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Different Petunias growth habits ?

15 years ago

I have seedlings growing of Dolcissima Flambe (45), Avalanche Hot Pink (10), Tidal Wave Salmon (9) and Tidal Wave Grape (10). I have actually never even purchased petunias before, but have admired the big expensive hanging baskets at the local nursery.

What I dont know is what the differences in growth habits will be in the different petunias I am growing. From what I can find, the Tidal wave and Avalanche will both be good for hanging baskets, but do they grow differently? I cant find much on the Dolcissima Flambe, do they not spread as much?

Right now they are all very healthy. I sowed the seeds about a month ago, the Avalanche are about 5" across, and 2" tall, and are shooting out runners. The others are all a bit smaller. I have them potted up into 9oz. cups.

Can you give me any suggestions on how to plant them up into baskets?

Thanks

Comments (12)

  • 15 years ago

    Dolcissima Flambe petunias are compact, while the others are spreading.. but all will look good in baskets..

    My Dolcissima Flambe:

    {{gwi:9728}}

    Three plants in an 18" cement pot, they didn't hang down:

    {{gwi:9730}}

  • 15 years ago

    Thanks, they are lovely- they get larger than I thought if that is only 3 plants. I know I read somewhere on another thread that 5 tidal wave plants in a 12" basket was they way to go, but maybe thats because so much of the plant hangs out of the basket.

  • 15 years ago

    Wow, good job. I am good at cuttings but struggle with seeds. Just put out my heirloom tomatoes I grew form seed and someone ate the leaves off all 9. I think the volunteers from last year will have to carry the load.
    Petunias can get very big. I just got interested last year when a 22" pot with two Supertunias Raspberry Blast covered the pot and smothering the bed around with a mound of pink. They are big time feeders and the budworms love them. I spray regularly with Bt. Another pot of unknown petunias grew long as summer progressed and flowered on the ends. I trimmed a few stems each week when I fertilize. They stopped blooming because of the heat but the Supertunias kept on going. I am trying hanging baskets this year and my first one is so heavy I had trouble lifting it up. I guess I am going to down size baskets to see how small I can go and still survive. Good luck
    Nice izhar!

    Here is a link that might be useful: How to Pick the Perfect Petunia

  • 15 years ago

    Peggiewho - you might want to mix a whole lot of pearlite in your soil mix - it will lighten it right up.

    I have never even heard of Supertunias - I'll have to check for them next year.

  • 15 years ago

    Will perlite hold water? Or does perlite increase drainage? It gets very hot here. I already have one basket I bought that is starting to fade. I may need to use plastic containers for hanging baskets or just water everyday starting now. I love the look of hanging baskets so am determined. If I keep knocking my head against a problem I find a solution. I just planted that basket and I may take it apart to lighten it.
    Supertunias are a 'Proven Winners' brand. They are expensive. They are grown from cuttings not seed and are probable sterile. The hybridized flowers are designed to be sterile so they bloom continuously trying to reproduce the seed that never develops. I have lots of other petunias that are beautiful. They have come along way in developing wonderful plants.

    Here is a link that might be useful: PW

  • 15 years ago

    Perlite both makes for good drainage and holds water, it doesnt absorb it, but because of the structure, water clings to it. We get some hot weather here in July Aug, but I probably shouldn't try to give advice to a California gardener. Thanks for the tip on the Supertunias, I'll keep an eye open for them.

  • 15 years ago

    No, information is always good. I got the ladder out because one of my bought baskets is starting to fad. I am running a quarter inch drip line and starting to think how I am going to water on vacation. I thought, not enough water. Nope, boggy soil. I tried to go by weight of the basket, the moss on the bottom is dry and soil at the edge not very moist. From the ladder the middle of the basket is holding too much water. I have never got the hang of watering potting soil with too much peat. I will redo my home made basket with perlite to lighten it up and see how that goes. I also have old 10" plastic pots and more petunias to try. The bought baskets will be a lesson. I guess. I will park the ladder on that side of the house or get loooong hooks so I can get a better look before watering.

  • 15 years ago

    Has anyone grown "Eagle" or "Falcon" petunias?? they are by far the best among all the petunias I have grown including Waves and Easy Waves.

    Among Eagle & Falcon, the best colors were Blue, Salmon, White, Pink vein, Plum vein & Burgundy. Thought I share.

  • 15 years ago

    Izhar, thanks for sharing. I could not find pictures. I have a lot of no names. There is a local nursery that buys high end seeds for 6 packs. Petunia is the only label. I have learned to trust this brand and can get it cheap on sale at OSH. I have really got some beauties that lived through the winter and have started up again. What is it that your like so much about Eagle and Falcon? Are they robust, big, tough?
    'Pretty Much Picasso' is am interesting smaller dark pink with green edges. It is tough and very robust. I am not sure what to do with it. It is interesting up close but is not bright from a distance. I love dark intense colors but white and yellow are better distance colors.
    I just discovered the aphids population has exploded. A not so tasty petunia would be a dream. I have too many hummingbirds to use chemicals so usually just wash the plant, over and over.

  • 15 years ago

    They are grandiflora type, I like large blooms that don't fade in sun and stand their shape in wind and after watering from hose.

    They start out as compact plants and earliest to bloom but spread after some time i.e. hanging from their pots and basket.

    The distance between internodes is very short so the over all plant is very green with abundant blooms.

    Very heat tolerant, from heat I mean over 100F.

    They are a product of Sakata seeds ('m not associated with them)

  • 15 years ago

    Here is a pic of my petunia seedlings. The are only about 2.5" tall and shooting off runners. I have read that pinching them back will promote better growth, but these dont look to me like they need pinching. Any advice on that?

    {{gwi:9732}}

  • 15 years ago

    regular pinching at young stage of petunia will reward you with plants completely covered with blooms... do pinch them, you may loose new flower buds but the results are worth it..