Petunia

Petunias are one of the most popular flowers for hanging baskets and pots in the garden, they are easy to care for and bloom abundantly.
There is a wide variety of colors and various flower sizes available to choose from.
Tough, tolerant to heat and easy to care for are terms that can be applied to petunias, although they are also susceptible to various diseases that affect other plants well known to the family, such as tobacco and tomatoes.

Plant profile

Common name: Petunia
Scientific name: Petunia
Plant type: Annual / Biennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Flower color: Black, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow
Season of interest: Summer
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Containers & Pots, Flower borders and bedding, Ground Cover

Hybrid garden petunias can be classified into four categories:

• Grandiflora: are the petunias that have the biggest flowers, up to 10 cm in diameter.
• Hedgiflora: these plants have a smaller height, but they spread laterally and a plant can cover up to more than one square meter of surface.
• Multiflora: these petunias have flowers up to 5 cm in diameter and are ideal for hanging baskets.
• Milliflora: these petunias have the smallest flowers, up to 3 cm in diameter. They are the most resistant petunias and thus, the easiest to grow.

Scientific name

Species and hybrids of the genus Petunia, with the majority of petunias found in gardens being classified as Petunia × hybrida or Petunia × atkinsiana.

Origin

South America.

Climate

The minimum temperature for growing petunias successfully is 15°C, although they can withstand lower temperatures (up to about 5 ° C).
Petunias grow well all year long in hot climates. In regions with cold winters they can be grown during the warm months of the year.

Sunlight

Plant in full sun positions. It can tolerate partial shade, but does not grow well and produces few flowers in this condition.

Watering

Moderate, allow it to dry superficially before watering again. The soil should remain slightly moist, but not soggy.

Soil

It is very tolerant to different soil conditions. The ideal is a light, well-drained, fertile soil, rich in organic matter and with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

Flowering season

Especially during the summer, but they can bloom in other seasons, or even throughout the year, depending on the region’s climate.

Cultivation cycle

Petunias are perennial plants, but they are usually grown as annuals.

Propagation

Propagate from seed, which must be on the surface of the soil, as they are very small and need light to germinate, although they can be covered with a thin layer of sieved soil or sawdust.
Some plants can be propagated by cutting.