Hi! I planted petunias for the first time this year, and I'm wondering if I have a situation that can be fixed, or if I should never plant them again! When I inspect my plants, which have gotten very sticky, I find all kinds of bugs, including honey bees, stuck to the stems. Sometimes I can free them, but most of the time I find them dead, or the bees have gotten so sticky they can't fly. What do I do?! I feel so bad that I was thinking about pulling all of my petunias. Thank you! Cindi
You can reduce the stickiness by reducing water. These plants are naturally tolerant of dry soils. Many plants do this in nature, so it doesn't, necessarily, require your intervention. These insects will die with the plant, when flowers or shoots die off, and will become part of the fertilization process. These insects, when they break down into the soil, are very beneficial for the plant.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but this is a part of nature, and will continue to happen on its own.
how many plants could I place in a 14 inch pot?
They will, definitely, grow in hanging baskets. You will only need one plant per container, though. They spread out to about 4 feet, and more than one would cause competition between plants.
This article will give you more information on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/wave-petunia-plants.htm
Since the thunderstorm we had a couple of nights ago my petunia blossoms are looking droopy. They are still in the containers I bought them in because I haven't had a chance to plant them yet. The soil around them seems still damp even though they have been in the sunlight for a couple of days. I don't like droopy plants and I am tempted just to throw them away but plants are not cheap. What do I need to do to perk up the blooms? The leaves are not droopy and I hate to cut all of the blooms off and start over but maybe that is what I need to do. Please advise.
I have several thoughts. One is that the weather has been cool for petunias. They like summer temperatures and sunshine. So don't throw them away; they will perk up. It will help to plant or repot them. Often the container they come in is too small. Each flower only lasts a few days then wilts and drops off to be replaced by more flowers. It is this unending supply of flowers that make petunias popular. Click on the link to see more tips for growing petunias. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/petunia-care.htm
I just put together 2 large pots of 2 different color Petunias. These plants came from the grower's in 21/2" to 3" pots, really nice plants with open blooms for the most part. Neither color plant has opened a bloom as I have noticed, either in the morning with full sun or in the afternoon with full shade. When I transferred the plants I watered with water soluble fertilizer according to the direction. What should I do? The 2 different colors are different varieties.
They will need a good 6 plus hours of full sun.
This article will refresh you on these plants.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/petunia-plant-no-flowers.htm
https://gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/petunia-care.htm
How do I get my wave petunia's to wave from seed have tried to grow them from seed but they grow straight up instead of waving HELP PLEASE..what is the trick
There is no trick. The issue is that Wave petunias are hybrids, a cross of the genes from 2 parents. Genetics determine the color and behavior of plants much like children; children rarely look exactly like either parent and their behavior is not the same. Each child has a different mix of parental genes. If you grew bunches of saved seed, you might get a few that wave. Many hybrids, including Wave petunias are trademarked; therefore it is illegal to grow it from saved seed or to propagate the plant through cuttings - even for your own garden.
someone told my son you can't get the leaves wet. They are in a hanging basket and was told only to water from the top and not wet the leaves and to bring inside when it rains. I told him they were nuts but he said that is what he was told when he bought them. HELP!!!
Petunias are, not at all, picky. They will tolerate just about any range of conditions, and thrive just fine. Wetting the leaves will not harm them, and they will do much better outside in the rain, then watering with tap water anyways. I know that many places will state that getting leaves and flowers wet will harm them, but this is really more for hot and humid climates. These conditions paired with wet leaves will cause mold and other viruses. In most areas, the rain will not harm them. Your area is cool enough. This would really apply if you lived in a place like Texas. Even in Tennessee it is not hot and humid enough to be of much concern. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/petunia-container-care.htm
This only happens to some of them, not all. But seems to be spreading each day.
I notice that it is one particular cluster that is doing this. This is completely normal as the flowers fade, so it is possible that these are only open for a very short time, and are completing their cycle early. Picking them off at this point will usually encourage more blooms. I don't think that there is an issue here, but I do know that some cultivars are more sensitive than others to certain environmental conditions.
This article will give you more information on the care of these: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/petunia-care.htm