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Bush petunia is a popular ornamental crop that can often be found in parks, courtyards, and summer cottages. These flowers grow well not only in flower beds, but also in pots and hanging plant pots. Due to the abundance of varieties, they are often used in landscape design when landscaping the area. Each gardener can choose a variety with the most suitable bud colors.
Bush petunia is a very bright and well-known representative of the Solanaceae family.
What does it look like
The main feature that characterizes bush petunia is its lush, bright and long-lasting flowering with buds of various colors. Most often found in gardens are purple, white, black, violet, pink, and red specimens. The plant is an annual, but looks attractive throughout the season. Its shoots are green in color, round in shape, the stems are erect, and covered with villi, just like the leaves. The root system is shallow.
Depending on the variety and its classification, the inflorescences can be either small - up to 4 cm in diameter, or large - from 10 to 16 cm. They unite a pair of funnel-like flowers that are held on a short peduncle. The edges of the buds can be smooth or corrugated (wavy). The color transition is soft, gradual, gradient. The buds of some subspecies have a border or inclusions of contrasting shades. After wilting, seed pods form in their place.
The plant is considered completely unpretentious. It can bloom even in dry weather, during periods of heavy rains and mild cooling. Does not require the formation of bushes.
Bush petunia is considered the most common type of this flower representative.
History of appearance
Bush petunia appeared in the South American tropics. Its first representatives were discovered in the 18th century. Initially, experts classified the plant as a member of the Tobacco genus, but in the 19th century it was combined into a separate category, Petunia.
Several decades later, breeders began to successfully cross different types of plants, and thanks to their work, hybrid varieties began to appear. Later, in the USA, container technology for growing petunia seedlings was established and they were planted in pots and cache-pots.
Classification of bush petunias
Bush petunia is classified into several groups, among which are:
- Milliflora. It is characterized by compact bushes with small inflorescences, the diameter of which is from 2 to 4 cm. It can withstand prolonged rains and high humidity.
- Multiflora. A low-growing plant, ideal for planting in small flower beds.Its buds are usually no more than 7 cm in diameter.
- Grandiflora. Large-flowered bush petunia with flowers with a diameter of 14 cm or more. The edges of the inflorescences are most often fringed or corrugated. Two-color varieties are available.
- Floribunda. Characterized by abundant flowering. Its buds are large, can have a spotted color, and tolerate unfavorable weather conditions. Often the variety is grown in flowerpots and long pots on balconies or loggias.
Depending on the classification and variety, bush petunia differs in size, shape and shade of buds
The best varieties of bush petunia
The variety of varieties of bush low-growing petunia is amazing. A great many subspecies of the culture have been bred. All of them present a rich color palette and are distinguished by their unpretentiousness, thanks to which they have earned great love among summer residents and flower growers. Read more about the most popular varieties of bush petunia below.
Limbo
The long-lasting and profusely flowering petunia variety Limbo is considered short-growing. Its inflorescences can be presented in peach, pink, purple, violet, and snow-white colors. The diameter of the buds is from 12 to 14 cm. The flowers bloom early. They have good resistance to bad weather conditions.
The height of petunia Limbo is no more than 20 cm
Storm
The Storm variety is characterized by its resistance to strong winds and high humidity, and almost never gets sick. The flowers of this variety are large, round in shape, the bushes are quite tall, more than 30 cm. The color of the buds is white, blue, red, purple.
Bush petunia Storm exudes a pleasant aroma
Polaris
Petunia Polaris is a hybrid variety that is highly resistant to various ailments and bad weather. The height of the bushes is average, about 30 cm. The variety grows well both indoors and outdoors.
Polaris blooms can be observed throughout the summer, right up to cold weather.
Fantasy
Bush petunia Fantasia has a short development period. It consists of bright wave-shaped buds, painted in different colors. The variety tolerates temperature changes well and retains its decorative appearance for a long time.
Fantasia begins to bloom in May and ends closer to the second half of September
Triumph
Petunia multiflorum Triumph blooms with large buds of various shades of pink. The flowers are up to 16 cm in diameter. Their petals are corrugated, striped, and closer to the center have a darker color.
Triumph is one of the most beautiful varieties of bush petunia
Features of planting bush petunia
When planting bush petunia, it is important to take into account a number of features of this procedure. The following should be taken into account:
- Select the appropriate pot volume. It is better to use small boxes and flowerpots. Only two bushes of the crop can be planted in a container with a diameter of 22 cm.
- Use light and loose soil. Bush petunia prefers adding peat and sand to the soil.
- Carry out proper planting with seeds. The material is laid out on top of the ground, and then lightly sprinkled with soil mixture.
- Place petunia in a well-lit place.
- Water with settled water.
Growing seedlings
Despite the fact that a wide variety of ready-made bush petunia seedlings are available for sale, some gardeners prefer to grow them themselves. Seeds begin to be sown at different times, depending on the region. Most often, residents of Moscow, the Moscow region and Central Russia begin work at the end of February, beginning of March. Earlier sowing leads to the fact that the seedlings grow greatly, their roots become intertwined, and they begin to bloom much earlier than expected.
Since bush petunia loves a lot of light, containers with its seedlings should be placed only on windowsills on the south side. In addition, organize additional illumination with special lamps.
Bush petunia grows in light, permeable soil, the acidity of which should be in the range of 5-6.5. Containers must have holes for water drainage and a drainage pad.
Sowing is carried out in moist soil. The seeds are laid out on its surface, sprinkled with earth, compacted, after which the container is covered with film. The greenhouse is ventilated daily.
Seedlings are germinated at a temperature of +20 °C for 7-10 days, after which the shelter is removed. When 2-3 leaves appear on the sprouts, they are picked and further care is carried out.
Transplantation into open ground
Seedlings that were purchased in a specialized store or grown independently are transplanted into open ground when the threat of return of frost has completely passed and the daytime temperature remains at +15 ° C. In most regions of Russia this happens at the very end of spring, closer to the second half of May.
Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method, taking care not to damage the roots of the plants. An interval of approximately 30 cm is left between each seedling.
Caring for bush petunia
Despite all the unpretentiousness of petunia, for its bright, long and abundant flowering you need to try to properly care for it. There are no special care requirements. You need to follow standard procedures: watering, fertilizing, pruning.
If care is incorrect or insufficient, you may encounter some problems:
- If there is a lack of lighting or unfavorable weather conditions, the stems of bush petunia will begin to stretch, and flowering will become insignificant.
- If there is insufficient fertilizing, the plant will be susceptible to fungal diseases.
- Neglecting pruning and removing damaged and faded buds will contribute to the loss of the decorative qualities of the bush.
Watering
Flowerbeds in which bush petunia grows need to be regularly moistened, but it is recommended to do this in moderation. Watering should be done in the morning or evening, strictly under the bush.
During heavy rains, it is better to bring potted petunias indoors
Top dressing
Bush petunia needs frequent fertilization. Once a week, organic fertilizers, mineral compounds and humate should be added to the beds and boxes. The quality and intensity of flowering of a crop depends entirely on the amount of nutrients.
Trimming
To increase bushiness and increase decorativeness, petunia needs regular pruning. Faded buds and thickened shoots should be removed. In multiflora and grandiflora varieties, the ends of the branches are cut off to enhance growth.
In addition, gardeners recommend pinching petunia. This is done over the 4th or 5th leaf of the central shoot.
Reproduction
Most often, gardeners use seeds to propagate bush petunia.
Some summer residents prefer vegetative propagation by cuttings. If you follow the procedure correctly and take proper care of the seedlings, you can get an unlimited number of genetically similar plants.
Planting material purchased in a store best preserves varietal characteristics
Pests and diseases
Despite the fact that bush petunia is considered a fairly hardy variety and gardeners rarely encounter problems when growing it, sometimes bushes can be affected by diseases such as black leg, brown spot, and powdery mildew.
In addition, flowers are subject to attacks by insects, in particular whiteflies, aphids and spider mites.
If any disease is detected, you should immediately begin to take measures to eliminate it, for which use insecticides or other means recommended for a particular disease.
Conclusion
Bush petunia is a popular flower, loved by many gardeners due to its unpretentiousness and variety of shades. Varieties can present buds of different shapes, sizes and tones. Every year, breeders develop new hybrid forms of the plant, which are then used by gardeners and landscape designers to create magnificent flower arrangements and decorate flower beds.
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