Often grown as annuals, Petunias are one of the most popular flowers. They are tender perennials in Zones 9 to 11.
Petunias are divided into two different groups:
- Grandiflora petunias have very large flowers and are best grown in containers or hanging baskets (because they are more susceptible to rain damage).
- Multiflora petunias have smaller, but more abundant flowers and are ideal for summer bedding or in a mixed border (because they are more tolerant to wet weather).
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My Petunias have been coming
My Petunias have been coming back every summer, even after this cold winter in Boston. They appear as small plants, like weeds all over the place. They even grow out of cracks between my stone walkway.
I have a number of petunia
I have a number of petunia plants in their 2nd year and they appear to be healthy and have a number of blooms coming. I live in the LA area and we have had a very mild winter!
Every fall my petunias get
Every fall my petunias get small black specks on them similar to poppy seeds. I always assumed that this was eggs of an aphid like bug, but spraying the plants only results in killing them. Is it possible that this is actually the plant trying to reseed itself? I can't find this mentioned in any of my gardening books. Thanks.
Black specs might be
Black specs might be "frass"...caterpillar poop. You may have a worm eating your plants. Blast the leaves with insecticide spray.
i have "poppy seed like"
i have "poppy seed like" specs on my petunias too.. i read that it is called "peroxyacetyl nitrate" (PAN), caused by air pollution. what i read said there is nothing that can be done. i'm not happy with that diagnosis, so i'm still looking
I have two very large
I have two very large containers of petuinas. They have stopped blooming but otherwise look very health. Could they be getting too much water. They are watered by a sprinkler system twice daily.
If your petunias have stopped
If your petunias have stopped blooming (or slowed down), you can try to revive them by clipping the stems back by two-thirds and fertilizing. You could clip all at once, or clip a third every week or so. Your plant may start flowering in a few weeks.
In general, you could clip some of the stems every week to keep your plant healthy and full; also keep fertilizing if the plants are in containers.
Is it really best if I will
Is it really best if I will plant the petunia seeds in a soil less media like carbonized rice hull and vermicast?
If you're planting seeds
If you're planting seeds (versus transplants), clean, damp potting soil is fine.
What is eating my petunias at
What is eating my petunias at night..entire bloom but only the red ones, they dont touch the purple ones?/
Its slugs! I have this
Its slugs! I have this problem every year but mine arent picky! They the purple ones too!
yes how can u see when its
yes how can u see when its going to seed
The flower of the petunia
The flower of the petunia needs to naturally die, and fall to the ground. Then the plant's calyx, the bulging part of the stem below the flower's base, will begin to swell and turn brown. After a period of a couple of days or so, the calyx will split open and the seeds will fall out.
The petunias in my flower box
The petunias in my flower box develop white spots on the flowers the second day of blooming. What causes this, and what can i do to control the condition? Those in hanging baskets do not suffer the same fate.
Did you fertilize your flower
Did you fertilize your flower box? This sounds as if they have fertilizer burn. Make sure you keep fertilizer off the plants and that you water it in well or it's watered down.
My flower look heathy but the
My flower look heathy but the stems are all dried out and looking horrible so the plants looks like there dead what should I do the get all day sun and I water regularly ??
I'm having the same problem!
I'm having the same problem! They were full and beautiful, but now have dried leaves and very sparse. I've watered, cut back on watering and I've also fertilized. I'm at a loss! (I live in Oklahoma - hot, windy, humid)
Any updates? My petunia beds
Any updates? My petunia beds are doing the same thing and it's only getting worse. Help!
Try cutting them back a bit.
Try cutting them back a bit. Also, a thorough watering once a week should be sufficient (unless there are prolonged periods of drought in your area).
There are many differing
There are many differing opinions on whether or not you need to "deadhead" the newer varieties of petunias. What is the real scoop - deadheading is still vital or no longer needed?
For petunias, we would allow
For petunias, we would allow the plant to bloom and re-bloom naturally, then prune backlong branches as the season progresses for renewed flowering.
We are having massive amounts
We are having massive amounts of rain in western Wisconsin this summer (it's June)It has rained nearly every day for the last month. Not much heat for the petunias. They are already going to seed! I have been growing petunias since I was a child and this is truly the first time I've ever had trouble with them. I normally would be getting another 3 months worth of blooms from these guys. Should I cut them way back? We deadhead like crazy-is that the problem? No signs of rot or bugs so we ruled that out! Yikes! I won't get my yearly petunia fix if they stop blooming and seed out!
You should allow the plant to
You should allow the plant to bloom and re-bloom naturally, then prune back long branches as the season progresses for renewed flowering.
I live in southern
I live in southern california. I have planted petunias in pots. But they are not blooming. The plants themselves look healthy but they don't seem to be blooming. I read where you suggested they be given a natural fertilizer biweekly. I've been giving them a 5-5-5 organic allpurpose fertilizer. Should I up the number? Also it gets up to 95-105 degrees so I water every day. Should I not be watering that much? They are in full sun for up to 5 hours. Do they have a blooming cycle?
Cut back on the fertilizer
Cut back on the fertilizer (only fertilize once a month during the hot months) and let the soil dry before you water again. Water deeply but less often.
I have petunias in hanging
I have petunias in hanging baskets which are doing well, and others in long planters. The leaves on the ones that are in planters are not as big and green as the ones in the hanging pots. They are all the wave variety. What is wrong?
My little sister is growing a
My little sister is growing a petunia from (a) seed(s) which she got in a little ceramic egg-thing. Unfortunately, the egg was cracked and we didn't have a proper pot to put it in, so her petunia is growing in a teacup. Any advice for drainage? So far, we've just tilted the cup upside-down to let excess water drip out while leaving the soil moist. It seems to be working, as the cup has three sprouts, but what about when they get bigger?
Plant the petunias in a pot
Plant the petunias in a pot with drainage holes. Pick a pot that is a little taller and wider than the teacup. Add some soil to the bottom of the new pot and carefully remove the soil and seedlings from the teacup. Place them in the new pot and add soil to fill the pot. Good luck!
My petunias are planted in
My petunias are planted in the ground and in a few pots. They look terrible. Plus I think something is eating them. What kind of remedies do you recommend against whatever is eating them? I think it may be chipmunks.
You can try to spray your
You can try to spray your plants with a dish soap and water mix or with 50/50 ammonia and water mixed together. Check for slugs and earwigs. They like to eat petunias.
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