How to grow petunias to look like a flower ball
Let's talk about how to grow petunias to look like a flower ball and some spring care tips for petunias. Next, I will introduce you to the relevant knowledge.
Also known as "purple queen," "dwarf trumpet," and "lichee peony," petunias are被誉为 the "king of flowering plants." They grow rapidly, are drought and sun-resistant, have strong disease resistance, and are almost free from pests and diseases, blooming throughout the four seasons. Their trumpet-like flowers are large and colorful, and it's easy to achieve a full bloom. Petunias can be considered the most suitable potted flowering plant for beginners. Caring for petunias in spring emphasizes "pinching once and three sufficiencies," and if done properly, they can bloom into a "large flower ball" in less than half a year.
Pinching: Pinching the tip
When planting petunias, we either buy young plants directly or sow seeds. Regardless of the planting method, as long as the temperature is warm enough in spring, the branches and leaves of petunias will grow rapidly. If we do not prune them in time, the branches will become longer and longer, eventually resembling a "disheveled" appearance, which severely affects their ornamental value. To make petunias grow into a flower ball, we need to "pinch the tips" regularly.
Pinching method
When the new branches of petunias grow to 5-8 centimeters tall in spring, they can be pinched. Use your hand to remove the new buds at the top of the branches. After pinching, the branches will no longer grow taller, and the lateral branches will start to develop horizontally, growing into new branches. After 4-5 consecutive pinching operations, the plant shape of petunias will become shorter and sturdier. Then, trim it slightly with scissors, and the entire plant shape will look like a ball. At this point, you can temporarily stop pinching, and the petunias will start to form flower buds and bloom.
Sufficient Light
For petunias to grow branches and leaves and form flower buds, they need to consume a lot of energy, which is absorbed from sunlight through photosynthesis. If they are kept in an environment with insufficient light for a long time, the branches will become elongated, the leaves will become small, and they will not bloom, or even if they do bloom, the flowers will be small and pale. In spring, it is essential to provide sufficient light for petunias, preferably placing them in a sunny outdoor environment. If indoor care is the only option, move the pot to a south-facing balcony or window sill with plenty of sunlight, ensuring at least 4 hours of direct sunlight.
How to grow petunias to look like a flower ball
Sufficient Water
As the branches and leaves of petunias become more lush, the rate of water evaporation through transpiration increases. Additionally, as spring transitions to summer, temperatures rise, and the evaporation of soil moisture increases, making the soil more prone to drying out. Therefore, watering petunias in spring should follow the principle of "watering when dry and moist." Check the potting soil every 2-3 days, and water it when the surface of the soil becomes white and dry to prevent the plant's growth from being affected by overly dry soil.
Sufficient Fertilizer
Fertilizing petunias in spring is mainly divided into two stages: early pinching and late flowering.
In the early pinching stage, our main goal is to make the petunias grow lush as soon as possible, without allowing them to bloom first, allowing them to grow branches and leaves first. During this stage, fertilizers with relatively balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content are used. These can be various types of decomposed organic fertilizers, ternary compound fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers, and other solid fertilizers. A small amount of fertilizer is buried in the soil or sprinkled on the soil surface, used once every 1-3 months. Alternatively, liquid fertilizers like "Flower More No. 1" or "Plant Nutrition Liquid" can be used, diluted with water according to the instructions to make a fertilizer solution, and watered at the roots, once every 7-10 days.
After petunias grow sufficiently lush, we can stop pinching and let them form flower buds. The main goal of this stage is flowering, so fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium are used, such as monopotassium phosphate and "Flower More No. 2." According to the instructions, the fertilizer powder is mixed with water, stirred well to make a fertilizer solution. The solution is watered into the soil, and at the same time, the fertilizer solution is sprayed on the branches and leaves with a sprayer, used once every 7 days. This way, petunias will quickly fill their branches with flower buds and easily bloom into a "large flower ball."
The above information (Greenery Enthusiast Network) introduces how to grow petunias to look like a flower ball and detailed spring care tips for petunias. Did you get it?