This was brought on by the water shortages but also by a very special new introduction namely Night Sky and his sister Baby Doll.
Each Night Sky Petunia is unique, as the number and size of the white marks vary depending on temperature and sunshine. The best markings come from warm days and cool nights making autumn a perfect planting time for them.
Night Sky Petunia
Superfast growing Petunia Ink Splash also has unique markings on the flowers. Many that have seen it say where Night Sky is dreamy, Ink Splash is arty.
Like all sisters Baby Doll does not stand back for these two; she has a slightly more compact growing habit.
How to grow the best
Petunias need full sun to really do well. Once planted keep them on the dryer side with little water till they establish and then cut the watering right back and give them almost drought conditions. Petunias are one of the most water wise colourful bedding plants that you can grow.
Baby Doll Petunia
Well suited to containers where you can control the amount of water you are giving. In the garden make sure that they are in well-drained soil. If you over water them they will most probably die.
As they flower keep your petunia plants clean of spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Many of the new varieties are self-cleaning so it is less important on them, especially the cascading and compact dwarf varieties.
Cali Petunias
Did you know that they are not actually a petunia? But they are so similar they have become associated as petunias and as they need similar care it makes it easier to identify them as such. The one thing that they don’t like is to be too dry; they like to be damp but not soggy, so well-drained soil is important for them.
In essence they’re a mini petunia, perfect for small containers or cascading over the edge of a container in full sun. The flowers are the size of a R5 coin or slightly smaller and besides the striking singles there are also very good double flowering ones.
Cali Petunias
As self-cleaning annuals you will not have to deadhead them to encourage more flowers. They can last for quite a few months as long as they do not get too wet and cold in winter.
The modern garden certainly has a spot for a Cali Petunia and with a new colour being released this year there is bound to be one to suit your colour scheme.
* Information courtesy of Eckards Garden Pavilion.
