A beautiful garden is not possible without flowers. And to make your flower garden look perfect, you need to take care of your petunias. This guide will teach you everything about fertilizing petunias – when and how to do it, what NPK ratio to choose, and more!
What are Petunias?
Petunias are a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to North and South America. The common name is derived from the French word “petun,” meaning tobacco. They are cultivated as annuals or perennials in temperate climates.
The flowers come in a range of colors including white, red, pink, purple, blue, and yellow. Petunias grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. They can be used as borders, edging plants, ground covers, containers, or hanging baskets.
What you need for better growth of petunias
Petunias need full sun to do their best, though they can tolerate some partial shade. They also like well-drained soil with a neutral pH balance. Amend your soil with compost before planting petunias to provide them with the nutrients they need.
Fertilizing petunias is important for their health and continued blooming. The right fertilizer for petunias will provide your plants with the nutrients they need to grow big and strong. In order to choose the best fertilizer petunias, you need to know what type of plant you have.
Which NPK ratio choose for petunias?
The NPK ratio for petunias can be either 12-12-12 or 20-20-20. The first number is the nitrogen level, which helps to produce lush green growth; the second number is phosphorus, which aids in blooming and flowering; and the third number is potassium, which bolsters plant health overall. For most petunias, using a balanced fertilizer such as 12-12-12 will provide good results. However, if you are trying to coax your plants into blooming more heavily, switch to a 24-12-17 formula instead. Just be careful not to overdo it with the high nitrogen content of this type of fertilizer – too much can actually harm your plants!
When and how to fertilize petunias?
To fertilize petunias, you should do it in the early spring before new growth begins and again in midsummer. You can either use a liquid or granular fertilizer, but make sure to follow the instructions on the package. The best feeding guide is to water plants first, then apply fertilizer to the soil around the plant rather than directly on top of the foliage. This will help avoid any burning that could occur.
The best time to fertilize petunias is in the early morning or evening. This will help avoid burning the plants. Only apply fertilizer every four weeks, as too much fertilizer can harm plants. And remember to always water your plants thoroughly after fertilizing!