Description and characteristics of petunia variety Starry Sky, subtleties of cultivation

Petunia varieties The starry sky is a special and beautiful flower that adapts well to the climate in our territory. The flower is easy to care for, which is why it is popular among flower growers and attracts attention with its unusual coloring and flowering all summer long. It is a decoration for the greenhouse, and it is pleasing to the eye when entering and leaving the house. The color of each flower is individual and unpredictable, so you want to constantly look at the whimsicality of the patterns. This flower is artificially bred and is sometimes called Petunia Night Sky or Starry Night, as it is very similar to the enchanting evening sky.

Description and features

The color of flowers depends on watering, soil and light. The plant grows as a small bush, blooms for two to three months and is typically grown in hanging baskets and planters. This is a fairly 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. Its seedlings can be bought in gardening stores, and in the fall the bushes need to be trimmed and stored in a cool room. Spring is the best time for cuttings.

History of origin

The first discoveries of this flower were back in the 18th century, but it was the Night Sky variety of petunia that appeared quite recently, bred in Germany. The variety is distinguished by 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.Moreover, they are characterized by the presence of numerous branches, densely covered with buds. Flowering occurs throughout the summer. The flowers are dark blue with a purple tint, and against this background there are white inclusions of various shapes.

Doll

Petunia Pupa features vibrant green foliage that forms a carpet of bright, beautiful pink flowers with splashes of white. The flower is calm about replanting and produces a large number of buds. This flower is used to decorate balconies, loggias, terraces, and gazebos. They effectively fill empty spaces in the garden, are characterized by weather resistance and the ability to change colors depending on external factors.

How to plant using cuttings

Transplanting flowers is as follows. It is necessary to cut a cutting with two nodes 10 centimeters long. You need to pick off all the flowers and leaves and put the cuttings in water for two weeks. After the roots appear, the cutting must be transplanted into the soil, and after two weeks the shoot in a pot with soil must be moved to partial shade. The flower takes root quite quickly and forms a root system.

Soil requirements

The soil should consist of two parts of peat, turf soil, leaf soil and humus and one part of sand. It is advisable to sift the soil before planting.

How to take cuttings

When cutting cuttings, it is always necessary to monitor the humidity. If the owner wants to preserve certain properties of the plant, for example, its color, then it needs to be dug up at the end of summer and replanted in a pot. In winter, the plant should be kept at a temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius. The cuttings can be transplanted directly into seedling boxes and covered with a plastic cup and watered through a tray. Petunias from cuttings preserve the appearance of the original plant.

Transplantation into open ground

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

How to plant using seeds

First you need to start seedlings.

Growing seedlings

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

Flowers must be protected from the wind. If it is a container petunia, then you need to add drainage to the bottom. Floor vases and balcony boxes are suitable for these purposes. 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 granulated seeds; they are more palpable 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. Such seeds allow you to sow them at the same distance from each other.

The material is sown in a special multicomponent substrate.

Sowing dates

Before sowing, the soil should be allowed to warm up at room temperature. It needs to be watered 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 ventilation and spraying.

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

How to plant

When planting, it is necessary to promptly remove faded flowers. This is a fairly drought-resistant plant. Specimens that grow in containers require frequent watering. And the leaves may turn yellow due to insufficient irrigation and improper soil acidity.

Ventilation

Seeds that have hatched do not need to be watered. After the shoots have become stronger, the film and glass are removed and the plant is allowed to be ventilated. Over time, the time for ventilation 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 be plucked when the petunia has 2-3 leaves. Picking involves dividing plants into separate containers. The bushes are transferred to small plastic cups, and as the flower grows, the soil must be added in parts.

Hardening

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

Topping

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

Planting in open ground

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

• the plant loves light;
• does not like stagnant fluid;
• It is necessary to feed once every two weeks.

Selecting a location

When choosing a place for planting, you should take into account that petunia loves bright, but diffused light or partial shade, and the plant should be exposed to light for at least 12 hours. If such lighting cannot be provided to the crop, then it is necessary to install a phytolamp.

Soil requirements

The soil for planting is multicomponent, consisting of peat, sand, turf and leaf soil. You can also add wood ash.

Planting scheme

Seeds must 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 cover with soil. You need to create a greenhouse and cover the seeds with film. Plants need to be planted thirty centimeters from each other. The flower is planted as follows:

• You need to make markings for planting.
• The seedlings are removed from the container carefully so as not to damage the root system.
• Form holes in which the seedlings are laid out.

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

Deadlines

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

Care

Petunia must be properly cared for.

Temperature

The plant is characterized by thermophilicity. It can withstand high temperatures during the day, but needs coolness at night. Thanks to this temperature, the plant will form beautiful white spots.

Watering

From the moment the flower is transplanted into the ground, it must be regularly watered at the root once every three days so that water does not get on the buds and the flower itself. In hot weather, you need to monitor the condition of the plant and irrigate it as necessary. The water should be soft and without chlorine.

Fertilizer

Fertilize with phosphorus fertilizer. On average, three to four feedings per month. After a month you can fertilize with a nitrogen compound. During buds are fed with potassium fertilizers no more than two times.During flowering, petunia is fed once every two weeks with fertilizers for flowering plants at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

Trimming

Pruning is used to prevent branches from becoming too long. With proper care, the flower can bloom all summer. When caring for Starry Sky petunia, you must not forget about 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 impressive.

Diseases and pests

To avoid the occurrence of diseases, you need to maintain harmonious conditions for the soil and water the plant correctly.

After cold weather, leaves and stems may become moldy. To stop this process, you need to pour sand under the bush. If damaged, the leaves should be treated with a soap 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 weave a web on the stems and leaves. These spots increase over time, and the leaves dry out and fall off. The flower needs to be sprayed with acaricides 3-4 times a day.

Aphid

The aphids mostly eat the buds and flowers, and the stem and leaves become covered with drops of dew. The leaves begin to slowly die and curl, and the buds fade. 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. Black and green pest marks form on the leaves. You need to treat the flower with the preparation “Confidor” or “Aktara”.

Powdery mildew

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

Gray rot

This disease manifests itself as sticky leaves and a fluffy gray coating. After it, the leaves become covered with brown spots and die. This disease also refers to fungi. You can treat with the drugs “Trichodermil” or “Ordan”.

Reproduction

Petunia can be propagated in several ways.

Cuttings

Petunia Starry Night is propagated by cuttings. This method is simple and easy. A shoot is broken off, placed in a glass of water, roots are expected to appear and transplanted into peat soil, the root system is expected to form, and after a month it is transplanted 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. To prevent diseases, leaves need to be treated with special solutions. With too much light, the leaves may turn yellow and the buds may fall off. You need to water very carefully so that the leaves and flowers do not get wet.