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Tip: First Aid for Weary Petunias

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | July 15, 2010 8 Comments

Last updated on December 2nd, 2011


Container-grown petunias, usually picture-perfect in June, are often on the weary-side by July, and half-dead come August. This is how you can perk them up again:

With scissors or hand-pruners, cut stems back by one-half to two-thirds. Then, with a kitchen fork, loosen and aerate the compacted soil. Poke gently, however, to avoid injuring roots.

Next, feed with one half-tablespoon of a high-phosphorous plant food dissolved in one gallon of water. Apply this formula daily, and you will see new growth and sweet blooms within a few week’s time.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Samantha says

    August 14, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Kevin, just the news I needed. Thanks for the tip. My petunias have grown stringy, and they look just horrible.

    I'll give them a haircut today, but I have one question: Is a high-phosphorous food the same as a “blossom booster?”

  2. 2

    Macy says

    August 14, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    As August has worn on, I had just about given up on my petunias. I am delighted with your tips and will give it a whirl. Macy

  3. 3

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    August 14, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    Samantha – yes, formulas that say “Blossom-Booster” are indeed high-phosphorous. Phosphorous is the middle NPK number on the package label; look for 10-30-20 or something similar.

    Macy – welcome! I'm so glad you can use this petunia-tip!

  4. 4

    Samantha says

    August 14, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    Haircut and fertilization accomplished. The stringy stems in my basket of deep purple petunias are a fraction of their former selves, but already they look vastly improved!

  5. 5

    Janis says

    July 15, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Kevin, thanks for republishing this post. AFter the horrid heat and humidity here in Chicago, my petunias look like sh*t. I'll do as you say, and hope for the best.

  6. 6

    LindaK says

    March 10, 2012 at 3:32 am

    I got several colors of wave petunias years ago in hanging pots and I just kept them from year to year by letting them freeze out and then bringing them out in the spring to grow up from seed. I have to pull some out, as they are too dense, and replant them somewhere else. This past year when it was so horribly hot and dry I had the most beautiful petunias I’ve ever had because I kept watering them every day and gave them liquid fertilizer about every other day. I had gorgeous blooms going strong until the freeze got them late in winter. I’ve saved hundreds of $$$ by this method. They always generously re-seed and they even kept the little birds happy with seeds.

  7. 7

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    March 10, 2012 at 8:24 am

    LindaK – That has been my experience with petunias, too. They are great re-seeders (and hence, ideal candidates for winter-sowing).

  8. 8

    Christine says

    July 14, 2014 at 10:02 pm

    Thank you so much for this tip. I have a large container of powered blue Miracle Grow, do you think that would help rather buying another product? Tomorrow I will trim the poor thing, thanks! And loosen up the soil too.

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