Among the numerous ornamental plants, the place of honor is given to petunias. Uruguay is considered the birthplace of this stunningly beautiful flower, but flowers have gained particular popularity in Europe. And since the climatic conditions approached her, now she can be found in almost every garden or park. Sowing and growing a petunia is not a difficult task, because it is completely unpretentious and non-capricious. But how to choose the right flowers for your site? In our article you will find a description of the varieties of petunias, having become acquainted with which, you will certainly find the best one for yourself.
Description
In addition to traditional varieties, the newest hybrids are becoming more and more popular lately. Varieties of this plant differ from each other in the size and structure of flowers, but petunias have earned special love due to the widest range of colors.
Snow white, blueberry, gray, blue, red, pink - this is just a small part of the variety of shades of petals. Somevarieties combine two colors at once. Moreover, almost all varieties of petunias can be grown in pots and flowerpots, as living borders, as part of flower arrangements in flower beds and as single bushes in a garden plot. In the following sections, we will tell you about several classes of this plant.
Spruce petunias
This class of flowers ranges from small, compact plants with small 4 cm flowers to tall shrubs with flowers over 13 cm in diameter. Bush petunias are named so because of the structure of the plant - the flowers grow in the form of a lush bush that requires pinching the tops of young shoots. The most popular varieties of petunias in this class:
- Milliflora. A small bush with cute small flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed four centimeters.
- Multiflora. Shrub of small height, strewn with flowers 6-7 centimeters in diameter.
- Grandiflora. One of the most beautiful varieties of petunias. The combination of stunning colors and large flowers (about 16 centimeters) makes Grandiflora one of the favorite plants of many gardeners.
Ampel varieties
Such petunias are also called creeping because of the direction of growth of the shoots. The flower-studded stems grow downwards, which is why ampelous petunias are great for planting in hanging planters. But sometimes these flowers are planted in ground compositions and flower beds. The best varieties of ampelous petunias are:
- Snowyqueen - has a delicate aroma of flowers and a stem length of almost 80 centimeters.
- Explorer. It gained particular popularity due to its resistance to strong winds and elongated branches. A wide color palette is combined with an unusual coating of flowers, like a thin layer of wax, protecting the petals from rain.
- Catherine. This variety is distinguished by the presence of white veins on the petals of a delicate salmon shade, the diameter of which reaches 6 centimeters.
- Svetlana. This variety is characterized by lush and branched shoots of a meter length. The wavy, funnel-shaped petals have snow-white lace edges.
- Ramblin Neon Rose. The height of the bush of this variety is 35-40 centimeters. During the flowering period, it is covered with purple flowers.
- Black velvet is a special variety. Petunias have an unusual black color for flowers. Large flowers with a diameter of at least 8 centimeters look like velvet.
Cascading varieties
Most landscape designers prefer this particular class. Cascading petunias sprout large shoots that grow both downwards and wide, thereby filling large areas with themselves, covering the flower bed like a carpet. Another advantage of these petunias is the flexibility and strength of the stems. The best varieties of petunias of this variety are:
- Gioconda. The bush has strong branching and lush flowering. A distinctive feature of this variety is its resistance to temperature extremes.
- Ramblin. An early variety of petunia,characterized by a small bush height and elongated meter shoots. These flowers are popular due to their long flowering and pleasant aroma.
Terry petunias
Most often these plants have a small height. The stunning beauty of flowers does not leave indifferent even experienced flower growers. The best varieties of terry petunias are:
- Valentine. A hybrid variety that grows no more than 30 centimeters in height. Double flowers of rich salmon color have fringed edges. The advantage of this variety is considered to be a long flowering period (until frost) and resistance to drought.
- Pirouette. A low-growing shrub about 15 centimeters high, strewn with large double flowers. Bicolor flowers have three main colors: white-red, pink-white and purple-white. To obtain lush flowering, petunias of this variety require the most fertile soil.
- Triumph. One of the rare tall varieties of terry petunias. The diameter of the flowers reaches almost 16 centimeters, and the length of the shoots is almost 60 centimeters.
- Double Cascade. Neat shrub of small size. Double flowers of this variety have an amazing aroma and the brightest colors.
Petunias Calibrachoa
A distinctive and surprising feature of this class of petunias is the presence of a completely different DNA structure, compared to all other varieties. Calibrachoa has 18 chromosomes, while other petunia varieties have no more than 14. Until 1990these flowers really belonged to the genus petunias, but today they are separate plants. But their striking similarity and popularity allows you to close your eyes to this.
The most popular variety of caliberchoa is Million Bellflowers. This name was given to the plant because of the incredible number of small flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed three centimeters.
Floribunda petunias
The most suitable varieties of petunias for flower beds - perfectly tolerate temperature extremes and other open ground conditions. Large flowers have a diameter of ten centimeters. Double buds make these petunias stand out from other varieties.
The most popular variety is Dormouse Orchid, whose flowers are veined on the petals. This group includes 11 hybrids, differing from each other in the color of the petals - from raspberry to violet-blue.
Sowing petunias for seedlings
To grow different varieties of petunias, the same substrate is most often used. The soil mixture can be purchased ready-made or prepared independently. The main thing is that the soil is loose, light and neutral. To organize flowering in June, seedlings are sown in March. However, some varieties require different planting dates.
Planting petunia flower seeds is as follows:
- a drainage layer is laid out at the bottom of the containers and a layer of coarse soil is poured out to half the height;
- then spread a thin layer of fertile fine soil;
- the soil is well moistened fromatomizer;
- seeds are sown most evenly over the surface of the soil;
- after sowing, the seeds are sprayed with a growth stimulator;
- the container is covered with film or glass.
Comfortable conditions for growth
Petunia is a thermophilic plant. Therefore, for seed germination, a temperature of at least +20 ° C is required. With a lack of natural light, it is desirable to add an artificial light source. In the process of growing seedlings, it is important to periodically remove the film from the container for ventilation.
Maintaining soil moisture is an important step in caring for seedlings. A small amount of a fungicide can be added to the spray water to prevent fungal diseases from developing if the moisture content is too high.
The first seedlings begin to germinate within a week after sowing. If two weeks after planting the seeds, the sprouts have not sprung up, then you should not wait longer - start a new sowing.
Picking and seedling care
Petunia seedlings dive after the appearance of 2-3 full-fledged leaves on each sprout. Each sprout is planted separately, and after transplantation it is well watered. After picking, the plant needs diffused sunlight and a gradual decrease in air temperature to +16 ° С.
Feed seedlings begin no earlier than a week and a half after picking. Fertilizers are applied to the water for weekly watering, and the concentration should be minimal, despite that indicated in the instructions for certain drugs. Slow growth will be accelerated by nitrogenoustop dressing, and the overall development will improve organic and complex fertilizers. Watering is carried out regularly and in small portions to avoid stagnant water and rotting of tender roots. In addition, water is applied as carefully as possible, without touching the greenery.
It is also important in the process of growing to carry out pinching, ensuring the density of the bush, and loosening the soil. Loosening is the key to optimal air and water permeability of the soil. But the soil should be loosened carefully, trying not to damage the extensive root system.
Transplanting in open ground
Planting plants in open ground should be only after the establishment of constantly warm weather and confidence in the absence of night frosts. The second half of May is considered the optimal transplantation period. Choose well-lit places protected from drafts. Large-flowered petunias are quite capricious in matters of soil moisture and lighting. By the way, the smaller the size of the flowers, the more unpretentious the plant.
You can prepare your own potting mix for growing petunias by mixing turf and leaf soil, humus, peat and sand. To loosen the soil, you can add a little perlite, and for longer moisture retention, a small amount of hydrogel. Regardless of the material of the planting container, the first layer in it should be good drainage. Expanded clay, fine gravel or brick chips are suitable for this. Before planting and during growth, humus and compost are introduced into the soil. However, petunias have absolutely no tolerance for fresh manure.
The distance between plants directly depends onvarieties. Basically, no more than 10 bushes are planted per square meter. For small-flowered plants, the distance between the bushes should be at least 15 centimeters, for large-flowered plants - from 30 to 50 centimeters. After transplantation, the plants quickly adapt to new conditions and do not require special care conditions. Only the removal of old flowers is mandatory.
