The lush and long-flowering petunias originally come from South America, which is why they prefer sunny locations. Without protection, these plants are not hardy in this country, but sometimes they can be overwintered.
Petunias do not tolerate frost
Do not plant young plants outdoors too early
Since most petunia varieties do not survive even brief periods of frost unscathed, young plants purchased from retailers or grown on the windowsill should not be planted outdoors before the ice saints and the last night frosts. In addition, petunias that are grown indoors should first be accustomed to direct sunlight for a few hours before they are planted in the sunniest possible location.
Petunias overwinter
Due to their extreme sensitivity to frost, it is not possible for petunias to overwinter outdoors, even in a mild wine-growing climate. Since petunias are comparatively cheap and can also be easily grown from seeds, the effort involved in overwintering them is comparatively disproportionate. However, you can overwinter the plants under the following conditions, for example if you want to start the balcony season with particularly strong hanging petunias:
- at a temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
- as bright as possible
- no fertilization in the winter quarters
- Shoots shortened to about 15 to 20 centimeters in length
- poured sparingly
Remove flowers in winter quarters
If flower buds form on the shortened shoots of the petunia during the winter period, you should remove them as regularly as possible. This protects the energy balance of the plants and increases the chances of a successful overwintering.
tips
If the frost-sensitive petunias are to be overwintered in a cool and bright room, it is not only important to pay close attention to the right conditions in terms of water volume, brightness and temperature. You should also check the plants for any signs of disease or infestation with pests such as aphids when they are wintered in autumn in good time before the first night frost. These must be removed or combated immediately so that the entire plant is not infested over the winter.