The petunias, which are often cultivated in balcony boxes in this country, originally come from South America and are extremely sensitive to frosty temperatures. Therefore, the plants are often only grown as annuals and purchased annually from specialist retailers, although they could also be overwintered in a frost-proof location.
How to get petunias over the winter?
To overwinter petunias successfully, they should be brought indoors before the first night frosts, checked for pests and maintained at 5-10 degrees Celsius with moderately moist soil and plenty of daylight, but without direct sunlight and fertilizer.
Transfer the petunias to suitable winter quarters in good time
You should bring the petunias (or directly in the flower box if there is enough space in the winter quarters) into the house in late autumn before the first night frosts. However, the temperature in the winter quarters should only be around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, which is why normal living spaces are not suitable. A storage room or basement room is usually the better choice if it has sufficient daylight.
Before moving into winter quarters: check for pests
Since the petunias are watered very little during the winter months, pests brought into the room may be able to multiply unhindered. You should therefore check the petunias for possible pest infestation such as aphids or whiteflies as soon as they are winterized. If an excessive pest infestation is not de alt with appropriately, the survival of the plants can be seriously endangered despite otherwise good care.
The optimal care during the winter months
Successfully overwintered petunia specimens can ensure particularly early flowering in spring due to their stronger starting position. However, they should be wintered under suitable conditions:
- with as much daylight as possible (however, no direct sunlight is necessary)
- at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius
- with moderately moist soil in the pot (watering too frequently can lead to root rot)
- When wintering, all shoots should be shortened to a maximum length of 15 to 20 centimeters
- no fertilizer during the winter phase
It can be a little difficult to find the right amount when watering petunias in winter quarters. You should always water again when the soil that has dried out on the surface can easily be removed from the edge of the pot.
Tip
Flowers can also form on petunias in winter quarters. However, if the petunias are only in a storage room and have no decorative value in the house, flowering shoots should be removed early. In this way, the plants can save energy and can be vigorously wintered out in the spring directly after the ice saints.
