Calibrachoa: description, types, difference between surfinia and petunia

Over time, calibrachoa became a permanent inhabitant of balconies and flower beds. And every year the plant's fame is growing. At the end of the last century, it was ranked among petunias, but scientists have established that plants are genetically different. However, this fact is not known to everyone. Florists by mistake buy petunia. Nevertheless, the plant has a number of characteristics that determine its belonging.

What flowers look like petunia

There are quite a few flowers similar to petunia. This charming petunia deserves one of the first places in the ranking of garden collections. But still, if the gardener wants to somehow diversify the botanical line, then you can turn your attention to many plants that are similar in appearance to petunia, but at the same time differ in the method of planting, in the shape of the bush and in how the inflorescences look.

The point may not only be that you need to expand the list of planted plants. Sometimes there are areas where petunia may not take root, or the way it grows is simply not suitable. That is, an upright bush is required, for example, like fragrant tobacco, which looks gorgeous, is similar in flowering to petunia and does not take up much space.

Therefore, among the proposed seeds and seedlings there is a truly rich selection of interesting representatives of the plant kingdom, which are similar to petunias, but at the same time have a different set of valuable qualities.

For example, flowers such as petunia - calibrachoa are distinguished by abundant flowering. A flower that looks like a petunia is surfinia, it is a hybrid of a petunia, similar to it, but with a more resistant immune system, and is suitable for growing in places with climates that gardeners' favorites, accustomed to warm conditions, cannot withstand.

So, in addition to petunias, you can pick up a lot of worthy flowering vines and shrubs and decorate your yard with them.

Live and artificial copies and analogues

In summer cottages and on the streets, you can often see flowers that look like petunias., only smaller, with different names. The most famous are Surfinia and Frillitunia, below we will consider the difference between them and Petunia.

1. Surfinia and Petunia - how are they different from Petunia? Surfinia, in fact, is a hybrid subspecies of ampelous Petunia, they can be easily confused, since there are a lot of similar features, but there are also differences - Surfinia has a very powerful and long stem, capable of reaching three meters, it also has more lush flowering than Petunia , therefore, it is often precisely Surfinia that is used to decorate vertical compositions or in hanging pots.
2. There are not so many analogues of Petunias, but nevertheless they are: this is Mirabilis - a very similar bush with the same bright flowers, Calibrachoa is practically, an exact copy, Minitunia is very similar to her, you can also add Pelargonium here, some of its varieties also strongly resemble Petunia.
   Very similar to Petunia, but with smaller flowers - this is Calibrachoa. You can only notice the difference with a close examination of this plant:
   • stems lignified, covered with hard pubescence;

   the leaves are small and also covered with hard down;

3. flowers like Petunia are small, but their number is huge.

The most famous variety of Calibrachoa is called "Million Bells", it is an ampelous plant that loves a lot of sunlight, light fertile soil, frequent watering and spraying, warmth.The flowers are very delicate and can easily suffer from rain or strong winds, this must be taken into account when choosing a place for it.

4. Artificial Petunias - our desires do not always coincide with our capabilities, what to do if a person wants to have flowers, but there are no suitable conditions for this - artificial flowers can be an excellent option for this.
   Recommendation! Now such beautiful, high-quality made Petunias are offered for sale, they simply cannot be distinguished from living ones, and such a flower will delight all year round.

Description of varieties

• Calibrachoa. Petunia on Calibrachoa is very similar, but if you look at the flowers more carefully, you can see their differences, and they differ even at the level of the DNA structure. The branchiness of the stems is increased, and they lignify early, which affects their aesthetic appearance. In Calibrachoa, flower petals are more rounded and the middle of the flower is more pronounced, while each millimeter of the stem is strewn with such bells. Calibrachoa is grown in the ampelous version.

• Minitunia. Breeders bred a hybrid of petunias with miniature inflorescences. Such a plant is notable for its short stature, but at the same time its shoots are strong and branched, which prevents their fragility. Due to the fact that the abundance of flowering buds completely hides the branches, minitunia becomes like clouds of pink, blue, yellow, which can be used as bright landscape accents. The plant looks good in pots, as well as as a curb or ground cover option. Small petunia can also be called that.

• Mirabilis. This flower is interesting in that buds of different flowers can appear on one shoot, but they bloom at night, and by the morning their beauty has already evaporated, as they fade. Mirabilis is distinguished by a persistent aroma, the color can be both bright and pastel colors.

• Surfinia. This is also a hybrid of petunias, but surfinia is distinguished by longer flowering and increased branching of the stems.

• Morning glory. This flower belongs to the bindweed. The buds look like small gramophone, the branches can reach five meters. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the flower is poisonous, and if it grows unattended, it begins to choke the neighbors in growth.

• Datura. Datura, like petunia, is a relative of potatoes, that is, nightshades. The flowers are the same shape as those of the morning glory, but they are quite large, and the stem reaches about 1 meter, and it is erect. The plant is poisonous not only to the touch - even if the scent is inhaled, it can be poisoned.

• Lavatera. A relative of mallow, lavatera - has a luxurious hair of delicate shades. Large flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a spikelet. But, as befits any beauty, the plant is capricious and demanding.

• Brugmansia. A beautifully flowering and showy plant, the petals of which can be of the following colors: cream;
• yellow;
• scarlet;
• blue. But it is worth remembering that this plant has a strong toxic effect.

• Fragrant tobacco. The tobacco bush will not only decorate the site, but also scare away pests that will be sent to the garden. At the same time, the plant is decorated with large white inflorescences, and it does not require special care.

• Tunbergia large-flowered. This is a liana that can stretch up to six meters, it is not susceptible to diseases, but requires strong support under it. Tunbergia inflorescences shimmer with orange, raspberry and yellow hues.

• Campsis. Multi-colored gramophone collected in large erect inflorescences. Such a bush requires space, because its height, if there is a good trellis, can reach 15 meters. These amazing flowers cascade down, forming thickets covered with thousands of buds. But we must remember that the plant loves warm climates and is unlikely to survive in areas with low temperatures.

• Indoor syningia.Shiningia have buds with velvet petals, such a plant is grown in pots, at home, but in the summer they can be moved outside.

• Streptocarpus. Streptocaruses are able to give the gardener at the same time up to hundreds of blossoming buds. They do not have a stem, the leaves are small and wrinkled, the color of the petals can be variegated or just plain.

• Phlox Drummond. An annual, undersized bush with inflorescences in a variety of colors.

Description of appearance with photo

What does it look like? Petunia fell in love with everyone for its lush bloom, which pleases the eye throughout the season. The flowers of the plant are large, bright, very beautiful. This allows gardeners to create memorable compositions on garden plots by combining petunias with other plants. The flower in hanging compositions looks even more impressive.

Below are photos of Petunias, including those growing in pots on the balcony:

Helpful planting tips

• If it is necessary to maintain the landscape design in a single gamut, then from the above varieties, you can choose interesting plants and create a garden of different levels in terms of flowering time. To do this, you should take advantage of the advice of seasoned gardeners and experienced designers who have been creating truly magnificent decoration for gardens for more than one year.
• Before proceeding with planting, the site must be planned: every meter of land must be described, in terms of what kind of soil there is, whether there are illuminated places or, on the contrary, the wind is constantly blowing there, are there any plans in the future near buildings and how far to carry water from wells for irrigation.

It is worth compiling a list of the future garden collection and indicating there such data as:

1. flowering time;
2. plant height and diameter;
3. exactingness to the place of growth;
4. susceptibility to disease.

Then the flowers should be divided into groups and attributed to one those that are more similar to petunia, and to the other - vaguely similar to it.

• It is also imperative to make a planting diary, where all information on flowers and varieties is entered: time of planting seeds;
• picking;
• variety name;
• manufacturing firm.

After spending a little time compiling such a description of the garden, you can decorate it with petunias and flowers similar to it.

Which family does it belong to?

Petunia belongs to the Solanaceae family, to the genus of herbaceous or semi-shrub perennials, it appeared in South America. This is a "distant relative" of tomatoes and potatoes, which are also from the Solanaceae family.

Almost two centuries ago, hybrid forms of petunias were bred, which are successfully grown on balconies, as well as in gardens as annuals, more than 30 species of this plant are now known.

Reference! Bright, large and fragrant flowers are in perfect harmony with other flowers and add color to any corner.

Daughter of Petunia

Surfiniya is the work of Japanese breeders. In the 70s of the 20th century, a Japanese company tried to adapt petunias with large flowers to bad weather conditions. They did it by the method of cell hybridization. As a result, they successfully bred an ampelous variety of petunia, but it could only reproduce by cuttings. She could not give seeds. This species was registered under the trade name Surfinia. In a very short time, these flowers were able to gain worldwide popularity. Let's try to reveal her secrets.

Her trump card is beauty

All varieties of Surfinia are distinguished by their unusual and varied beauty.Some varieties have a delicate and sophisticated beauty, others are daring and catchy. It is impossible to call a flower simple. Large buds in the form of gramophones, they are called so, can reach 8-9 cm in diameter. Their petals are rich in pure color against the background of a darker throat. In some varieties, the bud has contrasting streaks or a border of white petals. These are the very first varieties bred.

The Double variety series is called one of the most beautiful ampelous surfinias. She will surprise you with thick double flowers of unthinkable shades. Also striking is the Mini variety - these are small but very expressive gramophone with a flower diameter of about 5 cm.

Among the unusual shades of surfinia, florists distinguish:

• Bright red;
• Bright yellow;
• Terracotta;
• Peach;
• Pink with a green border.

Remarkable strength

Despite their graceful appearance, Surfinia have vitality and strength to grow. In a warm and humid climate, in just 2 months the plant forms its branchy lashes, which can grow up to 2 m during this time. The plant gains a large vegetative mass, and at the same time shoots on the sides grow from each internode. It grows in the form of a ball, cascade or pillow, depending on the planting.

A large vegetation mass is supported by a strong root system. For comfortable placement of a plant in a pot, one seedling will need about 5 to 7 liters of soil.

Bad weather is not terrible

Petunias, older relatives of surfinias, are very unstable to unfavorable weather. A strong wind can easily tear their petals, and rain will make them into one mass. In many sources, you can find recommendations that pots with petunias should be hidden under the roof during bad weather. But every time it is completely inconvenient to do it.

Surfinia do not suffer from this. She is quite resistant to any whims of the weather. There is no need to hide it from the weather. The only thing that may be needed is to remove the spoiled buds. Others will soon grow in their place and will delight others.

All these properties show the characteristics of an ideal ampelous flower. The main thing is not to confuse it with other related plants when choosing.

The quantitative composition of the composition and the landing pattern

For a balcony box 50-70 centimeters long, we need:

1. Petunia vegetative "Marvel" - 1 pc.
2. Petunia vegetative "Tambelina Priscilla" - 2 pcs.
3. Lobelia ampelous "Regatta Sapphire" - 2-4 pcs.
4. Lobelia ampelous "Regatta White" - 2 pcs.
5. Ivy "Hummingbird" - 1 pc. (adult specimen), 2 (young plants).

The quantitative composition of the composition "Country Provence" and the planting scheme. <людмила>

Surfinia and Petunia - what is the difference

Both petunias and surfinia are related, very beautiful annual ampel type plants. They differ in the following parameters:

1. By the strength of growth and branching - Differences will be visible even at the germination stage. Surfinia seedlings are larger in comparison with petunia seedlings of the same age. Petunias do not have such an abundance of side shoots. They are few in number and grow upward. Surfinia has plenty of such shoots. In a pot, they spread horizontally, and then begin to hang down from it. The root system of surfiniya is very strong, as it can withstand so many shoots with numerous buds.
2. On the formation of a bush - In order for surfiniya to grow into a beautiful lush cap, it does not need human intervention. It will direct its branches by itself and fill the space allotted to it. To grow such a petunia hat, you need to work hard. Florists advise pinching the side shoots to stimulate branching. Petunia must first gain green mass, and only then it can bloom. This is the only way to get a fluffy hat from flowers.
3. Reproduction Method - Despite the close relationship of plants, they reproduce in different ways.Petunias produce seeds and can also propagate by cuttings. In surfinia, seeds are not formed at all. They can only reproduce vegetatively.

In addition to these features, there are practically no differences between petunia and surfinia. They have similar flower shapes, colors and sizes.

Dope

Datura is a genus of plants in the Solanaceae family. An annual plant with a bare erect stem, about 1 meter high, forms a bright bush with huge gramophone flowers.

Datura leaves differ from petunia leaves in that they have dark green and lighter shades. Flowers are single, large, located in the forks of the stem. The flower is unpretentious, but gratefully responds with abundant flowering on fertile soil.

Attention. Datura is a poisonous plant that can intoxicate. With prolonged close contact, symptoms of poisoning may appear.

The varieties are relevant for flower growers:

• "Datura ordinary";
• "Indian Datura";
• "Brugmansia";
• "Datura broomstick."

Read on to learn how to grow datura from seeds in your garden.

Popular varieties of surfinia

Among florists, classic surfiniya varieties and hybrid closely related varieties are popular:

Velvet Blue is a classic variety. It attracts with its brightness. The gramophone is medium in size, but very unusual in shape. Their petals have a velvet surface with wavy edges. A lot of buds grow on the bush.

Burgundy - surfiniya of a rich wine burgundy hue. Representatives of this variety grow actively and massively, while the flower cap is compact. Shoots grow evenly in all directions. The buds are large, can reach a diameter of 8 cm. Suitable for both a hanging planter and a flower bed, covering its surface with a carpet.

Deep Red - the flowers have a very rich red color, which is rare for this type of plant. This variety has been recognized as a laureate of various flower exhibitions more than once. Reproduction is possible exclusively by cuttings.

Hot Pink is distinguished by medium-sized flowers with bright pink petals and burgundy throat. Crimson streaks are visible on the flower. This gives the bud volume and texture. The flower cap grows small, compact.

White - the plant is often planted in cascading flower beds, as it is actively growing. Its strong shoots with many flowers grow up to 1.5 m. The flowers themselves are medium in size. The color is predominantly white, it can be cream or pale yellow shades.

Tumbelina Suzanne is the closest relative of surfinia. She belongs to the Tumbelin variety group. She has an unusual and graceful appearance, which you may not immediately understand that this is a petunia. Suzanne's main advantage is undoubtedly her buds - large cream-colored double flowers.

Green Edge Pink - This new surfiniya variety is distinguished by its original color. Pink petals with a corrugated structure are framed by a green border, while the throat of the flower is yellow. The bush grows compactly, but actively and densely. Due to the large number of buds, the leaves are practically invisible. Like many surfinias, Green Edge Pink does not need to be pinched for better growth and flowering.

Giant Purpl - has very large flowers. Their diameter can be up to 10 cm. Their color is dark crimson with an almost black throat. The plant has powerful roots and stems. It grows compactly and looks sophisticated and stylish.

Streptocarpus

The appearance of about a hundred flowers on the bushes at the same time is the norm for streptocarpus. The formation of a large rosette of leaves is characteristic, the inflorescences are dense. The stem, unlike the petunia, is absent. Wrinkled leaves of a dark green oval shape.

The corolla resembles a six-petal bell. Coloring is monochromatic or variegated: all shades of pink, white and blue.

More than one hundred and thirty species of streptocarpus are registered, but decorative varieties are popular:

• "Rocky streptocarpus";
• Streptocarpus Rex;
• "Streptocarpus Wendland".

Learn more about growing Streptocarpus at home.

Care secrets and growing rules

Surfinia, like other types of ampel petunias, have their own secrets and care rules. There are times when, after several weeks of active growth and flowering, the flower suddenly stops growing and begins to fade. To prevent this from happening, there are some features of leaving.

Landing

All surfinias have potential strength, and they need a lot of soil and nourishment for their strength and growth. The more land a plant has, the more powerful it will be and the faster it will gain vegetation mass. One flower seedling needs about 5-6 liters of soil. In a pot with a volume of 30 liters, 4 - 5 plants will be enough.

Sufinis will thrive in loose and fertile soil. During planting, you need to apply a ready-made fertilizer, which has a long-term effect. It usually comes in the form of granules or capsules that will last a long time.

Top dressing

One of the secrets of good flowering is abundant feeding. Fertilizers that were used for planting are not enough for her. The most effective fertilizers are liquid fertilizers. It is better to carry out feeding once a week.

Watering

Water the plant often. It is important not to allow the earth to dry out. Spraying should be carried out on hot days.

Bush formation

Almost all surfiniya bush form independently, without human intervention. However, if necessary, you can pinch small shoots to make the bush more fluffy.

During flowering, withered buds need to be removed. This not only improves the appearance but also makes the plant lighter.

Favorite specimens can be saved to be cut in the winter-spring period. Rooting is easy. In this case, next season you will be delighted with as many surfinias as you like.

Surfinia - home care and cultivation. Petunia Surfinia is an extremely beautiful perennial plant, characterized by lush flowering. They look especially good in containers hanging under terrace roofs or on balustrades. In the next article, he will talk about the varieties and care of the plant in order to ensure a beautiful and long-lasting flowering of surfinia, up to the first frost.

Surfinia - first of all, we like it for its beautiful flowers, which, without condition, are their greatest decoration. The plant has short ovoid leaves, covered with hair, and exudes a slight aroma. The flowers are cup-shaped, with embedded petals. In shops you can find surfiniya varieties with a variety of flowers. The color palette is really wide, from white-pink to deep purple. Surfinia bloom begins at the end of June and lasts until autumn.

Useful and harmful properties

1. As for the properties - researchers have proven the beneficial effect of the aroma of Petunias on humans - the functioning of the circulatory, cardiovascular, central nervous and digestive systems improves, it is enough to sit near the flowers for a while and the aroma will begin to work. Also, the scent of Petunias helps to get rid of headaches. It should also be noted that it is also capable of repelling mosquitoes; no harmful properties have been found in this wonderful plant.
2. Allergy to Petunia - among the huge number of annuals grown in garden plots, of course, there are flowers that can cause an allergic reaction in humans and flowers that are absolutely "clean", that is, safe in this regard, Petunia is one of the flowers that do not cause allergies, you can also add Forget-me-not, Pansies, Snapdragon and some others to this list.

Surfinia and petunia

First of all, it should be clarified that surfinia is petunia. This is a group of species, the prototypes of which were Petunia and Petunia x atkinsiana. Therefore, if you want to know more about surfinia, first you need to study information about petunia.

Recall that we talked in more detail about growing petunias in our articles:

• Petunia - varieties, cultivation, reproduction, diseases
• Petunia: growing secrets, useful tips
• Petunia - planting and care from A to Z. Seedling of petunia from seeds at home
• Petunia - from A to Z (continued). Healthy do-it-yourself petunia seedlings

The only noticeable difference between surfinia and petunias is the ampelous shape of the plant, which makes it the perfect flower for terraces and balconies.

Growing and care

Growing surfiniya is not very difficult. However, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules of caring for these plants, as they are very sensitive to unfavorable growing conditions. Plants grow best on sandy loamy, fertile and permeable soils. It blooms best in sunny and warm locations. In addition, it is necessary to provide the plants with a roof that protects them from heavy rains that can damage the flowers. You should also remember to water regularly.

Attention! Petunia Surfinia does not like drought. The plant should be watered regularly. On hot days, even twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

The seeds of the plant can be sown in February, then the seedlings should be transplanted into pots with a diameter of 10 cm. However, the resulting seedlings are quite sensitive and easily susceptible to fungal diseases. Therefore, in amateur conditions, petunia surfiniia is unlikely to grow from seeds, as a rule, it is easier to buy ready-made seedlings for planting in boxes or pots.

Surfinia care begins with transplanting purchased plants to a permanent place. The plant is best planted in a permanent place in mid-May at 20-30 cm intervals if you want really plentiful bunches. Heavy rains cause periodic deterioration of flowering. It is worth remembering that petunia surfinia grown in containers requires regular feeding with mineral fertilizers. Nowadays, you can easily buy mineral fertilizers specially designed for surfinia. It is also necessary to regularly remove faded flowers, which will further stimulate the plant to produce new flower buds.

How to overwinter a plant?

Among lovers of ampel and balcony flowers, the question often arises of how to overwinter surfinia. Can they be stored until next season, or is it better to harvest the seeds and sow them in pots in February? It's probably worth it because surfiniya seedlings are usually not the cheapest.

Collecting and sowing seeds is out of the question. However, it is possible to store the surfins in a bright and cool room with a temperature of about 10 ° C during the winter. During this time, they should be rarely watered to keep them from drying out. Unfortunately, at higher temperatures, the plant will start to hurt and die.

Only at the beginning of February and March, the temperature in the room in which the flower hibernates should be increased to 14-16 ° C. It is also necessary to cut the old, abundant shoots of plants and start intensive watering. When new shoots of surfinia reach a length of 4-5 cm, fertilizer is applied. It is best to use a multicomponent fertilizer with trace elements (the iron content is very important) or a special fertilizer for petunias. From mid-May, the flower can be planted on the balcony.

As you can see, it is possible to preserve surfini in winter - it exists, but in practice it is very difficult, especially due to the need to maintain a constant temperature of 10 ° C. The chances of overwintering for the plant are small, and even if it succeeds, the plant will no longer grow as luxuriantly and bloom profusely as in the previous year. Many gardeners usually buy new plants in the spring.

Varieties and varieties

First of all, keep in mind that surfinia is a petunia species and as such is a variation of it. Surfinia can be distinguished mainly by the color of the flowers. Therefore, we can distinguish varieties by their purple, pink, yellow and red colors.The varieties of plants with bicolor flowers are very interesting - pink surfinia with white edging, surfinia with white flowers with a purple center or petunia surfinia with full flowers, bluish-white.

Due to the high popularity of these plants on the market, there are so many varieties, below are the names of several of the most popular and newest ones.

Surfinia Lavender - has full, lilac-blue flowers, blooms early, blooms all summer through fall, requires a sunny side.

Surfinia Raspberry Blast is the most beautiful variety of plant, the flower has pink flowers with transverse white stripes.

Surfinia Veranda is another excellent variety, creates balls from hanging shoots, unfortunately, poorly resistant to bad weather conditions.

Surfinia Neon - The flowers of this variety are bright pink, beautifully presented as a single plant in a container.

Surfinia Scarlet Improve is an attractive red variety with a slightly darker center. It grows very vigorously and blooms for a long time.

Surfinia Purple Vein is a blue-flowered plant with a deep purple vein.

Surfinia Table Dark Red is a very rewarding option with beautiful red flowers.

Our summer cottage terrace - before and after

At the time of purchase, our dacha was not in the best condition. The wooden garden house was in need of renovation, and the style and color scheme in which it was finished was at odds with my idea of ​​beauty.

The main advantage of this building was a small terrace, with the improvement of which we began the process of reconstruction of the house. The first thing that needed to be done was to remove elements that could not be repaired and did not fit into the chosen style. Those were the rickety shutters and rough wooden hearts near the window.

The next step was to create a new suitable background. To do this, I cleaned the walls of the house from the old paint and covered them with textured paint of a very pleasant peach color. This coating is applied with a spatula, the process is not progressing quickly, but the result was worth the effort - we got a very effective and seemingly plastered wall.

Facades for self-assembly of furniture, which are easy to find in hardware stores, are ideal for the role of shutters. After installing the shutters and the door, we painted the classic Provence purple color reminiscent of lavender.

Soon, just as opportunely, we saw inexpensive forged furniture on sale, but the chairs and the table turned out to be from a different collection. To combine the lilac table with the snow-white chairs, lavender-colored soft biscuits were placed on the seats. Thus, the base was ready and only the flower decorations were missing, which for me, as a florist, are of no small importance.

Our summer terrace - before and after. <людмила>

Surfinia Parple corduroy F1 (PlasmaS)

Price: 63.00 R

Quantity,: Add to cart Description and characteristics

• The ampelous hybrids of the “surfiniya” type included in the Velvet F1 series can be successfully used wherever it is possible to show their cascade character: for flower pots and hanging baskets; balcony decoration; for decoration, for example, "flower trees".
• With their excellent drooping shoots reaching 80-100cm in length, they can easily compete with vegetatively propagated varieties. When grown in spread, one plant can create a flowering carpet up to 1.5 square meters in diameter, thanks to the excellent branching of the lateral shoots.
• During the flowering period, the plant is densely covered with flowers of intense purple color with a dark throat, 5.5-6 cm in diameter.
• SEEDING: for seedlings under glass February - March. Attention: seeds in granules! Each seed is coated with a special, easily soluble compound to facilitate sowing and growing. The granules are placed on the surface of slightly compacted and moistened soil and moistened with a spray bottle.Seedlings appear only in the light (while avoiding direct sunlight) after 10-15 days at T 22-24 ° C. Do not allow the pellet shell to dry out. Seedlings require spraying, picking in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. After picking, top dressing is required with a complex fertilizer containing iron and trace elements for rapid root formation and acceleration of flowering. The flowering time can also be adjusted during this period by changing the length of daylight hours. Optimum T for plant development is 17-19 ° C. To prevent premature pulling out of seedlings and the formation of strong plants, allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and instead of ammonia, use calcium-containing fertilizers for feeding. The use of growth regulators is recommended to avoid flower shrinkage and discoloration. Planting seedlings in the ground is carried out after the threat of frost has passed. Light, fertile, well-drained soils and sunny, sheltered from the wind are preferred.
• CARE: watering and feeding at intervals of 7-10 days, starting a week after planting the seedlings and until August. Watering should be done moderately. petunias do not tolerate waterlogging.
• FLOWERING: from June to frost.
• Number of seeds: 5 dr.

Reproduction methods

Petunia propagates by two methods - cuttings and seeds.

Seeds

1. The seeds can be purchased from the store or harvested by yourself after flowering and fruit formation. The bivalve box (fruit) cracks after ripening, and the seeds spill out.
2. The ideal time to sow seeds is mid to late March. At this time, the length of daylight hours is sufficient for normal seed germination.
3. Petunia seeds are quite small, they must be scattered over the surface of the substrate in a pot at home or on the street and covered with foil and glass.
4. Seeds should not be placed close to each other.
5. The room temperature should be 23-25 ​​degrees.
6. Watering should be moderate, you can use a spray bottle and spray the surface of the substrate.
7. Seedlings should appear in about a week. After that, the temperature must be lowered to 20 degrees, and the greenhouse must be periodically ventilated.
8. A pick is carried out when 3-4 leaves are formed.
9. Fertilize after the seedlings grow a little. Complex fertilizers are suitable for feeding.
10. Landing in the ground is carried out when the spring frosts end.
11. Flowering will appear in about 2-3 months after germination.

We offer you to watch a video about growing petunia seeds:

Cuttings

Reproduction by cuttings is suitable for terry and ampel type petunias. Terry varieties are propagated in late February, early March, ampelous can be propagated all year round (read about petunia varieties). On condition of constant supplementary lighting with fluorescent lamps and creating the required temperature of 21-24 degrees.

1. For propagation by cuttings, the apical cuttings must be cut off. They should have 4 to 6 sheet plates.
2. On each cutting, you must remove all the leaves, leaving the top two.
3. The remaining leaves must be cut in half.
4. Cuttings are planted for rooting in a substrate used for propagation of petunias by seeds.
5. Before planting on top of the prepared soil, it is necessary to lay a layer of perlite or sand 20-25 mm thick. Perlite or sand must be treated with a fungicide solution to disinfect the soil.
6. Cuttings are planted at a distance of 15-20 mm from each other.
7. For cultivation, it is necessary to create a greenhouse by covering the container with Petunia with glass or film.
8. The substrate should be moistened with a spray bottle twice a day.
9. Rooting occurs in a week.

We offer you to watch a video about petunia cuttings:

Types and varieties of Surfinia

Currently, a large number of Surfinia varieties are known, which differ in the size and color of the flowers.The following varieties are common:

* Surfinia Ampelnaya. Perennial variety. The plant, which is bare shoots, waits for the winter in the basement. As spring approaches, flowers appear on the stems. As soon as stable warm weather sets in, Surfinia Ampelnaya can be taken out under the open sky.

* Surfinia Elow. The very name of the variety suggests that the plant blooms with pale yellow flowers. Flowering lasts until frost.

* Surfinia Ed. The bush is very miniature, has the shape of a ball, strewn with bright red flowers. A beautiful variety, but rather capricious, requiring constant attention.

* Surfiniya "Burgundy". Strongly branched bush, which is completely covered with large funnel flowers of a rich burgundy color. Flowering lasts several months.

* Surfinia "Double Purple". An amazingly beautiful and fast growing variety. The height of the bush is 20 cm, but the shoots covered with bright purple flowers can go down 1 meter.

* Surfinia "Hot Pink". It stands out for its large original flowers, which have two tones: crimson stripes are located on the pink petals, extending from the center of the flower to its edges.

* Surfinia "Table White". Flowering is long, about six months. The flowers are shaped like bells and have a snow-white hue.

Growing Million Bells

The Million Bells varietal series includes about 18 varieties with pink, pink-lilac, purple, cherry, red, lemon-yellow, raspberry, dark yellow color.

At first, Calibrachoa flowers were purple - this is the "native" coloring of the plant. Later, when the plant interested breeders, varieties with red, white, pink, yellow, blue, brown colors were bred.

A distinctive feature of calibrachoa is that its flowers have a “throat” that differs in color from the corolla. The throat can be brownish or yellow.

As a rule, the calibrachoa flower is simple, resembling a petunia bell. But today you can also see terry varieties, which are slightly inferior in the splendor of flowering to common calibrachoa.

Growing Surfinia at home

At home, Surfinia can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Sowing of seeds is carried out in early spring. The container is filled with a light, air and water permeable substrate. The bottom of the tank is lined with a layer of small pebbles that will act as drainage. The soil is moistened, seeds are laid out on top. Since they are very small, it is not recommended to sprinkle with soil on top. The container is covered with foil or glass, placed in a warm, bright room. The optimum room temperature is + 20 ° C. From time to time, the container opens, if necessary, the substrate is irrigated from a spray bottle.

As soon as the first shoots appear, it is necessary to sprinkle the roots with calcined fine river sand. This procedure will protect the roots from decay. After the appearance of two leaves, a dive of the seedlings will be required.

Surfinia can be grown by cuttings. To do this, in the fall, a stalk is cut off from a large, healthy specimen, which is immediately planted in a container with fertile soil. The top is covered with a glass jar, the container is placed in a warm room. Watering should be regular. As soon as leaves appear on the handle, the jar is removed. By the spring, the bush will be formed, it can be planted in a permanent place.

The place for growing Surfinia must necessarily be light; in the shade, flowering will be rare, not so bright. A cache-pot with a plant must necessarily be protected from gusts of wind, drafts. If the weather is humid, then the pots with Surfinia should be brought under the roof or covered with foil, as raindrops can damage the flower petals.

The best soil option for Surfinia is loam with an acidity of pH 5-6, it also applies well to sandy soils.

Surfinia in pots

Landscape design

A variety of sizes and colors, along with unpretentiousness, made ampelous petunia a favorite flower of landscape designers around the world. Delightful compositions can be created at the very beginning of the warm season. They are easy to maintain, as well as renewal by planting new shoots. Moreover, the plant transplant is very well tolerated. Perfectly ampelous petunia gets along with other green pets. As with flowering, for example, pansies or tulips of different varieties, and with decorative leaves, such as begonias or ferns. But, if there is no special design imagination, you can simply plant several bushes of the same varietal group with different colors in a common container, and you will get a magical waterfall of greenery and flowers.

In the garden or on the site for creating flower ampelous compositions with petunias, a real expanse.

For example, you can grow a vertical garden. To do this, first, boxes and semi-vazones are attached to any wooden wall in any order. It is important to ensure the safety and stability of the wall itself. After all, plants weigh a lot with earth. In addition, you will have to take care of the timely outflow of excess water from the pallets so that the wall does not become covered with mold and fungi. In prepared containers, seedlings of ampel-type petunias and bush are planted. You can create amazing combinations by planting, for example, ivy or tradescantia.

Recently, the compilation of flower beds of various diameters on its site has become very popular. They are organized flower beds on an artificially created hill. These can be sides made of stone slabs or metal structures in the form of flowerpots. It is important to ensure the timely removal of excess moisture. In such flower beds, petunia appears in front of the viewer in a new role as a ground cover plant. In addition, she knows how to quickly grow and fill all the space with herself. As a result, you can get a beautiful flower bed with petunias, which in a short period of time will become a bright spot on the site.

Of course, there is less space on the balcony, but if you use it wisely, the garden will turn out to be also luxurious. The simplest, but spectacular place where you can cultivate ampelous petunias is considered to be a hanging planter. Landing in it will create a fragrant ball of falling leaves and flowers soaring high in the sky. In addition, this option greatly saves space if the balcony is very small. It is only important to make sure that the selected varieties are not afraid of winds and rains. And also provide yourself with easy access for watering.

Growing and caring for petunia is not particularly difficult for gardeners. This plant, thanks to its excellent decorative qualities and an abundance of colors, is winning more and more fans every year.

Surfinia care

Watering. In order for the Surfinia bush to form well, it needs moderate daily watering. It is very important not to flood the plant, otherwise rotting of the root system may begin. It is better to spray hanging pots from a spray bottle with settled and cold water.

Top dressing. In order for the flowering to be abundant and bright, the plant must be fed with potassium. Twice a week, feeding is carried out with special fertilizers for flowering plants, combined with watering.

Pruning. In August, the stems of the plant are cut in half, this will allow it to maintain a bushy, compact shape.

Diseases. Surfinia is disease resistant. However, with excessive moisture, the plant can be affected by late blight - brown spots appear on the leaves. You can fight this infection with a solution of copper sulfate or other copper-containing fungicides.

Pests. The danger for Surfinia is a spider mite. If it appears on the leaves, the plant may die.Spraying with soapy water or special preparations helps to fight it.

Diseases and pests

Systematic feeding and competent care will prevent the occurrence of diseases. A healthy flower is rarely attacked by pests. If the plant has acquired a painful appearance and the flowering has decreased, find out the cause and eliminate it.

A flower with poor care is exposed to such diseases:

• powdery mildew;
• the leg is black;
• chlorosis;
• root rot.

In addition to fungal ailments, parasites also attack:

• The spider mite draws out the nutrients contained in the branches and leaves from the flower, which lowers the immune system.
• Aphids bring the flower to wilting.
• Thrips - the larvae of the pest live on the crown, eating the leaves, which is why the bush loses its attractiveness.
• Whitefly - Larvae and moths draw juices from the plant, which slows down development.

Fungicides will help fight these diseases.