Reasons for the lack of flowering in balcony petunias
Adorable petunias are grown for their beautiful, abundant and long lasting flowering. Some varieties are able to stand with buds until the very frost, decorating not only flower beds, but also balconies in high-rise buildings, because for their residents this is the only place where you can take your soul away by planting different plants. However, quite often, especially among novice florists, healthy with the kind of petunia they increase the green mass, but flowering does not occur, or the bush gives only a few buds per season.
In short, there can be two reasons why petunias do not bloom on the balcony:
- incorrectly selected flowerpot;
- improper care.
What kind of pot do balcony petunias need?
Balcony petunias have problems with flowering much more often than those plants that are grown in open ground, that is, in flower beds. This is due to the fact that on the street petunias have unlimited space for the growth of the root system, and a well-developed, powerful and healthy rhizome is the key not only for the general development of the bush, but also for its flowering.
Potted crops, which are petunias growing on the balcony, do not have this opportunity - they are limited by the space of the pot. If it is small, then the bush will be small, and there will be few buds.
In order for petunia to bloom profusely on the balcony, a container with a volume of 5 to 8 liters must be used for one bush.
However, some flower growers act differently: in the absence of free space for large flowerpots, they plant petunia in smaller containers, but after the first wave of flowering, they re-transplant it. During transplanting, cut off half of the roots and shorten the stems by 1/3.
Inaccuracies in care that affect flowering
The flowering of petunia also depends on the correct leaving behind the plant.
Most often, problems arise as a result of:
- Lack of moisture... It is necessary to water the petunias regularly, especially adult specimens, not allowing the soil coma to completely dry out.
- Lack of nutrition... Before and during flowering, it is necessary to feed the plants with potassium-phosphorus preparations to stimulate the bud setting.
- Lack of lighting and heat... Petunias need good lighting and a temperature of at least 23 degrees Celsius. If the plants are planted on an open balcony in early spring, they may freeze at night.
During flowering, it is necessary to regularly pluck the faded buds. This will stimulate the formation of new inflorescences.