{"id":2357,"date":"2019-06-06T09:39:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T09:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2357"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:08:29","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:08:29","slug":"14-care-tips-for-your-petunias-to-keep-flowering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-care-tips-for-your-petunias-to-keep-flowering\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Care Tips for Your Petunias to Keep Flowering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Petunias are one of the most popular flowering plants around, and they can be found growing in gardens all over the world. Originally from South America, they can generally handle both hot and cold climates as long as they have access to the right kind of sunlight and nutrients to reach the flowering stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 100 different varieties of petunias to be found, although gardeners are lucky when choosing petunias because of the fact that there aren\u2019t all that many differences between all of the varying types. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re an annual, which has made them popular all year through a variety of different seasons. If you\u2019re hoping to add them to your garden, there are a few ways to make sure your petunias are the best around \u2013 and they\u2019re not nearly as hard to get flowering as you might have thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 great care tips for your petunias to keep flowering.
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1. They Prefer Sun<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Petunias prefer sun, and in areas with moderate climates, they should be planted where they have access to full sunlight if you want to ensure you have happy and healthy petunias \u2013 but the same isn\u2019t true for areas that get harsher sunlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in an area that gets more direct sunlight, then you should consider the fact that your petunias should get just as much shade instead. While petunias like to have access to sun, they don\u2019t like to be exposed to direct and harsh sunlight found in some hotter parts of the world that could risk killing the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that your petunias are starting to look wilted when exposed to the sun, the best thing you can do is install temporary shade-netting to block off the rays or move the plants to a better location if you planted them in pots, to begin with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Understand Your Variety<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 100 different varieties of petunia out there, and they come in a variety of different shades and types. The first thing that you should know about petunias if you\u2019re a novice gardener who has never planted them before is the fact that there aren\u2019t too many differences between the varying types of petunias \u2013 but you should still get to know which variety you have before you plant it just in case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some varieties of petunias will grow outwards far more than other, smaller varieties and this is one thing you\u2019ll have to compensate for when planting. As a rule, petunias shouldn\u2019t be spaced too close together \u2013 but too far apart and you\u2019ll end up having \u201cgaps\u201d in what should have been a solid row of flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do your research on which variety of petunias you have before planting them and it can save you a considerable amount of wondering about what goes where later on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Pruning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of flower varieties out there that won\u2019t take well to regular pruning \u2013 in fact, many flower types are very notorious for not liking a trim, but this isn\u2019t the case when it comes to petunias. When you\u2019re working with petunias, it\u2019s the type of flower that prefers rougher handling than say, roses, and they prefer much more regular pruning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When flowers start to go limp on the plant, trim them off immediately. This helps to promote new flower growth for the petunias, and it ensures that no lost energy is spent on trying to regenerate flowers that have passed \u2013 instead, the energy goes straight to producing new flowers, which is part of the secret to making sure you have a great blooming petunia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When pruning your plant, it also gives you an opportunity to examine the state of the rest of the garden and what needs to be watered, moved or composted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Water Regularly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If we could point to two things that are downright killers of petunias, it would have to be overcrowding and overwatering. You don\u2019t want to plant them too close to one another \u2013 even novice gardeners should know that plants need more than enough space for them to breathe \u2013 and when it comes to watering, a lot of novice gardeners will over-do it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petunias need to be watered regularly, but you might be surprised to find out that it\u2019s not nearly as regularly as you think. When in the early stages, you\u2019ll want to water at least twice a day (but not in such large volumes that you risk drowning your plants!) – but once they\u2019ve transformed into a larger bush, watering can be brought down to once per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This only counts when they\u2019re planted outside in an area that gets plenty of access to natural rain: \u00a0When petunias are planted in pots, increase watering to at least once every few days and adapt as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Winter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Petunias are known as an annual, and it\u2019s part of what\u2019s made them one of the most popular choices for flower gardens all over the world \u2013 but a lot of new gardeners will take this to mean that the plants can be left alone throughout the whole year, and this can prove to be a fatal mistake if you want to ensure the plant blooms again for next season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just because they\u2019re classed as an annual and do well throughout the year in a variety of climates doesn\u2019t mean that you can just leave them be: When the season changes towards winter and colder climates, it\u2019s best to protect petunia bushes from the harsh cold any which way you can \u2013 when potted, it might help to bring them inside for the colder mornings; put up protective shade netting when outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a side-note, petunias don\u2019t like wind \u2013 plant wind-breaking plants around it where possible, or put up features to block the direct wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Get Spacing Right<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Measuring twice and cutting once is a phrase that applies to more than just cutting wood, and the importance of planning is just as vital when it comes to putting up your garden. Novice gardeners should take care to put as much pre-planning into the positioning of their gardens as possible to avoid later thoughts about what they could have planted where (or a huge fuss to try and get something re-planted in another spot just for bad planning).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spacing isn\u2019t that hard with the majority types of petunia out there: They\u2019ll grow happily as long as you aren\u2019t overcrowding them, and most types are fine if they\u2019re planted about one to two feet apart \u2013 although some of the larger varieties might prefer a slightly further distance from one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve accidentally left a gap for growth in your petunia garden, there are a variety of other annual flowers that can grow happily (and flower at more or less the same time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Fatal Mistakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It can be said that petunias are one of the easiest flowers to get growing, and it\u2019s a perfect choice for new gardeners or anyone who feels like they still have to get a proper handle on their green thumbs \u2013 but there are still a few things that you have to keep in mind if you want them to grow happily and last throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that your petunias are getting enough sunlight, sometimes direct, without it being the kind of sunlight that can scorch your plants. You\u2019ll also want to make sure that they aren\u2019t exposed to any other harsh elements like snow or wind \u2013 this can ruin many flowers including petunias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliminate the use of chemical pesticides entirely if you want to ensure a completely healthy and happy garden: There are more than enough natural alternatives (including catnip) which can either be planted or turned into an herbal spray that will keep pests out of your garden for good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Regular Composting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Regular composting is an essential key to the health of any garden, and this is one of the first things that new gardeners should learn when it comes to setting up their garden \u2013 and even before it comes to planting their first petunia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great thing about composting is that it\u2019s great for more than just the garden; it\u2019s exceptionally good for the environment at the same time. It also allows you to put most of the waste that comes out of the garden right back into the garden \u2013 and this helps for a healthy cycle and a happy environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any flower trimmings that come off the petunia plant can go directly into the composting heap, just to name one example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How often should compost be added to the soil\u2019s top layer? For happy petunias, incorporate a layer of compost at least once per month and make sure the pH of the soil remains at a neutral level where possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Planting Tips
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While it’s possible for talented gardeners to grow petunias from seed, you’ll have a higher success rate if you start using transplanted seedlings. However, if you want to test your green thumb by growing petunias from seed, then it’s best if you start the germination process 12-weeks before you want to plant them outside in your garden.
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Petunia seeds are tiny in size, and they require plenty of light to spark the onset of germination. You’ll need to keep the seeds at a warm, consistent temperature to ensure they germinate \u2013 seeds left in the cold will not sprout. Keep the seedlings watered until they develop three sets of leaves, and are ready for transplant into the flowerbed.
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If you decide to go the easy route and order transplants, then it’s best to plant them in a well-lit area of the garden. Always plant petunias after the last frosty of the winter, as the frost will kill this fragile flower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Planting Petunia Companions
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Petunias please the eye when planted in beds by themselves, but they also make an excellent addition to a vibrant flower bed, filled with other colorful and attractive plants. Petunias are very diverse, allowing the gardener to benefit from the physical attributes of different species of the flower. For instance, \u201cSurfinia\u201d petunias like to extend their roots and blooms, acting as a creeping groundcover for your flowerbed.
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Companion planting using petunias requires you to plant the petunia next to another flower or shrub that accentuates the beauty in the floral arrangement in your garden.
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An excellent example of this strategy is container planting. Plant a shrub in the center of a container, and then add petunias around the base of the plant. The petunias grow upwards, and then fall over when their tops get heavy, resulting in a beautiful \u201cwaterfall\u201d display of the plants. There are so many ways to integrate petunias into your garden to compliment other flowers in the beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Planting Petunias in Hanging Baskets
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While petunias look fantastic in flowerbeds and pots, they also make an attractive addition to hanging flower baskets as well. Petunias are the ideal flower for locations that receive full sunlight. The sun rays refract the smorgasbord of colors in the plants, resulting in a mesmerizing display of natural beauty.
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We recommend you use cascading petunias in your hanging garden. These petunias produce flowers on the tops of long thin stems. As a result of the weight of the flowers, and the unsupportive stem, the flowers tend to fall over the side of the basket, providing a pleasant aerial display of color.
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Use a sturdy container for your hanging flower basket, and ensure that you have plenty of holes for adequate drainage of the soil. Refrain from using regular potting soil in your hanging baskets. Instead, opt for a lighter and airier substrate, such as vermiculite or peat moss. Mix a slow-releasing fertilizer into your chosen substrate to provide the petunias with the nutrients they need to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Blooming Later in the Season
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It’s possible to extend the blooming phase of your petunias into the late months of the fall season. To prolong the flowering cycle of petunias, deadhead the plant of all browning and dying petals or flowers. If you deadhead your petunias, you can expect one more round of blooming before the end of the fall season.
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It’s vital that you keep watering and feeding your flowers to ensure that they have the necessary nutrients available for a final round of seasonal flowering before the wintertime. After deadheading, it’s critical to add more fertilizer to your petunias, or you run the risk of the flower dying, instead of regenerating. Flowers need nutrients to survive, and without the correct minerals at the right stages, you limit the flowering potential of petunias.
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Dig up all of the plants that6 do not make it to the end of the season. The chances are that you’ll experience more flowers dying than regenerating, and that got nothing to do with your gardening technique, it’s the plant’s response to the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Reasons for Petunias Not Blooming
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You spend all that time germinating and planting your petunias \u2013 but they don\u2019t want to flower. This lack of flowering is a fairly common situation for novices dealing with petunias in their garden. There are various reasons why petunias may not bloom, and we decided to put together this list of top reasons for this occurrence, and what you can do to prevent it from happening in your garden.
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Poor lighting is the number one reason why petunias won\u2019t flower. The plants need full sunlight during the day to manufacture and process nutrients that allows for the petunia to flower. Check your flowerbeds during the day, and watch the path of the sun. If the bed does not receive at least 6-hours of direct sunlight per day, then your petunias won\u2019t burst into flower.
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Petunias are also sensitive to fertilizer, so make sure you are using a 30\/30\/30 formula that gives the plant the phosphorous and nitrogen it needs to bloom. Failing to water your petunias is another factor that results in limited or no flowering. Petunias require significant amounts of water to maintain the flowers. If you fail to water your garden regularly, your petunias will die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Deadheading Tips
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We mentioned earlier that deadheading your petunias will prolong the flowering cycle, giving the plant additional opportunities to grow and blossom flowers in the late fall. Deadheading involves removing all of the damaged or dead plant material from the petunia, then cutting the stem to inspire new growth. Always ensure that you cut the stem at a 45-degree angle to ensure the plant grows again. Cutting at a parallel angle to the ground will halt growth, killing the petunia.
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Deadheading is an excellent way to expand the size of the petunia, and the number of stalks that can bear flowers. If you consistently deadhead throughout the spring and summer, you\u2019ll have a large, healthy petunia with plenty of blossoms.
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When petals fall from the petunia, its natural response is to develop seed pods in place of the flowers so that the plant has the opportunity to continue its legacy in the following season. However, by clipping your petunias using the deadhead method, you have the chance to keep your petunia in a perpetual state of flowering.
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