Petunia Night Sky, a part of the Headliner series, is a cultivars of Petunia that was created by German breeder Selecta One. This plant has gained the Award for Best Bedding or Pot Plant at the Four Oaks Trade Show and the prestigious FleuroStar Award, given by Fleuroselect to the ‘winner with the wow factor’. It is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful and spectacular plant varieties created in recent history.
Petunia Night Sky, a part of the Headliner series, is a cultivars of Petunia that was created by German breeder Selecta One. This plant has gained the Award for Best Bedding or Pot Plant at the Four Oaks Trade Show and the prestigious FleuroStar Award, given by Fleuroselect to the ‘winner with the wow factor’. It is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful and spectacular plant varieties created in recent history.
IDENTIFY PETUNIA NIGHT SKY
Petunia Night Sky is a spreading or trailing herbaceous annual plant with a mounded form. It will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. The pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front.
The plants will flower from spring right through to the first frosts and the colour effect is stable, so it won’t disappear during the season. Their flowers are purple-blue with masses of irregular white speckles peppering the petals and providing unique patterns on each bloom. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
PETUNIA NIGHT SKY CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Petunia Night Sky perform best in full sun with light level of 50000 - 80000 Lux (5000 to 8000 f.c.). Low light levels promote stem stretch and reduced plant quality. It is an early-flowering petunia variety that does not require long days to flower like others petunias.
Temperature:
Night temperatures from 52 to 62°F (11 to 17°C) and day temperatures from 58 to 75°F (14 to 24°C) are recommended for growing this plant. Higher than recommended temperatures will cause stretch, weak stems and reduced flower size.
Higher temperatures can also affect flower color pattern:
- In growing conditions where night temperatures are very low (below 50°F/10°C) and the day temperatures are very high (around 100°F/38°C), the color pattern on Night Sky gets whiter. That means a high difference between daytime and nighttime (hotter day, cooler night) can cause the flowers to turn white.
- When growing in Southern summer conditions of warm humid days and specifically warm nights, the pattern becomes more purple. That means a low difference between daytime and nighttime (hotter day, hotter night) can cause the flowers to turn purple.
Substrate and growing media:
Night Sky Petunia grow best in a a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. It is a fine choice for the garden, but it has a semi trailing habit, so it is perfect for growing in hanging baskets and tiered containers where its trailing stems will create a beautiful, flower rich effect. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Watering:
During dry weather, a deep watering once every 7 to 10 days should be sufficient for the plants in beds and borders. Plants in containers will need to be watered more frequently. Check containers frequently and water when the soil surface becomes dry. Make sure the soil is kept moist when the plants are young.
Water management is an important aspect of growing Petunia Night Sky. Avoid excessive water, as it can lead to thin weak growth, as well as diseases. It’s equally important not to dry the plant down to the point of wilt, as this will adversely affect the flower count and color stability.
Watering is a factor that will influence the color pattern. The wilting from drought influence on the color pattern is less dramatic than the influence of PGRs and temperature. The response from drought is to increase the white in the coloration. This wilt response is short-lived and seems to only influence the expanding flower buds on the plant at the time of wilt.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks. Petunia Night Sky require moderate, constant fertilization. Use constant feed with a balanced fertilizer with additional iron as needed based on water quality. A full complement of minor elements should be provided to the plant. Apply clear water to runoff periodically to prevent problems with soluble salt buildup.
The first factors that affect the color pattern is the influence of PGR chemistry, application method and timing. The use of B-Nine spray in finishing close to the time of bloom will have a significant effect on the blooms by dramatically increasing the amount of white in the blooms. When growing in spring conditions, do not apply any B-Nine within 5 weeks of the target sale date. Any PGR spray during the finishing phase will tend to make the blooms more white, but none as dramatic as B-Nine. If a PGR is desired, we recommend the use of a low rate Bonzi drench.
Pruning:
Night Sky Petunia is a free-branching petunia variety. If desired, or if planting from a stretched liner, pinch plants 10 to 14 days after transplanting to improve basal branching. For a large mixed basket or container, a second pinch can be applied, but will delay flowering approximately 2 weeks.
Pests and diseases:
Snails and aphids are the main offenders and there are environmentally-friendly products available at your local garden center to treat each problem swiftly and easily. If their foliage puckers and turns yellowish, check for aphids. Pinch off infested plant tips. Spray major infestations with commercial insecticidal soap according to label instructions.
Propagation:
Petunia Night Sky can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
To propagate Night Sky Petunia, it’s important to choose a well-drained medium with an EC of 0.75 to 0.80 mmhos and a pH of 5.5 to 5.8. Soil temperature should be maintained at 68 to 74°F (20 to 23°C) until roots are visible. Begin fertilization with 75 to 100 ppm N when roots become visible. Increase to 150 to 200 ppm N as roots develop. Once roots are visible, the media should be kept only moderately wet and never saturated. The plant can be pinched if desired 18 to 24 days after sticking, when roots are well developed, to promote early branching and improve habit. Night Sky rooted cuttings should be ready for transplanting 21 to 28 days after sticking.
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