Petunias Blooming All Summer
1. Make sure they get enough sun
Petunias need at least 6 hours of full sun per day. The sun provides energy so your petunias can grow and bloom. If your petunias get less than six hours of light a day, moving them to a sunnier location will encourage more blooms.
Your petunias probably thrived early in the season because lots of sunlight came through the bare overhead trees. But once these trees are fully leafed out, your flowers will end up in too much shade.
2. Water well
Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soggy. In summer, petunias in pots need water every day, sometimes even twice a day, but those growing in the ground can go longer between waterings. Using a drip system, you never forget to water.
If you notice your hanging baskets or containers wilting on a hot summer day, water! Soak your petunias thoroughly until the water below drains. It also helps to grow petunias with other plants with similar water needs.
3. Fertilize regularly
Use a controlled-release fertilizer when planting your petunias. Once they are established, switch to a water-soluble fertilizer. Regular applications of plant food make a big difference in performance in summer. Fertilize weekly throughout May, then weekly in June as the weather warms.
Avoid fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is a nutrient that promotes the growth of leaves rather than flowers. The first number on the fertilizer label refers to nitrogen. Instead, give your petunias a balanced fertilizer, where all three numbers are the same or one that's high in phosphorus, the second number on the label.
4. Give them a trim
Prune your petunias as needed. A full haircut is best to revitalize leggy petunias!
Using a sharp pair of shears or shears, cut the plant back to 1/3 of its size. Then, kickstart new growth, branches, and flowers with a dose of water-soluble fertilizer.
It will take about a week for your plant to recover from the trim, but the end result is a fuller plant with more flowers. Or you can cut a few branches every week so you don't have to sacrifice too many flowers at once.
Common questions
Are petunias annuals or perennials?
Because petunias do not tolerate frost, they are grown as annuals in most climates, but they are actually classified as tender perennials.
How Long Do Petunias Last?
Generally, petunias last only one gardening season. However, if you live in a frost-free zone (10-11), you can let your petunias grow for 2 or 3 years.
Will Petunias come back?
In ideal conditions, petunias can come back every year. But frost kills these plants. Some gardeners have had success overwintering petunias indoors. But very simply plant new petunias every spring.
How fast do petunias grow?
These plants are fast-growing. Petunias are very vigorous, with mounding habits up to 2 feet tall in the ground, and can reach 4 feet around the edges of baskets and containers by the end of the season if fertilized.
How long do petunias bloom?
Petunias are long-blooming and will produce colorful blooms from planting to hard frost. Maintain them properly and you will enjoy non-stop blooms all season long.
Can petunias withstand frost?
Petunias grow best in warm climates. Their optimal temperature range is 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 40 degrees, they don't like it, but below freezing will surely kill them.
Why do my petunias stop blooming?
Petunias are very good at producing flowers throughout the summer. But they may stop blooming if they don't get enough sun, water, or fertilizer.
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