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Petunia is one of the most common flower crops that pleases gardeners with its diversity. And due to the development of breeding technologies, more and more colorful and unusual varieties are being born, but the usual seed method is not suitable for their breeding. In this case, cuttings are used – reproduction, which allows to preserve all the qualities of the mother plant. Vegetative petunia has a fast pace of development, blooms profusely and very brightly, and is also considered unpretentious.
Vegetative petunias are used for growing not only in garden plots, but also on window sills.
What does vegetative petunia mean
Vegetative petunia is a plant that is bred exclusively by cuttings. This is done in order to preserve all varietal characteristics, since seedlings of unknown quality may appear during seed propagation. In addition, seeds from hybrid plants often do not germinate at all.
What is the difference between vegetative petunia and seed
Petunia is presented in a wide range in appearance and colors, but the vegetative group, as a rule, includes ampelous varieties with double flowers. There are also a number of other botanical features of such ornamental plants:
- root system of rod type, superficial, with poorly developed lateral branches;
- erect or reclining form;
- the stem is strong, the leaf plates are rich green with a slight hairiness;
- do not require pinching, usually grow no more than 80 cm;
- have an early flowering period;
- funnel-shaped flowers with five petals fused together;
- after flowering, they do not form seeds or they are unsuitable for sowing.
The best varieties of vegetative petunias with names and photos
The reproduction of vegetative petunia practically does not differ from cuttings of other species of this crop, but the differences are very noticeable in external indicators. To verify this, you can consider the most popular varieties.
Surfonia
Surfinia (Surfinia) is a type of hybrid petunia of Japanese breeding. The plant was introduced in the 70s of the last century, and in a short period of time it was able to gain the trust of many gardeners. Surfinia gained such popularity due to unpretentiousness, resistance to adverse environmental factors and beautiful appearance.
The main distinguishing feature of Surfinia is its funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of 2 to 7 cm, resistant to precipitation and strong winds. Their shade is different depending on the variety, ranging from snow-white to rich red. Young seedlings of this vegetative petunia are quite large, giving many side shoots.
Surfinia bloom early and abundant
Cardinal
Cardinal is a vegetative petunia variety characterized by rapid growth and abundant flowering. Bushes reach 90-100 cm, while they are unpretentious in cultivation. The flowers are also large with corrugated edges, their color is bright purple.
Petunia Cardinal blooms in the first half of June and pleases with beautiful flowers until early October.
Petunia Cardinal can have solid flowers, as well as with dark veins or contrasting edging.
Cascadias
The vegetative petunia Cascadias came to gardens from Israel in 2010. It belongs to the cascade species, since the shoots mainly in the central part grow upwards and fit snugly against each other. The plant blooms profusely. The buds have a color that varies from dark cherry to purple.
Propagating the vegetative petunia Cascadias at home is not difficult, as young seedlings take root quickly. But it is desirable to grow it in open ground or use it for planting pots with a depth of at least 7-8 liters.
Vegetative petunia Cascadias has a powerful root system
frillitunia
Vegetative petunia Frillytunia forms neat dense bushes with large simple greens. In height, it grows up to 40 cm, while the flowers form quite large, up to 10 cm in diameter. The buds are funnel-shaped with a solid corolla and a dark throat of the inflorescence. The edges are heavily ruffled. The color can be white, pink, cherry and purple.
Frillitunia blooms no earlier than the first half of June and pleases with its flowering until the first frost.
Frillitunia has varieties that differ only in color.
Papaya
Papaya (Papaya) is a vegetative petunia that attracts attention with lush long flowering. At the same time, the buds completely cover the bush so that the green mass is practically invisible.
An ornamental plant grows up to only 20 cm, forms orange funnel-shaped buds. Some varieties have a white border around the edge of the fused petals.
Vegetative petunia Papaya is represented by one- and two-color varieties
How to grow a vegetative petunia
Vegetative petunias are propagated by cuttings. At the same time, growing a young ornamental plant in this way has several advantages:
- unlike the seed method, cuttings are less time-consuming, because the shoots take root quickly;
- flowering begins earlier;
- when cuttings, all the qualities of the mother bush are preserved.
Planting material is used only from a healthy bush. And for cuttings of vegetative petunia for the winter, shoots are harvested. They are cut at an angle about 6-8 cm long so that two internodes are located. The lower leaves are removed, and then the cuttings are lowered into a growth stimulator. For rooting, planting material is added dropwise to the nutrient substrate. It is used universal or self-mixed.
Landing is covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Air and moisturize daily. And when the first full-fledged leaves appear, the covering material is removed, and at this moment, pinching can be done to stimulate the formation of side shoots.
As soon as at least four leaves appear, the young seedling is transplanted into open ground or into a flower pot. It is desirable to choose a place sunny and hidden from through winds.
When growing vegetative petunia in pots, it can be stored until next year. To do this, it is enough to bring the plantings into a warm room.
How to care for vegetative petunias
Caring for a vegetative petunia is practically no different from growing an ordinary variety of this crop. The main requirements are as follows:
- lighting – the flower loves light, so it is better to plant it in sunny areas, but it is important to ensure that direct sunlight does not fall on the buds to avoid burns;
- temperature – it must be at least +10 ºC and not more than +30 ºC.
As a care, it is enough to carry out timely watering of vegetative petunias. Moisten the soil at least twice a week, on hot days the amount of irrigation can be increased up to three times.
An ornamental plant responds well to top dressing. It is recommended to fertilize the soil with planting once every two weeks, alternating mineral and organic compounds.
How to save a vegetative petunia in winter
Vegetative petunia does not tolerate low temperatures, therefore, in order to preserve the plant in the winter, it should be brought indoors. Before that, they begin to reduce watering, and then they make a sanitary cleaning of the bush, removing dry and damaged shoots, leaves. They also stop feeding the flower so as not to stimulate its further development.
It is usually recommended to store a vegetative petunia in winter for its further propagation, since cuttings after cutting easily lose their ability to root if they are not placed in water or in nutrient soil.
After cutting, the stalk of a vegetative petunia retains the ability to root for only 1-2 hours
Diseases and pests
Vegetative petunia, like any ornamental plant, is subject to disease and pest attack. The most dangerous are:
- black leg – the disease is characterized by the appearance of dark spots on the stems and rot due to waterlogging;
Bordeaux liquid or Trichodermatitis is used to combat the black leg.
- brown spotting is the appearance of dark brown spots on the leaves due to excessive waterlogging;
For the treatment of brown spotting, copper-containing preparations are used.
- powdery mildew can be recognized by the appearance of a white coating on the leaves and stems, the cause may be sudden changes in temperature;
When powdery mildew appears, the affected areas are removed, and the plant is treated with a fungicidal preparation.
- gray rot is the formation of gray spore-bearing spots that appear with a lack of lighting and the introduction of a large amount of nitrogenous top dressing.
Upon detection, a diseased plant is completely removed and burned, while others are treated with Topaz or Fitosporin
In addition to dangerous diseases, vegetative petunia often suffers from pest attacks. Among the most common are:
- whitefly;
- aphid;
- spider mite.
With small lesions, folk remedies (soap solution, onion peel decoction, and the like) can be used to control pests. In case of a mass attack, it is better to use insecticidal preparations: Aktara, Kondifor, Decis and others.
Conclusion
The vegetative petunia is an ornamental plant with magnificent flowering that looks great both in the flower bed and on the windowsill. The culture is unpretentious in care, because for full development it is enough to water and feed it in a timely manner.