Note that petunias also do fine in partial sun, which is considered to be 3-6 hours of sunlight per day. However, they just don’t bloom quite as much in partial sun. Petunias actually love the sun and handle very high temperatures with no problems, so don’t worry about them getting too much sun during hot summer spells.
Note that petunias also do fine in partial sun, which is considered to be 3-6 hours of sunlight per day. However, they just don’t bloom quite as much in partial sun. Petunias actually love the sun and handle very high temperatures with no problems, so don’t worry about them getting too much sun during hot summer spells.
Petunias planted in the ground might only require watering once a week during summer, while petunias planted in baskets or planters might need water every day or two when it’s hot out. That’s why checking the soil every day is the best way to tell when it’s time to water. If the foliage of your petunias ever starts to look yellowish, water less frequently. Avoid wetting the blooms themselves. Just water the soil that your petunias are planted in.
A basic balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer, or fertilizer that contains 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphate, and 10% potash, does the trick for feeding petunias. If your petunias are of the double flowering variety, fertilize every 2 weeks instead of monthly. Petunias do fine without feeding, but they don’t bloom as prolifically.
Deadheading prevents flowers from going to seed, which encourages blooming. Many varieties of petunias, such as wave petunias, don’t need to be deadheaded to keep blooming in the summer. However, it still encourages better-looking new flower production.
These longer stems tend to occur most around midsummer and petunias with this type of growth are referred to as “leggy. ” Don’t worry if your petunias look a little shaggy after you prune their stems back—they’ll make a comeback with even fuller and more colorful blooms. If you notice any dead or dying branches while you’re pruning, cut these all the way back to the base of the branch where it grows out of the soil.
If the root systems of your petunias get too crowded, or rootbound, they don’t get the nutrients they need to thrive and bloom all summer long. Replanting petunias that show signs of being rootbound rejuvenates them and encourages healthy blooming.
