Preferences:

Argentine annual, that likes full sun. Shade reduces flowering. Needs sharply drained, light sandy soil is best. The single types will tolerate heavier more alkaline soils.

Cultural Practices:

propagation - Sow on March 15 at 21 degrees C, for 5 - 15 days under light.

Culture - water and feed requirements are high. Pinch once at 6" and again after first wave of flowers. Shade will encourage aphids and the plants are sensitive to afternoon watering. The plants should be deadheaded regularly. Pinching will delay flowering by 7 - 10 days. Divide the petunias into groups and pinch weekly. Petunias are broken primarily into 2 groups the grandifloras (large single and doubles) and multifloras (smaller but more flowers), the multifloras are resistant to botrytis.

Landscape Value:

Common Series: Single Multifloras, Wave Series the most popular and most expensive. Celebrity (flowers 7 - 8 cms, Length 13") Merlin (10"), Pime Time (10.5")

Single Grandifloras - Cloud (flowers 10" - 13" long, weather tolerant, basal branching), Daddy (flowers 9 - 10 cm, 13" long, ruffled flowers), Flash (Same, weather tolerant, colours more vivid), Picotee (flowers 8 - 9 cm - 13" long), Falcon (Flowers 8 - 9cm, 12" long), Super Cascade (11 - 13 cm, 14" long considered a standard), Ultra (Flower 9 - 10 cm, 13" long, good spreading habit, doesn't get too wild, disease tolerant) Frost (flower 9 cm, 14" long), Storm (weather tolerant, quick recovery after the rain).