How to Care for Petunia Hanging Baskets

The petunia makes a great accent to your garden, patio, window box or hanging basket.

An annual flower, the petunia makes a great accent to your garden, patio, window box or hanging basket. The petunia grows 4 to 6 inches high and produces large flowers, which come in a variety of colors including red, white, pink and purple.

Easy to care for, petunias require very little care aside from the occasional fertilizing and daily water needs. Simply choose a sunny location and hang your petunias out to bloom.

Things You'll Need

• Hanging baskets
• Organic potting soil
• Water
• Fertilizer
• Sharp scissors

Instructions

1. Fill the hanging baskets with organic potting soil. Choose an airy potting soil that will offer better drainage for the petunias.

2. Hang the petunia baskets in an area that receives at least five to six hours of sunlight per day. In fact, the more sun, the better. Petunias that do not receive adequate sunlight will produce fewer flowers than those positioned in full day sun.

3. Water the petunia hanging baskets daily. Unlike petunias planted in the ground that rely on deep soil and mulch to help with water retention, petunias in hanging baskets lose water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the baskets. Soaking the soil daily will help keep the petunias well quenched.

4. Deadhead the petunias as they wither. Use the tips of your fingers to remove the withered flower from the stem. Deadheading your petunias will encourage future blooms, prolong the life of present blooms and give your petunia hanging baskets a neater appearance.

5. Feed the petunias a diet of all-purpose fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer as directed on the packaging label. Most petunias that grow in hanging baskets prefer small amounts of fertilizer every two weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut the petunias back if necessary. Cutting back will encourage new growth and keep them looking tidy. Use a sharp scissor to remove areas of petunia overgrowth.

• Make sure that the petunias are spaced at least 6 inches apart from one another. Petunias need room to grow or they may become root bound. Choose hanging baskets that can accommodate the petunia's spacing requirements.

References

• National Gardening Bureau Incorporated: Petunia
• Pittsburgh Live: Norman Winter, McClatchy-Tribune. Petunias earn first place in containers
• University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Petunias

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Estabrook's: Petunia
• Iowa State University: Growing Petunias