~~~ petunias ~~~ :)

[mafibisha]

I have other flower pots with other kinds of flowers, but my petunias are just stunningly beautiful right now. They're full and just the right height. So pretty.

How can I keep them this way? They tend to get too tall and spindly (?) by July, and then I want to toss them.

Any gardeners out there who know?

THANKS!

 

[7165red]

I have other flower pots with other kinds of flowers, but my petunias are just stunningly beautiful right now. They're full and just the right height. So pretty.

How can I keep them this way? They tend to get too tall and spindly (?) by July, and then I want to toss them.

Any gardeners out there who know?

THANKS!

You have to dead head them. I love them at first then they start to look awful. I do look after them but I guess dead heading isn't enough.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I cut mine back when they get too leggy. They look terrible at first, but then they start flowering again.

 

[mafibisha]

I think I dead-head them IF that means pull off the old, dead blossoms?
If its more than that, can someone explain?

Also, when and how do you 'cut them back'? I'd love them to look this good through the summer! Is it possible?

 

[Buckalew11]

First off, let me just say that I do not have a green thumb.

Next year, look for "Bubblegum Petunias." They stay great all the way into Fall and do not take much care at all. You can dead head them or not.

 

[PlutoPony]

*Fertilize regularly, at least weekly. Or add a good extended release fertilizer like Osmocote.
*Cut them back just before they get long + "leggy", this will help them get fuller
*Deadheading isn't necessary for Wave/Supertunias I.e. trailing spreading petunias. However I do it some anyhow and it seems to give at least a few more blossoms.

This year has been great for a lot of blooming plants like petunias as its been cooler than usual here. But when it gets hot they probably won't be as happy. If you can, move them out of the sun periodically to give them a break. And obviously keep them watered. I work in a garden center and this is when we start to really have to work hard to keep the annuals looking decent .

 

[mafibisha]

*Fertilize regularly, at least weekly. Or add a good extended release fertilizer like Osmocote.
*Cut them back just before they get long + "leggy", this will help them get fuller
*Deadheading isn't necessary for Wave/Supertunias I.e. trailing spreading petunias. However I do it some anyhow and it seems to give at least a few more blossoms.

This year has been great for a lot of blooming plants like petunias as its been cooler than usual here. But when it gets hot they probably won't be as happy. If you can, move them out of the sun periodically to give them a break. And obviously keep them watered. I work in a garden center and this is when we start to really have to work hard to keep the annuals looking decent .

Thanks for the info! At what part of the stem do you cut them?
(very garden challenged LOL )

 

[PlutoPony]

Thanks for the info! At what part of the stem do you cut them?

Cut back to the first leaves you come to. You don't want to cut just under the flower leaving a stem and no bloom. For petunias, that usually means you go back to where the stem the flower was on branches out from the main stem (hope that makes sense, it's hard to describe in words). Keep in mind that wherever you make the cut, the plant is likely to bush out from there at least a little

Don't be afraid to give petunias (and other flowering plants) a "haircut" i.e. trim them up. Take long leggy stems off, cut them back if they're getting too tall, things like that.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[denisem]

Cut back to the first leaves you come to. You don't want to cut just under the flower leaving a stem and no bloom. For petunias, that usually means you go back to where the stem the flower was on branches out from the main stem (hope that makes sense, it's hard to describe in words). Keep in mind that wherever you make the cut, the plant is likely to bush out from there at least a little

Don't be afraid to give petunias (and other flowering plants) a "haircut" i.e. trim them up. Take long leggy stems off, cut them back if they're getting too tall, things like that.

Good luck and enjoy!

Moving from MI to Central FL, awhile back I made the mistake of planting petunias in hanging baskets during the mild winter. We had a hard freeze in mid-Feb. and while I thought they were totally killed, I ruthlessly cut back the dead foliage, kept them watered and fertilized. (I'm a fan of the weak Miracle-Gro method used at every watering). About 3-4 weeks later, they bounced back better than ever. I was amazed. This was taken about 5 weeks later. You might want to do a "partial prune" so yours aren't totally bare at one time, but I had nothing to lose.

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[mafibisha]

Cut back to the first leaves you come to. You don't want to cut just under the flower leaving a stem and no bloom. For petunias, that usually means you go back to where the stem the flower was on branches out from the main stem (hope that makes sense, it's hard to describe in words). Keep in mind that wherever you make the cut, the plant is likely to bush out from there at least a little

Don't be afraid to give petunias (and other flowering plants) a "haircut" i.e. trim them up. Take long leggy stems off, cut them back if they're getting too tall, things like that.

Good luck and enjoy!

Thank you! That definitely makes sense!!
Just to clarify, you mean where the leaves come out? ..." ....you go back to where the stem the flower was on branches out WITH LEAVES (?) from the main stem...."

(Did I mention I don't have a green thumb, at all?? )

Moving from MI to Central FL, awhile back I made the mistake of planting petunias in hanging baskets during the mild winter. We had a hard freeze in mid-Feb. and while I thought they were totally killed, I ruthlessly cut back the dead foliage, kept them watered and fertilized. (I'm a fan of the weak Miracle-Gro method used at every watering). About 3-4 weeks later, they bounced back better than ever. I was amazed. This was taken about 5 weeks later. You might want to do a "partial prune" so yours aren't totally bare at one time, but I had nothing to lose.

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BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

[PlutoPony]

Thank you! That definitely makes sense!!
Just to clarify, you mean where the leaves come out? ..." ....you go back to where the stem the flower was on branches out WITH LEAVES (?) from the main stem...."

There's a main stem with leaves, then typically there are short side stems that come off from that and hold the bloom, sometimes that side stem has additional leaves, sometimes it doesn't. So cut back to the leaves if there are some on the side stem or if not go back to the main stem. Hope that makes sense. This isn't an exact science at all so it's not like you can get it wrong . Trim as you see fit and don't be afraid to do it regularly is probably the bottom line. Maybe try different approaches, trim one and not another, see how they look over time. You'll be fine!!

 

[PlutoPony]

...(I'm a fan of the weak Miracle-Gro method used at every watering). ......... You might want to do a "partial prune" so yours aren't totally bare at one time, but I had nothing to lose.

The weak fertilization at every watering is good too. Don't be fooled by those bags of soil that say they have fertilizer in them that's good for 6 months.... it's not enough for most plants/light conditions.

Partial prune regularly is perfect if you have the time or inclination. I need to take my own advice right now I think, mine are getting to the point of slowing down their initial burst of blooming.....

Your basket is beautiful - nice job !

 

[ChristyF]

My mom keeps a gorgeous yard, and she waters faithfully. (Early morning or late evening).