Petunia care guide
Petunia × atkinsiana
Also known as: Garden petunia
Pets and children
We haven't been able to confirm how this plant affects pets or small children. If any is eaten, consult a veterinarian or a doctor.
How often to water Petunia
- Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)
- Every 2 days
- Water thoroughly at the base once the topsoil dries, keeping water off the flowers, as a guide; in midsummer check every morning.
- Autumn (Oct–Nov)
- Every 3 days
- Plants cut back in summer flower again now; as a guide, water about a day after the topsoil dries.
- Winter (Dec–Feb)
- Every 5 days
- For a plant kept under the eaves or indoors, water sparingly about two to three days after the soil dries, as a guide.
Light and placement for Petunia
A sunny spot is about right; rain melts the flowers, so a place under the eaves out of the rain suits it, and in poor light it generally flowers less and grows leggy.
Overwintering Petunia
Overwintering guide: 5°C (41°F) or above
Usually treated as an annual, but cut back in autumn and kept under the eaves or at a window out of frost it can sometimes overwinter; as a guide, keep it above about 5°C and water sparingly.
Fertilizing and repotting Petunia
Fertilizer
A hungry plant: while in flower, liquid feed about weekly or slow-release fertilizer about monthly is the usual guide, and when it runs short the flowers shrink and thin out.
When to repot
Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)
Common problems with Petunia
- Rain melts the flowers and the wet plant rots.
- Without cutting back, the plant goes bare at the base and flowers only at the tips.
- When fertilizer runs out, the flowers shrink and stop.
Tips for growing Petunia
- Pinching the young plant gives more branches and a fuller mound of flowers.
- Cut the plant back by about half before the rainy season and again in late August for flowers into autumn.
- Pick off spent flowers together with the calyx so no seed forms.
These are AI-generated general guidelines. They vary with the variety, the placement and the pot size. For effects on pets or children, consult a veterinarian or a doctor.
Keep your plant log going
Greenery is a free app that keeps your plant care going, with watering reminders and photo records. Available on iOS and Android.
