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Cascading ampelous petunias are distinguished by their decorativeness and abundance of flowering. Caring for plants is not difficult; even a novice gardener can grow them from seeds. An excellent example is the petunia Opera Supreme. This is a whole series of varieties. Thanks to the variety of colors, they can fit into any landscape design concept.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Petunia Opera Supreme (Opera Supreme F1) is classified as a cascading ampel plant. This means that the plant is often planted not in a flowerbed, but in a flower pot, suspended from the ceiling or attached to walls, fences, or trellises. But the bush will not get lost on the ground either, turning into a bright, thick “carpet” with an area of approximately 1.2 m². You can even create complex patterns in your flowerbed by combining varieties.When planted in a flowerpot on a stand, the stems quickly hang over its edges, and the flower together with the container becomes like a ball or a waterfall.
These “balls” made from pots with petunias are a very impressive garden decoration
Opera Supreme compares favorably with other varieties of ampelous petunias because it is undemanding in terms of soil quality and lighting. It “forgives” the gardener certain flaws in agricultural technology and successfully adapts to the peculiarities of the local climate and various vagaries of the weather.
The height of the bush reaches 20 cm. The length of thin, flexible stems varies between 1-1.3 m. The diameter of a fully opened simple (non-double flower) is up to 6 cm. The flowering is very abundant, leaves and shoots are practically invisible. Its duration depends on the growing region. In warm subtropical climates, Opera Supreme blooms from late spring to late autumn. The buds stop opening only after the first frost.
Most of the petunias included in the Opera Supreme series are hybrids. Their name must contain the designation “F1”. There is no point in collecting seeds for planting next year - varietal characteristics are not preserved.
Petunias series Opera Supreme
The Opera Supreme series of petunias includes more than a dozen varieties. The main difference is the shade of the flowers. Based on it, names are given.
Petunia Cascade Opera Supreme Lilac Ice F1
The ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Lilac Ice (“lilac ice”), compared to its “relatives,” is distinguished by its low sensitivity to how much light it receives daily. The hybrid is suitable for planting throughout Russia, including the northern regions. The flowers are a very delicate lilac shade with a brighter inky purple “mesh”.In the photo, the petunia Opera Supreme Lilac Ice may look a little darker.
Flower shoots stretch 1.1-1.2 m
Petunia Cascade Opera Supreme F1 Raspberry Ice
The ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Raspberry Ice (“raspberry ice”), hanging from the edges of the hanging flowerpot, forms an almost regular “dome”. But at the same time the bush turns out to be quite compact. The stems are elongated approximately 1 m.
The quality of the substrate does not affect the abundance of flowering, but the necessary conditions for this are regular application of fertilizers and removal of dried flowers. The main tone of the petals is from light crimson to pastel pink. Additional “decor” of the ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Raspberry Ice is bright crimson veins.
For abundant flowering of this variety, regular fertilization and removal of dried flowers is mandatory.
Petunia Cascade Opera Supreme F1 White
The ampelous petunia Opera Supreme White does not stand out as anything special in comparison with other varieties. The flowers are snow-white, with a pale yellow base.
From a distance the bush resembles a large white cloud
Petunia Opera Supreme Pink Morne
The bush of the ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Pink Mourn turns out neat and compact. The length of the shoots does not exceed 1 m. The flowers are large, from 6 cm, in optimal conditions - up to 8-10 cm. The coloring is very interesting - gradient. The wide pastel pink border along the edges of the petals gradually changes color to snow-white. At the very base there is a bright yellow spot. The pink hue, judging by the photo, resembles the petunia Opera Supreme Rasberry Ice.
The flowers are large - from 6 cm, in optimal conditions - up to 8-10 cm
Petunia Opera Supreme Coral
Of all the varieties of petunia described, Opera Supreme Coral least resembles the classic hanging one. Its stems are quite strong and reluctant to droop.The flowers are bright, coral, with tints of peach and salmon. This shade does not fade in the sun.
The brightness of the petals is maintained even if the petunia is exposed to direct sunlight
Petunia Opera Supreme Purple
Ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Purple is distinguished by the fact that the buds dot the stems, growing up to 0.9-1.2 m, almost along the entire length. Therefore, the flowering bush resembles an inky purple dome. Because of this, the plant needs increased doses of fertilizers and a sufficient volume of soil for the development of the root system.
The leaves on the bush are practically invisible - it is literally strewn with flowers
Petunia Cascade Opera Supreme F1 Red
Petunia ampelous Opera Supreme Red performs best when planted in hanging pots or baskets. An intensively branching plant turns into a ball or drop, and not a “beard” or a cascade. This garden decoration looks very delicate and elegant. The flowers are large, bright scarlet.
This variety is ideal for vertical garden decoration
Features of cultivation and care
Opera Supreme seeds are planted early, in late February or early March. They are already completely ready for planting. No germination or disinfection required. They are not buried in the soil, leaving them on the surface.
Seedlings appear relatively quickly, after 12-14 days. It is very important to constantly monitor the humidity of the substrate, preventing it from drying out. At the time of planting, the seedlings should be about 3 months old.
If there is a lack of moisture, petunia seedlings dry out in just a few hours
Ampelous petunias from the Opera Supreme series are undemanding in terms of substrate quality. However, light but nutritious soil that allows air and water to pass through is best for them.One plant needs at least 6 liters of soil for normal development (preferably 8-10 liters). For example, a mixture of leaf soil, humus, peat and sand (2:2:1:1) is used.
The optimal location for Opera Supreme is light partial shade.
The agricultural technology required for this series of petunias can even be called primitive. They do not need pruning and pinching of shoots for greater bushiness. You just need to promptly remove dried flowers, this stimulates the formation of new buds.
Water the Opera Supreme varieties moderately, allowing the substrate to dry to a depth of 4-5 cm. They tolerate moisture deficiency much better than its excess. In addition, excessive watering provokes the development of fungal diseases. The norm for one plant is about 3 liters of water twice a week. It is advisable to pour it at the root.
After each watering, it is recommended to move the shoots back if possible and gently fluff up the soil in the pot. It is quite possible to do without loosening and mulching the soil in the flowerbed. Shoots that cover the soil with a continuous carpet prevent it from “baking” into a hard crust on the surface and prevent the growth of weeds.
The abundance of flowering of the Opera Supreme petunias determines their increased need for nutrients. Starting from the moment the buds appear, the plants are fed once every week and a half, 2-3 hours after watering.
Petunia is not picky about fertilizers itself; it responds positively to both natural organic matter and special store-bought products for decorative flowering annuals.It is recommended to alternate organic fertilizers (infusion of fresh manure, bird droppings, “green tea” from weeds, potassium and sodium humates) with mineral fertilizers.
Mineral fertilizers provide flowering petunias with comprehensive nutrition, including all the necessary macro- and microelements
Diseases and pests
The immunity of all varieties from the Opera Supreme series is very good. As a rule, minimal maintenance is sufficient to avoid the development of fungi and pest attacks.
This petunia does not have any exotic diseases. It can develop the following typical for most garden crops:
- powdery mildew (a grayish-white coating in the form of a powder, gradually darkening, thickening and turning into black-brown mucus);
- gray rot (“wet” spots on the plant, covered with a “fluffy” light gray coating with black inclusions).
Powdery mildew on petunia leaves seems like a harmless coating that can be easily wiped off, but in fact it is a dangerous disease.
It is easier to cope with the disease if you notice it at an early stage. Therefore, experienced flower growers advise inspecting flower beds and flowerpots at least once a week. Having detected suspicious symptoms, all affected (even slightly) parts of the plant are removed. Petunia and soil in pots and flower beds are sprayed with a solution of any fungicide. Its concentration and frequency of treatments are determined by the instructions. Usually 3-4 procedures are enough.
Pests on petunias Opera Supreme are attacked by the most “omnivorous”, feeding on plant sap:
- aphid (small yellow, green, brown, black insects tightly clinging to buds, tops of shoots, young leaves);
- thrips (they look like black “dashes”, they settle mainly on the underside of the leaves);
- spider mite (the pests themselves are almost invisible; they can be detected by thin translucent “threads” entwining the plant).
Aphids live in a stable symbiosis with ants, so they also need to be fought
Any broad-spectrum insecticide is effective against insects. To prevent their attacks, folk remedies are quite suitable. Spider mites are destroyed with special chemicals - acaricides.
Conclusion
Petunia Opera Supreme, even compared to other hanging and cascading varieties, stands out for its abundance of flowering. The bush grows quickly, recovers if several shoots are broken, and does not require pinching to form. Relative disadvantages (large volume of substrate, inability to independently propagate by seeds) do not detract from the merits of the variety in the eyes of gardeners, which is why it enjoys sustained popularity.
Reviews of the ampelous petunia Opera Supreme Pink Morn, Parple, White
