Petunia Sophistry: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care rules

Petunia has long won the love of gardeners - now not a single site is complete without these delicate flowers. Many types and varieties of petunias have been bred, and among the colors you can find both simply pleasant shades and unusual multi-color varieties. Among these species, it is worth highlighting the petunia Sophistry. She is part of the Grandi Flora group, and the color of this series depends on the lighting and weather conditions.

Description and features

Petunia Sophistry was bred by breeders from America. Its unusual appearance and pleasant, strong aroma quickly attracted the attention of gardeners.

Flowers in this series are well suited for almost any location:

• open areas;
• flower beds;
• hanging pots;
• vases;
• decorative frames;
• balcony boxes.

There are a few more decorative features that make this view one of the most beautiful:

• forms a neat spherical bush;
• pleasant fragrance;
• flowers change color from pale to rich under the influence of the sun, weather, plant age.

Like all other petunias, this variety is undemanding and will suit many areas.

Varieties

There are several varieties in the Sophistica petunia series, and their shades vary from white to black.

Lime bicolor

From the name itself it is clear that this variety combines several colors. The petals themselves are pink, crimson, sometimes light purple or lilac, but they are mixed with stripes running from the center to the edge. They can be cream, white or lemon.

Blackberry

One of the most interesting varieties - flowers can be not only dark scarlet or purple, but even completely black. In addition, the velvety surface gives them a noble look. This option grows very luxuriantly and goes well with other colors, especially contrasting light shades.

Lime green

A variety with very bright, juicy flowers, which, by their very appearance, cheer up. They combine fresh shades of green-yellow and white, sometimes beige is added. The bushes are lush, covered with large buds.

Blue Morne

This variety, whose name translates as blue morning, looks beautiful in large flowerpots on the street, as well as in open areas. The bush grows evenly in all directions, when flowering it is strewn with bright buds with petals of blue and blue hues, sometimes there are purple and white blotches.

Antique shades

The bushes of this variety also resemble a ball in shape, the branches and leaves are very dense. The flowers are very large. Petals are painted in different shades of pink or cream, yellow and greenish spots stretch from the middle.

Twilight

Another two-tone variety that combines all the pale and bright shades of pink. In the middle is a yellowish spot that seems to glow slightly and gives the petunia a festive look.

Advantages and disadvantages

Petunia Sophistry refers to unpretentious plants, but there are still pros and cons that you need to consider before choosing this species for your site.

Pros

Due to the high survival rate, the varieties of this group are not a problem even for beginner gardeners.

Disease resistance

Petunias Sophistry is almost not afraid of diseases and pests. In addition, even with heavy rain and wind, large flowers do not break or tear. If there is slight damage, the plants recover quickly.

Almost 100% germination

This applies not only to growing with seeds, but also to breeding seedlings. In any case, there are quite a lot of bushes.

Rapid growth and development

Among all ornamental plants with large flowers, the petunia grows and blooms the very first. Very soon after planting, you can already admire the flowering.

Frost resistance

Petunias are not afraid of small frosts, so you can plant it in the northern regions. A short drought will not kill the plant either.

Cons

The Sophistry petunia has few disadvantages, and those that exist are solved by the right choice of location and regular care.

Lime varieties can fade quickly when exposed to sunlight.

All varieties from the Sophistry series change color under different lighting conditions. But Lime varieties can quickly fade, and then they will no longer be as beautiful. Therefore, it is recommended to plant them in the shade.

Noticeable dust on Blackberry flowers

Due to the coloration, the dust on the petals is clearly visible. Therefore, as soon as it appears, you need to wipe the flowers with a damp cloth.

How to properly plant seedlings

Growing the Sophistry petunia is easy, and in most cases, you can get lush bushes with beautiful flowers without any problems.

Timing

Most often, petunias are planted in January.This is done because it takes about 4-8 weeks for the bush to become an adult and give flowers. With such terms, you can get a flowering plant as early as March. If you want to achieve the appearance of buds in late spring or summer, then simply shift the planting date. Usually the deadline is April.

How to plant

Petunia can be planted both in pots and in open ground. In the first case, the seeds are laid out on the surface of moist soil, but they are not sprinkled with soil on top.

A light potting mix is ideal, and it should be neutral in terms of acidity.

After the pots need to be covered with film or glass to maintain a humid microclimate. From the end of April to the beginning of July, you can plant in an open area, but only if the temperature at night does not fall below +8 degrees.

Growth promoters

If you notice that the petunia is growing too slowly, you can use growth stimulants. They are used for the first time in the first spraying of sprouts.

Temperature and light conditions

Warmth is important for a petunia, ideal if you plant it at +17-18 degrees. But this is also possible when at night the temperature is kept at + 8-10 degrees. Without sufficient light, the sprouts may not hatch at all or be weak, diseased. In the absence of sunlight, provide them with artificial lighting, especially in winter.

Picking

The picking of young sprouts is carried out twice:

1. As soon as the stem has grown and grown strong, and several leaves have formed on it, you need to carefully cut off the very top. The cut off part can not be thrown away, but put in water so that it gives roots.
2. The second time the pick is carried out when landing on a permanent place in open ground.

Feeding

Fertilizers before planting should be applied taking into account what kind of soil will be used. To do this, take two soil samples, pour vinegar on one, pour soda on the other, fill both with water on top. If at the same time only a slight hiss is heard, the soil is neutral. Hisses more with soda - sour, vinegar - alkaline. Once you have determined this, do the following:

• lime, sand, peat must be added to acidic (you can take special peat tablets);
• into alkaline - also sand and organic matter.

Irrigation

While growing seeds, it is important to maintain sufficient moisture, so water the plants regularly. But do not let the water stagnate. You can also spray them. Open the pots from time to time if you are growing petunias at home and air them out.

Hardening

Planting petunias in open ground should be preceded by hardening. To do this, one to two weeks before transplantation, the plant is taken out every day to fresh air. Keep it there for an hour at first, then slowly increase the time.

Landing in open ground

Before planting in an open place, it is necessary to take into account all the conditions and characteristics of the plant.

Choosing a seat

First of all, you need to choose the right place. It should be a sunny site, but do not let the plant be in the sun all day.

Soil Requirements

The ground for petunias should be light and loose. It is important to remember about acidity - this crop requires neutral soil, pH 5.8-6.

Wind protection

Choose places with protection from the wind. At the same time, natural barriers will create a shade for plants that will not allow them to constantly be in direct sunlight.

When to plant

When choosing a time for disembarkation, consider the following points:

• 3 months should have passed since the emergence of shoots;
• wait until the sprouts are strong;
• avoid death from frost, so the time is right for landing when the temperature is already +8-10 degrees at night;
• choose a cloudy day or evening, then the young plants will not be burned by sunlight.

Plant pattern

Seedlings are planted in open ground when there are 6-8 leaves. Mature plants do not tolerate transplantation well. There should be a distance of 15-30 centimeters between the bushes, it all depends on the size of the bush. The larger it is, the more space will be required. If you plant in a container, then you will need at least 5 liters of land.

Care

You need to take care of the Sophistry petunia in the same way as for the rest of the plants of this species.

Irrigation

For these varieties of petunias, watering balance is important. It is impossible to allow both the drying of the soil and waterlogging. Water should never stagnate.

Feeding

Petunias need to be provided with appropriate fertilizers:

• are made regularly, every 7-10 days;
• complex formulations are used;
• another option is organic solutions.

Without feeding, it is impossible to achieve lush flowering.

Loosening and weeding

Loosening and removing weeds are also important for proper petunia growth. You need to loosen between the rows of plants. Then they will get more nutrients and water.

Removing dried leaves and flowers

If you do not cut off the dried parts of the bushes, they will look untidy, lose their decorative qualities. Therefore, periodically bypass the plants, clearing of similar leaves and flowers.

Color combination

To create a beautiful arrangement in the garden, follow some rules:

• Blackberry looks with light colors, creating an interesting contrast;
• Lime green is suitable for compositions with bright petunias or other crops;
• same goes for Antique Shades.

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