Ampelous petunia is an annual plant with bright flowers, unpretentious in care. Serves as a living decoration for balconies, loggias, verandas and gazebos. To achieve long and abundant flowering, you need proper care.
Landing
Before sowing, you need to treat the soil by calcining it in the oven or in a frying pan. After filling the planting box, water the ground generously with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are laid out on the surface without being buried in the ground. After this, spray it with a spray bottle.
Preparing seedlings
The seedlings should be in a well-lit room at an air temperature not exceeding 20 degrees. In cloudy weather, it is recommended to turn on the lamp. Neglecting these factors will lead to excessive elongation and bending of the stems.
The soil for seedlings should be nutritious, porous and low in acidity. It is recommended to purchase the soil mixture in stores - such soil is previously cleared of clay, weeds, and insects. Petunias love soil with the addition of humus, peat or wood ash.
Bush formation
The first pinching of the plant is carried out after 4–5 true leaves appear on the seedlings. Further pinching is done after transplanting into the ground. It is recommended to trim the top by 3-4 centimeters using sharp scissors or a stationery knife.It is necessary to constantly remove faded flowers so that the plant does not waste energy on ripening seeds.
Proper care
The plant loves water. In hot summers, it is recommended to water 2 times a day. Lack of water threatens yellowing of the leaves. When watering or spraying water, it is important not to wet the buds and flowers.
For lush flowering, ampelous petunia is fed with mineral fertilizers containing potassium 2 times a month. The concentration should not exceed 5 grams per 10 liters of water. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers on dry soil; a burn on the roots may occur.
Hardening off seedlings
To prepare seedlings for outdoor conditions, it is recommended to take them out into the fresh air for several hours a day. It is advisable to do this in the morning or evening hours, when the sun's rays are less burning. In the first days, half an hour of hardening is enough, then the time needs to be gradually increased.
Landing at a permanent place
Hanging pots are the most common containers for planting petunias. To get lush bushes, gardeners make a mistake: they try to place as many seedlings as possible in one pot. Petunias have a powerful root system. It is recommended to plant 2-3 sprouts in one container, otherwise flowering will not last long.
Growing ampelous petunia will not cause difficulties even for a novice gardener. Knowing the basic rules will help decorate any area.
