* The classic Petunia

[Kano]

The classic Petunia
Bloom of the Week


Manila Bulletin April 13, 2011,

MANILA, Philippines -- The Petunia is a popular and widely cultivated genus of flowering plants from Argentina. It belongs to the Solanaceae plant family and cousins include the tobacco, tomato, potato, and chili pepper. Its name originates from the French word "petun," which means "tobacco." Most of the varieties seen today are hybrids. The plant was first discovered in South America by the explorer James Tweedie, who gave its former genus name Tweedia. It was later changed to Petunia.



Petunias are one of the most popular bedding flowers. They have wide trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. The flowers come in all types of colors except black and blue.  The look of the flowers varies; there are single and double blooms, ruffled or smooth petals, striped, or veined. They come in solid colors and some of them are fragrant.

Grown as annuals, the plant is replaced every season with a new plant germinated from seeds. It is grown under the full sun or in partial shade. They are prolific bloomers, although some forms require continuous deadheading or pruning to make them produce new shoots and blooms.

The Petunia seeds need light and warmer temperatures to germinate. It requires regular watering and a slightly dry and moist potting medium. Monthly fertilizer feeding or foliage feeding will give your petunias the energy to stay in bloom. But be judicious with water and make sure the soil is well-drained. Too much water will cause the plants to become "leggy." This means it will have a lot of stems but not enough flowers.

Petunias look especially beautiful in hanging baskets, either alone or as a trailing plant in a mixed planting scheme. They are low growing and need to be planted in large groupings. But containers of petunias can be placed in strategic areas of the garden, to add color where needed.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/313911/the-classic-petunia