by Jennifer Poindexter
My favorite flower is the wave petunia , but did you know that petunias make out in many varieties ? One option is the Mexican petunia ( Ruellia simplex ) , and I ’m going to fill you in on what you should know about this plant .
Some gardeners fuck this flower . Others , not so much . However , I imagine it ’s fair to learn what you could about these flower , including how to grow them , to make that judgment call for yourself .
The reason some gardener do n’t love this flower is because it reseeds extremely well and is even considered invasive in some arena .
Yet , other gardeners bonk this blossom because it ’s low - maintenance , hardy , and produces gorgeous heyday in shaded locations .
Here ’s the information you call for to decide if Mexican petunias have a place around your place :
Growing Conditions for Mexican Petunias
Do you know in an area with higher temperatures and plenty of shade ? The Mexican petunia could be a great flower choice for you .
This plant run to enjoy warmth but should be grown in partial shade . It ca n’t care brutally cold-blooded temperature or extremely bright sunlight .
However , do n’t get the incorrect musical theme . This is not a finicky works . It can grow in poor quality dirt , but if you want to give it every rationality to succeed , take the surplus footstep to provide nutritive robust soil that ’s well - draining and slimly loamy .
This prime is stalwart in planting zones eight through eleven and should continue an evergreen perennial in such areas .
As if having a fuss - free bloom is n’t enough , this works also comes in a variety of options . you could pick short or improbable varieties of Mexican petunia based upon your growing space .
The taller multifariousness grow to be close to three feet in height . The short miscellanea grow to be a foot or less .
Mexican petunias are multi - cauline plants that produce many blooms . They have the typical horn - shaped flower , as most Petunia do , and come in color stray from purple , pinkish , and clean .
The blooms come in clustering and only last a twenty-four hour period . However , do n’t grow discouraged by this because the plant produces many blooms each daytime from spring through fall .
The welfare of growing Mexican petunias is they tempt pollinators to your garden or yard . These flowers also grow well as a border industrial plant , in a container garden , in rock gardens , or smaller garden plot .
Be aware , as previously mentioned , this flower is also considered incursive in some area . Therefore , do your research about your special area before summate this plant to your landscape .
As you’re able to tell , Mexican petunia do n’t require a lot from you . Yet , they still put on quite the show of color and beauty . If you need a perennial flower that is n’t finicky about growing circumstance , this could be the industrial plant for you .
How to Plant Mexican Petunias
you may engraft Mexican petunias using a change of methods . The first way to establish this flower is from seeded player .
If you already have one of these flowers in your garden , you wo n’t require to plant anymore seeds . This flower will cast the seeds on its own for more to come out in the coming years .
However , if you ’re adding this prime as a new addition or need to mature it in a different location , sowing ejaculate is very easy . you may remediate the dirt in the growing area if you desire . This is n’t require for the flower to do well as Mexican petunia are moderately sturdy .
Wait until all threat of icing is over in the bound . From there , till the earth and found one to two seeded player per foot in your produce location . The seminal fluid should be planted about ¼ column inch late in the filth .
Be sure to keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds have sprout .
The next option for maturate Mexican petunias is to propagate them from a cutting of another plant life . You should murder a piece of a mature plant life using clean cutters .
The cutting should be approximately six inches long and take right beneath a thickening . If the cutting has any leave at the bottom , remove them . If there ’s a salad days on the press cutting , remove it as well .
Dip the trimmed remainder of the cutting in rooting endocrine . Then place it in a container with grime that drains adequately .
The slip should be planted two column inch deep . Place the container in lustrous , collateral sunshine and keep the soil consistently tone down while the works is forming a root word system .
Once the root system of rules is fully established , you may graft the flower into their lasting growing location .
Our final method for spread Mexican petunias is from division . This is done by dividing a ripe industrial plant .
Dig up a large , healthy plant . assure you polish off the entire radical system . Using a garden spade , separate the intact flora down the center . You should even split up the root .
transfer the freshly part flora into lasting originate locations in holes that are the same depth as the roots but two times the width .
Also , be certain you select a growing location that meet the few specifications that Mexican petunias want .
Whether you ’re trying to mature more Mexican petunias from your current works or adding a new plant to your growing set - up , these methods should help you reach your horticulture finish .
Caring for Mexican Petunias
When manage for Mexican genus Petunia , you ’ll be glad to discover that they ’re very downcast - maintenance . Everything on this listing are things youcando but are n’t involve .
Mexican Petunia really only need to be watered when they ’re first planted to help them become make .
Otherwise , they ’re quite drouth - resistant and should n’t require anymore urine from you unless you ’re going through a clip of serious drouth .
However , some gardeners like to ensure their industrial plant are very well like for and wish well to add more water to these flowers .
you could because Mexican petunias not only thrive in dry conditions but also in too moist conditions , too .
Therefore , if you ’d like to irrigate these flower be trusted to water them deeply . This means that you irrigate the plants for tenacious periods of fourth dimension , fewer days of the week .
By doing this , the roots get a drink at the clock time of watering and the ground around the flower becomes pure .
However , as the days pass , the roots will moil deeper in search of more water system . This encourage stronger root system and healthier plants .
Do n’t add more water without testing the soil . Dip your finger’s breadth into the dirt next to the prime . If the soil is n’t dry to your second knuckle joint , do n’t contribute anymore water . Repeat the procedure as needed .
The next thing you could do for Mexican petunia is feed them once in the leaping . Again , it is n’t necessary but if you ’d like to sleep with the plant has all the nutrients it desire , this is a bully means to go about it .
Use an all - purpose fertiliser and follow the instruction provided on the product .
This next tip is something you ’ll probably need to do . You should add together mulch around your Mexican Petunia .
The reason being is it helps the plant retain water , but it also keeps sens down . This is levelheaded for the plant and less work for you .
Finally , consider deadheading the plants and removing their ejaculate pods . Deadheading these flowers will keep the plants feel younger , healthier , and make them appear more vibrant .
move out the seeded player pod is a enceinte mode to control reseeding to keep your Mexican Petunia in check and only arise where you need them to .
If you ’re explore for a heyday that ’s comfortable to deal for , the Mexican petunia could be exactly what you want .
Garden Pests and Diseases Which Impact Mexican Petunias
The last matter we must talk about when produce Mexican petunias is how to protect them . Most bloom face numerous challenges in their growing quad .
However , Mexican petunias are n’t one of them . The only disease which could be a concern to this plant is blight .
This usually takes place when the plants are growing in region where the soil is n’t well - draining , or they ’re planted too obtusely .
you could forfend this by planting in well - draining grunge and by dilute your plants when necessary . Blight can also be treat using a antifungal . Be certain to remove any damaged part of the industrial plant as well .
The only pests which be given to bother this flower are spider mites . You will typically see the home of the spider mites before you see the real pest .
Dislodge the abode from your plants by spraying them , forcefully , with a weewee hosiery . From there , treat your bloom with an insect powder .
Stay alive to potential problems when growing Mexican petunias . The sooner you enamor an egress , the easier it is to slump .
Mexican petunia are gorgeous flowers that can bring smasher to your household or garden space year - round .
see this plant is n’t considered incursive in your area prior to planting . If it ’s not , put these bakshis into praxis and see what you think of this extremely debated flower .
More About Mexican Petunias
https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ruellia-simplex/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ruellia-simplex/
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/in-the-garden/reference-desk/perennials/mexican-petunia.aspx
