Surfinies: how to reinvigorate the blooms in the hottest months

Surfinies are the absolute protagonists of the summer balconies, but with the intense heat they risk losing enamel. Find out how to reinvigorate the blooms in the hottest months with simple and natural advice.

Who cultivates petunie and surfinies know: Summer is a test bench. Until June the plants are explosive, but with the sultry heat they begin to suffer. Less abundant flowers, tired leaves, slowed growth: unequivocal signals that something must be revised. A targeted intervention is needed, but don’t worry: there is no need to be expert gardeners. Just observe, act gently and … a pinch of experience stolen on the field or told by those who have passed us.

At this point maybe you are wondering: is it already too late to save those blooms? Absolutely not. Indeed, it’s just now that the second half of the season is played. With a few spotted moves you can return vigor to surfinies and enjoy richer blooms, perhaps even more beautiful than those of early summer. Because the real strength of surfing is precisely this: they don’t give up easily.

How to water and fertilize surfinies in summer

Water is life, but also … trap. Surfinies drink a lot in the hot months, yet they fear stagnation. For this reason the watering must be done with criterion. It is recommended to wet every day, early in the morning or late evening, when the sun does not beat. Never wet leaves and flowers: better pour the water directly to the base. The ground must remain humid but not soaked. If the vase is well drained, you immediately notice if you are exaggerating: the leaves yelling and the plant falls folding.

In addition to the water, it serves energy. Surfinies are greedy for nutrients: every 7-10 days it is better to administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants, diluted in the water. Better if rich in potassium e phosphorustwo elements that stimulate the production of flowers.

Reinvigorate surfinies with summer pruning

When we talk about summer blooms, we often think of water and the sun. But good pruning can make miracles. With the passing of the weeks, surfinas tend to stretch too much, losing compactness and vitality. Intervening with scissors at the right time is one of the most effective strategies. There is no need to cut drastic, but targeted. Small gestures are enough to change face to a tired plant.

Here’s what to do:

• Identify the branches too long and shortening them in half length
• Eliminate dry or weakened brancheswhich remove energy from the plant
• Leave at least two or three knots on the branches cut to stimulate new jets
• Check after a few days the appearance of new leaves and sprouts
• Regularly remove the dried flowersto encourage continuous flowering

Excessive heat protection: shadow, wind and tricks

Summer, with its hot temperatures, puts even the most robust surfinies to the test. The direct sun can prove to be an unreliable ally if some precautions are not adopted. At the same time, the wind can seriously damage the plant, taking away its vital humidity. And let’s not forget the role of the vase: if too small, it risks becoming a trap for the roots. Some precautions are enough to create a more tolerable environment even in the most extreme periods. Here are some simple but effective solutions:

• Shield plants with a light curtain in the hottest hours of the day
• Move the vases to areas in half shadow When temperatures exceed 32-33 ° C
• Place the vases in corners sheltered from the windas close to walls or railings
• Use brace to support the most exposed branches and fragile
• Translate into a larger container If the roots are too compressed

Details that make the difference for surfing

In the treatment of surfinies, it is often the simplest gestures that guarantee the best results. Here is a fast summary:

Water regularly, but avoiding stagnation. Fertilize every 7-10 days with products rich in potassium. Pow in mid -summer to stimulate new blooms. Remove dry flowers to avoid seed formation. Protect from heat and wind with shadows and supports.

With these attention, even the most fatigued plant can return luxuriantly. What if something is wrong? Not bad. Surfinies are generous, they know how to forgive and start again.

Now all that remains is to observe your plants closely. Do they need a cut? More nourishment? Or maybe just a less exposed place? It takes little to change course.

Each balcony has the potential to turn into an explosion of colors, even under the August sun.

Just give surfinies what you need, with a little patience and attention.

Photo © Stock.adobe