Latest Prices of Petunia Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them

Petunia, also known as Jianzi flower, dwarf trumpet, and Bydongqie, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Petunia in the Solanaceae family. Its flowers are large and numerous, blooming profusely, with a long flowering period and rich colors. It is often used as an excellent flower bed and planter flower, and can also be planted in natural clumps or used as a cut flower. In a suitable climate or when grown in a greenhouse, it can bloom all year round. Now let us take a look at the prices of petunia seeds and how to grow them!

How much do petunia seeds cost?

The price of petunia seeds is generally around 80 to 100 yuan per jin, but prices vary widely depending on seed quality and variety. For example, imported mixed-color multiflora petunia costs around 600 to 700 yuan per jin. Petunia seeds are very small. Petunia is a long-day plant and requires plenty of sunlight during its growing period. Under normal lighting conditions, it takes about 100 days from sowing to flowering.

What varieties of petunia are there?

1. Merlin: A single-flowered, densely flowering variety with a plant height of 25 cm. It is an early-flowering type with strong branching and diverse flower colors.

2. Super: An early-flowering type suitable for outdoor cultivation, with large flowers and a flower diameter of 10 cm.

3. Blind Pearl: Flower diameter 10 cm, petals with dark veins, flower colors include orange, blue, pink, purple, etc.

4. Carpet: A single-flowered, many-flowered variety, heat-resistant, with strong branching and compact flowers.

5. Falcon: A dwarf variety with a plant height of 10 cm, flower diameter of 9 cm, and many flower colors.

Sowing methods for petunia

1. Time: In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, petunia can be sown and raised year-round under protected conditions. Since the flowering period is generally controlled for May 1 and National Day, autumn sowing is done in October to November, and spring sowing in June to July.

2. Containers: Petunia seeds are very small, so in principle plug trays can be used for sowing. However, it is recommended not to use plug trays, because plug trays are all in one piece, and if germination is uneven, it will bring certain difficulties to management.

3. Medium: The soil used for sowing petunia is actually quite particular. Although using planting soil or garden soil for sowing can still produce germination, it will greatly reduce the germination rate. Therefore, it is best to choose a loose, breathable, moisture-retaining, and sterile medium for sowing.

4. Sowing: When sowing petunia, to ensure one seed per cell, you can dip a toothpick slightly in water and then gently pick up a petunia seed and place it on the soil surface. After all seeds are sown, spray with a spray bottle, being careful not to wash away the seeds.

5. Management: After sowing petunia, place the flower pot in a seedling tray, cover it with a lid, and then put it in a warm and bright place. Uncover the lid every day for ventilation, and when the soil is found to be dry, spray water in time to replenish moisture. After seedlings emerge, provide light in time.

Growing methods for petunia

1. Soil: Petunia does not have strict soil requirements. Ordinary planting soil or garden soil can be used for growing it, but petunia is afraid of too much water, and excessive soil moisture can cause root rot and other problems. Therefore, potted petunia should use loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam soil.

2. Watering: Petunia should usually be watered in moderation to prevent it from becoming too dry or too wet. If too dry, the plant tends to wilt; if too wet, the roots tend to rot. In summer, when the weather is hot and evaporation is greatest, water should be replenished in time to keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged. During the rainy season, drainage should be timely to prevent waterlogging.

3. Light: Petunia is a long-day plant, and whether potted or planted in the ground, it needs to be given sufficient light. With ample sunlight, it grows vigorously with lush leaves and abundant flowers. If there is insufficient light, the branches and leaves tend to grow leggy, and there will be fewer flowers or poor flower quality.

4. Temperature: Petunia is not tolerant of frost. The suitable growing temperature is 13 to 18°C. In winter, the temperature should be 4 to 10°C. If it is below 4°C, plant growth stops. In summer, it can tolerate high temperatures above 35°C.

5. Fertilizing: Petunia has a long flowering period and needs continuous nutrient supplementation to keep blooming. In the early stage of seedling growth, thin fertilizer should be applied frequently. For potted flowers produced in winter, apply compound fertilizer frequently in March to April, and appropriately apply additional nitrogen fertilizer according to growth conditions.

6. Pests and diseases: Petunia diseases include damping-off and stem rot, and pests include diamondback moth, aphids, and leaf-rolling moths. Damping-off can be controlled with 800 to 1000 times diluted solutions of chlorothalonil or thiophanate-methyl.

7. Pruning: When petunia seedlings grow to about 10 cm tall, pinch off the growing tips to encourage side branches to sprout, resulting in more flowers. After each flowering, if seeds are not needed, promptly cut off the spent flowers and shorten the branches, so that side branches can continue to sprout and bloom continuously.