Amazing sophistication, special decorative effect and extraordinary duration of flowering are a kind of hallmark of petunias adored by flower growers.
This herbaceous perennial plant, which is considered to be the birthplace of South America, has not lost popularity since the 18th century, more and more new species are introduced into the culture. One of the most popular petunia groups today is Ramblin petunia, which is a series of cascading varieties of American selection with large flowers. About this culture, the features of cultivation and care will be discussed in this publication.
Meet: petunia cascading Ramblin
This is a series of varieties of ampelous and semi-ampelous, long-blooming petunias, which recently appeared on the Russian market. All of them are very decorative, and in vertical compositions decorating walls and balconies, they come to the fore, makingplant ensemble complete and original. Petunias are excellent in pots, floor or hanging vases: coming into force, they form blooming openwork balls. Grown in a flower bed, these flowers form a colorful natural carpet.
Petunia Ramblin is undemanding, but she needs some care - regular feeding, removal of dry inflorescences to maintain the decorative culture and stimulate the formation of new buds. Pinching petunia shoots is not necessary, some varieties are pruned, correcting the shape or rejuvenating the overgrown bush.
The ability to form domed balls is prized in a culture such as the petunia Ramblin. Reviews of lovers of flowering gardens emphasize its eccentricity: these delicate plants produce erect shoots that grow up to 30-35 cm and form a luxurious crown on top, as well as lateral ones that have a very impressive length (up to 1 m), which descend in a magnificent cascade or grow into a lush bush. In this series, there are up to a dozen varieties that differ in the color of the inflorescences, from snow-white and peach shades to lavender and purple.
Growing petunias from seeds at home
The thermophilicity of the plant and a very impressive length of time required to complete the growing season dictate the use of seedling growing method. The gardener will have to make a lot of effort in order to get a spectacular cascade of flowers. Ramblin petunia seeds are sown in late February or early March. They are extremely smalltherefore, shallow bowls are usually used as seedling containers.
For these plants, a light universal soil with a neutral reaction is suitable. Growing petunias from seeds at home begins with the acquisition of high-quality seed. It is better to buy it from trusted manufacturers with an appropriate reputation. Seeds are sown in a well-moistened substrate, without sprinkling on top, but only by covering the container with glass. In a fairly warm room (+20 … + 22 ° C), seedlings germinate in a week. If you pre-treat the seeds with a biostimulant ("Zircon", "Epin", aloe juice, etc.), the sprouts can please with their appearance already on the 3-5th day after planting.
Seedling care
Tiny seedlings require good light and moderate moisture from a fine mist sprayer. At first, seedlings grow slowly, so the protective film or glass is not removed. In this case, it is necessary to ventilate the sprouts daily. With the advent of 4 true leaves, the seedlings dive, placing them in separate containers 8-10 cm deep, since the root system of young plants develops rapidly, completely occupying the space of the container.
Seedlings are fed with complex mineral fertilizer (for example, "Agricola" for seedlings) once every 2 weeks. Moderately watered, avoiding stagnant water, and control the light regime. Young plants are planted in open soil or flowerpots, focusing on the conditions of the climatic zone. Oncethe threat of return frosts passes, you can place a petunia on a plot or an open loggia.
Feeding
Like any flowering crop, petunia Ramblin expends a lot of energy, and it needs to receive quality nutrition at every stage of life. After the plants are planted in a flower bed, they are fed at the same frequency (2-3 times a week) with complex mineral compounds, for example, Kemira. It is better to choose fertilizers with a high content of potassium, which stimulates the formation of buds. Petunias are fed until mid-August, dissolving fertilizer in water for irrigation.
Caring for Petunia Ramblin
If the plant is planted in a pot or container, you should take into account the development of the root system of the crop. And it is quite powerful, and for high-quality flowering of one bush it requires 7-10 liters of fertile soil. Petunia Ramblin is characterized by a rapid growth of shoots and accelerated budding, it blooms 15-18 days earlier than other large-flowered varieties, delighting the gardener with fireworks of colors before the onset of cold weather.
An important factor influencing the decorative effect of culture is timely watering. Moisture-loving petunias need daily watering, and in hot, dry weather, moisten the soil twice a day, keeping the soil moderately damp.
Features of the species
Florists who are familiar with this culture firsthand say that Ramblin petunias do not require pinching at all, since the formation of lateral shoots is quite strong andthere is no need to specifically provoke branching. Good care, regular watering and high-quality top dressing will help grow a beautiful powerful plant with spectacular large flowers. Especially good is the cascading petunia, planted from a mixture of several varieties: colorful colors will create a unique flavor and festive mood.
