Petunia
Also called Garden petunia, Surfinia.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 2 days in the growing season, every 10 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 30 cm (12 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats safe, dogs safe |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Petunia entry.
Petunias are grown as summer bedding almost everywhere, and almost everyone underfeeds them. They flower continuously from a small root system in a small volume of compost, which is a lot to ask, and by midsummer a hanging basket has eaten everything in it. That is when the flowers stop and the stems go bare at the base. In the north the seed is sown under glass from February, and most people buy plugs instead because the seed is dust fine. In South Africa petunia seedlings are planted through the winter months in frost free areas and again through the spring, appearing on the June, July, September and November lists. Feed fortnightly with a tomato feed, cut them back hard when they tire, and they will run until the first frost.
Ailments observed
| It will not flower | A container plant that ran out of food, which happens by about six weeks in. Start a fortnightly high potash feed and cut the whole plant back by a third. It will flower again within two weeks. |
|---|---|
| Long bare stems and pale new leaves | Not enough light, or a plant that was never pinched out when young. Move it into full sun and shorten every stem by half. Pinch the tips of young plants once to make them branch from the base. |
Filed underPlants that will not poison the cat, Plants that forgive a beginner, Plants for a balcony or a small space
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