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“Deadheading,” or pruning, flowers interrupts the seed production and encourages more flowers to bloom. There are several ways to deadhead petunias, including hand pinching and shearing. Pruning them every few weeks, or at mid-summer, will help them to fill out and bloom longer.
Steps
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Check what type of petunias you are growing. Find the seeds or the plant markers. If they are new types of petunias, like Wave or Tidal Wave, they don’t need to be deadheaded. [1] X Research source
- Many new petunias have been engineered to be low-maintenance. They will fill out without being deadheaded.
- Wave and Tidal Wave petunias are more likely to be available from large seed companies and garden centers than farmer’s markets.
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Start with pinching petunia blooms. [2] X Research source If you have never deadheaded a flower before, you may feel more comfortable pinching off spent flowers than cutting the plant itself. Move onto the next method once you have a season or 2 under your belt.Advertisement
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Get close to the plant, like you are weeding. Fading blooms can be hard to see after a few weeks, and you will need to get your hands dirty. Avoid wearing thick gardening gloves, because you are more likely to hurt the plant.
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Find a spent bloom above a new bloom. Move 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) up, or just above the bud. Grasp it with your thumb and forefinger and pull. [3] X Research source
- It should come off easily. Discard the bloom in the compost.
- Many times after we withdraw the deadhead flower, petunias stop blooming. The common mistake is that we only extract the brown withered flower, not the stalk. The stalk is where a flower holds its seeds. So, you should remove it as well. [4]
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Expert Source
Jon Rowland
Plant Specialist Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
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Repeat with each dead bloom on the same stem. Then, move onto a new stem. Herbaceous plants like petunias can have dozens of blooms on a single stem, so plan to deadhead every few weeks during growing season. [5] X Research source
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Pinch growing tips at mid-summer. If you find your petunias are getting “leggy,” meaning each stem is long and hanging toward the ground, you should pinch off growing tips. Grasp the stem lightly and find the thickest bud at the top of a set of blooms.
- Pinch it between your thumb and forefinger to pluck it off. In this case, you are plucking an actively growing part of the plant, instead of a dying part.
- This type of deadheading will encourage new buds below that point to bloom. It will also make the plant look thicker and healthier. [6] X Research source
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Allow your petunias to start blooming. You should wait to prune the plants until they are getting 6 or more hours of sun a day and they are filled with blooms. Once blooms start to die, you can start deadheading.
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Get a sharp pair of pruning shears or scissors. Unlike deadheading by hand, the plant will do best with a sharp cut. [7] X Research source
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Pick up a petunia stem gently. Choose 1 that has several dying blooms on it. Find a point just below all the dead blooms.
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Cut up to 1/2 of the petunia stem with your sharp shears. Aim to prune them below the majority of the spent blooms, if possible. [8] X Research source
- Although you must cut back portions of a healthy plant to encourage new, thick growth, pruning petunias will extend your growing season.
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Prune 1 stem weekly on a small petunia plant, or prune 8 to 12 stems in a large hanging basket. Doing regular pruning will help you avoid pruning off all your stems at once, making them look bare for a few weeks. [9] X Research source
- Occasionally, you will need to prune off a healthy blooming stem. If a stem is looking long and leggy with lots of dead blooms, sacrifice the healthy bloom on the end so the plant will bloom longer.
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Time a large pruning session for mid-summer, if you were not able to do it weekly. If possible, do it right before you leave for a trip, so that you will return when the petunia returns to full bloom.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionIf the bloom has dropped off the petunia stem, how can I tell if it should still be pinched to get more blooms?Community AnswerThe part of the flower where the bloom has dropped will be visible. Prune it.
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Tips
- Water your petunia plants daily in the very hot sun. Water and fertilizer will ensure they fill out after deadheading. [12] X Research sourceThanks
- Make sure your baskets and/or soil is well drained. Petunia plants will rot if left in standing water.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Seed packets/markers
- Pruning shears/scissors
- Liquid fertilizer
- Water
References
- ↑ https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/lifestyle/home-garden/2006/07/14/gar-88799-shtml/14759334007/
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/flowers/growing-petunias
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/deadheading-flowers-for-extended-bloom/
- ↑ Jon Rowland. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
- ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/should-petunias-pinched-back-growing-18029948.php
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLsaOgbqXc
- ↑ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/cutting-back-petunia-plants.htm
- ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/cut-back-petunias-make-bloom-18016576.php
- ↑ https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-petunias-1402893
About This Article
Article Summary
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To deadhead petunias, allow the plant to fully flower and for some of the blooms to die before pruning. Then, find a stem with several dying blooms, and use a sharp pair of pruning shears to cut the stem just below them. Cut up to 1/2 of the stem off when pruning to encourage new growth. Plan to prune your petunias regularly to avoid cutting too many stems at once, which can make your plant look bare. To learn how to best time your pruning sessions, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My Mom always had a green thumb when it came to flowers. She taught me how to deadhead petunias. It was good to know I was doing it right, thank you for the information!" ..." more
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"My Mom always had a green thumb when it came to flowers. She taught me how to deadhead petunias. It was good to know I was doing it right, thank you for the information!"
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"I thought I was deadheading wrong, I am not but it helps to be sure. I also learned where to pinch new blooms to encourage fuller plants! Thank you all!"
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"Thank you for this excellent video. Short, to the point and very helpful. I'm excited about applying these tips! "
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"Very helpful information. Will have to wait for a couple of weeks to see results. The plant does look healthy now!"
"I have checked several sites for this information and this was the clearest. Thanks much!"
