How do you grow petunias so they spill over the pot, and when do they bloom?
If petunias are grown well, you can produce one “big ball of flowers” after another, but the idea of "grown well" is still too vague. So specifically, what are the growing methods that make petunias spill over the pot? When is the petunia flowering period?
1. When is the petunia flowering period?
1. The growth habits of petunias
When it comes to the growth habits of petunias, they can be summed up as: “likes warmth”, “likes light”, and “not tolerant of waterlogging or cold”.
Specifically, the most suitable environment for petunia growth is generally between 12-25°C, which is also why petunias enter a hibernation-like state of stalled growth in winter.
2. The flowering period of petunias
Among common home-grown flowers, the petunia's flowering period can be called extremely long. If grown outdoors, basically apart from winter, spring, summer and autumn are all the petunia's flowering period, usually concentrated from the end of April to the end of November each year.
And if grown in a greenhouse, by controlling the temperature in winter, petunias can be made to bloom all year round.
2. What are the growing methods that make petunias spill over the pot?
Although petunias are easy to grow and easy to flower, getting petunias to spill over the pot is not an easy thing, and there are many methods and techniques when it comes to growing them.
1. Choose petunia varieties that easily spill over the pot
Some people have a body type prone to gaining weight, and petunias are the same, somewhat helpless in the face of genetics. Some petunia varieties, no matter how carefully you care for them, only open a few flowers and will not spill over the pot, while some varieties, with just a little attention, bloom brilliantly and spill over the pot very easily.
According to the recommendations of petunia enthusiasts, the following varieties spill over the pot relatively easily, for everyone's reference: Ice Lavender, Bell Purple, Bell White, Pink Morning Light, etc.
In addition, when it comes to purchasing seeds, it is recommended to choose imported coated seeds, which generally produce flowers of higher quality.
2. Use a seedling tray to cultivate sprouts
Many people sow the seeds directly into the flower pot. In fact, to make petunias spill over the pot easily, it is best to first use a seedling tray to cultivate sprouts, and then carry out temporary planting and final planting in turn. Basically, 1 month after sowing you can carry out temporary planting, and 1 month after temporary planting you can carry out final planting.
3. Preparing the soil for final planting
If you do not know how to prepare soil yourself, it is recommended to go directly to a flower wholesale market to buy potting soil; some sellers will also kindly give it away. If you want to prepare soil yourself, you can refer to the soil recipe of “garden soil : sandy loam = 1:1”; after preparing the soil, apply an appropriate amount of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer to the soil as a base fertilizer.
Then transplant the young petunia plants into the flower pot; it is generally recommended to plant about 2-3 plants per pot.
4. Do the topping and pinching work well
Topping and pinching petunias is basically an essential measure to make petunias spill over the pot. After final planting, you can top and pinch once every time 2 pairs of leaves grow, which will stimulate the plant to grow more flower balls.
5. Pay attention to daily care
Mainly 3 aspects: watering, light and topdressing.
(1) Watering: keep the petunia's potting soil moist, but do not let water accumulate.
(2) Light: usually place the petunia on a balcony with relatively ample sunlight, and as far as possible drape the flower branches outside the flower pot, so as to give the petunia more space to spill over the pot.
(3) Topdressing: before flowering, apply some compound fertilizer as a topdressing every half month; after flowering, spray a little liquid fertilizer before watering every day.