Last updated on August 4th, 2019
LOVE THE SIGHT AND SCENT OF PETUNIAS? Then do what I do each August, and propagate your plants. Three stem cuttings in a 6-inch pot will quickly form roots at this time. Brought indoors before frost, and placed under lights or in a sunny window, the young plants will bloom and bloom from December on.
I know what some of you are thinking.
Kevin, can’t I simply bring my big container-grown petunia indoors for winter?
Yes, you can. Just prepare yourself for a cannonade of leaf-drop. And a Victorian death scene. For a petunia which has matured outdoors is bound to fail when it is introduced to the less-than-ideal conditions of the average home.
On the contrary, fresh, young plants — those acquired from the cuttings I mentioned earlier — are itching to grow! They have youth on their side, and can easily adapt to less-than-perfect conditions inside four walls and a roof.
Before you take cuttings of your petunia, make sure the plant has been well-fed and watered. I feed the pinkish-lavender petunia that sits on my Satyr’s head (he isn’t amused) with every watering.
Cut stems approximately 3 inches in length.
Then remove all leaves from the lower half of the stem. Remove all flowers, buds, and seed-pods, too. Otherwise, the cutting will focus its energy on flowering and seed-ripening — not growing roots.
Now grab a perfectly clean, 6-inch-diameter clay pot.
Okay, my clay pot isn’t the least bit clean. But I’m not worried that disease will be transferred to my cuttings. The pot’s previous occupant was the very picture of health.
Take a piece of broken pottery, and place it over the pot’s drainage hole. This maneuver, known as “crocking a pot,” will keep soil from washing out when the plant is watered.
Bobble-head that I am, I forgot to take a picture of this next step: Fill the pot with damp, soil-less potting mix. A commercial peat-moss and perlite blend will work well. As always, be sure to allow a 1-inch opening between the surface of the soil and the rim of the pot to allow for water.
Then grab a pencil…
And plunge it into the soil, to a depth that approximates the length of your cutting.
You’ll need to make 3 such insertions to accommodate the 3 stems. I arranged mine at equal distance, and in a “V” formation.
Take a cutting, and lower it into a hole, right up to its lower leaves. Then press firmly around the stem, so that soil and cutting make good contact.
Proceed as above with the remaining 2 stems.
Now gently water the cuttings, until excess drips through the drainage hole.
Keep the stems moist, but not saturated, throughout the rooting process.
Now step back and admire your professional potting-job. I say “professional,” because your arrangement includes a 1-inch reservoir for water. Amateurs usually pile the soil too high, which results in water spilling over the side of the pot.
While they are busy making roots, the cuttings will need to reside in a bright but sunless location outdoors. I set mine on the semi-shaded stand that holds my vacationing philodendron, ferns, and other shade-loving houseplants.
Alternatively, you could root the cuttings indoors. Give them a bright window or a position under fluorescent lights. Be sure to provide plentiful fresh, humid air by opening all of the windows in your home.
Roots will form in about 6 weeks. You won’t need to tug at the plants (as some gardeners recommend), in order to discover that roots have developed. Just look for signs of new growth.
In mid- to late-September, and well-before the first frost, bring the rooted youngsters indoors to a sunny south or east window, or even better — under fluorescent lights. As mentioned before, open all windows to provide a fresh, humid atmosphere. Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry (stick your finger into the soil). And then water thoroughly, until excess drips out the drainage hole.
My own young petunias reside either beneath the fluorescents that light my kitchen counter (as above), or on the fluorescent-lit shelves in my Writing Room. Plants under lights require more food and water than their window-grown colleagues. These I feed with every watering, at the rate of one 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of room-temperature water. I reduce the food to one 1/4 teaspoon for window subjects. I’ve had great results with Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster (10-30-20) — the same formula that encourages my African violets to bloom and bloom.
When they are grown in a sunny window or a light garden, the plants will form buds in early December. These will open as sweetly-scented, pink, purple or white trumpets by month’s end. And with regularly deadheading, the flower-show will continue until late May, when the plants go on holiday outdoors.
In the winter window garden, purple petunias associate well with flowering bulbs and African violets (pictured above is my Music Room window; the petunia is located on the left-hand side of the broad windowsill).
Here is the same plant, at close-range.
Meanwhile, a white petunia (shown here in my upstairs bath) positively dazzles in a setting of rabbit’s-foot ferns (you can propagate this plant, too) and pink azaleas.
Well. I hope this petunia-as-wintertime-houseplant tutorial was useful to you in some small measure. Perhaps you’ll let me know by leaving a comment. As always, an angel rings a bell whenever someone posts on this site.
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Other posts you might enjoy:
How to Design a Window Garden with Brackets and Glass Shelves
The Window Garden in February
The Window Garden in November
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Tracy says
I’m running for the clippers now…. (Another great idea, thanks.)
::::ring! ring!:::::
Jeane says
I love this idea! Petunias are one of my favorite flowers, but I never thought to grow them indoors overwinter. I’m going to try this.
By the way, do you have any hints on caring for the rabbit’s-foot fern? The bit I see of yours looks lovely, and I managed to kill mine. I kept it moist and misted almost every day, and it still died 🙁
CityGirlCountryBloke says
I love the music room window. What a positively pleasant site to look at in the dead of winter! I might have to incorporated that in my basement redo. I have floor to ceiling windows down there just begging for some shelving like that!
Honor says
This makes me want to prowl the neighborhood under cover of darkness clipping bits of petunias wherever I find them. I didn’t plant any–I suppose I COULD go the legal route and purchase some from the nursery down the road! I’ve always assumed the deer would eat them so haven’t planted any-I suppose I could google and find out!
Heidi Haas says
Thank you! Beginner here, stunned my window box petunias are still alive ( since May!) …I am DEFINITELY going to try this.
PS I laughed out loud about putting the soil to the top because I did that exact thing when I repotted my spider plant this year….
I love this blog!
Carol says
I love that color! Pinky-Lavender!
That color mixed with the dark purple and white petunia’s, it looks awesome!!!
Do you deadhead your Petunia’s Kevin? Or do you have the “wave”
Heidi says
I am SO going to try this! How fun!
Gloria Duy says
You have got to be kidding! You are so frugal and I love that.. This is almost up there with making your own boxwood hedges!
Melissa says
I love this idea! Thank you. 🙂
Jan Evancho says
Thanks again, Kevin! I’m going to root cuttings of all my expensive Wave Petunias and save myself a bunch of money next summer!
Ruth says
Kevin, have you tried if this works also with calibrachoa? Thanks 🙂
PattyM says
Yep. I’m going to try this!! Thank you!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Ruth – You can propagate calibrachoa via stem cuttings, too. Although calibrachoas in the “Million Bells” series are patented, it’s apparently okay to reproduce them for personal use.
badger gardener says
I am going to do this today w/ Hula Hoop Blue and a variety from a mix of double petunias. I put my petunias in late this year and when I got to the garden center the selection had been pretty much wiped out, but I’ve been happy w/ these varieties. Since I was buying the little six-packs so late , I also had to choose between mildly pathetic and extremely pathetic. As sad-looking as they were, following your advice on daily watering and feeding has given me healthy, abundant plants. I’ll be thrilled to see them inside in winter.
Mary Lou says
Let’s hear it..3 cheers for Kevin..he just saved us a bunch at the gardening store again!! thank you sooo much!! Love your frugal ways that are sooo lovely!
Tracy says
Just finished potting up three pots of petunia slips for the house this winter. Thank you again for the tip!
Mary says
Have you tried this in reverse, so to speak–took cuttings from the indoor plants for summer? I usually start petunias from seed, but they are so tiny and fragile, and take SO long, that if I get behind, I am waiting quite a while for blooms in summer!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Mary – Yes, I’ve taken cuttings from my “winter petunias” and rooted them for summer hanging baskets. Much, much faster than growing new plants from seed.
Eliza J says
I will definitely give that a try this year with my petunias ~ I haven’t tried rooting before. For the past two years I have saved all my flower box geraniums by cutting them down to a couple inches and potting them. They Winter in my loft under grow lights and save me lots of money in the Spring ~ I used to grow them from seed and much prefer this method. Thanks for another great idea.
Lou says
I am so exited to try this! What a wonderful idea to keep these gorgeous blooms around!
CheyAnne says
Every winter I bring one to two of my roses indoors and stuff as many plants as I can around the base ( I use really large pots). Last year I had my Yellow Knock out Roses, with Lantana, coral bells and a really cool fern (have no idea what kind) oh and a pink carnation too. it’s fun to try new ones in the winter and I really only have one long floor length window to work with, so it gets pretty crowded. I am going to add petunias this year.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
Retta says
Hi Kevin,
My geraniums have gotten very long and scraggly. Can I do the same thing with them as you do with petunias?
I really love your site!
Linda DeVona says
Wow! I hope to try this! I’ve had good luck with storing our geraniums, in their pots and all, in our dirt- floored cellar; in Spring, I place them outside and they usually start growing and blooming just fine. We don’t really have a good indoor place for wintering over plants, but it’s definitely worth trying! Thanks!
Susan L. Espersen says
Your directions with photos are the best! I love the way you save me money! Thanks Kevin!!!
Jo-Anne says
This really gives me ‘inscentive’ to clean up my computer room which has a southern facing window…I will make it ready for a wonderful winter of petunias and some of the other flowers mentioned above….thank you, Kevin….I will love this room more now!
Chuck says
Thanks, cool thing worth learning about and then doing.
Mrs. Handyverger says
I have some lovely Black Velvet petunias that I may try this with. If only my cats wouldn’t eat any plant I brought into the house!
Suzanne K says
Retta, this absolutely works with Geraniums! I’ve got tons of them from this very method! I did NOT know it would work with petunias, thanks again Kevin for all you do and share with us!
Gretchen says
Thanks to you and your fabulous how-to tutorials, I have had success for the first time EVER in generating new plants from an African violet leaf. With this success, I have tried putting a leaf from a spectacular double purple gloxinia plant under the same conditions and I honestly believe tht a tiny root-bulb is developing. Unfortunately I did not buy petunia plants this year because some critter always devoured them for their lunch. Maybe it’s not too late to visit a nursery to get a basket with petunias. Thanks to you, if so, I just know I’ll have more flowers this winter.
Beverly, zone 6 eastern PA says
I have used similar strategies very successfully with:
Strobilanthes, the Persian Shield annual
Coleus, fancy leaved
Ipomoea, Sweet Potato Vine
Passiflora, Passion Flower Vine
and
Ocimum, African Blue Basil.
This saves a ton of money each spring and the early garden gets going faster, especially mixed container plantings.
Kaye Williams says
Kevin, once again your timing is impeccable. I have some favorite petunias that I want to share with a friend and also grow for next year. I have begun collecting seeds (what a sticky project), however, your directions for cuttings will be much easier for both of us.
I mention your timing……….I was harvesting lavender at the same time you posted your lavender cookie recipe and I was searching for a new breakfast recipe when you posted your gratin of hard boiled eggs.
And your winter sowing directions were a huge success, although I got a little carried away with my seed collecting and was passing out cleome seedlings to anyone and everyone.
Thank you, thank you.
Behold says
I have been doing this with geraniums for a few years now and it works great. This spring I even just placed some geranium cuttings in the ground when I pruned the ones I had grown over the winter (to give them a bushier shape) and they are doing beautifully. I have also done it successfully with coleus for a couple of years. Can’t wait to try it with petunias.
badger gardener says
Kevin,
I left a comment on your giveaway post w/o noticing that it is your 15th anniversary. I hope it was a very joyous celebration. Happy belated anniversary!!
Now for a very amateur question, what constitutes a semi-shaded spot? A few hours of sun? A spot where the sun gets filtered a bit?
Julia Hofley says
Hi Kevin,
Looking forward to trying this. I wondered if you had any tips for taking cuttings (successfully) of geraniums? I haven’t had much luck with trying this.
Thanks for the tutorials~terrific info.
Julia
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi badger – Thank you. Just returned from Cambridge/Boston. Regarding the petunia cuttings, the goal is to let them make roots in bright light, but without any direct sun. Direct sun can injure the stems. Filtered sun is fine. I’ll try to clarify this in the instructions above.
Hi Julia – I propagate geraniums (the annual, big-flowered zonal-type) in the exact manner as petunias. Remove all lower leaves and also the stipules (little flaps where leaf meets stem) from the lower half of the cutting. Use one stem per 4-inch pot. Keep out of direct sun until roots have formed — about 4 weeks.
Naomi Shelton says
This is a great idea! I love petunias–their yummy colors, their fragrance and the sweet cup-like blossoms. I will definitely be taking cuttings. What a pick-me-up to have these in the window while it is snowing and blowing outside. Could I also do this with impatiens or wax begonias? Thanks, Kevin.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Naomi – Speaking from experience, wax begonias and impatiens make terrific wintertime houseplants. Propagate them in the same manner as petunias.
Carolyn Del says
Since so many gardens were ruined by Hurricane Sandy in my area, this is a great idea
to fill in the garden for next year. I’m trying cuttings from roses and African impatiens too.
Can you recommend anything else?
Jackie Bain says
Petunias in Winter, will be a welcome sight up here in Canada, especially the mid west Winnipeg. Can hardly wait to get started to clip my plants. Great suggestion as usual Kevin.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carolyn Del – I can suggest two others from the outdoor garden: Wax begonias and impatiens. Both make terrific, ever-blooming wintertime houseplants. Propagate them in the same manner as petunias. Common zonal geraniums are easy to propagate from cuttings, too, but when started in late summer they rarely bloom before March or April.
Jackie Bain – Clip away!
Laurel says
I never thought of Petunia cuttings for the house. I have had the same Geranium plants for years. When they get too long I cut them back and add the cuttings to the same pot – keeps them full.
I have a question about the Petunias. You put three cuttings per pot – would four or five cuttings make a fuller display or would that be too much for the pot size ?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Laurel – Speaking from experience, 3 cuttings per 6-inch pot is the absolute max. Believe me — as they grow, the cuttings will fill the pot. And then some!
Cindy says
Now that I am retired I am spending much time gardening. I have geraniums, petunias & calibrachoa and am excited about trying this with all 3! Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Margaret Califano says
I had discovered by accident that petunias make awesome cut flower arrangements that are long-lasting. I didn’t think of making them cuttings, though.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Margaret – Ooh…cascading petunia stems in a cut flower arrangement…gorgeous!
Donna says
I’ve never root cut anything, but this has inspired me to try. It gets very expensive to buy new flowering plants every year. You people that share these tutorials show the love and concern of good Americans for all of us.
Thanks
MJI says
I kind of discovered this process by accident.Well sorta. it started in the spring one year when I bought a petunia too early. It got nearly killed. I took cuttings just to see if it could be done and placed them in my seed starting trays. They didn’t die. Same with some miniature rose cuttings. I took those outside. There were other years I took petunias inside to weather an early frost threat. I noticed they didn’t pine away as badly as other outdoor plants, but I still didn’t think to keep them.
This year I kept a petunia indoors all summer long by accident. (Pretty Much Picasso) I was propagating it to get more of it, save money and add to my outdoor garden. But I forgot to take the rooted cutting outside. So it survived, even bloomed under fluorescent lighting. It even got pretty huge.
I still have it. Pruned it back, repotted, and seeing how long I can keep it over the winter.
Marion says
The last of my petunia cuttings that seemed to be doing well all decided to die this week. I did not get them done in August but I took heart that you had had success with some that were taken later. My thumbs are not very green. Oh well, I will try again next year.
Ceena Jaison says
would like to subscribe for news letters
Nancy Mette says
Thank you for the idea on propagating petunias. I have a purple sweet potato plant that I have trimmed back. I put the cuttings into a pot with the green block one uses for cut flowers. Added water and let it go. It is showing signs of life and looking healthy. I also put a geranium stem that broke off. It too is doing well.
Ronnee says
So, in May, can you plant them in the ground right away? Or, do you have to harden them off in some way?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Ronnee — Cut the plant back in April, and harden if off in May before planting out of doors. Alternatively, you can take more cuttings from wintered plant, and create fresh, new subjects for outdoor enjoyment.
Paige says
This is the post that keeps on giving! I live in Spokane, Washington, and the beautiful petunias we enjoy all summer long surely would make the long winters more bearable. Thank you for the explicit instructions with pictures. I hope to replicate your success.
Carol R. says
Hi Kevin. Was looking for suggestions on the best way to root petunia cuttings and found your website. Love it! I’m in the process of moving, so summer was spent digging up plants to move and not planting much out in the garden. However, in the spot my peonies used to be, a purple petunia popped up and bloomed most of the summer. In fact, even after freezing weather, it is still blooming. Decided to take some cuttings today, and I found 6 or so young shoots growing from several of the older stems, perfect for cuttings! Was trying to decide, if I should use rooting hormones on the cuttings. Noticed that you didn’t use them, so maybe I’ll try with and without hormones to see if it makes a difference. Love your music room window. My new house has a large bay window in the living room that faces north and a large picture window that faces east. Have visions of foliage and flowering plants in front of both windows, and your window has given me some ideas. Thanks!
grace says
Fantastic idea!! I love my petunias all summer, and hate that I have none all winter!! Now I will! Meanwhile, I purchased a large Duranta which I quite enjoy also. Any ideas about why it is so unhappy indoors? Leaves curling and dropping, altho I keep it well watered and ferilized it. It is in a sunny window. thanks!!
Abbey says
Paige from Spokane,
I am a teacher in Spokane and am looking for blooming petunias for a class this January. I didn’t see this post until just now and I didn’t carry mine over as well as if I had followed these instructions. Any chance that you would be willing to share a few flowers? Hopefully my name becomes a link that you can use to email me back. Otherwise, I will check this post. Thanks!
Debra says
Darn, it is spring and I can’t wait till fall to try this!
Cyn says
… Thank you. I just bought a black cat petunia for my old cat, Poe, named after the story of the black cat. He left us last night, and i wanted a flower I can keep in his memory. I’m hoping for many years of blooming (away from kitties), to remember my irascible knitting pal. Your propagation plans are very clear and concise, even to a novice like me. Thanks very much for this!
val says
Thank you, flowers have become my new passion. I am a late bloomer.
Melissa says
Great instructions, thanks! I followed your advice for separating my ferns and it worked. Thank you very much for the good advice, keep it up!
Carol Samsel says
And Now another plant to add to my indoor garden 🙂
Chrissie says
What a wonderful idea to brighten with color and smell a dreary Winter! Can’t wait.
Muffie says
Wonderful idea Kevin will try in Feb. so hold thumbs.
I have bad luck with petunias in summer but am willing to give it a shot.
Come and visit the beautiful gardens in Cape Town you’ll be blown away.
Love your garden
Julie R says
Thanks for the great tips on Petunias, Kevin. I have a tip to share, that I heard about Geraniums. I heard that you can bring a Geranium indoors for the winter and place it in a dark room, preferably in a basement. Keep it there all winter and bring it outdoors in the spring and it is supposed to start growing and blooming again. I have not tried this yet, but I plan on trying it this fall, with the Geranium that I received from my sweet daughters for Mother’s Day.
Cindi McMurray says
Kevin,
Thanks for running this great tip again! When I was a teacher, I took begonias and geraniums into my classroom for the winter. Never thought to take petunias in because they’re always sold as “annuals”, which they aren’t!! I think I’ll take cuttings of some of my new, cool, fancy colored petunias this time around. When they start blooming mid-winter, I’ll take them into the assisted living center near me. I’ll bet a lot of the people there have not seen some of the newer colors on petunias. If I can get some of my wild sun coleus to root, I’ll put them in the same pot.
One question…how soon do you start feeding the cuttings, and how often do they need to be fed? Many thanks for all you do…..
Kelli says
I love this idea! Can’t wait to try it.
This is the first year I’ve planted a bunch of petunias, and they smell amazing.
Is a south facing kitchen window too much for them?
Thanks for sharing all your talents with us. I look forward to your newsletters.
Have a great day!
-Kelli
P.S. My cold brew coffee is delicious!
P.P.S. Newspaper mulching is working !
Marie Love says
Thanks Kevin for the know how on the petunias I do that with geraniums but never with petunias all try that this winter
Marilou says
Going to get started as soon as I get some growing medium!
Pati T. says
Hi, Kevin! What a wonderful thing to share! Thank you so much. I just love petunias and the smell too.
Terry says
Another wonderful idea. These pots will make sweet smelling gifts at Christmas for my winter weary friends. I’m off to find some clippings. Thanks! 🙂
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
Excellent photo tutorial, as usual.
I don’t have any petunias right now, but if I did this project would be wonderful as a make-ahead-winter-cheer-up.
I do the same for my Coleus, having kept the same ones for 3,4 and 5 consecutive summers now. Buy once and grow indefinitely through cuttings. It’s all good!
Angela Willis says
Embarrassed to say I have a splendidly little petunia that has been indoors all summer, dead leaves and all. Hoping this technique will work to create a more full an lush plant.
Also, Kevin, do you know anything about saving my fuchsia for winter?
Sunni says
I just got an LED grow box and I am now harvesting herbs. How quickly they grew..and I didn’t kill them like I do when they are in pots. How wonderful to try petunias this winter in my bright sunny window. Thanks for the terrific idea. Keep them coming!
Marsha Thalin says
I have a favourite petunia “Much Picasso” which I hunt around for every year. How could I propagate in order to have these flowering next summer?
Julie R says
This is a reply for Cindi McMurray. What a great idea to take the new petunias to an assisted living center. Thanks for the great idea = )
MGGgardener says
Great instructions ..I love this idea!
Linda says
You are absolutely amazing with All of your creative efforts. I only have a very small slot of time to enjoy websites so I ditched all of my other newsletters and only enjoy yours. You captured my attention with your wonderful post about violets. Matter of fact I even got brave enough to order some Leaves from Ebay.So, thank you so very much Kevin for all of your time and effort and keep up the great work. You are a gem .
MNass says
Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.
A sunroom to over winter about 40 plants. 🙂
MNass says
Hmmmmmmm, I wonder if that would work with my fan flower . 🙂
Holly K says
I really have to thank you so much for this idea Kevin. I did this last year at your suggestion and I ended up having a window full of glorious colourful petunia blooms in January. What a delightful contrast to see all that colour and then see the snow banks on the other side of the glass. Then this spring I cut those plants way back and planted them up in a new summer home and they have continued to bloom and delight all summer. I was thinking this would be an excellent way to collect some great varieties of petunias and like plants. I did start another colour of wave this year from seed. Also how horrible would it be if I took a couple of small cuttings from the plantings that the town has on the boulevards? They have some gorgeous colours of petunias sure is tempting to take a few little snips.
JohnnyG says
I became a big fan of outdoor window boxes a few years ago, and tried several different flowers with generally disappointing results. Tried petunias this year, and became a huge fan – that’s all I’m doing in the future and will be making more window boxes. I’ve been wondering how I can keep them going from year to year – you solved my problem. Thanks!
Julie says
So excited to try this, I just hate when fall comes & I loose all my pretty blooms. Thank you for the tips! BTW your window garden is beautiful!!!
liz kinder says
Oh my God! I’m already crazy about my garden, and now I can bring it all INDOORS????? My husband is going to kill you. I think he was hoping for a break over the winter from my endless chatter about my plants. So, it’s later than August, but I’m in Philly. My geraniums, impatiens, and petunias are still going strong. I’m going to try to cut them all back, but I’m a potter, so I’m also going to try and make some pots for all of them, so it’ll be a couple weeks until I have them finished. Can I put clippings in water if it’s going to frost? I think we’re good here for a couple of weeks anyway, but I thought I’d ask. Also, the only nice light I have is in my studio. It’s pretty cold in there, though. Probably 50’s at night and then high 60’s during the day. Will they still bloom? I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!!! Maybe I can have a bunch of them blooming in pots for my holiday sale in mid-December. Thanks.
Liz
Bea says
I did as you told and took 15 cuttings. Pink, purple and mauve with purple striped. 3 of them didn’t make it. The pink ones are doing best. They are kept moist/on the dry side. Not wet.
Now another 3 show powdery mildew. (The purple ones).
I didn’t plant more than 3 in a pot. They are sitting in a window facing west.
Location: Southeast New Brunswick, Canada.
What did I do wrong? How can I treat them/avoid it?
Sue says
I really enjoyed your tips and photos on how to take Petunia cuttings. Hopefully our UK weather will be kind to them! Thanks
Mary Lou says
You make me smile!
Peggy Wilson says
Kevin, your info is fabulous! I am a very busy realtor and have a big house and yard to manage (with help of course) but you inspire me to enjoy it all. Your blog is the only one I follow religiously. I am going to look for that fertilizer and also going into my potting shed and finding a clay pot to use as a sacrifice for the benefit of others. Thank you!
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
Liz’s comment at #83 has warned you her husband is coming after you. If you have to go into witness protection, we all hope you’ll still be able to publish a blog.
Diane says
I love reading your recipes and garden how to’s, I am certainly
Going to try the petunia trick, have also employed some of your methods already. Thank you
Laura Rankin says
Kevin, you are a wonder and a whiz. Thank you. I love your posts and I love petunias. I’m trying this.
Linda Miles says
I love petunias and appreciate your suggestions. Your garden is absolutely beautiful and I look forward to your blog.
linda faatz says
Hi Kevin,
This comment has to do with your lovage pesto recipe. Because I have a lot of Lovage in my green I made the lovage pesto and served it to a local garden club when they came for a garden tour, tea and talk. EVERYONE LOVED IT. It was so delicious. I served it as a spread on crackers. When my leaves grow again I certainly will put the next batch on pasta. Some didn’t know what lovage was and wanted to rush out and get a plant or two. Knowing it took a lot of leaves I suggested they buy a couple of plants. Mine was too well established to dig up this time of year.
Thanks for the great idea.
Linda
Mary Ann says
I am so glad I read this, I already re-pot my geraniums, and now I’ll take petunia cuttings, too! Thank you !
Lisa Williams says
I am so going to do this! How do you feel about Epsom salt as a booster(1t. Per gallon of water)?
Bettye says
Thank you, gonna try this this fall, you’re the greatest.
Jenny says
I discovered a pink and white petunia growing in my front garden this week. I haven’t had petunias in 2 years, so i am quite excited that a little seed has grown and bloomed. I am going to bring it in for the winter and try to give it a bit of extra love after the harsh start it has had!
I wasn’t sure petunias would do well inside, but I am happy to have found your website!
Amanda West says
Super deluxe tutorial! Thank you so much. I love your humor, and your photos are exquisite. I am a bit late, but I am still going to give this a g with my summer bloomers. (((:
Sujana Abirami.S says
Thanks Kevin! I spend a fortune buying petunias every season. This is a fabulous idea. I can’t wait to try it!
Lurline Kelly says
Hi,
We gardeners learn a lot from each other, and thanks to you I now know how to start petunias from cuttings.
I live in a temperate zone on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, near the sea. I have a tiny Japanese Garden, and also grow – bromeliads in containers (neoregelia variety) for year round colour.
Best wishes for 2017,
Lurline Kelly
Terry Sutton says
I have two questions about petunias. I have read that you can direct sow petunias outside in Feb/Mar in zone 5? True. We have strange weather here this year, central Illinois-40’s 50’s during the day and high 20’s 30’s at night. Also, where do you get your glass shelves. I have tried to find to no avail. Thanks!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Terry – I’ve winter-sown petunias successfully here in New York’s Hudson Valley (zone 5-b). Click here for details. I had a glass cutting shop make the shelves for my windows (click here for more details). To find such a shop in your own neck of the woods, just Google “glass cutters” or “glass cutting” plus the name of your town.
Hilary says
Kevin, do you sleep? I can’t believe you are so successful with all your cuttings.Can’t wait to try the process myself.
Dottie says
Thank you so much for the detailed direction on how to propagate petunias! I think I can actually pull it off now! I love petunias and now I can have them around all year long! Wish me luck!
Liz Smith says
How neat! I have to try this one.
Julia says
Petunias in containers are more prone to leggy development. If you want to keep these petunias looking beautiful, you should deadhead them more often. Watch them closely and prune when growing too tall.
Elaine Fleischmann says
Thank you Kevin Lee Jacobs for the excellent article. I researched in 6 world class propagation books and did not find this information: – i.e. how to propagate a Petunia from a cutting. I will be following your instructions meticulously. (It was just luck that I happened to seek out this information at the right time of year.)
Kate says
Thank you, Kevin, as always! Yet another wonderful idea, beautifully illustrated and explained with your usual clarity and humor. I will be clipping my pink petunias tomorrow.
Stef says
Love your motto about the “Angel Wings”!! Always look forward to your blog entry…….off to try my petunias inside. Great article, very inspirational. Thanks
Carmen Price says
For those of us who don’t currently have petunias, they are ridiculously cheap at most garden centers….so this is worth a try!
Karen Wheeler says
I’m on it. Hubby will freak, but he’ll come around. He LOVES the violets now. He he. And the winter housefull of geranium cuttings in al, the windows…
Thank you!
Helen says
I love you Kevin!!!! My fave flower is the purple petunia because of the color and wonderful smell. Now I can have them all year round. You are a true genious.
Many Thanks from Canada, land of the frost and free!
Nancy Fopeano says
Great idea… and easy peasey! Thanks for sharing.
Lynda says
Love this idea! When the summer days are beginning to shorten and winter threatening around the corner, this almost makes winter bearable. Not only are u a great cook but an awesome plant manipulator. Your beagle must be in awe:-). Thanks so much for sharing.
Kathy C. says
Hi, Kevin–
I’ve been gardening for many years, but never heard of this. Thank you! I’m envisioning a sunroom full of petunias to get me through a long, dull February. (And the deer won’t get them–added bonus!)
Julia Gray says
Kevin, I noticed that you use broken terracota to cover the bottom hole of a pot. I used to as well, I now use nylon screening and nothing but water leaves my pots.
Laura Munoz says
Great tip! I’m going to try this.
Susan says
I had no idea petunies could be wintered over. Thanks, Kevin. Love your posts. And the appetizers look yummified. Susan
Ardelle says
Your lovely window reminds me of my Mother’s when I was a youngster growing up. She had the same brackets and glass shelves loaded with mostly African violets and a variety of other plants which I don’t remember. Thanks for the encouragement. I have tried bringing in petunias, impatiens – messy, geraniums but never started them from cuttings. I will do the petunias – yes I love the purple – some coleus, and possibly some lantana which I will ‘bonsai’ into a small shrub. Never short on projects. I just started several planters of Wandering Jew which is a favorite and tolerates low light through the winter. Also started the Hawaiian spider plant which I’ve never had before. Thanks again for all your tips and tricks.
Mary from NJ says
Tried bringing in a petunia plant last year….didn’t work so well. Definitely trying this method!! Usually bring in geraniums each winter, just like my Mom always did. Love seeing the cheerful flowers in the dead of winter. Never had any luck with over-wintering a lantana….any ideas or suggestions?
Love your newsletter!
shamim ahmed says
send me email with good idias i like the way you explain .
Nancy in New Mexico says
Hi Kevin, you always have such great ideas (and recipes!). When you say florescent lights…are they regular or grow lights? I’ve been looking at some LED’s fixtures that look like regular florescent lights and am wondering how they would work. (we are on solar electricity and need to be mindful of our electric usage in the winter months) What say you?
Thanks,
Nancy
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Nancy – I’ve read that LED lights provide superior illumination for plant growth/bloom. Alas, I have old-fashioned “cool white” fluorescents.
Wendy says
Thanks! That’s so informative! Really appreciate it.
Toni O'Brien says
Another great Sunday morning KLJ idea!! Thank you. I have some gorgeous deep purple with almost black streakings to try this with. Yahoo.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Toni – Your petunias sound dreamy. Have fun propagating them for winter enjoyment!
Ann says
Kevin,
I love your guidelines for propagating plants. The pictures help motivate me to do as you instruct.
I must tell you, the dog-treat ball dispenser you posted about a while back has been a wonderful treat for me as well as my dog. We just love to watch him play with this ball. It’s been such fun to watch him play with this ball as he doesn’t play with any other toys I buy. Thank you for sharing.
Keep up the dog posts too.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Ann – So glad you pooch enjoys the treat puzzle!
Marilyn Cellucci says
Thank you for the tip on having petunias over the Winter, Kevin. I certainly will try it.
Judy L Hines says
You are amazing!!
Mary M says
.’can’t wait to try this!… I go into withdrawal every winter when I can no longer tend my outdoor flowers.. still have succulents but it’s not the same as flowers!! I live in Newfoundland Canada, and we can’t plant anything outdoors until end of June… after the icebergs! .. so it will be fabulous to have some bright colour… have done geraniums as you blogged, keeping them in the almost dark, works well for spring propagation ,but can’t wait to try this one… Question: would this work with my cheerful yellow Bidens? .. going to give it a go anyway..
thank you Kevin… Hear the angel??
mary m
JaneyB says
Oh, I’m trying this! I was just looking at my petunias outside and wondering if I could do something to keep them before the frost comes here in Montreal. I’ve tried bringing them in in the past and it was just as you said. Now I’m excited. Thanks so much for all the tips and ideas on your blog.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi JaneyB – Petunias are a joy in winter. Good luck with yours!
Glenda Parrish says
Brilliant idea. I have some stripped purple petunias the I wanted save over the winter. So glad to know about cuttings!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Glenda — My pleasure!
Janet Lohmeyer says
Love your ideas! And upstate NY too, my dad was from Rochester and summered every year near Lake Champlain. Love the leafiness, not the humidity so much. But I live in Colorado, Black Forest to be exact, at 7500 ft elevation and we get first frost last week of Sept or first week of Oct.
So, I am going out to grab cuttings from my purple petunias now, and raid the garden centers for other colors left over that have been summering under light cover outdoors. Perhaps this year I will have success, as flowers seem to elude me. Here goes!
Janet
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Janet – Yes, insufferably humid here just now. Have fun propagating your petunias!
Terry Stites says
Oh Kevin, you are a wonderment.
I’ve been in the planning stages to take cuttings. I was trying to decide which type of lighting to use. Thank you for sharing your wellfount of wisdom, experience and humor. You make my Sunday so much sweeter.
Terry in NE Oklahoma
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Terry – I’m blushing. Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Barbara Baldus says
Thank you, Kevin. I was just admiringcmy tunes on the deck yesterday and wishing I could take them all in so now I will give this a try.
Mojave Moon says
Thank you, Kevin. Out here in the arid Mojave Desert, petunias cannot be grown. However, Desert Ruellia, whose flowers look just like petunias, CAN be grown. Your article has inspired me to experiment with an idea by applying it to my circumstances. And after all, isn’t that what gardening is all about?
Please keep the ideas coming! They shift my focus to fun, exciting and positive! And that is the greatest gift which can be given during these exceptional times. Thank you.
Mary Lou says
You really make Sunday a celebration. There is always something wonderful to see and this tip about petunias is the BEST! Thank you!!
Jane Smythe says
Brilliant! Who knew? One year I tried to bring geraniums in and ended up with a leaf drop mess. My only issue is I didn’t plant petunias this year. Next year for sure. Thanks Kevin. You’re the best!!
Kathy says
Kevin, Thank you for this, I will give it a try.
You should make an affiliate link for the Jack Black’s Bloom Booster. I’d be happy to give you the commission.
Always enjoy your garden and cooking posts.
Barbara says
You keep talking about putting these plants under florescent lights. Not grow lights? I don’t have grow lights and thought I would have to buy special bulbs.
Arlene Sperk says
Great idea, I love the midnight blue/pink and I’m going to try them. You can use coffee filters in the bottom of the pots, works great.
Jackie says
Thanks for this! I’m going to ask my neighbours for a cutting and start some 🙂
May R Chen says
How delightful, your writing and this post. I came across this page while googling for how to propagate petunias (I was trimming one of my leggy plants). I’m so glad I did, because your website is delightful. I could lose days to browsing this!