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Hybrid petunia is a very popular plant that absolutely every gardener and summer resident is familiar with. In summer it can be seen everywhere: in city parks, gardens, squares, alleys, and on apartment balconies. There are a huge number of varieties of this not particularly demanding, colorful and blooming crop throughout the summer, and their number increases with each season.
Typically, hybrid petunia is represented by annual varieties, but there are also perennial varieties.
What does hybrid petunia mean?
Hybrid petunia is a herbaceous plant or flowering subshrub (depending on the variety), which was bred at the beginning of the last century and immediately captivated the hearts of many gardeners. This term refers to several varieties of crops obtained during breeding work, into which experts have invested all the best characteristics and added color abundance. There is no general botanical description of hybrid petunia. Its bushes can have a different crown, color, size and shape of flowers.Their height can also vary from 20 cm to 1 m. The main features and general features of the culture are:
- long flowering (from late June to November);
- strong immunity;
- easy care;
- resistance to humidity and temperature changes;
- ripening seeds in a two-leaf box.
Varieties of hybrid petunia with photos
There are currently so many varieties of hybrid petunia that you can easily get confused in their classification. Most often they are divided into three types:
- Bush. It can be dwarf (up to 16 cm in height) or short (up to 30 cm). It is the most unpretentious of all varieties and is most often found in gardens. Also, many housewives grow it on terraces and balconies, and use it to decorate flower beds and borders.
- Cascade. Also a fairly well-known variety of hybrid petunia, which has excellent decorative characteristics. Its varieties are presented in a wide range of colors; the stems can stretch up to 120 cm in length.
- Ampelnaya. Hybrid petunia of this species is usually found in the decoration of gazebos, verandas, loggias and balconies. It is almost never planted in open ground. The peculiarity of the varieties is that their stems are directed downward, rather than stretching upward. The shoots usually grow about 0.5-0.7 m long.
Each type includes, in turn, many varieties that differ in certain characteristics. The following are some of the most popular ones.
Aphrodite white
White Aphrodite is a new variety of hybrid petunia that blooms with large white buds with a fringed edge. The period of budding of the crop occurs during the warm season.
Aphrodite white flowers are gigantic in size
Cherry crystal
Petunia Cherry Crystal is a multi-flowered mixture of annuals that grow to a maximum of 32 cm in height. The plant is considered to bloom profusely, the color of the buds is varied, the size is medium, about 7 cm in diameter.
Hybrid petunia bushes of the Cherry Crystal variety are lush and compact
Burgundy Falls
Burgundy Falls is a double, early flowering variety. It grows quite quickly, has good branching and resistance to temperature changes. The flowers are large, reaching 12 cm in diameter, their color is expressed in shades of red.
Burgundy waterfall is used mainly for hanging landscaping, decorating terraces and balconies
Galaxy
Hybrid petunia Galaxy is a bush with numerous branches growing up to 30 cm in length. Flowering is abundant, the buds are white, funnel-shaped, with lacy petals.
The galaxy can bloom until the first frost
Evening Sensation
Evening Scentsation is a mixture consisting of bright colors of different colors. The bushes are small, up to 20 cm, bloom profusely, and are often planted in hanging baskets.
Evening Sensation - AAS Grand Prize Winner
Imperial blue shimmer
Imperial blue shimmer is a variety with excellent immunity, resistance to winds, rain, and cold temperatures down to -6 ° C. Its bushes are distinguished by increased splendor (up to 1 m in diameter) and abundant flowering. The inflorescences of this hybrid petunia are sky blue in color, medium in size, and odorless.
If you create suitable conditions at home for the Imperial blue shimmer variety, you can extend its flowering until winter
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is a unique hybrid petunia with a huge number of flowers, a continuous period of budding, and excellent resistance to heat and cold. The bushes are small in height, up to 25 cm, and are excellent for growing in hanging baskets.
Marco Polo blooms even at abnormal temperatures
Black cherry
Black cherry is a very beautiful variety with velvety, dark, almost black flowers. The bushes are compact, dense, and can withstand drought and slightly negative temperatures.
Black cherry looks great on terraces and balconies
Exotic Toulouse
Exotic Toulouse is another very original hybrid petunia. Its flowers are painted in pastel and pink shades, incredibly spectacular. Flowering time is long, endurance is good.
Exotic Toulouse is considered an elite plant species
How to plant hybrid petunia seeds correctly
Despite the fact that the seed method of propagating hybrid petunia is not considered the easiest, there are summer residents who resort to it. This should be done strictly according to the rules of agricultural technology and then you can get a positive result. Work should begin in February (with additional lighting) or in mid-March (without lighting). The scheme for planting hybrid petunia seeds is as follows:
- Mix the seeds with sand and distribute it evenly over the moist soil. Cover the container with glass or film (ventilate daily).
- When the shoots appear, remove the cover. Moisten the crops twice a day with a spray bottle.
- Dive after three true leaves appear. When the heat stabilizes, plant the seedlings in a permanent place, having previously hardened them.
This propagation method is not suitable for terry varieties of the crop.
Further care
After planting the hybrid petunia in a permanent place, it should be provided with further care. The basic rules for maintaining healthy and lush flowering bushes are to follow the watering and fertilizing regimes. Also, throughout the entire period of flower development, the ground where it grows is constantly loosened and weeded to remove weeds.
Watering
Moistening of petunias of hybrid varieties should be moderate but regular. The culture does not like both waterlogging and drying out of the soil. In hot weather, watering is carried out early in the morning and late in the evening with warm water, on ordinary days - once every 2-3 days.
Top dressing
In order for hybrid petunia to show itself in all its glory, it should be fed. To do this, phosphorus-potassium compounds in liquid form are usually used every 2-3 weeks. They are applied simultaneously with watering.
Petunia responds best to a combination of foliar and root fertilizing
Diseases and pests
Hybrid varieties of petunias are highly resistant and have good immunity, but if the bushes are poorly cared for, they can be subject to trouble. The diseases that most often affect flowers are chlorosis, various types of mosaics, late blight and blackleg. Among parasites, petunia attracts interest from spider mites, slugs and thrips.
Features of reproduction
Hybrid petunia is propagated by seed, as well as by cuttings. The latter is simpler and is a priority for gardeners, since the former has poor germination.
In addition, hybrids generally produce few seeds and many of them are defective.
To obtain petunia seedlings vegetatively, you simply need to select the most beautiful and healthy plants, treat them for pests and bring them home for the winter. Towards the end of January, cut cuttings (10 cm) from their tops, place them in a phytohormone solution for 10-20 minutes, plant them in damp sand and cover with film.
Hybrid cuttings take root well and fairly quickly
Conclusion
Hybrid petunia is a wonderful group of flowering plants that, with proper care, delight the owner with their lush flowering all season long. There are a huge number of varieties, the colors are very diverse, everyone can choose a plant to suit their taste. In addition, with the help of different types you can assemble amazing compositions and effectively decorate the landscape design of your site with them. There are many schemes for planting hybrid petunia when creating a flower bed.
Reviews of hybrid petunia
