DU Gardners: Need Advice Regarding Petunias

[SOteric]

I put in a small terrace garden this year. It faces west and gets full sun. I've never tried petunias before, but I fell in love with the beautiful deep blue of the blooms of "P. Royal Velvet." The nursery assured me that they could handle the full sun (normally, that's not even an issue in Seattle) and that they would grow very large and bushy, and even trail attractively over the edge of the terrace.

I've had spectacular blooms this year, and they're trailing a bit over the edge of the terrace, but they're growing etoliated. I'm wondering if I should cut them back a bit, or if that would keep them from such spectacular blooms.

What do y'all think?

[Rick Myers]

1. My girlfriend says

Cut them back... They'll come back stronger. She'd know, she runs a greenhouse and our balcony is a jungle!!!

[SOteric]

2. Oh Kewel!!

I thought that might be what they needed, but I really love the colour of these little things and I'd hate to destroy the plants from ignorance.

Send my thanks to the GF.

[Rick Myers]

3. She says Hello!!!

Also, petunias are sold as full sun, but that's not true. It's probably ok in Seattle, but she has her petunia flats under a screen, so they're in almost full sun. Also, she says rain will really beat up the blooms. When they wilt, get rid of them. More food for the rest...

Glad to help,

Ain't DU cool!!!

Rick

(actually, info from Janet)

[REP]

9. I Keep My Petunias in Partial Sun in the SF Bay

Those tags are tricky. Turns out fuchsias needhighly filtered sun and not shade, as their labels say. They also need to be fed and watered about anytime you think about them. The fucshias are doing great now, and all six varieties are blooming.

[lastliberalintexas]

4. You already got one answer from Rick

Wasn't that great?

If you don't already know this (and I'm sure you do), in addition to cutting them back, be sure and deadhead them too. You'll have even more and better blooms! :)

[SOteric]

5. DU is just amazingly the best.

What a diverse and well-informed group we have here.

-Thanks, yes. I've been dead-heading them and I'll keep doing so. I've been pretty happy with how well they've been doing. I'll give them a little clipping and I'm sure they'll be stunning.

[dmr]

6. I'm going to cut back mine tomorrow

after reading this wonderful advice. Boy, would I like to see the blue petunias.

[inthecorneroverhere]

7. cool petunias

Petunias don't like full sun, at least not the kind in the Southeast and certainly not the kind in the Southwest. They like some shade and they like things kinda cool.

[deek]

8. deadhead

and pinch back

[bleedingheart]

10. ditto for the advice above

cut back and start dead heading blossoms... I do it every morning...