Petunias are very popular among gardeners, and with their beauty, it's no wonder! However, when petunias start to wither and die, that can be very worrisome. I've scoured the internet and have educated myself on this topic in-depth to help you understand what to do if your petunias are dying.
If your petunias are wilting and dying, you first need to try to understand why it's dying. There are many different things that can cause a petunia to wilt: insect infestation, dry soil, waterlogged soil, issues with sunlight, nutrient deficiency, and disease.
If you can identify what's wrong with your petunias, then there are solutions you can put in place to help remedy the problem. Most issues can be easily fixed with just a few simple changes in your routine. If you're interested in learning about the reasons and solutions for petunias that are wilting and dying, then keep reading!
Dying Petunias
If your petunias are beginning to wilt and die, there are a few problems that can be the issue. The good news is that most of them have a fix that will help set them back on the right track.
Water and Soil
One of the first things that should be checked is the soil. If the first few inches of the soil is too dry, then that means the petunia either isn't receiving enough water or the heat is causing it to dry out and need more water than usual. Try watering it regularly, when the first few inches of the soil becomes dry.
On the other hand, if the soil is too moist, it's possible that the soil is heavy and poorly draining water so that your petunias are drowning. This can be remedied in two ways: you can raise the height of the flower bed so that the water drains downward, or you can shape the surface of the soil to allow runoff.
Size
It's possible that the petunias are overgrown, and the overgrowth is weak and leggy and causes the petunias to look as though they're dying. By cutting the growths to about half its size, you'll both cut off the weak and withered areas and promote new plant growth.
Insects
Insects, especially aphids and ants, can be a major problem for your petunias. They're very small and may not seem like an issue, but a large infestation has the ability to impact the petunia's fluid levels and cause them to wilt. Take a close look at your petunias to see if this may be the cause of their wilting; aphids are small and pale green, and the honeydew they exude draws ants. If you have a large ant population, the chances are you also have a high aphid population.
There are two possible remedies to an aphid infestation. Ladybugs eat aphids, so you can encourage a healthy ladybug population by growing plants that ladybugs like, such as chives, radish, cilantro, and dill. You can also use a pesticide that's okay for organic gardening.
Amazon offers this 3-in-1 spray that targets insects. mites and fungus. This garden spray from Safer Brand is Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) compliant for use in gardening, and its organic formula is ideal for use around children, pets, and outdoor life. You can find this garden spray here.
Nutrients
Another thing issue that can cause your petunias to wither and die is the lack of nutrients in your soil. Petunias have vigorous blooming habits and need a lot of nutrients to help sustain themselves. Adding fertilizer to your soil regularly is a sure way to resolve this issue and help your petunias thrive.
This Miracle-Gro fertilizer from Amazon is a great choice for using in your garden, as it contains natural ingredients to feed microbes in the soil. This fertilizer will help you grow stronger, vibrant and more productive plants and can be used for plants both in the ground and in containers. It contains ingredients that will feed and nourish life both above and below the soil, and can be found here.
Disease
There are a few diseases and fungi that are common for petunias, and it's important to identify them so that you know how to cure them.
Botrytis Blight causes the appearance of spots and discoloration on petunias that eventually sprout brownish-grey spores. This disease is caused by wet bedding caused by overwatering your plants. If this is the cause of your petunias wilting, prune out the diseased sections of your flowers and cut back on watering to fix the issue.
Petunias can develop powdery mildew when they are planted too closely together because their airflow is obstructed. Look for white, powdery spots and spores that completely cover leaves and flowers. Neem oil can be used as a form of treatment, but you'll have to transplant the petunias and move them so that there is more space between them to prevent the powdery mildew from returning.
Petunias are also susceptible to fusarium, which is a fungus that invades the roots and takes in the water before petunias can and causes wilting. This, unfortunately, cannot be treated. Petunias infected in this way must be pulled up and properly disposed of, not composted. The area will need to be covered with a dark plastic during the summer to allow the heat to kill off the fungus.
How Do You Revive Potted Petunias?
If your potted petunias are beginning to wilt and die, and all of your efforts are not causing change, there are a few things you can do to revive them.
Soil
If the soil is rock hard, it's possible the sun has dried it out; this can happen easily. Soak the pot with a good amount of water. If you have a garden knife, use it to make a few holes in the soil for water to filter through. Add in some fresh soil and water the petunias. Keep this up regularly, and your petunias should be blooming again in a few weeks.
Cut Back
In addition to moist soil, your petunias may also need a serious trim. Prune them all the way to the rim of the pot, cutting away all of the dead and withered leaves and blooms. This will help promote growth in your petunia, and they will need a few weeks to be as good as new.
It's That Easy!
Reviving petunias from their wilted state is not a difficult feat, it just takes time and patience. There are many causes to the wilting of petunias, and the first step towards a cure is identifying the issue. From there on it's merely the act of taking the proper corrective measure.
We hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful! Happy gardening!