Ampel petunia - growing in hanging pots
A lush blooming garden on the loggia is the pride of a florist who carefully selects the composition of plants. They try to focus on bright hats of flowers, petunias are great for this. A variety of varieties allows you to combine even several types in one, the composition turns out to be harmonious. In order for the thermophilic petunia to please with its beauty, you need to properly plant seedlings in a flowerpot.
How to plant ampelous petunia in a pots
Petunia is of several types, ampelous differs from others in stems descending to the ground. Usually it is planted in a hanging planter, so the clusters of buds look more spectacular. The plant, despite the noticeable success of breeders, remains rather capricious in its care. Fortunately, following simple rules, you can successfully plant a young flower.
Petunia is ideal for decorating a garden on a loggia
Rules and techniques for planting ampelous petunias in pots
Planting ampelous petunias in pots is a step-by-step event, before that, seedlings are being prepared. Planted in late February, it is ready for potting by early June. A hanging planter must necessarily have a pallet - petunias love water.
The petunia planter must fit her size
Before planting, you need to prepare the soil:
- 3 parts coconut fiber;
- 2 parts of vermicompost;
- 1 part coarse sand.
If the composition is too dry or the air humidity is low, you can add a hydrogel to the soil.
Ampel varieties of petunias differ in a variety of colors
You can also purchase a ready-made substrate for growing petunias, choosing an option for a particular variety. Before pouring into the pots, the soil must be disinfected. Having laid the seedling in the ground, you need to distribute the soil well, there should be no voids between the roots. It is not worthwhile to strongly apply the soil, this will negatively affect the state of the root system.
What volume of pots is needed for ampelous petunia
In this regard, it is difficult to formulate a general rule, much depends on the type of plant, the number of bushes in the pots and other factors. For small single compositions, a 5-liter planter is enough, for larger ones - up to 10 liters.
How many ampelous petunias to plant in one pots
The desire to grow a lush head of buds leads to the obvious question of the number of plants in one planter. There is an opinion that planting more than one is wrong, the roots will intertwine, and nothing good will come of it. At the same time, other growers claim that there can be 2-3 petunias in one pot. Their roots must be positioned so that they do not intertwine. That is why, by trial and error, successful combinations of the neighborhood of different varieties were obtained.
The number of petunias in one planter depends on the variety
The problem is that ampelous plants tend to grow, and the lower part of the plants does not receive enough oxygen.In this case, you will have to pinch and shape the petunia, as well as monitor the condition of the soil.
Growing and care in pots
Petunia loves sunlight, warmth and regular watering, and care is built around this. The land in the pots should not dry out; it must be watered constantly. Petunia blooms for a long time, it needs enough moisture. But you cannot fill the plant, the roots may begin to rot. In the summer, watering is needed more intense, in winter - moderate.
The plant loves the sun, it needs to be grown from the south side, since the constant presence in the shade will greatly harm it. The optimum temperature during flowering is 23-27 ° C. It tolerates minor differences quite easily. During flowering, one must not forget about feeding.
Properly groomed petunia produces a lush cap of large buds
Petunia is resistant to diseases and pests, and if an infection does occur, it tolerates treatment well. It is important for the grower to quickly detect the problem and take the necessary measures. The better he looks after her, the less likely it is to become infected.
Common ailments:
- blackleg. Leaves rot and turn black at the ends. The reasons for the appearance are excessive watering, dense unkempt foliage;
- gray rot. A gray bloom appears on the leaf plates, over time it leads to decay. The provoking factors are a lack of light and frequent (sharp) temperature changes;
- brown spot. Sluggish leaves and spots on them. It appears due to mechanical damage or high humidity.
Dangerous pests for ampel petunias are aphids, spider mites and slugs. A good effect is given by spraying with soapy water, a previously diseased plant must be isolated from others.
Bush formation
The first thing you need to know when planting a petunia in a flower pot is that it grows strongly. That is, the shoots create a huge head, leaving the stems bare, and the plant looks unattractive. At the same time, the root system spends all its energy on foliage, and the buds are small and dull. You can solve the problem by pinching - removing unnecessary shoots. 2/3 of the length should be removed, new ones will grow in the place of the previous shoots. Thus, the head of the buds will prevail over the foliage and look harmonious.
With proper pinching, you can get a spectacular composition of different varieties of petunias.
Varieties of ampelous petunias for hanging pots
The following varieties are best suited for a hanging flowerpot.
Avalanche
A popular variety, it differs from others in erect young shoots. As they grow, they bend under the weight of the shoots. The buds are large, the placer turns out to be an avalanche. The color of the petals is varied: from pastel to intense shades.
Velveteen
Czech variety 80-100 cm high. It is not used for flowerpots, but as a flower garden decoration. The carpet reaches a height of 25 cm and looks amazing for large areas.
Shock Wave
Suitable for unfavorable weather conditions, as it is resistant to cold and strong winds. Shock Wave blooms early, buds are noticeably smaller than those of other petunias, this also applies to leaves.
Opera
Japanese variety, the features of which are unpretentiousness and lack of response to the length of daylight hours. Due to its medium-sized flowers and a height of up to 1 m, it is used in pots and carpets for flower beds.
Petunias look amazing even in solid colors
Ampel petunias are considered to be very beautiful flowers for a home garden. This seems fair, because wavy branches with phonographs will decorate any balcony. They can be planted in planters - a popular option - or used as a carpet for a flower garden. The choice of destination depends on the specific variety, its height and the size of the buds.
