Petunias are simple yet beautiful flowers that make a great addition to any garden, balcony, porch, or yard.  They are also quite simple to grow and care for.  Still, if you buy plants and go through the trouble to grow them, you want them to stay healthy – even if they are fairly simple and straightforward.  This is why petunia care is important for you and your petunias.

The petunia is a flowering plant with the botanical name of Solanaceae petunia that originated in South America. It is a relatively small plant with trumpet-shaped leaves that come in a variety of colors; white, yellow, pink, red, blue, or purple.  The plant is also divided into four groups based on size of the plant and the flowers: grandiflora (the largest type of petunia); spreading (covers about three to four feet of area); multiflora (multi-colored petals); and milliflora (smallest leaves).  The variety of colors and sizes is one of the main reasons why so many gardeners and homeowners love to use this flower in their gardens or yards.

Petunia care is based on the notion that petunias are pretty easy to care for.  Certain types of petunias – mostly the milliflora – can tolerate relatively harsh conditions, and all can survive in hot climates.   The perfect growing environment for a petunia is a warm climate with plenty of sun during the day, low humidity, and moist soil.  Petunias like a lot of sun and cannot stand excessive humidity, nor can they stand dry soil.

Follow these basic steps to keep your petunias looking great:

• Plant in Full Sun with Well-Drained Soil
• Space 6 – 10 Inches Apart (Closer in containers)
• Water Regularly (Daily on hot summer days)
• Fertilize Regularly
• Deadhead (Remove old blooms)
• Trim if Needed (This really helps Wave baskets bush out and look fuller.)