Growing luxuriously blooming petunias in the garden or in a container on the balcony is not at all difficult.
You just need to follow the basic rules for caring for this flower.
Sowing petunias for seedlings
Petunia is sown for seedlings already at the end of February. The seedlings need to be provided with a long daylight, otherwise the seedlings will stretch.
All varieties of petunia require regular, but moderate watering. If the substrate is allowed to dry out, the tender seedlings will die.
Small petunia seeds are sown superficially, simply scattering them over the substrate.
The container is covered with glass on top or covered with transparent film to create a greenhouse effect.
The shelter is opened every day, the condensation is removed and the surface of the soil is watered with a fine spray.
The container is kept in a light and warm room. When the seedlings rise a little, the cover is removed.
Caring for petunias in the garden
Petunia prefers bright sun and will not bloom abundantly in the shade. Therefore, the area should be open.
Petunias are fed several times per season to stimulate flowering.
Use complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants, diluting them strictly according to the instructions. This way, petunia will bloom more abundantly and longer.
Petunias can be fed with just phosphorus twice a month. Petunias in containers should be fertilized every week, as a plant in a small container quickly depletes the soil.
The flowerbed is watered regularly and the upper shoots on the bushes are pinched to stimulate branching.
Faded flowers should be picked off all the time to allow the plant to produce new buds, rather than waste energy on seed ripening.
Petunia in the garden can be attacked by spider mites. This small insect entangles the bushes with the finest web if it is hot outside and there is not enough moisture. Spider mites can cause the death of the flower. Petunias are sprayed with insecticides against insects.
If you provide petunias with proper care, they will delight you with bright flowers until late autumn.
