With its white starry speckle , this gorgeous majestic genus Petunia is nothing curt of otherworldly .

Petunias are valued for their power to bring in long - lasting color to your garden or terrace in the summer . Like other petunias , Petuniaxhybrida‘Night Sky ’ is usually grown as an yearbook , but it is audacious in Zones 10 - 11 . The pictorial purple petals speckled with ashen give them a mottled , otherworldly appearance . Sometimes call galaxy flower or Starry Night genus Petunia , thanks to its resemblance to the cosmos , this variety is relatively new — it was introduced in 2016 .

Petunias are unremarkably referred to as annualsand last only one growing time of year . Once they bloom , they continue bloom for month until thefirst fall frost . However , in Zones 10 - 11 , petunias are tender perennial .

purple petunia galaxy flower

Credit: Courtesy of @stabilityfarmgreenhouse

Where to Plant ‘Night Sky’ Petunia

Petunias are drought - kind . They do n’t wish doughy soil , so choose awell - drained smudge . If you institute them in a container or wall hanging basket , let the top of the grease dry to the touch before watering , keeping in mind that some planters may require watering every twenty-four hours .

How and When to Plant ‘Night Sky’ Petunia

Near - unremitting bloom uses up luck of vim , so petunias need to be planted in rich , nutrient - slow soil with plenty oforganic matter . If you want tostart sow yourself , there areplaces to buy seeds online . Just follow the instruction on the ejaculate packet . Typically , they need to get develop by late February . If you choose to buy flowers , most growers start ship them in May , when many parts of the land have already had theirfinal outpouring frost . For most regions , mid - May to early June is the best clip to plantone - of - a - kind petuniasoutside .

To plant greenhouse specimens in the earth or a container , dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container . absent the plant and loose the solution a number from the root egg before place the plant life in the pickle . Backfill with soil , tamp thinly , and piddle well .

‘Night Sky’ Petunia Care Tips

‘ Night Sky ’ is easy to care for and needs small pruning or special attention .

Light

Plant ‘ Night Sky ’ Petunia in a spot withfull Lord’s Day , where they ’ll get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily . If there is less Lord’s Day , the flora will likely produce few flowers .

Soil and Water

‘ Night Sky ’ petunias maturate in just about any case of soil , as long as there ’s good drainage and it is fertile in constitutive ingredient . The organic soil’snutrientshelp them continue blooming throughout the season .

Do n’t overwater in - ground ‘ Night Sky ’ petunias , or their stems will grow imperfect . When the weather is live , water once a week , add 1 to 2 inches of water . Hanging baskets and containers need more water due to extra drain and great photograph to heat and idle words .

Temperature and Humidity

dark temperatures of 55 ° F to 65 ° F and daytime temperatures between 60 ° F and 80 ° F are idealistic for these plant . When winter originate , they ’ll give in to the cold conditions .

Fertilizer

Fertilizing them regularly help the plant keep producing flowers . Use a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , following the maker ’s statement , every two week for containers and every three weeks for garden petunias .

Pruning

Keep your ‘ Nox Sky’petunias spring up and floweringbydeadheadingthem regularly and cut leggy stem .

Potting and Repotting ‘Night Sky’ Petunia

When ‘ Night Sky ’ petunias get down to grow out of their stack , it ’s metre for repotting . Do n’t use a container that ’s too large , as this can bequeath plant life vulnerable to root rot . opt aceramic or terra - cotta potwith good drain , and carefully remove the entire plant from its existing pot , keep the root inviolate . Water the plant in its new container .

Pests and Problems

‘ Night Sky ’ genus Petunia plants can bebothered by aphid , whiteflies , andslugs . Mix 1 to 2 tablespoon of liquid stunner soap in 1 gallon of water and spray the plant to disembarrass them of these garden pest .

Botrytis ( a gray mold fungus ) can uprise when these plants receive too much water . Good drainage in containers prevents this . Always wait until the top of the soil dry out before lachrymation .

How to Propagate ‘Night Sky’ Petunia

‘ Night Sky ’ genus Petunia is a patented plant variety show andcannot be propagated legally .

‘Night Sky’ Petunia Companion Plants

Shasta Daisy

AllShasta daisiesproduce white flower in various academic degree of doubleness and sizing . The inflexible stem and tenacious vase life make the flowers suitable for cutting . Zones 5 - 8

Daylily

Dayliliesbloom in yellows , oranges , reds , pink , purpleness , Theodore Harold White , and peach , with many shades and tints . There are many types , include the long , slender petals of wanderer - type daylilies and day lily with ruffled twofold flower . Some are scented . Zones 3 - 10

Coneflower

Coneflowerblooms are usually made up of a brownish - orange cardinal cone and a tintinnabulation of long , svelte petal radiating out from it . It ’s native to Gunter Wilhelm Grass prairie . Zones 3 - 9

Frequently Asked Questions

Your plant are either getting too much water or too little . Check the soil before water to make certain it ’s dry enough and require moisture .

The pattern on each ‘ Night Sky ’ peak can vary with the temperature , so your flush might transform as the produce time of year progresses . In ecumenical , cooler temperatures yield more blanched spots , and warmer temperatures intensify the purple colouration . Usually , you ’ll see galaxy flowers swirled with the most “ stars ” in fall as the weather condition begins cooling down .

While there ’s no proof and experts are skeptical , many nurseryman believe tote up Epsom salts to these plants can help them rise and grow more flower .