What should I do to save my petunia plant?
by
Naomi
+12
I got a pot of petunias as a present and they were doing well on my balcony until winter. Now it looks like they get drowned or dried out every other day by the weather. Will they grow back in the spring if I keep the old soil? Should I keep them indoors next time during winter months?
15 answers
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Naomi, I'm not sure how cold it gets in Israel in the winter, but in most of the United States they are not winter-hardy and are grown as an annual, to be replaced every year. If you have a bright sunroom, you might try propagating next season's plants from cuttings, but I think most people would find this more trouble than they are worth.
Douglas Hunt
on Dec 23, 2012
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Thanks for the advice, and responding so quickly! It does get pretty cold here for a few months in the winter but it's bright and sunny the rest of the year, so maybe they're worth saving for later after all:)
Naomi
on Dec 24, 2012
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Naomi, I don't know what you have to pay for these plants in Israel but at what they cost here, trying to save them through the winter is not worth it...too much worry for the kind of weak plant you will probably wind up with in the spring.
Jeanette S
on Dec 25, 2012
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Thanks for the feedback @Jeanette S , I'll keep that in mind. I actually don't know what they cost here either, but having them around did make me want to plant more flowers on the balcony... I guess I'll just have to start something new in the spring:)
Naomi
on Dec 26, 2012
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If they were a gift from someone special then I can understand your wanting to save them. I found this very informative video that I thought might help you since it gives a basic description of petunia care from soil to watering, feeding and pruning. I hope it helps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvyVAYIYfoY
Z
on Dec 26, 2012
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Great resource- thanks so much for looking into it for me @Z!
Naomi
on Dec 30, 2012
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You're welcome Naomi. I hope it helps you save your plant.
Z
on Dec 30, 2012
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Naomi I have a large potted petunia 4 yrs old hear in kansas very cold winter. Every fall I cut it back harshly feed a little and water it sets in front of a south full glass door. Every spring we put it back out and it fills out to be just as beautiful as the year it was given to me. Light is the trick. Good luck
Cindy tustin
on Jan 23, 2013
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That's fantastic that you've been able to maintain the same plant so beautifully for so long. That's my goal! Thanks for the tip @Cindy tustin :)
Naomi
on Jan 24, 2013
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For the past three years, I have had one of my petunias return. Always thought of them as annuals although I grew up with them as perennials in the older womens' yards. Since this petunia is so brave, I placed him under my deck for the winter so that the frost would not damage him. Long ago, my son placed an annual geranium under the crawlspace of my house and much to our surprise, he also returned the next spring. Felt like I was on to something and had cheated the nurserymen or whomever had taken all these plants and hybridized them into being annuals. Trying this with some other annuals as well. HA!
Melissa K
on Feb 07, 2013
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Sounds like you have a clever method going on over there finding hiding places for your plants to hibernate in during winter. Let me know how it turns out @Melissa K !
Naomi
on Feb 18, 2013
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Naomi and to all...the petunia has returned to me. Slid it out from under the deck and I have green foliage! Never fed it, but I think AI owe him SOMEthing for coming back, don't you? Course I am in South Carolina. But the winter was pretty good this, ice and cold. Under the deck will be my storage area from now on, also a gerbera daisy also returned. Curious to see how these plants perform.
Melissa K
on Apr 17, 2013
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That's so cool! Gotta try that..
Naomi
on Apr 17, 2013
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Goodluck!
Jess N.
on Apr 30, 2013
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Let us know how it works, Naomi.
Dave O
on Apr 30, 2013
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