| Scientific name |
Petunia hybrida |
| Hybrid |
F1 Hulahoop Mix |
| Soil |
Well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter. Ideal pH: 6.0–7.0. Avoid waterlogging |
| Pot preparation |
Use a standard potting mix in containers with drainage holes. Avoid porous pots like ceramic or terracotta if they will be exposed to freeze-thaw conditions. For pots, a blend of garden soil, coco peat, and vermicompost is also recommended. |
| Climate |
It Prefers cool, dry climate. Optimal temperature: 15–26°C (night 10–15°C).
It cannot tolerate frost; excessive rains reduce flowering.
|
| Season |
Winter
July- Nov |
| Fertilizers & Manures |
Prepare fine tilth; add: FYM/compost: 10–15 t/ha or 2–3 kg per sq. m for beds.
Basal fertilizer: N:P:K = 10:20:20 g/m² or 60:80:80 kg/ha.
Every 15 days:
• NPK 19:19:19 @ 2 g/L (foliar spray)
Once flowering starts, shift to:
• High K fertilizer (e.g., 0:52:34 or 13:0:45 @ 1.5–2 g/L)
|
| Irrigation |
Light but regular irrigation.
Avoid overwatering—petunia is sensitive to root rot.
Drip irrigation preferred in commercial beds.
|
| Any special crop practices |
Light hoeing to control weeds and loosen soil.
Pinching:
• Pinch the tips at 3–4 weeks after transplanting to promote branching.
Deadheading:
• Remove faded flowers to increase bloom production.
|
| Diseases |
| Name of the diseases |
Symptoms & management |
| Damping off |
Nursery problem.
Use sterilized medium; drench with Trichoderma or Copper oxychloride 2 g/L.
|
| Powdery Mildew |
White, powdery spots on the surfaces of leaves, which may turn brown and shrivel.
Control: Ensure good air circulation, avoid overcrowding, and remove affected leaves. Fungicides like horticultural oil or sulfur can be used
|
| Botrytis (Grey Mold) |
Fuzzy gray coating on flowers and stems, soft, slimy, decayed tissue, especially in cool, humid conditions
Control: Provide good air circulation, remove spent blooms and diseased tissue promptly, and avoid overhead watering. Fungicides may be used preventatively.
Chlorothalonil 75% WP (1g/L), Spary Copper Oxy Chloride 50% WP (1g/L)+ Streptomycin 90% + Tetracycline hypochloride 10% (0.5g/L), Kasugamycin 5 % + COC 45 % WP @ 1 gm /ltr
|
|
| Pests |
| Name of the pests |
Symptoms & management |
| Aphids |
Small insects on new growth and the undersides of leaves; can cause yellowing leaves and stunted growth. They also transmit viruses.
Control : Spray with a strong stream of water, use insecticidal soap, or introduce natural predators like ladybugs
Acepahte 75 % SP (0.5 g/L), Dimethioate 1ml/L, Imidacloprid 30.5 % SC @ 0.25 ml / ltr, Diafenthiuron 50 % WP @ 1 gm /ltr,
|
| White Fly |
Leaves turn yellow or pale, starting from lower leaves. Yellowing is patchy and progressive due to sap-sucking.
Control : Buprofezin 25 SC: 1 ml per liter, prevents nymph development. Fipronil 5 SC : 1–1.5 ml per liter
|
| Cutworms/Caterpillars |
Chewed leaves and stems; cutworms hide in the soil during the day
Control: Handpick them or use biological controls like Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)
|
|
| Maturity |
Flowering starts 70–75 days after sowing.
Continuous blooming for 3–4 months, longer in cool climates.
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