In autumn and summer, the balconies and front gardens of many gardeners are decorated with an amazingly beautiful plant - petunia. An annual flower, with proper care, can please the eye for a long time with its lush bright buds.
General information
Petunia (flower) is by far the most popular annual. It is grown on almost all continents. Breeders all over the world with great interest create more and more new species of this plant, each of which is unique and attractive in its own way. Petunia is a shrub plant that is grown indoors. Its inflorescences resemble a funnel. In shape and size, they are found large and small, simple and terry. The color palette is very wide - from white, light yellow, to rich red, purple and pink. Petunia is a flower that begins to bloom 70-80 days after sowing. Buds develop in about seven days.
Petunia flower. Cultivation
As a rule, seeds are sown in mid-March. Then in May-June it will already be possible to enjoy bright buds. For this plant, you can use any soil, with the exception ofalkaline and strongly acidic. At the same time, the earth should be loose, nutritious and pass excess water well. For planting, it is best to use humus, soddy or leafy soil, sand and well-decomposed peat in equal proportions. Mix all ingredients well and sift through a sieve. Moisten the soil, scatter the seeds over the surface and sprinkle them with water from a spray bottle. Sprinkle everything on top with a small amount of earth (2 mm).
Cover the pot with paper and water periodically. Petunia (flower) feels great at a temperature of 20 degrees. The first week, twice a day, spraying should be done with the addition of a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After seven days, you can start feeding the plant. First, it is better to use water-soluble fertilizers, and then you can purchase growth stimulants. However, they are recommended to be used no more than three times during the entire growing period. The "petunia terry" flower is best propagated by cuttings taken from mother liquors, which in winter should be kept in greenhouses at a temperature of +10 degrees.
Care
Petunia is a rather whimsical plant. In order for the flower to feel comfortable, you need to take into account some conditions for its maintenance. Petunia loves light, so it is best to choose open sunny areas for planting. The flower needs abundant watering, especially in the summer season. Every ten days it is recommended to feed the petunia with organic fertilizers. Forplanting is best suited soil with weak or neutral acidity. This plant loves warmth. When the temperature drops, it stops blooming. Due to the fact that the petunia has very fragile shoots and delicate petals, it must be protected from rain and wind. During the entire flowering period, dead buds should be removed. Thanks to this, new young flowers will appear faster.
