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Growing Petunias: Tips for Starting from Seeds, Cuttings, and Purchased Plants
Petunia plants (Petunia spp.) are cherished additions to gardens and landscapes, renowned for their vibrant and captivating blooms. These versatile annuals offer various colours, patterns, and growth habits that allow them to fit seamlessly into different gardening styles. From cascading from hanging baskets to adorning flower beds and borders, petunias add a burst of colour and elegance to any setting.
With grandiflora, multiflora, trailing, and spreading varieties, petunias cater to diverse preferences. Grandiflora petunias flaunt large, showy blossoms, while multiflora varieties create smaller blooms. Trailing petunias gracefully spill over containers, and spreading petunias excel as ground covers. Their cheerful hues encompass classic shades like whites and pinks, vibrant jewel tones, soothing pastels, and even bicolour combinations, ensuring an endless palette of design possibilities.
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Caring for petunias involves providing full sun-to-light shade, well-draining soil, and regular watering. Deadheading spent blooms encourage continuous flowering, and occasional fertilization with a balanced formula enhances growth and colour. These plants can thrive in garden beds, hanging baskets, and containers, allowing flexibility in designing stunning displays. Additionally, certain petunia varieties, like the night-scented petunias (Petunia axillaris), emit a delicate fragrance during the evening hours, elevating the sensory experience of the garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice, petunias offer a delightful canvas to cultivate vibrant blooms and infuse your outdoor spaces with natural beauty.
Petunias (Petunia spp.) are popular flowering plants that can be grown from seeds, cuttings, or purchased plants. This guide walks you through each method, helping you cultivate these vibrant beauties successfully.
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Growing from Seeds
Seed Selection
Choose high-quality petunia seeds from reputable sources. Consider the variety, colour, and growth habits you prefer.
Indoor Sowing
Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before the last expected frost. Plant them in seed-starting trays with well-draining soil.
Light and Temperature
Provide bright indirect light and maintain a temperature of around 70-75°F (21-24°C) for germination.
Transplanting
Once seedlings have several sets of leaves and the danger of frost has passed, transplant them into larger pots or your garden bed.
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Propagation from Cuttings
Select Healthy Plants
Choose healthy petunia plants as parent plants for cuttings.
Taking Cuttings
Snip 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) stem cuttings just below a leaf node. Remove lower leaves, leaving only a few at the top.
Rooting Medium
Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone and place it in a well-draining rooting medium like perlite or vermiculite.
Rooting Conditions
Place the cuttings in a warm, humid environment with bright, indirect light. Mist them regularly.
Transplanting
Once the cuttings have developed roots, transplant them into pots or garden beds.
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Purchasing and Planting
Nursery Selection
Choose healthy-looking petunia plants from a reputable nursery or garden centre.
Planting
Prepare the planting area with well-draining soil—space plants according to their growth habit.
