I have a very large trailing petunia growing in a container on my deck. It gets plenty of sun but also shade part of the day. The flowers are fine, but the vines look like they are wilting and separating. It's starting to look very long and straggly. I water it and give it Miracle Gro. It has been quite windy and rainy but the plant is protected pretty well. Hope you can help, as I don't want these beautiful plants to die.
Many annuals begin to get a little leggy this time of year. Try cutting about a third of the legs back by half. When new growth begins, cut another third and so on. This should rejuvenate the looks of your petunias.
I grow plants on a terrace with an overhang in an apartment building on 8th floor. I like to plant petunias in flower boxes, but every year they get infested with aphids and white flies. I buy the plants from different sources and I use good fresh soil each spring. What can I do to prevent these pests from coming? How can I get beneficial bugs to eat them? Can one buy the bugs?
The following articles should be of some help to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/getting-rid-of-bad-bugs-with-beneficial-insects.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm
I moved into my home 5 years ago and inherited two beautiful batches of Ruellia. They bloomed wonderfully the first two years, but over the last three years less and less. This year I have no blooms. The plants appear to be completely healthy. There is adequate sunlight, good soil, the right amount of water, no visible pests, the leaves are normal (green/not wilted) and so on. I have tried everything to figure out what's wrong. What is it that I'm not thinking of? I've tried fertilizing/not fertilizing, watering/not watering, compost/sand and still nothing. Any info appreciated.
There are a couple of possiblities. Your plants may need thinning because they've put too much energy into spreading, or your plants have become sterile. Try thinning them out.
I have petunias hanging outside and they appear to be dying near the roots. They are still blooming some but the blooms are getting smaller and the leaves are smaller now. What should I do to keep them from dying?
If you have a lot of heat and these are in full sun, they will struggle. While petunias are a great early season plant, for those of us with hot, dry summers )?_, they usually poop out. I have some friends who have good luck here with Wave Petunias but I don't. If you want to try to save them, shear them back to four inches or so. Water well and make sure they do not dry out too much. Baskets are hard to keep wet enough. Only after watering well and while soil is wet, fertilize with a good water soluble fertilizer per directions. Do this every two weeks. They may come back and give you another flush of blooms. I just consider them "worn out" and replace them with something that can take the summer conditions.
Should you prune petunias?
You can deadhead petunias to encourage more bloom. Just gently pluck off the spent blossoms.
I have 2 pots and 2 hanging baskets on my porch every year and they always do well, until this year. I bought new and replanted and they died.
It is possible that the soil became dried out. When this happens, some potting soils can actually start to repel water. You have to soak the pots underwater for 10 minutes or so to rehydrate the soil. I suspect that this may be what happened, which resulted in the plants not getting enough water and dying.
I am house-sitting and watering outdoor hanging baskets and pots. Some of them are doing great, others are looking not so well. The green leaves on the petunias and geraniums are yellowing. I was told that I may be ovewatering them, so I slowed up, and they got dangerously close to kaput! Any advice for me?
Overwatering certainly sounds like your problem. You should always allow plants to dry out some between waterings. Check the soil beforehand by inserting your finger and if it's moist or wet, do not water. If it feels fairly dry, give it some water. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/how-to-water-a-plant.htm