Potted petunias become lanky quite quickly. One year I cut them right back and the plant did regrow and flowered again, but recovery to full bloom took about six weeks, and by then the weather was cooling and its time was soon coming to an end.
This year I've tried a different approach, by cutting off the longest flowering stems back to a tiny leaf at a branch. I might take two stems off each week and it seems to be working. New flowering stems are growing where they were cut back.
For no real reason, instead of throwing the newly cut flowering stalk off the balcony, I put it in this pot, and if i can remember what River said, the plant is a crown of thorns.
My action reminded me of my Tradie Brother who used to visit Mother and put a plastic or silk flower in her garden plants. Mother was amused, and I was caught out at times, absently minded noticing the odd flower and then later wondering what this strange flower was in a bush.
Tradie Brother was and still is quite a prankster. Many years ago he had a piece of wood about 1.5 metres tall, say a few feet. Think of a very fat garden stake. It was painted with blue and white horizontal stripes, looking a bit nautical really. Evenly spread notches had been cut into the stake. Quite mysterious. "Bro", I asked, "What is this stick for?" And another notch was cut into the stake.
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Ha, ha! I like a person with a good sense of humour.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, it puts efforts into his pranks and jokes.
DeleteYes, that's a crown of thorns. It could be pruned and the prunings pushed into the soil around it, to get a bushy plant. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteBoud, you made me think. We had this plant in the 1980s, so it would be about forty years old. We gave it away when we moved here and asked for it back, as it suited the harsh balcony location. I cut it back hard ever second year, and it quickly recovers.
DeleteThat stick story is pretty funny, but that joke takes a lot of effort!
ReplyDeleteI just plant our petunias in the spring and let them go until first frost. Sometimes they get lanky but usually they're blooming right up to the end.
Steve, it is a bit different in the ground, but as I remember, even garden mass plantings eventually become pretty awful looking.
DeleteYour judicious pruning seems to be the way to go.
ReplyDeleteCathy, at the moment I would rate it at 60%.
Delete"And another notch was cut into the stake" 🤣 The crown of thorns looks pretty with the petunias in the middle. I'm glad you found a better way to keep the petunias going.
ReplyDeleteRiver, it seems to be working. While the plant likes hot sun, our hot sun of late is very hot, so I give them a break from the sun until it moves off my balcony.
DeleteSounds like your brother’s stake was less a tool and more a puzzle
ReplyDeleteYes Roentare, purely for amusement.
DeleteA sense of humour can help us through so many difficult situations! I love the photo, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteIt can Linda, even black humour when needed.
DeleteIt's as if you're recycling flowers.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I am, but very briefly.
DeleteYou never know, the stems could root and grow.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, they won't. I control what nature that I can.
DeleteYour brother sounds a circus...lol
ReplyDeleteThe flowers look pretty there and I'm glad you have found a way to keep them blooming. I notice they are leggy and reaching for the light!
We were going to put petunias in the garden this summer but never got around to it.
Margaret, his pranks over many years make us laugh, and roll our eyes.
DeleteI love the stick! Keeping up with your brother's antics sounds as if it could be a full-time job.
ReplyDeleteThe crown of thorns is pretty.
A curiosity stick.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good joke. I have a bag of 50 daffodil blooms outside. I will bring them in after six weeks and see if I can get some early blooms. Winter has been quite a roller coaster here.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother would put artificial flowers out in her front garden and people going by would think that she had a green thumb.
ReplyDeleteLove the plank story. Good for you and plant success. I am quite proud of my wee indoor garden and brag to anyone who will listen.
ReplyDeleteXO
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