Petunias are a spectacular annual flower that bloom in yellow, red, purple and blue. Petunia flowers can be single or showy double blooms with striped patterns on the petals. You might have seen petunias in your garden or even as a bright addition to the flower arrangement on someone’s desk.
Petunia flowers are versatile, easy-to-care for and come in beautiful colors! If you’re looking for some summertime color this year then plant now with these step by step instructions that will help you choose varieties of blooming petunias, care them properly so they can grow every day into stunning plants and be able take advantage of their beauty all season long.
Are Petunias Perennials or Annuals?
Petunias are a delicate and beautiful kind of flower, but they don’t like cold weather. In zones 10 and 11, petunia plants can grow as perennials in the ground year-round! But for those living in colder climates (USDA zone 9 or lower), it’s best to treat these flowers much more carefully: you’ll either need to overwinter them indoors at all times–which may be difficult if your home gets too warm during the day because that means no air conditioning!–or take cuttings from an existing plant late summer every autumn.
Petunia Cold Tolerance
Petunias are delicate flowers that do not tolerate cold temperatures. They will grow slower when the temperature drops below 61°F (16°C) and die if it dips below 32°F (-1 °C). It’s best to keep them in hanging baskets or containers for protection from extreme cold, because they cannot withstand long periods of frost so well.
Do Petunias Need Sun or Shade?
Petunias are a symbol of summer in America. They thrive when they receive plenty of sunshine and five or six hours per day, so it’s important for gardeners to ensure that there is enough sun to keep this beautiful flower blooming all season long. If not, petunia stems will become leggy and produce fewer blooms than usual since the plant has difficulty receiving adequate sunlight even with some shade from other plants.
Types of Petunia Flowers
Petunias are a species of flowers that has the ability to grow in many different environments. They can be found not only outdoors, but also indoors on window boxes and hanging baskets. These plants produce an incredible range of colors for you to enjoy as well as cascading floral stems which make them easy to care for. Petunia flowers are typically classified into five groups by their flower and leaf size. The following list will give you the different kinds of petunias available:
Wave petunias- Wave petunias are a standout choice for hanging baskets because of their long, trailing stems that can grow up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) in length and fill containers with masses of purple, lilac, pink or red flowers from en mass blooming trumpet-shaped blossoms.
Multiflora petunias- Multiflora petunias are a versatile flower that stands the test of time. These little beauties will have masses upon masses of flowers, in any color and shape you could imagine! The showy floral displays can be single or double blooms; they’re sturdy cascading stems make these petunia perfect for windy or wet climates- without too much deadheading their pretty faces won’t wilt away anytime soon.
Grandiflora petunias- Grandiflora petunias are the largest flowers in all of their relatives. Their funnel-like flowers have large, wavy petals and grow up to 5” (15 cm) across. To keep them blooming you’ll need to deadhead regularly because heavy rainfall tends to ruin their appearance too!
Supertunia petunias- Supertunia petunias are the most vigorous, continuous-blooming plants in existence. The large paper flowers grow in a variety of pastel and bright neon colors that create spectacular patterns when they’re mixed together on one plant.
Cascadia and sufina petunias- The Cascadia and Surfinia petunias are the two most popular varieties for hanging baskets. The trumpet flowers have pronounced veining contrasted with their unusual colors or shades that make them stand out from other petunia species.
Milliflora petunias- Milliflora petunias have the smallest flowers from all of their groups, and are often found growing in masses. These small-scale blossoms grow around 1 inch wide or 2.5 centimeters across, with a springtime color palette that is just as diverse as other types of petunia species such as grandiflowery one milli flora’s colors can range anywhere between light purple to dark red hues and come in pinkish white shades too! The mounding foliage on these varieties offer plenty of ground coverage throughout the season so you don’t need to plant them very close together at all—in fact they can be planted up against each other if desired without any trouble.
Calibrachoa or Million Bells- Calibrachoa or Million Bells have small flowers that look like petunias and are related to them. Species of Calibrachoa can be found in many beautiful pastel shades such as light pink, baby blue, bright orange, lavender purple – with the flowers typically having pronounced colorful veins and a contrasting dark center.
Petunia Flowers
Petunia flowers come in many shapes and sizes, but generally they’re trumpet-shaped or funnel shaped. They range from small to large – the bigger ones can resemble a mound of colorful blossoms when they bloom! Petunia petals are typically bright colors like reds, purples, oranges and yellows. Some have darker center markings that contrast their lighter petal shades for an eye catching flower design.
How do long petunia plants bloom?
Petunias are truly a symbol of summer. Flowers bloom throughout the season until early fall, but most petunia gardens will have an extended flowering period if you regularly remove dead flowers and water well in hot weather! Varieties such as wave petunias require much less attention to keep them blooming all through the year, while other varieties like grandiflora do best when they’re given regular snipping sessions for their long-lasting blossoms.
How much time does it take petunia to bloom?
Petunias are a great way to brighten your garden or patio. They take about six weeks from starting as seeds until they flower, but if you give them plenty of light and moist soil, they’ll grow fast! Petunia plants can turn any outdoor space into an oasis with their brightly-colored flowers that will last for months on end. However, it takes around 6 to 8 weeks before the petals start blooming so be sure not to neglect them during this period by keeping seedlings in between 65°F – 75°F (18ºC – 24ºC) where there’s lots of sun exposure and watering every few days.
How to keep petunia blooming
If you grow petunias as a border plant or ground cover, then it may not be practical to deadhead masses of flowers. However, if they are being grown in hanging baskets or containers; then it is best for the person taking care of them to remove any dying blooms right away so that more will form and replace those flower’s spots on your plants.
Deadheading Petunia
Deadheading petunias is the best way to enjoy your cascading plant for longer. Petunia flowers are short-lived and they produce seeds after flowering which means if you snip wilting flowers, it’ll encourage the plant to continue blooming throughout its whole growing season! Pruning petunias is a good way to keep them healthy, but it also gives you an opportunity for some creative engagement. With the pinch of your fingers and quick snip with shears or scissors, feel free to experiment on how different lengths will affect their shape – shortening one side more than another can give height while removing all flowers from half of the plant will result in interesting asymmetrical shapes that are perfect if you want something out-of-the box!
How to Plant Petunia Flowers
There are multiple ways to grow petunias. Growing them from seed, transplants, or cuttings is relatively straightforward but the best way might depend on your circumstances.
When to plant petunia: Planting the seeds inside can take a while, but if you’re looking for an early bloomer then this is what will get your flowers up and growing. The best time for planting outdoors varies depending on where in North America you live, so make sure that gardeners know when they should be planting their new plants outside! Petunias are one of those classic summer flowering plants; as soon as night temps hit around 55°F (12°C), start preparing them by setting them out into space with about 12 inches between each flower bed or row. Petunias thrive in full sun, but they’ll grow and flower better with at least six hours a day. Plant them where they get some afternoon shade if you live somewhere that is hotter than your petunia can handle without getting burnt!
The best soil for growing petunia: Petunias are a beautiful flower that can be grown two different ways: in the ground and in hanging baskets. When planting petunias, you should make sure to amend your soil with compost or peat moss because they prefer slightly acidic dirt while keeping their roots moist for optimal growth. If using them in pots, plants need soilless mix containing slow-release fertilizer which will keep them happy!
How to grow petunia from seed: Growing petunias flowers from seed can be tricky due to their minute size, but with some patience and a little TLC they’re sure to grow. To germinate your seeds; spread them sparingly on damp potting soil and spray with water before covering the container in plastic wrap. Put it near direct sunlight or out of temperatures between 21°C – 29°С (70-85 °F) for at least three days until you see the first signs of green shoots emerging through cracks in the topsoil surface. Remove any remaining coverings after this time frame, so that these delicate new plants are exposed to fresh air as well as an abundance of light sources such as fluorescent lights which provide 16 hours’ worth daily!
How to Care for Petunia Flowers
Petunias are a beautiful addition to any garden, and they grow best in full sun with some afternoon shade. Although petunia flowers can thrive on occasional rainfall alone during the growing season, it’s important not to let these plants stay too soggy for long periods of time or their blossoms will start drooping down. Watering them once week is enough when properly caring for your petunias’ watering needs!
How to Care for Petunias in Pots: Petunia Container Care
To grow petunias in containers, follow these simple steps. First, use a loose potting mix with plenty of drainage so the soil doesn’t become too compacted and water can flow through easily. Water them every two to three days or when they start feeling dry at their feet – whichever comes first! Next apply diluted liquid fertilizer every couple weeks for heavy feeders like these beauties. Finally find an area where your plant will get six to eight hours of sunlight per day which is vital for healthy growth and big beautiful blooms on those gorgeous flowers!
How to Care for Petunias During Winter
Many gardeners like to overwinter fancy petunia hybrids during the winter months. In order to care for these plants, cut them back by about two inches (5 cm) before they are exposed to frost in late fall or early winter. Plant individual pots of flowers with thin stems and place them on a cool windowsill that is kept dark throughout the day without letting their soil dry out until they bloom again next spring! Alternatively, you can root flower cutting from your favorite plant into water-filled jars so long as there’s enough natural light coming through where it will be located. When roots appear after three weeks of rooting this way, transfer each one into its own small pot while keeping substrate moist.
How Often to Water Petunia
The frequency of watering petunias can be different depending on where the plants are growing. Bushy or mounding flowers need to be watered once a week, while spreading varieties may require more frequent waterings.
Petunia in Hanging Baskets
Petunias are known to grow in hanging baskets for their showy blooms and cascading stems. They’re easy-care plants that can be hung from doorways, porches or arbors but they will look even better with some of the more exotic varieties like wave petunias with its ruffled, double flowers.
How to plant petunia in hanging baskets: Flower lovers rejoice! Hanging baskets are the perfect receptacle for colorful cascading petunias. Use a lightweight potting mix with excellent drainage and grow your flowers in an appropriately sized basket that has a hole at the base to allow water through freely. Petunia pots will need extra care, so do not forget about fertilizer: slow-release varieties work best because of how quickly nutrients drain out of hanging containers.
How to care for petunia in hanging baskets: Adequate watering is a critical component to ensure that petunias produce an abundance of flowers. They need water when the top layer of soil dries and should be watered as often as once or twice per day depending on how frequently it rains in your region during the growing season. When you water your petunias, they will need a lot of it. Be sure to check the soil every other day and leave plenty of room for drainage at the bottom so that excess moisture can flow out quickly. When watering container-grown or hanging basket plantings, there are some things to remember:
- Always water the soil, not the leaves or flowers
- Never let the potting mix stay continually wet
- Petunias are not drought tolerant plants and grow better when you water them deeply and regularly