Ampelous and cascading petunia: differences and description of plants, what is better to plant

Petunias are unusual and beautiful flowers found in almost every garden. They decorate any flower bed and can have a variety of shades of flowers - from white to dark purple. It is not difficult to recognize the bush variety. However, the differences between ampelous and cascading petunias are not so obvious. The characteristic features of plants include the appearance of flowers, leaves, shoots.

What is a petunia

Petunia is a semi-shrub plant that belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is grown as a balcony flower and as an annual in gardens.The most popular varieties include ampelous, cascading and bush. The last variety is different from the first two. It is characterized by straight shoots that are directed upwards, like a bush.

At the same time, the ampelous and cascade varieties are characterized by certain features. The ampelous view is distinguished by the following features:

1. The inflorescences are shaped like bells. At the same time, dozens of flowers are along each shoot. They are in the axils of the bushes.
2. The palette is different - from snow-white to purple. However, the inside is usually darker than the petals.
3. Stems vary in length. It can be from 30 to 100 centimeters.
4. During development, the shoots fall to the ground, and do not fall apart to the sides. Due to this, ampelous varieties can be planted in hanging flowerpots. In this case, the formation of the crown is carried out at the discretion of the grower.
5. Some varieties are characterized by large buds that reach 10 centimeters in diameter. In this case, a large number of flowers do not appear on the bushes. Other varieties have buds with a diameter of 3-7 centimeters. At the same time, there are 3-10 flowers on the sprouts.

Cascading petunia has its own distinctive features. These include the following:

1. The plant is characterized by elastic shoots of high strength. They do not break under the gusts of wind. The length of each branch can reach 1.5 meters. A solid green mass emerges from the sinuses. The growth of the stems starts upward, but at a certain height they lean downwards.
2. The crown looks like a ball, which is framed by a cascade of flowers.
3. Buds grow up to 5 centimeters in diameter. Moreover, on one bush, all flowers have the same size. It is important to consider that at the stage of flowering and bud formation, the bushes need to be watered and fed more often.

Benefits of this plant

Useful properties of petunia are associated with its amazing decorative properties. This flower has many benefits:

• diverse palette - this greatly expands the possibility of using the plant in landscape design;
• possibility of use for decorating flower beds and pots;
• undemanding to growing conditions;
• possibility of combination with different plants on the site.

Key differences

The considered varieties of petunia are characterized by different features and traits. They concern the thickness of the stems, the direction of growth, the appearance of the flowers.

Stem thickness

For ampel varieties are characterized by thin stems. Moreover, their length does not exceed 1.5 meters. Cascading varieties of petunia are characterized by thick and powerful shoots that can grow up to 2 meters.

Growth direction

For ampelous petunia, the direction of the shoots down is characteristic. The cascading variety first grows up and then down and to the side.

Leaf size

Both types of petunias are characterized by soft leaves that are covered with a little fluff. At the same time, the old ones are larger, and the young ones are small. In ampelous varieties, the size of the foliage changes during growth. As a result, it reaches 10 centimeters. In cascading varieties, this figure usually does not exceed 5 centimeters.

Appearance of flowers

Ampelous petunia may differ in one-color or two-color buds. For cascade varieties, monochromatic inflorescences are more characteristic. At the same time, they bloom longer than ampelous.

Habitat

The natural habitat of these plants is located in the tropics of South America. From there, many representatives of the Solanaceae family spread to other continents, and various varieties of petunias are no exception.

At the same time, ampelous and cascade varieties differ in their growing characteristics. Ampel varieties are recommended to be planted in hanging planters, while large floor vases are more suitable for cascading ones.

What is better to plant

Choosing a specific option for landing on the site can be difficult. To get a good result, it is recommended to focus on the size of the area that you want to enliven with these colors. Ampelous petunia will fit perfectly into a large space. At the same time, on a tiny terrace, it may seem lurid.

To decorate a small area in height, it is recommended to use a cascading petunia that winds along a support. It won't take up much space. If dimensions allow, it is permissible to combine both varieties of crops. Thanks to this, you will be able to get a perfect flower arrangement.

When choosing a particular variety, the features of caring for them are of great importance. Since the ampelous and cascading petunias do not differ too much in origin, they require approximately the same care. However, in order to get beautiful and strong cultures, you still need to take into account a number of features.

For example, it is permissible to plant an ampelous petunia in open ground after stable warm weather is established. A strong drop in temperature often leads to the death of the plant.

The beginning or middle of June is considered a suitable period for transplanting an ampelous petunia to a permanent site. It is also permissible to plant the plant in garden boxes or planters. Culture will look good everywhere.

However, experts advise against planting petunia near other flowers. It grows quickly and leads to the suppression of other plants in the flower bed. It is much better to give the plants a separate place. Thanks to this, they will cover everything around with a fragrant carpet.

Ampelous petunia is considered to be very demanding for nutrients and watering. Great care is recommended at the stage of the beginning of flowering, when the buds are just beginning to bloom. At this point, the flower is highly sensitive to the amount of moisture and the amount of nutrients.

It is important to avoid moisture stagnation near the root system of the ampelous petunia. As a result, there is a risk of a rapid onset of its decay. This will lead to the death of young shoots. With the right choice of fertilizer application and periodic watering, petunia will bloom from the beginning of June until the frost.

Cascading petunia is characterized by specific care features. For comfortable growth, such bushes require a separate clearing. The fact is that such a petunia tends to scatter whips. As a result, a natural flower bed is formed, the diameter of which is 1.5-2 meters.

Besides this, this type of petunia grows well, clinging to a support. Its functions can be performed by a fence or a pillar. But in this case, you will need to specifically direct the bush in the required direction so that the flowers do not climb on top of each other and do not hang down.

When planting a cascading petunia, it is always recommended to monitor the distance between the bushes.It is important that it is at least 50 centimeters. Otherwise, the shoots will begin to choke each other. There will be too little room for them to grow and display their decorative properties. As a result, the bushes will lose their attractiveness.

If you plan to grow cascading petunia in pots, you need to use a larger container. For 1 shoot it is worth taking at least 5 liters of land. If you want to plant 2-3 plants at once in one pot, it is recommended to use a container with a volume of more than 15 liters.

In order for the cascading petunia to have a beautiful shape and bloom profusely, it needs to be plucked systematically. At the same time, it is forbidden to do this with ampelous varieties.

Conclusion

Ampelous and cascading varieties of petunias have excellent decorative properties and are actively used in landscape design. They will harmoniously complement any space and will please the eye for a long time. However, to get good results, it is important to choose the right plant variety and provide it with the right care.

Recommended