Petunia Upright Care Guide

By Jessica Mcnamara

Mar 10, 2021

Pink petunia flowering plants

Welcome to your Petunia Upright care guide! Here you will find all of our Growers' knowledge of how best to look after your Petunia (Upright), and what to do if you get stuck.

 

small plant

Plant name: Petunia (Upright)
Latin name: Solanaceae Petunia
Varieties included: Petunia Potunia, Petunia Crazytunia

An essential flowering plant that is easy to grow giving a mass of colour in tubs, garden borders, hanging baskets, window boxes and beds. A rainbow of colour choices allows even the most-picky gardeners to create the theme and mood they wish within their garden.

The development in petunia genetics has led to the plants within this range offering massive flowering potential, consistent colouring between flowers and great longevity in flowering season.

Quick growing and free flowering so great to make an impact all summer long with their colour and coverage. Commonly grown as annuals and should be planted in early spring, after the threat of frost has passed. 

Lush mid green foliage provides a great contrast to the vibrant coloured double blooms. Go on…make the neighbours jealous!

Bedding plants

Plant type: Bedding (annual)
Hardiness: Tender
What does this mean? This plant needs protection from frost.

 

plant in soil

Before You Start

If you are planting in an outdoor container, make sure it is clean and has drainage holes in the base. You will need a good quality compost, trowel, watering-can and gloves may also be useful. Make sure to leave space around the plant to allow it to grow into. And a bit of love and care…

 

 

 

plant in pot

Planting Guide

When planting directly into a bed or border it is often best to lay out your plants still in the pots so you can make sure you plant them in the best place to get the overall visual impact you are wanting.

Once you have decided where the plant is going dig a hole a little bit bigger than the pot size in the bed / border.

Next, take the plant out of the pot. This can be done easily by squeezing the sides of the pot between your thumb and fingers, then releasing your grip on the pot. This helps the roots come away from the pot.

Then hold the plant by the base of the stem, close as possible to the pot and remove the plastic pot. Hold your plant by the root ball and position in the middle of the hole.

The top of the compost around the plant should be a little lower than the level of the bed / border. If you need to dig a little deeper take the plant out and make the hole a bit deeper.

Once the plant fits in the hole you can twist it around to get the best side of the plant facing forwards. When you are happy with the position fill the hole back in around the root ball and firm the soil back in.

Finally give the plant a good water, wherever possible trying to avoid getting water on the flowers.

Avoid planting during the hottest parts of the day. Garden plants much prefer to be planted during the cooler part of the day as this reduces their stress levels.


sunny garden

Positioning

Upright Petunia can be planted successfully in many places. They love full sun but don’t like it too hot! Petunia are heat and drought tolerant. Planting them in garden containers means you can move them around to where they like it best.

Grow petunias in garden beds and borders to give them the space to spread. Regular watering is needed, and they prefer a free draining fertile soil to grow in.

watering can

Watering & Feeding Guide

When they are planted, they love a good shower. Keep the petunia moist but not completely saturated.

Loves being fed with a multipurpose feed and they will thank you with a greater show of colour.

When in full flower weekly feeding with a good multipurpose feed that contains micronutrients is essential. If your plants lower leaves start to look a little pal and yellow, it’s time to feed it!


Soil type: Petunia prefers neutral to slightly acid soil.

 

Medium plant

Top Tips

Deadhead will promote further flowering.

 

 

Petunias are perfect for large garden beds, borders and cottage gardens as they provide beautiful displays of colour.

Great garden plants for beginners. They grow very quickly so get the kids involved!

Brilliant for container gardening throughout summer, and with favourable weather stretching into Autumn.

Petunias masses of broad open flower heads are a big attraction to many species of butterflies.