Caring for, cutting & hibernating petunias

With the right care, petunias will delight you with their strong flowering power. We show what you should consider when caring for and hibernating petunias.

Petunias (Petunia) are among the most popular bedding and balcony plants. This popularity is due not only to the enormous variety of different varieties in terms of flower color and shape. The flower is also easy to care for and can be very disease and pest resistant. In this article, we have some valuable tips for caring for and properly hibernating your petunia put together so that you can look back at the colorful flowers every year from the beginning of June until the first frost can please.

Petunia care

Petunias are undemanding fellows. But even with these natural beauties, the right care decides whether the plants emerge in optical high-performance.

Water petunias

Not only do petunias need lots of sunshine, they also need lots of water to thrive. In particular, due to the special demands on the properties of the irrigation water, a few things apply Please note when watering petunias: The plants are generally quite tolerant of short-term Dryness. They should always be poured from below so that the leaves do not stick together due to the glandular hairs on them. If the tap water is too hard, it helps to boil it for a few minutes before watering. The minerals that make the water hard are precipitated. However, the water must have cooled down to room temperature before watering.

Note: The availability of iron is best for plants in acidic soils with a soil pH of 4.5. The availability decreases as the pH value increases. Hard water increases the value in the root space of the petunias due to the minerals it contains, which is why you should rather water with soft water. If necessary, a liquid iron fertilizer can be used.

How are petunias properly watered?

• Water a lot, but avoid waterlogging
• Pour from below
• Use soft tap or rain water

Fertilize petunias

In order to grow vigorously and produce lots of flowers, petunias need to absorb plenty of nutrients from the soil. With a needs-based fertilization, you can support your darlings in their development and enjoy the lush blossoms over the course of the year. To ensure perfect starting conditions, it is best to add rich compost or potting soil to the planting hole when you are planting. In addition, it makes sense to use a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - such as ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer - incorporate. This ensures an optimal start at the new location and supplies the plant with all the important nutrients.

More information about the Fertilizing petunias can be found in our special article on this topic.

Cut petunias

Faded inflorescences should be cleaned regularly to prevent mold from forming. In addition, removing it will lengthen the flowering phase, as this prevents the formation of seed pods. Your petunias can then use the saved energy to produce new flowers and shoots. If you want to overwinter your petunias, before and after overwintering, cut back the shoots radically to about six inches.

Hibernating petunias: what to watch out for

Most of the petunias available in stores are annual. They bloom in the most beautiful colors from June until the first frost, but after a year in the spotlight they usually disappear into the depths of the garbage can. But if you don't feel like dumping your most beautiful specimens, or prefer your money next year If you want to invest in something other than new petunias, you can keep your plants over the winter without much effort bring. Incidentally, this works particularly well with the petunias from the ‘Sufinia’ series.

Prepare petunias for winter

Without a lot of effort, however, does not mean completely without effort. So that your petunias can be successfully overwintered, you should move them to suitable winter quarters before the first frost (September / October). In addition, you should shorten all unwooded shoots to a length of about 15 centimeters.

Maintain petunias during the winter

There are also some aspects to consider when caring for petunias during the dormant phase in winter. It is best to overwinter your petunias in a bright, cool room at around 5 to 10 ° C. The optimal location should also be protected from drafts and dry heating air. You only need to water a little during hibernation. However, the petunias should not dry out completely either. Fertilization is not necessary over the winter, but you should regularly check the plants for an infestation with pests - such as Aphids (Aphidoidea) - control in order to be able to react quickly if necessary.

Petunias after winter

After an enjoyable hibernation, the petunias cannot go outside immediately. Cut back the new shoots again in spring to encourage new growth and better branching of the shoots. From February / March you can then start to acclimate the plant and water it more intensely. At night and on cool days, it is better to put your petunias back on the warm windowsill. In addition, now is the best time to repot. To do this, remove the old substrate generously from the roots and place the plant in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. Then choose a sufficiently large planter and fill it with fresh, nutrient-rich substrate before planting your petunia again. When there is no longer any danger of frost, you can plant your petunia outside again from mid-May.

Tip: If you want to enjoy lots of new petunias or simply don't have space to overwinter the plants, collect the seeds of the sun-hungry flowers in autumn. As the Propagation of petunias works via seeds, we have compiled for you here.