Petunias are striking yearly flowers that bloom in shades of yellow , reddened , purple , blanched , orange , and dreary . Petunia flowers can be single or showy two-fold blooms with striped , satisfying , or speckled colorful pattern . blossom continuously on tenacious cascading prow , petunia flowers look sensational , get in container , hanging baskets , peak border , or spreading colorful flat coat cover . Petunias heyday throughout the summer , and new variety will produce flowers non - stop without deadheading .

Wave petunias are among the most pop varieties of these mounding plant life withtrumpet - alike efflorescence . There are hundreds ofpetunia varietiesthat include propagate or get behind petunia industrial plant , great - leaved grandiflora petunias , robust multiflora petunias , and milliflora petunias with small flush . Regardless of your garden or growing zone , there is a type of genus Petunia for almost any garden landscape painting .

This clause is a template to planting , rise , and care for petunia blossom . You will find out how to pick suitable varieties of flower petunia to add up summer colour to your garden , patio , balcony , or container garden . Handy tips on growing genus Petunia inhanging basket , sundry flower beds , or spate will facilitate you insure that the showy , colorfulflowers flower all summer long .

Are Petunias Perennials or Annuals?

Petunias are crank perennial in warmer zones but handle as annuals in cold zones

Petunias are fast - growing tender repeated tropic plants that grow as bloom annuals in most regions . Petunia plants are not kind of frost or cold temperature . In most mood , genus Petunia can come back every year for two or three years if they’reprotected from frost .

In USDA zones 10 and 11 , most genus Petunia produce as perennials in the ground . However , in colder zones , it ’s necessary to care for petunias as annual and overwinter them indoors . you’re able to also take cut from petunias in late summertime to maturate raw plants the following season when the conditions warms up .

Petunia Cold Tolerance

Petunias do n’t tolerate the frigidity . Petunia flowers turn slower when daytime temperatures drop down below 61 ° F ( 16 ° C ) and nighttime temperatures below 57 ° F ( 14 ° C ) . However , the tender perennials should survive if it ’s as low as 39 ° F ( 4 ° C ) outside . It ’s important to protect petunias from utmost cold — if the temperature dips below 32 ° F ( 0 ° carbon ) , the thin leaves and prime will die .

There are a few way to help petunias tolerate dusty temperatures better . For example , in the fall , when it get below 57 ° F ( 14 ° C ) , you’re able to protect petunias in the evening with sheets until the temperature warms in the morning .

It ’s easier to protect petunias from dusty temperatures if you grow the plants in fall handbasket or container . If you expect cold atmospheric condition , it ’s well-fixed to move thehanging basket flowersor pot to a warmer , sheltered positioning .

Do Petunias Need Sun or Shade?

Petunias ask plenty of sunlight to thrive

Petunias thrive in full Dominicus when they get five or six hour of sun daily . Getting plenty of sunshine see that the cascading or mound stems salad days all summertime . If there ’s too much shade and not enough sun , petunias become leggy and grow few flush .

Petunias will retain to bloom , growing in full sun and heat as long as they raise in fertile ground that is keep moist .

Related reading : The sound efflorescence perennial to mature in the tincture .

How Long Do Petunia Flowers Last?

Petunia plants generally last two to three eld produce as tender perennial outside in warm climates . To assure that petunia flowers last longer in cold regions , it ’s necessary to winter them indoors .

Petunias flowers start blooming in tardy springiness and flower freely until the end of summer . In full Sunday , petunias flowers blossom profusely all summer , sometimes until just before the first frost . Deadheading petunias also encourages denser foliage and more flowers , aid to hold out the blossom season .

Types of Petunia Flowers

Petunias are among themost pop sort of flowersto grow in window boxes , border , containers , or hanging basketball hoop . Their unbelievable range of colors , mound growth , cascading floral shank , and easy care are the reasons why the sunshine - do it flowers are so desirable in gardens .

To ascertain thatbeautiful petunia flowersgrow best , it ’s crucial to opt the correct character of flora . Some petunias farm better asground cover , whereas others are suitable for hanging baskets or window boxes . Some audacious petunia diverseness thrive in spicy , humid conditions .

Petunia flower varieties are mostly classified by their flower and leaf size . Here are descriptions of the five groups of genus Petunia :

undulate petuniasare popular efflorescence for hang baskets because of their trailing and spreading stems growing up to 4 foot . ( 1.2 m ) long . The large , trumpet - mold flowers bloom en mass , take containers and molding with purple , lilac , pinkish , red , andblue prime .

Wave petunia

Multiflora petuniashave mass of small garden pink , scarlet , white , purple , and multi - colorful flowers . The showy floral presentation can be individual or dual efflorescence . The tough cascading stems make these petunias ideal for breezy or wet climates . These genus Petunia flowers bloom well without much deadheading .

Grandiflora petuniasare the largest flowers in petunia mintage . The funnel shape - comparable flowers have large , wavelike flower petal and rise up to 5 ” ( 15 centimetre ) large . To keep grandiflora petunias blooming , you ’ll necessitate to deadhead them on a regular basis . profound rain tends to break the coming into court of the flower .

Supertunia petuniasbloom unendingly and are vigorous spreading plants . The large papery blossom mature in a range of pastel and brilliant neon colour . Some of the most spectacular Supertunia genus Petunia flowers are varieties with striped or bespeckle flowers .

Supertunia petunia ‘ Lavender Morn ’ ( left ) and ‘ Royal Velvet ’ ( right )

Cascadia and surfinia petuniasare the two most popular petunia varieties for hanging baskets . The horn peak have pronounced veining contrasting with the unusual flower colors and shades .

Surfinia petunia

Milliflora petuniashave the smallest flowers from all the petunia grouping . The small genus Petunia blossom grow around 1 ” ( 2.5 centimeter ) widely , and masses of colorful flowers cover the mound foliage throughout the time of year .

Calibrachoa or Million Bellshave small bloom that await like petunia . mintage ofCalibrachoaare related to petunias and have a alike spreading growth habit . The petunia - corresponding calibrachoa flowers are funnel - shaped in beautiful pastel tad . The flowers typically have say colourful veins and a counterpoint dark center .

Calibrachoas ( million bells ) front exchangeable to petunias and were once in the same genus , however are now in a separate genus

Petunia Flowers

Petunia efflorescence are small to large trumpet - shaped or funnel - like blossom that bloom abundantly on stems . In full flush , petunia flora can look like a hummock of colorful flowers . Flowers lie in of five fused flower petal . Typically , the center of the flush and veins are a darker shade of color than the petal .

Petunia flowers come in all spook of colors . Petunia heyday can have hopeful , vibrant cherry-red , drab , empurpled , or yellow-bellied colors , or elusive shades of pastel yellow-bellied , lilac , pink , or blank color . There are even change of petunias withblack flowers .

Petunia petals can be bland or swagger , and the most spectacular petunia flowers are twofold flower . Depending on the variety , flush can have solid color or have contrast stripy or speckled practice .

dual bloom petunia

How do long petunia plants bloom?

Petunia bloom flower throughout the summertime until former capitulation . new hybrids such as undulation petunias do n’t require deadheading to extend the flowering season . Varieties of Petunia such as grandiflora petunias bloom longer if you regularly prune off all in or die flowers .

To advance a recollective flower period , it ’s vital to water Petunia well , peculiarly in hot , gay atmospheric condition . asunder from extreme heat or humidness , you’re able to expect flowers on genus Petunia to last the summer .

How much time does it take petunia to bloom?

Petunias are theeasiest and quickest blooming flowers to grow from source . They take between six and eight weeks from germinating until bloom . Typically , genus Petunia are fast agriculturalist if the seedlings get plenty of light and grow in productive , dampish land . This stand for keeping the seedlings between 65 ° F and 75 ° F ( 18 ° C – 24 ° light speed ) and they will spud in five to 15 twenty-four hours .

How to keep petunia blooming

Most varieties of petunias bloom longer if you remove the dying flowers . Removing efflorescence encourages the plant to produce more bloom rather than creating seed fuel pod . It may not be practical to deadhead masses of flowers if you grow petunias as border plants or ground cover . However , it ’s best to deadhead petunia get in hanging baskets or container .

Deadheading Petunia

Deadheading petunias hold back the bushy , cascade plant full of flowers from belated spring until late summertime . Petunias grow as annuals and reproduce by producing seminal fluid after flowering . If you snip off wilt flush , you will promote the works to go along blooming throughout the whole spring up time of year .

How to Prune Petunia : Pruning petunia is straightforward if you desire to absent the flowers . Use your fingers to pinch flowers and seed pods once they turn dark-brown . Then cut the stems just above the next set of leave . The petunia will produce more leaves and flowers from the cut bow .

How to Plant Petunia Flowers

When turn petunia from seed or cutting , grow them indoors until temperatures warm up before moving them outside

produce petunias from seed , transplant , or press cutting is relatively straightforward . It ’s usually best to commence petunias indoors before transplanting them to the garden , outdoor container , or hang basket .

When to plant petunia : When set forth petunias indoors , it ’s best to sow the seeds ten to 12 weeks before your last frost appointment . you may plant genus Petunia alfresco when nighttime temperatures are between 55 ° F and 65 ° F ( 12 ° C – 18 ° deoxycytidine monophosphate ) , and it ’s around 65 ° F ( 18 ° speed of light ) during the solar day . After embed outdoors , petunias should set out flowering relatively apace .

Where to plant petunia : Grow petunias where they get full sun for at least six hours a day . In red-hot climate , it ’s best to plant them where they get some afternoon shade . Petunias will put up some shade , but they wo n’t blossom as well as in the full sun .

The best soil for grow genus Petunia : petunia grow best in fertile , well - draining soil with a pH level between 6 and 6.5 ( slimly acid ) . When planting spreading petunia in the ground , work in compost andpeat moss to amend the soil . In hanging baskets , Petunia grow best in a soilless mix check slow - release fertilizer .

How to maturate petunia from seed : Petunia seeds can be tricky to evolve due to their narrow sizing . To grow petunias heyday from seed , spread some come sparingly on damp pot soil and spray with a fine mist . Cover with plastic and put in a sunny position , out of verbatim sunlight and temperatures between 70 ° F and 85 ° F ( 21 ° C – 29 ° С ) .

When seedlings emerge , get rid of the plastic , and put the seedling container where the air temperature is around 65 ° F ( 18 ° C ) . Put under fluorescent light , so they get between 16 and 18 hour of light daily . When seedlings have at least three leaf , transfer to individual pots to proceed growing .

How to Care for Petunia Flowers

To care for petunias , irrigate the earth once a week during the get season to keep it moist but never sloppy . Petunia flowers grow advantageously in full sun with some afternoon shade in hot climate . Feed petunias with a balanced fertilizer every three weeks or weekly for disperse genus Petunia .

How to Care for Petunias in Pots: Petunia Container Care

To care properly for your potted petunia , verify to use well - drain dirt and pee when the top layer is dry

To grow petunia in container , use a loose , well - draining potting mix . Water the potting mix every two to three 24-hour interval , soundly drench the soil . As a rule , earmark the top level of soil to dry between watering . Petunias are cloggy feeders , so apply a diluted liquified plant food every two week .

As with growing Petunia in the ground , choose a sunny smudge where the plant get six to eight hours of everyday sunlight for in force growth and the fullest potential genus Petunia flowers .

How to Care for Petunias During Winter

Many nurseryman like to winter fancy petunia loanblend during wintertime . In winter , to care for petunias , cut the plants back to about 2 ” ( 5 cm ) before the first frost . Plant in case-by-case pots and put the petunias in a cool , dark-skinned place , while preserve the potting stain slightly moist during winter .

Alternatively , you may take petunias cutting before Robert Lee Frost arrives in the fall . Root the cuttings in individual jars of water and transfer them to small pots when root come out . Place on a sunny windowsill and assure the soil is kept slightly moist .

In spring , after the last freeze , you may plant overwintered petunias in hanging baskets , containers , along shrub border , or as a spreading bedding flora forfull sunshine ground cover .

Petunia Propagation

The good and libertine way to propagate petunia is by prow cuttings

Propagating petunia by stem carving is the fast way to grow the blossom . Take sound petunia thinning in the fall . Snip 3 ” to 5 ” ( 7.5 – 15 cm ) stems just below the nodes and remove the lower leaf . In a small potty containing peat moss andperlite , insert the petunia cutting and press circle the soil to make it firm .

Mist the filth and cover the cuttings with charge plate , ensure that it does n’t touch the stems . home in a cool , shaded location . light mist the soil every second daytime . It should take between three and four weeks for the cuttings to steady down . Once root , place in a sunny location and grow throughout the wintertime .

In spring , you’re able to channelize petunia grow indoors in pots to your garden or hanging baskets outdoors .

How Often to Water Petunia

The relative frequency of lachrymation petunias depends on where the flowering plants are growing . shaggy-haired or mound petunias arise in the ground need watering once a week . diffuse petunias may require lacrimation more often .

Petunias growing in hanging basket or container dry out out faster . Therefore , you should water them once a day during hot weather and sometimes twice a day if it ’s exceptionally scorching .

Petunia in Hanging Baskets

Petunia flowers are commonly used in hanging baskets to impart people of color to porch and entering

Petunias are among themost popular hanging basket plantsdue to their abundant colored , showy blooms , cascade stems and easy - charge growth . Petunias growing in hanging handbasket are idealistic for hang at entranceways , from a porch , spindle , or pergola . Varieties of waving petunias with their ruffled , bivalent flowers are specially attractive in hanging basket .

How to constitute petunia in hanging baskets : Choose cascade , surfinia , or wave petunias to mature in hang basket . habituate a lightweight potting mix that has excellent drain and a suitable basket with a drainage hole . Because the soil in hang hoop leach nutrients fast , expend slow - release fertiliser in the potting dirt .

How to care for petunia in hang up basket : Adequate watering is critical to ensure the long cascading stems produce an abundance of prime . Water petunias in hang basketful when the top bed of soil dries . During the growing season , this means watering petunias as often as once or twice a Clarence Day .

When watering petunias in containers or hanging basket , here are a few things to remember :

What Causes Petunias to Wilt and Die

Improper watering is the most common reasonableness for petunias to droop and contain growing . Petunias thrive in moist soil , so secure that the soil never dry out totally . But keep your petunia healthy by always water it when the soil partially dry out . In contrast , too much tearing can kill a petunia by do root buncombe .

Other reasons for petunia droop and dying are too much nuance or a pest plague

Leggy Petunias

To prevent leggy growth , verify your petunia plant gets enough sunshine and passable watering

Petunias that start growing long stems with few leaves and blooms usually lack sunlight . However , leggy petunia can also intend that they do n’t have enough wet . Putting the petunias container or hanging basket in a gay location and watering regularly commonly resolves gangling growth .

Another reason for leggy , unattractive stems with flowers at the end of the stem turn is because your petunia needs deadheading . Be in the wont of take the flowers and seed pods after the blooms die .

To restitute bushy growing to a leggy genus Petunia , prune stems by one quarter or one one-half . Heavy pruning can result in develop a compact , bushy plant that produce a profusion of trump flowers .

Yellow Leaves on Petunia Plants

Petunia foliage that release yellowish is typically a preindication of overwatering or poorly draining soil . However , nutritionary deficiencies can also be to blame for yellow petunia leaves .

To help bring back healthy growth , ensure that the petunia grow in the ground or a potting mixing that drains well . You may need to amend the soil with peat moss and perlite to improve drainage . Additionally , only water the ground or container when the top layer of dirt is dry .

Suppose you mistrust the petunia has yellow parting due to a want of food . In that case , you ’ll call for to fecundate it more regularly . Apply a balanced fertilizer every two weeks to encourage healthy ontogeny .

Petunia Not Blooming

Petunias without efflorescence or with few blooming ordinarily occur when there is inadequate light . Petunias involve at least six hours of full sunlight to produce plenty of colorful heyday . To dissolve this upshot , put a non - blooming petunia in full sunlight and H2O it on a regular basis to keep the soil moist .

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