Petunias and Calibrachoa
- BOTANICAL NAME
- Petunia hybrida. Calibrachoa hybrid.
- FAMILY
- Solanaceae
- PLANT TYPE
- Tender Evergreen Perennial
- SIZE (HxW)
- Petunias: 20-50cm x 30- 90cm. Calibrachoa: 15-30cm x 20-40cm
- DEPTH & SPACING
- Plant at the same level as in the pot, for spacing see plant label.
- SOIL
- Moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. In pots use a good quality potting mix.
- ASPECT
- Full sun to light shade – best flowers with at least six hours a day.
- CLIMATE
- Cool to Sub Tropical
- FROST
- Half hardy
- WATER
- Water to establish, then keep moist when in flower.
- FERTILISER
- Apply a slow release fertiliser spring and summer. Or a regular application of a diluted liquid fertiliser every other week will prolong and promote flowering.
- FLOWERING TIME
- Spring to winter
- AFTER FLOWER CARE
- They are self cleaning so you don’t need to remove spent flowers. If they become leggy, prune back after the main flush of flowers to tidy – best done mid summer, this invigorating prune will help encourage even more flowers and fertiliser should be added at the time – ideally give them a couple of days shade after the pruning as their ‘inner workings’ will become exposed and vulnerable. Once flowering has finished, spent flowers and branches can be pruned back to promote healthy, bushy growth. Perennial Petunias will go a little dormant through the winter but as the weather warms they will begin blooming again, this haircut at the end of the season helps them maintain their vigour.
- NOTES
- Grow in gardens, containers, window boxes, hanging baskets, as ground covers, garden edging or as filler plants in your borders. No need to pinch out foliage, they will naturally form a rounded shape in the first year. Patchwork Petunias: The plants have been set out in their existing pot, when you are ready transfer the soil and seedlings into a larger, 30-40cm pot, water in with a slow release or your preferred fertiliser and they will be spilling and thrilling from the sides in no time. It is important to remember to water your pots, especially on a hot day, you might even have to water morning and night, depending on where you live and where the container is positioned.
