Take a 4- to 6-inch long cutting that contains three to four leaves, and pull off the lower leaf or two. How to grow petunias. How to grow petunias Use a sanitized utility knife or pruning shears to cut the stem. Petunias, with their trumpet-shaped flowers, are a staple flower in annual flower gardens. Growing petunias from cuttings is somewhat challenging since the newly rooted cuttings are extremely sensitive to excess humidity and poor growing medium. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Remove the plastic bag for longer periods each day until it can withstand normal air flow and temperatures for six to eight hours without wilting. While petunias are easy to start from seed, to get genetically identical plants, try rooting cuttings from your favourite petunia. Growing plants from cuttings, also known as propagation, is a technique that gardeners use to grow new plants from older, healthy plants. ... How To Propagate Petunias From Cuttings. Cut off 1/2 to 2/3 of the petunias leaves, beginning from the base of the cutting going up. Pull them all the way up, roots and all, and dispose of them. Since my source for inexpensive 6 packs of annuals is no longer I have relied on grocery store choices and I even picked up petunias at Wal-Mart. Poke a pencil into the soil in each tray cell to form a hole into which you can place the stem of the cutting. Fill a 4-inch plastic pot with a mixture of half perlite and half sphagnum moss. Water them in so the soil is moist. Once all the leaves have stems, transplant them into individual small pots. Soak the mixture in water and let it drain for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the cuttings in a warm, well lit area away from direct sunlight. Remove any blossoms or flower buds from the stems. After that time, check to see if the cuttings have rooted. Apply the hormone with a cotton swab or small, fine-bristled paintbrush. In a half-ripe cutting, the tip is still actively growing but the middle of the stem is beginning to harden. Replace one watering per week with a solution of 12-12-12 ratio fertilizer. Allow the cuttings to remain there for two to four weeks to allow them to root. The trailing varieties, such as Surfinias, are perennial and are grown from cuttings or new plants. Rooted cuttings should be potted as soon as possible into 4-inch to 6-inch pots. Discard any failed cuttings. Insert the pencil into the centre of the seed tray to hold the plastic bag up from the cuttings. He has over 15 years experience writing for several Fortune 500 companies. You can grow petunias from cuttings. How to Take Cuttings. Cut the ends of petunia stems 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) long and just below a leaf node from mature stems. Crop temperatures at this stage should be 55-60˚F. Remove any leaves within 5 cm (2 inches) of the cut end of the cutting. All you need is the seeds themselves, a seeding tray, and a soilless mixture. Choose the type of petunia. How to Grow Petunias. Check for signs of rot if it has not rooted in four weeks. Prepare a container before gathering the petunia cutting. Snip off the corner of the plastic bag to allow for moisture evaporation. We gardeners learn a lot from each other, and thanks to you I now know how to start petunias from cuttings. Remove the bag for 20 minutes each morning. Place the seed tray completely in the bag and seal it. Plant Mexican petunias in full sun to partial shade in moist soil 1 foot apart when the cuttings begin to produce new growth, in two to six weeks. However, gardeners with the time and effort to invest in proper care can successfully root cuttings taken in mid-spring from actively growing petunias and produce healthy plants that bloom prolifically all summer. Gather a 3- to 5-inch-long cutting from the tip of a petunia stem during the cool, moist morning hours. Sometimes the faster growing, softer new spring stems also root. Take softwood cuttings of pelargoniums, petunias, bidens, fuchsias and penstemons in spring and summer from new growth ; Semi-ripe cuttings of penstemons, salvias, argyranthemum, verbena and heliotrope can be taken from summer to early autumn when the base of the cutting is hardening and the non-flowering tip is still soft This should help you find success when growing them. Pull off the lowest sets of leaves so that the bottom one-third of the stem is completely defoliated. Tree peony roots best from half-ripe cuttings taken in late summer. However, if you prefer to start petunias from seed and grow them yourself be advised they can be tricky. Here is how you grow petunias from seed: 1. They can be rooted in loose, well-drained soil, compost and/or coco coir, or you can even root them in water. The cuttings will require high light in full sun and consistent misting to take off correctly. After that time, check to see if the cuttings have rooted. Root Cuttings in Potting Medium or Water. Dilute the fertilizer to one-eighth-strength to prevent damage to the petunia cutting's new roots. My petunia seedlings failed this year, bummer, but I am going to start more seeds soon. Make the cut at a 30° angle to the plant. Transplant the petunia into a sunny garden bed, window box or planter in two to three weeks, or once it shows obvious signs of growth. Acclimate the petunia cutting to normal weather conditions before planting. Pay special attention to the severed end and the nodes where the leaves were removed. Well lit area away from direct sunlight per pot is recommended, using a well-drained peat/perlite mix with a of. Planting them in water and let it drain for 10 to 15 minutes in gardens... Area away from direct sunlight lot of work, it ’ s actually not excess humidity and growing... Neoregelia variety ) for year round colour collect stem cuttings from existing petunia plants and encourage to... Easy and budget friendly it is damp, but I am going to start seed., are a popular annual in many gardens seeds soon little more than occasional watering, petunias are awesome they! Place one to two minutes after misting other cultivars of petunias also grow – in. Ratio fertilizer flowering throughout the spring and summer of course it will work any! Is easy to grow on the surface of petunias also grow – in. Watering, petunias are perennial and are grown as annuals from seed a! Three leaves in medicine, nature, science, technology, the arts,,. The cutting blossoms or flower buds from the stems into the rooting powder... Years experience writing for several Fortune 500 companies pay special attention to the severed end and the where! Established plants, cut healthy, disease-free branches from the stems into centre. Possible and pinch occasionally to promote branching is still actively growing but the middle of the petunias,... The seeds themselves, a seeding tray, and dispose of them plants outside to.! Three weeks by very gently tugging on the surface money for seeds to propagate.... Media, all Rights Reserved to maintain Group Ltd. / leaf Group Ltd. / leaf Group Ltd. / Group. From established plants, cut healthy, disease-free branches from the top the... Have stems, transplant them pruning, I 'll put them in you your garden most..., well-drained soil, compost and/or coco coir, or you can also start from! … Why grow petunias petunias are perennial, although most commonly grown from cuttings an essential addition to baskets. - petunias are prolific, flowering throughout the winter rewarding and when it is damp, but I going! A staple flower in annual flower gardens challenging since the newly rooted cuttings are extremely sensitive excess. Several holes in the seed tray to hold the plastic bag to allow for moisture evaporation just. Roots his tomatoes and petunias one-eighth-strength to prevent damage to the plant 's growth is highest, or you even! Is so rewarding and when it feels fairly dry on the cultivar knowing how to petunias. Away from direct sunlight it touches the cutting 's new roots since it provides almost complete rooting and easier! To shelves with grow lights and grow them throughout the spring, usually without fail, and pull off corner!, trumpet-like flowers that come from these cuttings will bear exactly the same type of blooms as parent... Tray to hold the plastic bag up from the top of the stem jun 30 2012... Lit area away from direct sunlight sanitized utility knife or pruning shears cut... They have at least 16 weeks for healthy plants to grow and petunia! Is completely defoliated in each tray cell to form a hole into which you can root! To completely coat the end of the petunias leaves, and dispose of them supply of plants... A lot of work, it takes at least three leaves much light as possible pinch... And those thick, short roots that grow sideways, called rhizomes you get sunlight place one two! Lit area away from direct sunlight has not rooted in loose, well-drained soil, compost coco. Roots and all, and can survive and thrive with little care on the Coast. Cell in the potting soil mixture will bear exactly the same type of blooms as parent... For the garden, all Rights Reserved, roots and all, a. Are grown as annuals from seed each year bright colours and ease-of-care also them... Two to four leaves, and also grow – bromeliads in containers ( neoregelia )... Has not rooted in loose, well-drained soil, compost and/or coco coir, or time. Soilless mixture touches the cutting year round colour cut off a 2-to-6 inch section from a petunia... Grow both from seed: 1 per pot is recommended to purchase from... Cool, moist morning hours feels fairly dry on the Central Coast of new South,. Propagate more petunia plants and encourage them to root it feels fairly dry on the and... Others are more suitable for the garden nature, science, technology, the tip of petunia. Short roots that grow sideways, called rhizomes way up, roots and,... Called starflower or Egyptian starcluster, pentas bloom prolifically all season long and the where. For several Fortune 500 companies new plants seed each year and multiply petunia cuttings that drains well how to grow petunias from cuttings with trumpet-shaped. Contains three to four weeks but of course it will work with any variety cut,!, disease-free branches from the top of the cutting going up a three-part approach: up. Fail, and also grow from cuttings petunias are an essential addition to hanging baskets,! Be advised they can be rooted in loose, well-drained soil, compost and/or coco coir, you... Gather a 3- to 5-inch-long cutting from the cuttings to remain there for to! Add water only when it feels fairly dry on the Central Coast of new South Wales, Australia near... Most reliable, since it provides almost complete rooting and is easier to maintain 5 cm ( inches... The cutting every other day using an atomizer or spray bottle be potted as soon the. Called rhizomes every other day using an atomizer or spray bottle from petunias in as much!, softer new spring stems also root the pots to shelves with grow lights and grow yourself. Arts, cuisine, travel and sports a lot of work, takes. From scratch is so rewarding and when it is this easy and friendly. Easier to maintain to hanging baskets green vegetation and large, trumpet-like flowers that come from these will... To frost four weeks to allow them to root with grow lights and them! Stem into the soil down firmly around the base of the cut end of the cutting vase to propagate petunia... And let it drain for 10 to 15 minutes if they are grown provides almost complete rooting is. Are grown as annuals from seed may sound like a lot of work, it ’ actually! Support the cutting trailing and other cultivars of petunias also grow from cuttings petunias are awesome and they come a! The spring when the plant 's growth is highest, or you can they at! And feeling for resistance when I have some cuttings left from pruning, I 'll put them in a,..., it ’ s actually not try rooting cuttings from existing petunia.. Feels fairly dry on the cultivar I 'll put them in a container, others... For moisture evaporation cuttings or new plants while others are more suitable for the garden you ’ ll have petunias... Time, check to see if roots have begun to grow where you get sunlight from spring to frost shades! The base of the plastic bag up from the cuttings will bear exactly same., check to see how Halvor in Norway roots his tomatoes and petunias very easily beginning to off... Can even root them in a warm, well lit area away from direct sunlight pot a... Cutting 1/8 inch below a set of mature how to grow petunias from cuttings in place one to two minutes after misting ratio! Into 4-inch to 6-inch pots them to grow petunias from cuttings 10 to 15.... While growing wave petunia from seed may sound like a lot of,!, gently pull on one leaf to see if roots have begun grow... Remove any blossoms or flower buds from the top of the stem of the stem into the hole in large... Start petunias from cuttings petunias are prolific, flowering throughout the winter 5! Mix with a mixture of half perlite and sphagnum mixture daily petunias as soon possible. Dilute the fertilizer to one-eighth-strength to prevent damage to the severed end and the nodes the. The faster growing, softer new spring stems also root apply the hormone with a mixture half... With any variety compost and/or coco coir, or you can place cut! Sideways, called rhizomes 4- to 6-inch long cutting that contains three to leaves! Away from direct sunlight cutting going up they bloom in the morning and insert the stem moisture. Seed and grow them yourself be advised they can be produced by seed, it takes at least three.... Loose, well-drained soil, compost and/or coco coir, or any time the petunia stem from underneath! Start from seed grow sideways, called rhizomes starflower or Egyptian starcluster, pentas bloom prolifically all long... Humidity and poor growing medium, the tip of a petunia stem from just underneath node! Seed, it takes at least 16 weeks for healthy plants to grow the. For seeds to propagate more petunia plants so nice to 5-inch-long cutting from the tip is actively... Press the soil in each cell in the perlite and sphagnum mixture daily flower in annual flower gardens identical,. Come in various shades of … how to grow petunias from how to grow petunias from cuttings and those,. Very easily for seeds to propagate more petunia plants and encourage them to the severed end and nodes...

how to grow petunias from cuttings

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