Petunias in the Low Desert - Knowledgebase Question

Glendale, AZ
Avatar for tapshoe
Question by tapshoe
May 5, 2000
On the Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster box it says 1 Tbsp per gallon of water for outdoor plants, and to apply every 7-14 days. But I have petunias in a planter and here in AZ I need to water them every day. I have tried a solution of 1 tsp every time I water...the petunias tend to wilt in the early morning sun (have shade from l0 AM or so)...& they just don't seem to be husky and thriving as I would expect--yet I have seen petunias in this area (in the ground, however) thriving. What dosage would be recommended for container petunias that have to be watered frequently? Would it be better to have them down, so they don't even get the early morning sun?


Image
Answer from NGA
May 5, 2000
Your petunias may be lacking light. They need at least 6 hours of sun, even in our low desert, and morning sun is better than the hot afternoon. When you water, be sure to water slowly and deeply to moisten the entire root area. Don't "sprinkle" lightly, which allows salts to accumulate in the root zone, which can kill the plant. I recommend following the product instructions. Fertilizing every 7-14 days should be adequate, even in our conditions. Overfertilizing is just as harmful as underfertilizing! Good luck!

You must be signed in before you can post questions or answers. Click here to join!

« Return to the Garden Knowledgebase Homepage

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by mcash70 and is called "Queen Ann's Lace"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.