Petunia Starry sky: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation, reproduction

Petunia varieties Starry sky is a special and beautiful flower that adapts well to the climate in our territory. The flower is easy to care for, thanks to which it is popular among flower growers, it attracts with unusual coloring and flowering all summer. It is a decoration of the greenhouse, and at the entrance and exit from the house pleases the eye. The color of each flower is individual and unpredictable, so you want to consider the quirkiness of patterns all the time. This flower is artificially bred and is sometimes called the Night Sky or Starry Night petunia, as it is very similar to the enchanting evening sky.

Description and features

Coloring of flowers depends on watering, soil and light. The plant grows as a small bush, blooms for two to three months and is usually grown in hanging baskets and planters. This is a rather compact flower, but its shoots reach one meter and are quite strong, and buds form on each shoot.

There are varieties of petunias that can only be bred vegetatively, and this species belongs to them. Her seedlings can be bought in garden stores, and in the fall the bushes need to be cut and stored in a cool room. Spring is the best time for cuttings.

History of occurrence

The first discoveries of this flower were in the 18th century, but it was the Night Sky petunia variety that appeared quite recently, bred in Germany. The variety has a very early flowering period, good branching and beautiful flowers. This species appeared in 2015.

Varieties

There are several varieties of the variety.

Night sky

Today, there are two most common hybrids of this plant.

The first hybrid is Petunia Night sky or in English Night sky or Nightsky, the second hybrid is Pupa.

Night sky shoots branch and grow up to one meter. At the same time, they are characterized by the presence of numerous branches, densely covered with buds. Flowering takes place throughout the summer. The flowers are dark blue with a purple hue, and against this background are blotches of various shapes of white.

Chrysalis

Petunia Chrysalis is distinguished by bright green foliage that forms a carpet of bright beautiful pink flowers with white patches. The flower is calm about the transplant and produces a large number of buds.Balconies, loggias, terraces, gazebos are decorated with this flower. They effectively fill empty spaces in the garden, are characterized by weather resistance and such a feature as changing colors depending on external factors.

How to plant with cuttings

Transplantation of flowers is as follows. It is necessary to cut the stalk with two knots 10 centimeters long. It is necessary to cut off all the flowers and leaves, lower the cutting into the water for two weeks. After the roots appear, the stalk must be transplanted into the soil, and after two weeks the shoot in a pot of soil should be rearranged in partial shade. The flower takes root quickly enough and forms a root system.

Soil Requirements

The soil should consist of two parts of peat, sod land, leafy soil and humus taken in two parts, and one part of sand. It is advisable to sift the soil before planting.

How to cut cuttings

When cuttings, it is always necessary to monitor the humidity. If the owner has a desire to preserve certain properties of the plant, for example, its color, then it must be dug up at the end of summer and transplanted into a pot. In winter, the plant should be under temperature conditions not lower than 10 degrees Celsius. Cuttings can be transplanted immediately into seedlings and covered with a plastic cup, and watered through the pan. Petunias from cuttings retain the appearance of the original plant.

Transplanting in open ground

Root the stalk in the soil immediately after the roots appear. After transplanting, they are watered, and it is better to transplant them not under the scorching sun, so as not to burn the leaves.

How to plant with seeds

First you need to start seedlings.

Growing seedlings

Petunia is quite unpretentious and grows well in open ground. But before planting it in the open ground, it is necessary that the seedlings get used to the conditions of the open ground for some time, it must be taken out for some time outside at least for a week.

Flowers must be protected from the wind. If it is a container petunia, then drainage should be poured onto the bottom. For these purposes, floor vases, balcony boxes are suitable. The plant blooms 65-92 days after planting the seeds.

Preparation of soil and planting material

Petunia is also propagated by seeds, which are sown in seedling boxes in early spring. For this purpose, it is better to use granular seeds, they are more tangible in the hands, which allows you not to overdo it with their quantity, which is why the seedlings will be located very closely to each other. These seeds allow you to sow them with the same distance from each other.

The material is sown in a special multi-component substrate.

Sowing dates

Before sowing, the land should be allowed to warm up to room temperature. It must be poured with settled water with the addition of potassium permanganate. After sowing, you need to stretch the cling film over the box and remove it only for airing and spraying.

Seedlings are grown at room temperature and seedlings should appear in 7-10 days. Sprouts are watered with a syringe strictly under the root, and dive at a height of 2 to 3 centimeters.

How to plant

When planting, it is necessary to remove faded flowers in a timely manner. This is a fairly drought tolerant plant. Instances that grow in containers require frequent watering. And the leaves may turn yellow from insufficient irrigation, improper soil acidity.

Ventilation

Seeds that have sprouted do not need to be watered. After the shoots get stronger, the film and glass are removed and the plant is allowed to ventilate. Over time, the time for airing is increased, due to which the plant adapts to the environment. And when the third leaf appears, the film can be removed completely.

Dive

Seedlings can dive when the petunia has 2-3 leaves. Dive consists in dividing plants into separate containers. The bushes are transferred to small plastic cups, and as the flower grows, the earth must be added in parts.

Hardening

When the seedlings were planted in pots, they begin to harden it, accustom it to a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees. To do this, it is transferred to a cold place for a while or a window is opened above it. This period of time should last no more than 15 minutes, gradually increasing it.

Pinching

Pinching is carried out in order to form a beautiful bush, and is performed at the stage of formation of the 4th-5th leaf.

Landing in open ground

For planting a plant in open ground, you need to consider some key points:

• plant loves light;
• does not like liquid stagnation;
• needs to be fed once every two weeks.

Choosing a seat

When choosing a place for planting, it should be borne in mind that the petunia loves bright, but diffused light or partial shade, and the plant should be under illumination for at least 12 hours. If such lighting cannot be provided to the culture, then a phytolamp must be installed.

Soil Requirements

Soil for planting is used multi-component, consisting of peat, sand, turf and leaf soil. You can also add wood ash.

Plant pattern

Seeds need to be planted in a timely manner. After preparing the soil, the material is laid out in moist soil. There is no need to deepen or sprinkle with soil. You need to create a greenhouse and cover the seeds with a film.Plants should be planted thirty centimeters apart. A flower is planted as follows:

• Need to make markings for landing.
• Seedlings are taken out of the container carefully so as not to damage the root system.
• Form the holes in which the seedlings are laid out.

It is better to transplant when the plant is comfortable, namely in cloudy weather.

Timing

To correctly determine the timing of planting seedlings in the ground, you need to know the timing of sowing seeds, germination, the period of seedling growth and the immediate time when the seedlings are ready for transplanting into the ground.

Care

Petunias need to be looked after properly.

Temperature conditions

The plant is characterized by thermophilicity. During the day it can withstand high temperatures, and at night it needs coolness. Thanks to this temperature, beautiful white blotches will form on the plant.

Irrigation

From the moment the flower is transplanted into the ground, it must be regularly watered under the root once every three days so that water does not fall on the buds and the flower itself. In the heat, you need to monitor the condition of the plant and irrigate it as needed. The water should be soft and free of chlorine.

Fertilizer

Fertilize with phosphate fertilizer. On average, three to four feedings per month. A month later, you can fertilize with a nitrogenous compound. During the bud period, potash fertilizers are fed no more than twice. During flowering, the petunia is fed once every two weeks with fertilizers for flowering plants at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

Cutting

Pruning is used to keep branches from lengthening too much. With proper care, the flower can bloom all summer. When caring for the Starry Sky petunia, one must not forget about the regular pruning of shoots and the formation of a bush.With elongated shoots, the number of buds is significantly reduced, and the flower does not look so beautiful and spectacular.

Diseases and pests

To avoid the occurrence of diseases, you need to observe harmonious conditions for the soil, properly water the plant.

After cold weather, the leaves and stems can become moldy. To stop this process, you need to pour sand under the bush. In case of damage, the leaves must be treated with a soapy solution and an insecticide solution.

Spider mites

Petunia Starry sky is often attacked by spider mites. They love the buds of the plant. In appearance, they look like small white dots on the leaves that braid the cobweb on the stems and leaves. These spots increase over time, and the leaves dry up and fall off. The flower should be sprayed with acaricides 3-4 times a day.

Aphid

Aphids mostly eat the buds and flowers, and the stem and leaves are covered with dew drops. The leaves begin to slowly die and curl, and the buds wither. The flower should be sprayed with tobacco and soap.

Thrips

Pests appear on both sides of the leaves. Because of them, white dry stripes appear on the leaves. Flowers and buds begin to fade. On the leaves, traces of black and green pests are formed. You need to process the flower with the preparation "Confidor" or "Aktara".

Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew leaves a coating on the leaves and spots of white. This disease belongs to fungi. Because of it, the leaves curl and dry out. You need to spray with a tincture of garlic.

Grey Rot

This disease manifests itself in the form of stickiness on the leaves and a fluffy gray coating. After it, the leaves become covered with brown spots and die. This disease also applies to fungi. You can treat with drugs "Trichodermil" or "Ordan".

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate petunias.

Shanks

Petunia Starry Night is propagated by cuttings. This method is simple and easy. The shoot breaks off, falls into a glass of water, waits for the roots to appear and transplants into peat soil, waits for the formation of the root system and after a month transplants into prepared soil.

Seeds

Petunia Starry Sky can be grown from seeds in late February - early March, which are sown, and after the seedlings appear, they are planted in open ground.

Possible problems

Most problems are caused by improper care. In order to prevent diseases, the leaves must be treated with special solutions. With a lot of light, the leaves may turn yellow and the buds fall off. You need to water very carefully so that the leaves and flowers do not get wet.

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