These varieties drop their flowers naturally as does the surfinia double petunia.
The surfinia, though, produces new blooms more quickly when spent flowers are removed.
But simply removing the dead blossoms won’t encourage the plant to grow full and bushy.
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As petunias mature, eventually all flowering stems lengthen and take on a straggly, messy appearance.
ensure you areremoving spent bloomsand not flowers ready to open.
Many look similar just before and after they bloom.
Flowers ready to open are rigid with a slightly crinkled look and rich color.
Spent flowers are often faded, wrinkly and may droop.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to wait another day.
Potted plants are easier to deadhead thanhanging basketsor trailing types planted in beds.
Self-cleaning types save time and effort.
They benefit from cutting back during the season but won’t require attention every few days.
You may also see new buds adjacent to the spent bloom.
Remove early spent blooms to encourage fullness, more blooms and to establish a regular deadheading schedule.
Remove Spent Blossoms
Pinching back is the preferred method for deadheading petunias.
Thin stems are easily removed with your thumb and forefinger.
It’s also more accurate without gloves which inhibit dexterity.
Pinch out the stem of the spent bloom at its base.
Fertilize every one to two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer or fish emulsion.
The spent blossom and calyx are attached to a small length of stem about one inch long.
Some petunias are self-cleaning which means they drop spent flowers on their own.
Two types are supertunias and wave petunias.
The main flowering stems of all petunias, though, will eventually get leggy.
When this occurs cut back up to one third of the main stem.
You’ll sacrifice a few blooms but the result will be a fuller, more attractive plant.
Trim no further back than one-third of the entire length of the stem and cut just above a node.
To deadhead or not to deadhead?
You final answer is.
