So that is about how long it has been with us. I found early testing of this plant in public botanical gardens in 2010, with branded varieties about 2013. In Petunias, Color Is Important-What Colors Can Petchoa Give Us?Īs a new hybrid, the Petchoa has two series of cultivars, each with color choices. As a popular new plant, you will find it in season in the big box stores and in local garden centers too. Say it as if it is spelled PetKOAa, and they will know what you want in the garden center. PETunia (the natural parent) and calibraCHOA-second parent. The name comes from the plant’s two parents. Petchoa is the genus and you will find about 20 cultivars. Therefore, the blooms will remain open in light rain and withstand bad weather the best. In addition, petchoa tolerates rain better than other petunia plants. (The Petchoa tolerates high pH levels the best.) So, because it accepts both cooler spring and fall temperatures and late summer heat and humidity, it should outperform either parent! In addition, it can minimize disease as well as pH issues better than either parent. It is well branching (means no pinching), and the foliage is not sticky (less deadheading). It withstands heat, wind, and rain better than either of its parents. Petchoa (pet-KOA-uh) has l arge flowers, as wide as t he Petunia and almost as long. So why do we need another very similar plant, a recently bred hybrid? It is a cross between a Petunia and a Calibrachoa. It is called “million bells” for the very large number of small, but petunia-like blooms. Use calibrachoa for its ability to last longer than petunias into the heat of summer and the unique colors. Later we discovered its unique and valuable ability to be bred in extraordinary colors and the rest is history, However unlike the petunia which was universally loved, almost immediately, the calibrachoa was for many years ignored as hard to grow. So it has a place in our gardens.Ĭalibrachoa was actually discovered in South America in the 19th century. The flower is similar to Petunia, and the plant has better resistance to hot, humid summers than the Petunia. We, gardeners, love Petunias we are happy with the much newer Calibrachoa, which looks like loads of small petunias on a colorful mounding and trailing plant. Petchoa is a hybrid plant created by Sakata under the name SuperCal because it combines the best aspects of Petunias and Calibrachoas into one plant.Do You Wish Petunias Would Last Longer In The Summer? From the petunia side, Petchoas have strong roots and large flowers. From the calibrachoa genes it gets vibrant colors that hold up well in harsh conditions. The early flowering time makes Petchoa a desirable addition to a spring program for those shoppers looking for color before your traditional plants are ready to sell. Grow these plants for beds, hanging baskets, or as flowering cascaders in your combination pots. General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Linerįor best results with Petchoa, we recommend using a constant feed program of 250-300 ppm N with an EC level between 1.5-2.0. Extra iron can be applied to promote good leaf color. Grow Petchoa in a cool environment of 50-55F night temperatures. This will help keep the plant compact and encourage a well-toned growth without the use of PGRs. SuperCals can even take heavy frost, which makes them a good choice for cold-frame production. Our production schedule listed below takes into account colder temps. If you are not going to grow in a cold house, you can achieve faster production by 10-14 days. Pinching is recommended 5-10 days after transplantation. SpacingĬan be grown pot tight in an 1801. Space pots adequately to allow for light penetration and airflow between foliage of adjacent pots. We recommend six inches for 4” pots and eighteen inches for 10” pots. Pinching, growing in cool conditions, and bright light are the best ways to control Petchoa, but they are vigorous and may need PGRs. Greenhouse Product News published the following tips on using PGRs: “Plants respond well to foliar applications of daminozide at 2,500 to 5,000 ppm or paclobutrazol (Bonzi) at 20 to 30 ppm foliar spray or 2 to 3 ppm as a drench. Two to three applications may be required for finishing larger baskets and containers. To maintain optimum flower size, avoid spraying when flower buds are present and know that daminozide will change the flowers of 'SuperCal Terracotta' from orange to muted pink.” PestsĪphids, leafminers, whiteflies, and thrips are the primary pests attracted to Petchoa. Supercal Premium French Vanilla are not prone to many diseases, but watch for botrytis while the days are short. This grey rot is usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent botrytis by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |