Garden: Everything You Need To Know About Petunias
Petunias are very pretty flowers that brighten up gardens from spring until the first frosts. With their vibrant colors, abundant blooming, and ease of care, petunias have more than one asset to charm gardeners.
How to recognize petunias?
Petunias are flowers from the Solanaceae family. The genus Petunia includes 35 species of perennial or annual plants, originating from the tropical regions of South America.
Their flowers can be single or double and vary in size depending on the hybrids. The surfinia, a very floriferous trailing petunia hybrid, is commonly found in commerce. There are also miniature petunias called Million Bells.
What are the advantages of petunias?
Petunias bloom throughout the summer and into autumn. They are often used to adorn balconies because their flowers come in a variety of colors (white, pink, red, purple...) and require little maintenance.
You can also enjoy their beautiful bright colors in flower beds and hanging baskets. Decorative and very floriferous, petunias make a stunning impact in all settings, provided they are given a sunny exposure and fresh soil.
How to plant petunias?
Petunias prefer a sunny exposure, sheltered from the wind, and fertile, well-moist soil.
It is recommended to plant them in the spring, when there is no longer a risk of frost, as this flower does not tolerate frost well. Its hardiness is only 8°C.
For planting in the ground, it is advised to space the plants at least 20 cm apart (30 cm for surfinias) and to arrange them in a staggered pattern to create lush flower beds.
For planting in pots or planters, it is important to choose a container that is large enough (30 to 40 cm in diameter) and to use potting soil for flowering plants.
How to care for petunias?
Petunias provide an abundance of trumpet-shaped flowers from spring until frost, as long as they are well cared for.
To encourage blooming, you should:
• Water sufficiently (especially during hot weather).
• Provide flowering plant fertilizer, rich in potash (liquid fertilizer in the watering every two weeks or slow-release fertilizer at planting).
• Remove wilted flowers regularly.
Petunias are propagated by sowing in February-March at 15°C or by cuttings in August.
Note: These easy-to-care-for flowers can be attacked by aphids and slugs!
Which variety of petunia should you choose?
The genus Petunia includes approximately 35 species and multiple varieties.
Among the most popular petunias are:
• the Grandiflora petunia with large flowers.
• the Cascade petunia with large flowers and a trailing habit.
• the Fanfare petunia with double flowers.
• the Star petunia with very decorative flowers featuring a white stripe on the petals.
Million Bells are miniature petunias, extremely floriferous in massifs, borders, or hanging baskets. They bear small bell-shaped flowers, hence their name. Less demanding in water than classic petunias, they bloom continuously from May until the first frosts.
Surfinias (Petunia surfinia) also offer prolonged blooming.
