Greetings, my friends and readers! Petunia surfinia takes pride of place in the ranking of popular plants. It is these flowers of absolutely stunning colors and amazing beauty that can be found as decoration in every home. Flower growers liked the plant so much that it ceased to be exclusively indoor.
Petunia surfinia decorates balconies, terraces and summer cottages with long, lush blooms, pleasing the eyes of owners and their guests. But it’s not enough to buy such beauty and bring it home - it requires special care, especially if you are breeding petunia.
Content
- General information
- Surfinia varieties photos and names
- Surfinia cultivation and care in open ground
- Watering Surfinia
- Soil for surfinia
- Surfinia pot
- Surfinia transplant
- Feeding surfinia
- Surfinia flowering
- Surfinia pruning
- Surfinia in winter
- Propagation of Surfinia by cuttings
- Diseases and pests
- Problems when growing surfinia
- What is the difference between surfinia and petunia?
- Conclusion
Seedling care
Growing surfinia seedlings
Since surfinia loves light, seedlings need good lighting. If necessary, you need to create artificial lighting so that the adult plant can subsequently bloom profusely.
When leaves appear on young seedlings, it is important to pinch them in a timely manner, removing the top pair of leaves. This procedure will stimulate the growth of lateral layers so that the bush will be lush and branchy in the future.
Planting in open ground is carried out at the end of spring. To do this, it is prepared, which consists of watering and fertilizing. A complex fertilizer must contain all the necessary substances, but potassium should be the predominant component. Fertilizer for seedlings is diluted in a weaker concentration than for adult plants, gradually bringing the indicators to those indicated on the package. Fertilizers must be applied every 2 weeks.
Important . You can create a colorful flowerbed in which all the surfinia flowers will highlight each other by alternating shades or combining colors.
General information
The colors of the flowers are quite varied, as well as their shape. The inflorescences are large in size. The flowering time of surfinia lasts almost throughout the summer.
In botany, only 25 varieties of the crop are known, which have different shapes and colors of inflorescences. All varieties were obtained by crossing different types of petunias.
Even a novice gardener can grow this unusual flower, the main thing is to create the necessary conditions, and then it will delight its owner with bright flowers for many years.
Varieties of plants with photographs
More than twenty species of surfinia are popular among flower growers, many of which also have well-known varieties. Let's talk a little more about some of them.
Surfinia ampelous
This is the common name for perennial species grown in the garden. Shoots without leaves overwinter in basements, and as spring approaches, leaves and buds appear on them.
Surfinia ampelous
Surfinia Yelou
One of the first breeding works on the breeding of ampelous petunias. It blooms with soft yellow flowers early and generously until frost.
Surfinia Yelou
Surfinia Burgundy
A branched bush abundantly strewn with flowers in the rich shade of the wine of the same name. It's been a good few months.
Surfinia Burgundy
Surfinia Double Purple
Composite flowers of bright purple hue. Refers to fast-growing varieties that tolerate high humidity in summer. The shoots can go down a meter when the bush grows twenty centimeters.
Surfinia Double Purple
Surfinia Hot Pink
This species is characterized by large flowers in two shades: crimson stripes stand out brightly against a pink background. They run from the middle to a wavy border along its edges.
Surfinia Hot Pink
Surfinia Table White
This is an early species of surfinia with flowering lasting almost six months. It is also loved for the snow-white hue of its flowers, reminiscent of bells, and their abundance on the bushes.
Surfinia Table White
Surfinia Red
These are spherical, miniature bushes, completely strewn with bright red flowers. Flowering is early and long, but the variety is quite capricious to care for.
Surfinia Red
Surfinia varieties photos and names
Surfinia Ampelnaya is a hybrid bred from ampelous petunia. It is valued for its fast growth and powerful branches that grow up to 2 meters in length. This variety blooms early and has large inflorescences of various shades. The stems and leaf blades are slightly pubescent. The leaves on the branches are not densely located. Flowers provide the main decorative value to the culture.
Surfinia Hot Pink is a compact, medium-sized plant with large inflorescences. The flowers have a pleasant deep pink color with a burgundy throat. From the depths of the flower, crimson-colored veins radiate along the petals, adding volume and texture to the gramophone. Flowering time lasts for two summer months.
Surfinia Starry Sky - the shoots of the plant reach 1 meter in length and beautifully hang down from the flower pots. They grow quickly and are covered with a large number of buds. This variety of surfinia blooms early and blooms for a long time, throughout the summer. The inflorescences are large with an unusual color. They are dark purple with white splashes, which makes them look like a starry night sky.
Surfinia Hot Red - the length of the branching shoots of the hanging culture reaches one meter. The leaf blades are dark green with slight pubescence. The inflorescences are bright, large, with clearly defined veins on a burgundy-red background. Thanks to this unusual combination, the flowers look very colorful.
Surfinia Velvet is a branched crop that blooms profusely throughout the summer. The number of inflorescences is many times greater than the number of leaf blades. The inflorescences are large, dark purple in color, with veins inside the flower. During flowering, the plant forms a spectacular cascade of long branches with dark green foliage and bright flowers. The plant is grown in hanging pots and boxes. They can also be planted in flower beds, where they quickly turn into a luxurious, floral carpet.
Surfinia Parple Velvet
This variety is very popular among gardeners, as it was bred quite a long time ago. The shoots of the crop are flexible, hanging, reaching a length of up to 1 meter. The inflorescences are medium-sized, purple in color with dark veins on the leaves. Surfinia blooms in mid-summer.
Surfinia Salmon Shades Velvet is a plant of an ampelous variety with long branching shoots and dark green, sparse foliage. The culture is distinguished by large inflorescences of a pastel salmon color with dark veins on the petals. Surfinia blooms throughout the three summer months.
Surfinia Night Sky - this unusual variety got its name due to the shade of the inflorescences. The flowers of this surfinia are large, dark purple in color with white speckles on the wavy petals, which gives them a resemblance to the starry night sky. The branches of the plant reach a length of up to 80 centimeters, with dark green, pubescent leaf blades. Suitable for both growing in beds and containers.
Surfinia Terry - the plant has large double flowers with wavy petals of a dark pink hue. The branches reach a length of up to 50 centimeters and have small green, pubescent leaves. The crop blooms throughout the summer.
Surfinia White
The culture is capable of growing a bush with a diameter of up to 1.5 meters. The stems are flexible, long, hanging. The inflorescences are large, white with a yellow neck. The plant blooms very profusely throughout the summer.
Surfinia Burgundy - this variety is characterized by a compact bush, which actively branches in different directions. The inflorescences are large, rich burgundy in color. Surfinia can be grown both in flowerpots and on a carpet bed.
Surfinia Sky Blue - the plant has long, elastic shoots with small, light green, pubescent leaf plates. The inflorescences are pale purple with a light center. The plant blooms throughout the summer.
Surfinia Blue Wayne - the culture has long, hanging shoots of an ampelous type. The leaf blades are medium-sized, dark green in color. The inflorescences are large, dark blue with inky veins and centers. The flowers have a pleasant aroma that becomes stronger in the evening.
Surfinia Rose Wayne
The plant forms a spectacular cascade of thick, elastic long branches with dark green leaves and numerous inflorescences. The flowers are large, bright pink with dark veins along the petals and a dark center. Flowering time is in spring.
Surfinia Perennial - is an ampelous perennial with long, flexible branches framed by medium green leaf blades with slight pubescence. The inflorescences are large, numerous, of different shapes and sizes, depending on the type of culture. The plant blooms during three summer months.
Surfinia Red is a compact bush on which green foliage is practically invisible due to the abundance of flowering. This variety of surfinia is ideal for garden cultivation. The inflorescences of the culture are large, bright red with a light, pleasant aroma.
Surfinia Table White is an early flowering plant species that delights with its decorative effect throughout spring and summer. Bushes can be either compact or well-growing. The inflorescences are white with yellow veins and centers. They go perfectly with the bright green fine foliage.
Surfinia Pink
Thanks to its lush and branched shoots, the plant is suitable for forming carpet flower beds, and large, rich pink inflorescences with crimson veins and wavy petals make the crop even more decorative. Surfinia blooms throughout the summer.
Surfinia Rome - the plant is a round, voluminous bush with lush, green foliage. The inflorescences are large, with a pleasant aroma. They have an unusual color. The flower petals have a dark purple hue, and along the edge there is a clearly drawn white border.
Surfinia Lime - has a very unusual coloring of inflorescences for surfinia. The flowers are lemon-colored with bright yellow veins. The culture has long, dense branches with dark green small leaf blades. Surfinia blooms throughout the summer.
Surfinia Yellow - the culture is characterized by frost resistance and abundant flowering. The branches are long, elastic with medium green, pubescent leaves. The inflorescences are large, yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Surfinia blooms in summer.
The most luxurious petunias are propagated by cuttings
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About petunia
The mother bush must be periodically fed with complex fertilizers. As new growth forms, cuttings are cut from it again. During rooting, petunia does not need feeding. In the future, you can alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. Types of cuttings: When it comes to propagating petunia, many prefer to buy a bag of seeds and grow seedlings, not even suspecting that there is a simpler and much less expensive way to do this.
after cutting, the cuttings must be placed in the ground without delay, after an hour their ability to root will sharply decrease;
Carefully, together with a lump of earth, transplant the mother bushes into pots of medium diameter (from 15 cm);If buds begin to appear, they must be cut off. Also, to achieve a lush bush, you need to pinch shoots above the 5th leaf.
Conditions for autumn-winter storage of petunia
High-quality care and proper planting of surfinia will allow you to easily form a beautiful hanging bush. The plant must be planted in large pots, as the bush becomes quite bulky. The substrate should be of medium structure with an acidity pH of -5.5-6.5. Prefers loamy or sandy soils, but is quite adaptable to any other sufficiently fertile soil. Adult ampelous surfinia needs good feeding. Keep the soil moist at all times. It is better to place a hanging pot in places well protected from direct rays of the sun and wind.
- During rooting, the cuttings are sprayed with water from a sprayer 1-2 times a day, making sure that the soil is moist but not damp. When the first signs of mold or “black leg” appear, watering is reduced, the boxes are ventilated, and diseased cuttings are removed. After 5-10 days, roots appear on petunia cuttings. Calibrachoa cuttings root more slowly - within 2 weeks or more.
- Conditions and care:
- Variety of colors: dark burgundy, rich pink with veins, double pink and purple flowers, purple with veins, white, white with a yellow eye and veins (Burgundy, Shihi Purple, Sweet Pink, Baby Pink Vien, Victorian Yellow, Violet, Lavender Bouquet, Crazy Pink, White);
Ampelous petunias - surfinia
To improve bushiness, when the first 6-8 leaves appear on the plant, pinching is done, which is then repeated after a couple of weeks.
From the main seedlings;
Instructions on how to cut petunia
Advantages of propagating petunia from cuttings:
It is important to maintain constant soil moisture by watering every day, or twice a day in hot weather;
Prune off old shoots to make it easier for the plant to survive the winter;
In most cases, the onset of the disease is associated with improper care of Surfinia ampelae. If you water the plant too much, it can cause wet rot. If you notice darkening on adult plants, they must be removed and the flower garden treated with special preparations.
- When growing, gardeners often wonder whether it is necessary to pinch out surfinia, because the plant is intended for a hanging pot and has long shoots. In fact, it is necessary to pinch the plant when the shoots reach 15-20 cm. Then the bush will be more lush and form faster. Remember that after pinching, flowering will stop for 2-3 weeks, this is normal. As a rule, when caring for ampelous surfinia, the shoots are renewed in this way in the initial stage of growth and at the end of summer to rejuvenate the adult plant.
- As soon as the length of the roots on the cuttings reaches 1 - 1.5 cm, they can be transplanted into pots with a diameter of 5 cm. To obtain bushier plants, the seedlings are pinched above the 4-5th leaf. The tips of the shoots, cut off by pinching, can also be used for cuttings. If necessary, pinching can be repeated after 2 weeks. After a month or a month and a half, the overgrown plants are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 11-13 cm.
- Groups of ampelous petunias - surfinia, supertunia, calibrachoa - prefer dry, warm weather (above +15). Open sunny places with partial shade at midday are suitable for them. Ampelous petunias can be severely affected by the wind, so baskets and flowerpots with them should be placed in places protected from the wind. For lush growth and abundant flowering, plants are watered and sprayed with water 2-3 times a day in hot weather. During prolonged rains, shelter under a canopy is recommended. In unfavorable weather conditions, if growth and flowering are inhibited, ampelous petunias are treated with growth stimulants. The tops of young plants are pinched to stimulate tillering. In the summer, surfinias are provided with daily abundant watering with soft water and weekly fertilizing with complex fertilizers with microelements, alternating root feeding with foliar feeding - foliar, for example, 18 g of calcium nitrate plus 3-5 g of ferrous sulfate per 10 liters of water, spray on the leaves up to 3 -x o'clock in the afternoon. In many varieties of petunias, especially large-flowered and double forms, the appearance can be spoiled by wilted flowers. They are almost invisible in large areas, but can be clearly visible in flowerpots, flowerpots and small flower beds near paths. To improve the decorative appearance of the plantings, such flowers are removed.
- Early and long flowering;
- ,
- Cuttings in ordinary water is another simple way to propagate petunia. From the mother bush, we prepare apical cuttings 10-12 cm long. To prevent them from spoiling in water, we remove the lower leaves, leaving only 3-4 of them. It is worth noting that the longer the cuttings are left without a nutrient medium, the less their ability to root, so they need to be immersed in water as quickly as possible.
From last year's plant from the flowerbed;
The ability to preserve the variety you like;Additionally spray the plants twice a day with water from a spray bottle;
transfer the queen cells to a room where you can maintain a constant temperature of +10+12 degrees.
Stems are often affected by late blight. At the same time, a brown spot appears on them, and over time the plant withers and dies. For prevention, treat the plant with copper-containing preparations. This treatment will also prevent brown spotting.
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Surfinia cultivation and care in open ground
This crop is warm and light-loving, so the bed for planting it must be chosen taking these features into account. For growth and development, the plant needs fertile soil, but it is still better to plant it in loam or sandy loam soil, pre-mixed with humus or compost. If surfinia is planted in acidic soil, then before planting it must be mixed with lime in a proportion of 300 grams per square meter of bed.
In addition to being nutritious, the soil must be light, loose and have good moisture holding capacity. We should not forget about drainage, which will prevent rotting of the root system. It must be at least five centimeters.
Young plants are mainly obtained from seed material, which is germinated at home by planting the seeds in an improvised greenhouse in February. Shoots appear two weeks after planting, after which they are planted in different pots. And when the young growth has five or seven leaf blades, they can be planted in open ground. Planting takes place in mid- or late April, when frosts on the soil are excluded.
Petunia is the parent of Surfinia. It can be grown when planted and cared for in open ground without much hassle, if you follow the rules of agricultural technology. You can find all the necessary recommendations in this article.
Watering Surfinia
In order for the plant to grow well and flower abundantly, it must be watered regularly and in a timely manner.
Despite the fact that the crop is a drought-resistant species, in summer the overgrown root system requires a lot of moisture, so watering should be frequent. On particularly hot days, the soil should be moistened twice a day.
However, it is unnecessary to allow waterlogging, which will lead to rotting of the roots and death of the surfinia.
The most common varieties of Surfinha
The breeding company Suntory (Japan) offers a wide selection of Surfinia series and varieties. Some of the most spectacular are:
- Double series. These are large double flowers. They are often used in decorating balconies, gazebos, and houses. The bushes do not bloom profusely, which emphasizes their uniqueness (Surfinia Double White, Double Purple, Double Red). Surfinia Parple is one of the most popular among summer residents.
- Specials Series. It includes new developments endowed with many qualitative and advantageous characteristics (color, shape, parameters). Specials series varieties – Surfinia Amethyst, Picotee Blue, Green Edge Pink.
- Series Table. The special feature of the series is the abundantly blooming flowers. The bush becomes very lush. Basically, these are compact, ampelous and semi-ampeloid petunias. All flowers resemble bells in shape. Varieties – Surfinia Table Yellow, Table Pink Morn, Table Dark Red, Table SalmonVein.
- Classic Series. The varieties of this series have traditional forms for petunias. Basically, classic varieties are early flowering. The stems of the bushes are powerful, distinguished by long shoots on which many flowers grow. Classic varieties - Surfinia White, Red, Deep Red, Blue, Blue Vein, Velvet Blue, Yellow, Burgundy, Sweet Pink, Hot Pink.
One of the latest innovations from the Japanese company is the Surfinia GreenEdgePink variety. Characterized by pink flowers with soft green edges.
Soil for surfinia
The ideal soil for growing the crop is considered to be loam with an acidity of 5-6 pH; it also grows well in sandy soil. The plant can easily adapt to any soil, as long as it is fertile, light and loose.
When growing surfinia in flowerpots or containers, you can use a mixture of garden soil and humus. To make the substrate loose, add one part of sand, two parts of humus and three parts of base soil. Before planting surfinia, 5 centimeters of fine expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the container as drainage. The florist should not forget about it when planting a flower in open ground.
In order for the soil mixture in the pot to retain moisture well, hydrogel or perlite should be added to it, and if the plant is planted in a garden bed, it should be mulched with a thick layer of sawdust or compost.
Surfinia pot
In order for the culture to grow and develop normally, it is necessary to choose a spacious pot.
When planting a plant in a container, it should be taken into account that one surfinia should account for at least five liters of volume. No more than three plants should be planted in a thirty-liter pot.
It is also very important that the container has bottom and side drainage holes to improve the air permeability of the soil. If they are not there, you can make the holes yourself.
Surfinia transplant
The plant needs to be replanted only if there is a disturbance in normal growth, which can occur when the earthen ball becomes waterlogged, fungal diseases appear and the soil is updated to a looser and more nutritious one. It is best to replant in the spring, but if necessary, it can be done at any time of the year.
The plant should be replanted into a new pot, on the bottom of which expanded clay must first be laid. It will prevent stagnation of moisture and rotting of the roots. After laying the drainage, you need to carefully shake off the root system from the soil, remove its damaged areas and move the plant into a pot, filling the free spaces with soil. Then the soil needs to be lightly pressed and watered.
The culture adaptation time takes about two to three weeks, after which the plant will begin to grow again.
Feeding surfinia
Surfinia loves fertilizers; it is thanks to regular fertilizing that the crop experiences active growth and flowering. The most effective fertilizers are liquid ones, which are dissolved in water and applied along with watering once a week.
After planting the plant in open ground or in a flowerpot, the soil should be fertilized with fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, or organic matter (compost) should be used, which is mixed into the planting soil mixture. Nitrogen is very important for the growth of shoots and their branching, and phosphorus affects the formation of strong and viable roots.
When the crop begins to bloom, it should be fertilized with complex fertilizers, which include phosphorus and potassium. They should be applied before the end of flowering. Kemira Lux or Plantofol can be used as such mixtures.
To increase the intensity of flowering and enlarge the inflorescences, gardeners use Zircon fertilizer. Surfinias planted in flower beds in fertile soil do not need such frequent feeding. It is enough to fertilize them only three times a season.
Surfinia flower: main characteristics of the plant
The Surfinia flower is a hybrid of everyone's favorite petunia. For more than two decades, it has occupied a leading place in floriculture among hanging plants, which are designed to give beauty on terraces, recreation areas, and decorate public gardens and gardens. If, walking past a terrace, you see a pot with a luxurious head of bright flowers, emitting a pleasant light aroma - this is most likely surfinia.
The long shoots of the plant are abundantly decorated along the entire length with a cascade of bright, varied buds.
The flowering period lasts from the beginning of summer until the first severe cold weather. Flowers in the form of small gramophones can be of different colors - from snow-white to dark burgundy.
Many novice flower growers wonder what the difference is between Surfinia and Petunia. To answer this question, we can say that the hybrid has surpassed its mother plant. Despite the fact that surfinia is one of the varieties of petunia, it has a higher growth rate, allowing it to form an adult, spreading bush within a few months after planting. The flowering period is much longer than that of petunia, and it is also endowed with high resistance to diseases, pests, and weather conditions.
Surfinia flowering
The culture blooms throughout the summer. Surfinia's inflorescences are predominantly large, bright and numerous. Depending on the variety, their shades can vary from white to dark purple. There are also two-color varieties that look very original.
To ensure that surfinia does not lose its decorative value and does not stop blooming, it must be covered from rain with a film if it grows in a flowerbed or brought indoors if it is planted in a flowerpot or container.
How to achieve lush flowering?
Properly selected fertilizers are secret number 1. Starting in February, the flower is fed with nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compounds once a month. Liquid and powdery concentrated products show good results:
- AgroMaster – Russia;
- ASB Greenworld (Greenworld) – Germany;
- Agricola-Aqua – Russia;
- PLANTON®S (200g) – Poland.
Air temperature within the range of +18° to +25° is secret number 2.
And the third secret is the duration of daylight (without direct sunlight) from 6 to 8 hours.
Surfinia pruning
Almost all cultures form independently and do not need human intervention. However, if the gardener wants to make the bush more fluffy, he will need to pinch out the young shoots from time to time.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the plant, faded buds should be removed. Thus, you can not only improve the appearance of the crop, but also reduce the load on it.
Surfinia in winter
Caring for a plant during the dormant period has a number of subtleties:
- With the onset of autumn, the branches are cut off, leaving only 20 centimeters of the existing length.
- If the flowers grew in a flowerbed, they are transplanted into a container and brought into a cool room with temperatures not lower than + 5 degrees.
- The container or flowerpot is wrapped so that the root system can better withstand the winter.
- The soil should be enriched with fertilizers that have remained in it since the summer. When transferring a crop from a flowerbed, you need to add a little dry complex fertilizer to the soil.
- Surfinia should be kept only in a bright room.
- To prevent the soil from drying out, the plants need to be watered from time to time.
- In the spring, before taking the crop outside, it should be hardened by taking containers or flowerpots with surfinia out into the fresh air for several hours, while protecting them from direct sunlight. After two to three weeks of adaptation, the plants can be planted in the ground or placed in their usual places in the open air.
Peculiarities
Surfinia became a product of selection by scientists from Japan. It was introduced in the 70s of the last century as the result of effective cellular hybridization of large-flowered petunia in order to adapt it to unfavorable natural and climatic factors. In a short period of time, the new flower has literally gained worldwide fame and won the hearts of gardeners all over the world. The secret of the popularity of surfinia is simple - beauty, unpretentiousness and resistance to environmental factors.
Surfinia is far from a simpleton in the world of ornamental garden plants. Large gramophone flowers up to 9 cm in size are characterized by rich, bright shades, against which the much darker throat stands out especially clearly. Delicate white-edged petals are clearly outlined with contrasting textural veins. Behind such a refined and noble appearance lies great resilience and strength.
In the central zone of Russia, with good warm weather and normal moisture, in literally a month and a half, surfinia forms a weave - real garlands up to 2 m in size, while shoots develop from all internodes, so the vegetative mass can form in the form of a cascade, a pillow, or even a ball - it all depends on the method of planting and shaping the plant.
The root system of Surfinia is very powerful, so to fully provide one seedling with nutrients and water, about 6-8 m3 of soil is required .
If you only have small flowerpots at your disposal, it is better to give preference to compact hybrid hanging petunias.
Propagation of Surfinia by cuttings
Since surfinia does not form seeds, it can only be propagated vegetatively using cuttings. The cuttings have good survival rate and grow quickly. Cuttings of the plant should be done in the fall. The root system of the planting material is formed in about a week and a half.
To obtain cuttings, use pruning shears to separate the tops of the plant branches by at least 10 centimeters, making an oblique cut. All leaf plates, except the top two, must be completely removed, and the remaining ones must be cut to half.
The finished cuttings should be placed in a root growth stimulator for a day. After time has passed, they must be removed and planted at a distance of two centimeters in the ground with a mixture based on humus, garden soil and sand in equal quantities. Before planting the cuttings, the soil is watered. The planting material should be deepened into the soil by a quarter. After planting, the cuttings need to be covered with film, creating an impromptu mini-greenhouse.
From time to time the soil needs to be moistened. The greenhouse should be ventilated and the cuttings should be sprayed every day, while maintaining the temperature from 21 to 24 degrees. After they take root and produce several leaf blades, they can be planted, and when there are seven leaves, the young plants should be transferred to a permanent place of growth in open ground (late April) or in a flowerpot or container.
Breeding methods
The easiest way to propagate surfinia is vegetatively. To do this, in the fall, the apical stalk 10 cm long is cut off from an adult plant using pruning shears. All leaves must be removed from each specimen, except for the top pair.
To guarantee the survival of fastidious plants, it is recommended to immerse the cuttings for some time in a solution with phytohormones. This will allow the roots to better form their system.
Then the cuttings are planted in moist soil, it is better if it is purchased, intended for indoor plants. Containers with cuttings should be covered with a transparent film and moved to a warm place, preferably a heated greenhouse or to a cool veranda or warm balcony.
This method of breeding allows you to become the owner of a large blooming greenhouse of petunias in the spring.
An ampelous plant can also be grown from seeds, but this will take more time and patience. With this method, only high-quality purchased material is used. Domestic seeds collected from an adult plant have poor germination and, with intensive growth, lose varietal characteristics.
Flower shops offer a wide variety of surfinia seeds, and the photo on the packaging allows you to choose the desired color.
In early spring, petunia is planted as seedlings. Soil preparation consists of adding leaf humus, loosening and good moisture. Small flower seeds should be mixed with sand to facilitate sowing.
The seed material is evenly distributed on the soil surface and additionally moistened with a spray bottle. There is no need to cover the seeds with soil; they need to be covered with film and maintained at a temperature of 21-23ᵒC. Petunias are moisture-loving plants, so watering should be done regularly. After about 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear; for hardening, the film is removed from them once a day.
Diseases and pests
Surfinia is a hardy plant, but if it is not properly cared for, it can develop diseases of fungal etiology, represented by spotting, gray and black rot , which develop when the soil is waterlogged. Also, similar diseases can occur when the soil is highly acidic and there is no drainage in the soil or pot.
Replanting the plant with preliminary pruning of rotten roots and treating them with antifungal drugs such as Fitosporin will help to cope with this problem.
Among the insects, the plant is threatened by spider mites, whiteflies and thrips , feeding on the sap of stems and leaf blades. If pests are detected, the crop should be treated with Actellik by spraying the leaf blades with it, diluting the insecticide according to the instructions on the package.
With proper care of surfinia and prevention of diseases, it will grow and delight the grower for a long time without causing any troubles.
Problems when growing surfinia
Sometimes flower growers involved in growing this ornamental crop have to face the following problems:
- Stickiness of leaf plates - stickiness on the leaves appears as a result of the plant being damaged by spider mites. The pest can be eliminated by spraying surfinia with Actellik.
- White coating on leaves – the appearance of white coating on leaves is a sign of powdery mildew infection. Spraying the plant with mustard infusion, which is prepared in the proportions of 2 tbsp, will help eliminate the disease. spoons per 10 liters of water.
- Wilting of the lower leaf blades - the lower leaves wilt when the soil is waterlogged. After establishing the watering regime, this problem will disappear by itself.
- Yellowing of leaf blades - leaves can turn yellow with excess moisture and sun. By eliminating the influence of these negative factors, the grower will be able to restore health to the crop.
- Wilting of a crop - if a crop begins to wither for no reason, then most likely nematodes have appeared in the soil, which have severely damaged the root system. Usually in this case the plant cannot be saved because it is too damaged. To destroy these parasites on the site. You need to dig it up and pour boiling water with garlic into the ground. The spill should be repeated after a few days. Planting at this place can only be done next year.
- Lack of flowering - the absence of flowers on a plant can occur as a result of: low soil fertility, lack of heat and light. By eliminating these mistakes in care, the gardener will be able to admire the abundant flowering of this ornamental crop.
By providing the plant with all the necessary conditions for its growth, development and flowering, no problems will arise with its cultivation.
What is the difference between surfinia and petunia?
Surfinia is one of nine subspecies of the petunia family. In simple terms, she is a hybrid of it. This nuance can only be distinguished by experienced gardeners, but beginners constantly confuse these two plants.
Compared to petunia, surfinia is more resistant to diseases and pests, it is resistant to negative weather conditions, although it needs to be covered from rain, it has a wider variety of varieties and shades of inflorescences, it blooms longer and more abundantly, and is also characterized by an accelerated growing season.
It should be noted that young surfinia turns into a full-fledged plant, which pleases with its abundant flowering, in just a couple of months.
Surfinia ampelous: what’s special about it?
The Surfinia variety series became the first group of hanging petunias that are resistant to rain and bad weather. Therefore, surfinias are often used for landscaping balcony boxes, hanging Sukorzins, outdoor flowerpots and containers. These ampels grow long shoots and bloom very profusely. Most varieties are distinguished by ultra-fast growing season: in 1.5-2 months the bush is completely formed and begins flowering, which lasts until frost.
A small disadvantage of surfinia is its method of reproduction - exclusively vegetative. That is, it reproduces only by rooting cuttings cut from the mother plant.
A huge number of varieties have been bred under the Surfinia® brand, differing in bush shape, growth method, size and color of flowers.
