How to pinch a petunia correctly

Why pinch petunia

Growing independently or purchasing petunia, we count on the lush flowering of this plant, which will decorate the site throughout the season.

Of course, petunia will not let you down if you are a little more careful in caring for it.

So, the plant needs to be provided with regular watering, especially if it is planted in a pots, a box and other containers, where the earth dries out quickly enough. Those who have the opportunity to come to the site only on weekends, when planting petunias, add superabsorbents to the soil that can retain water. They, of course, do not provide the required level of moisture, but they still prevent the plant from drying out and help "survive" until the next watering.

Also, you need to remove faded flowers in a timely manner, and this should be done correctly. In addition to the flower itself, it is necessary to cut off the sepal with part of the stem. Indeed, in the sepals, seeds continue to ripen, taking food from the plant.

And, of course, abundant and long flowering is impossible without pinching, which is the removal of the upper shoots.

This procedure at the stage of seedling growth will allow the formation of a strong root system, since a still immature plant will not spend energy on bud formation and flowering. A plant with powerful roots, in the future, will give significantly more flowers.

Subsequent pinching will promote the formation of lateral shoots, respectively, the flower will bush, and not grow in long lashes. It is much easier for a plant to provide nutrition for small shoots, having received which they will begin to form buds faster.

Thus, it is possible and necessary to pinch the plant repeatedly, preventing the formation of long shoots, which, moreover, spoil its decorative appearance.

How to do the pinching correctly

The first time the plant is pinched at the stage of formation of 5-6 leaves, as a rule, even before planting in open ground. Anything above 6 leaves must be cut off. Thus, a growing point is formed, from where new shoots will appear. If for some reason this moment is missed and the plant has bloomed, remove the flower without regret.

For pinching, it is better to use scissors so as not to injure the plant. If you are using a garden pruner, it is recommended to pre-treat the tool to prevent infection.

Repeated pinching should be carried out if you notice that the plant begins to rapidly expand and grow into a stem. Usually, this happens about a month after planting in the ground, when the seedlings have taken root, got stronger and actively began to build up green mass. Do not feel sorry for the elongated shoots with flowers. The plant will quickly restore its decorative effect, and such a procedure will only benefit it.

Petunia: Combining pinching with reproduction

If the tip cut off as a result of the pinching is long enough, with several pairs of leaves, another flower can be grown from it.

The stalk obtained as a result of pinching is placed in a container with water, where you can also add a root formation stimulator. As soon as the petunia gives roots, leave a couple of upper leaves on the handle and plant in the ground.

Some root such cuttings directly in peat soil, tablets, as well as a mixture of earth with vermiculite.In this case, the cutting is first immersed in a growth stimulator, then buried in the ground. A plastic cup or bag is placed on top, creating greenhouse conditions for the handle.

In order for a rooted plant to grow stronger faster, it needs to be watered regularly and also fed.

By the way, feeding will not interfere with adult petunias, especially those that are planted in pots, boxes and other containers. Well-developed petunia bushes have a powerful root system, and ideally, one plant should have at least 5 liters of soil. However, the volumes of decorative pots and boxes do not always allow this condition to be met, respectively, the nutrients that are contained in a small volume of soil are simply not enough for the flower. Their deficiency can be replenished only with fertilizers.

Petunia: Fertilization

Feeding petunias can be started at the earliest stage of plant development, already 2 weeks after picking seedlings. During this period, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied.

After planting the seedlings in the ground and rooting, organic and complex mineral fertilizers are applied.

Further, already matured and adult plants are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, which contribute to the formation of buds and lush flowering.

Root feeding can be alternated with foliar feeding. For these purposes, complex fertilizers are used, which contain useful trace elements.

Quite often, petunias suffer from iron deficiency, as a result of which the foliage, at the beginning of the season or in the middle of summer, begins to turn yellow. To remedy the situation, the flowers must be treated with iron-containing preparations, which are available in any specialized store. The multiplicity of processing is 3-4 times, the interval is two days.

A healthy plant will surely "thank" you with lush flowering.