides), it is recommended to pinch the tops of the shoots. The greatest recognition was obtained for the following varieties and series:
- Triumph is an annual variety, with stems reaching 60 cm in height. The flowers are huge, when they open, they are 16 cm in diameter. The corolla has five separate petals, characterized by a corrugated surface and a fringed edge. Its color is soft or dark pink. The corolla tube is shortened. The color of the inner part is darker than the main background, resembling a pattern of light lines.
- Ultra F1 (Ultra F1) - a series composed of annuals, represented by dense bushes, reaching 35 cm in height and up to 40 cm in width. Large flowers with wide-open corollas open during flowering. Their diameter is measured 0, 9 cm. Plants are famous for their high resistance to cold snaps and damp weather. The color of the flowers in the series is quite wide (snow-white and pink, blue and purple, red and burgundy tones), and also includes "star" colors. The following varieties can be distinguished: Blue, Pink, White, Krasnaya Zvezda and Scarlett, Plume and Burgundy, Raspberry Star.
- Limbo F1 (Limbo F1) it is also a variety series of annuals, the stems are undersized, the flowers are large. Spherical bush, 20 cm wide and 20 cm high. A large number of buds open early. The diameter of flowers is 8–12 cm. There is resistance to precipitation. The petals are painted in all sorts of shades, including silver, crimson, and salmon. A pattern of veins or spots of a light tone in the central part gives decorativeness.
Petunia ampelous
It is customary to decorate balconies and terraces with plants, planting is in pots. As it grows, flexible shoots become dangling lashes and can vary in length from 0.5 to 1.5 m. They bloom for a long time and profusely. The corolla has the shape of a bell or a funnel, the petals are simple, or their surface is covered with fine folds. The edge of the petals is also different: simple, carved or fringed. When fully opened, the diameter of the corolla ranges from 1.5 to 8 cm. The color is pleasing to the eye with its variety, there are also varieties with two or three colors, the petals are decorated with veins or a border along the edge of a contrasting tone. The corolla core is lighter or darker than the main background of the petals. Among florists, the most successful varieties and series are:
- Wave (Wave F1) - a series that unites annuals, the stems reach 1, 2 m in length. If such plants are planted in a flower bed, then there is the possibility of the formation of flowering "rugs" that can withstand unfavorable weather. With prolonged flowering, numerous buds open. Corollas are funnel-shaped, the diameter is 5–7 cm. The color is varied: dark blue and crimson, lavender and pale pink, deep pink and pale lilac.
- Avalanche F1 - a series with a high decorative effect. The length of the hanging shoots is 0, 6–0, 8 m. The flowers are large, abundantly cover the stems, and when the plant is planted in pots, they form “streams” in the form of flower streams. The diameter of the flower can be measured 7-9 cm. If the planting is horizontal, by means of shoots of the 2nd and 3rd order, a "pillow" of a rounded shape with a diameter of 16 cm is formed. The colored petals of the corolla are very diverse. But due to the fact that they have a pattern of whitish veins and stripes originating in the pharynx and having the appearance of a star, the colors are expanded.
- Velvet (Velvet F1) - a series of annual petunias with hanging stems. Their length parameters vary within 0.8–1 m. There is a high growth rate and resistance to diseases. There are many flowers, the petals are velvety, the diameter of the corolla is 5–7 cm. Honey plant. Blooming later. The color of the petals includes dark pink, purple or salmon colors. Greater variety is achieved due to the pattern of dark veins and the inner color of the petals - pale yellowish or almost black.
Petunia cascading
is somewhat similar to ampelous. Shoots are the same flexible, but thicker and less long. When the plant is young, the shoots rush up, but gradually they begin to creep, lengthening and hanging from the edges of the planting container. The size of the flowers is larger here. Famous among gardeners are:
- Gioconda F1 (Gioconda F1). Annuals included in this series are distinguished by year-round flowering. They are characterized by unpretentiousness to the weather and can survive a decrease in heat to -8 degrees of frost or up to +40 degrees of heat. The bush is undersized, the stems will not grow higher than 20 cm, but the length will be 100 cm. The shoots are characterized by strong branching and powerful outlines. There are many flowers, their diameter is no more than 6 cm. The corolla is white, bright scarlet and salmon, pink and orange, crimson and purple.
- Tornado F1 "(Tornado F1). This small series of flowers has a lot and their diameter is 5–7 cm. Fast-growing shoots stretch up to 1.5 m in length. The corolla is painted in tones of pink, purple, snow-white, raspberry and red colors. Flowering starts in May and usually stretches to persistent frost.
- Burgundy F1 is a newly introduced hybrid variety with a lot of flowers. The length of the stems of the main and lateral ones is in the range of 50-60 cm. The size of the flowers is average, the corolla opens up to a diameter of 5-6 cm. Flowering occurs in the period May-September. The color of the petals is crimson red or deep blue tone.
Following the classification, all petunias are also divided by the number of petals in the corolla into
- Terry, with the number of petals exceeding 5 units. Here are combined specimens with medium and large parameters of the height of the bush, bush petunias, cascading and ampelous, characterized by small and large flowers. The beauty of the plant is given by the edge of the petals - velvet, curly and in small folds. The color of the corolla in such plants is either monochromatic or with patterns of specks, specks, veins or edging. The disadvantage is instability to weather conditions, precipitation or frost. The best varieties were recognized - Pervaya krasavitsy and Algefiillter Zwerg, Double Cascade and Pirouette.
- Simple petunias are the most numerous association, having: different indicators in height, outlines of stems and structure of the bush. The corolla of the flower is funnel-shaped, there are 5 petals, their edge is smooth or wavy. The color of the flowers is monochromatic (with a pattern of dots and veins) or two-color. It is highly resistant to weather conditions (precipitation, heat or frost). The best were recognized - Dance of Passion, Amaretto, Typhoon and Imperial.
There are petunias with different petal surfaces
- Whole, which have a smooth edge. For example, a variety series "Unicum" represented by tall plants, erect densely branched stems which reach 50-60 cm in height. Bloom from May to October. The diameter of the opened rim is within 5–7 cm.
- Fringed - folded petals with a jagged or wavy edge. A prominent representative is the variety series "Aphrodite F1". She united annuals, by means of upright shoots with dense branching, forming a bush in the form of a ball no higher than 40 cm. The foliage is small, ovoid. The corolla is funnel-shaped. Its diameter is 8-10 cm. The color is snow-white, pink or salmon. The hem resembles ruffles. Flowering occurs from May to September.
Related article: Planting and care when growing schizanthus in the open field.
Video about growing petunias:
