Petunia Petunia Designer Inksplash (Designer Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Petunia Designer Inksplash is a captivating flowering plant, heralding from the Designer Series that is admired for its unique and striking blooms. The flowers exhibit a stunning pattern that resembles an inksplash artwork, hence the name. The petals are predominantly a rich, velvety purple, which serves as a canvas for the dramatic bursts and flecks of creamy white that appear to be splashed across each flower. This marbled effect gives each bloom its own distinctive character, making the plant a lively and eye-catching addition to any garden display. The flowers of the Petunia Designer Inksplash are shaped like funnels, a characteristic feature of petunias, with wide openings that flare out from a narrow tube-like base. This shape is particularly attractive to pollinators as they provide easy access to the flower's center. The blossoms form a generous and colorful canopy of color over the foliage beneath, creating a spectacular visual impact. The foliage of this petunia is dense and lush, featuring leaves that are medium green in color with a somewhat sticky surface, which is common among petunias. The leaves are pointed, with a smooth or slightly wavy margin, and they serve as the perfect backdrop to highlight the beauty of the vivid flowers. The overall demeanor of the Petunia Designer Inksplash is that of a lively and robust flowering plant that can bring a splash of artistic flair to any setting where it is grown.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae.
- Synonyms
  Petunia, Inksplash Petunia.
- Common names
  Petunia × atkinsiana Designer Inksplash.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Petunias, including the Petunia Designer Inksplash, are generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no significant toxic effects known for ingesting petunias, and handling the plant typically does not result in any adverse reactions. Therefore, ingestion is not likely to cause poisoning or serious consequences, although individual sensitivity can lead to mild gastrointestinal discomfort in very rare cases.
- To pets
  Petunias, such as the Petunia Designer Inksplash, are also generally regarded as safe and non-toxic to common household pets, including cats and dogs. Ingesting parts of the plant is not expected to cause significant symptoms of poisoning in pets. While it is always possible for an individual animal to have a mild digestive reaction to ingesting plant material, serious health consequences are unlikely.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Spread
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Blooms: The Petunia Designer Inksplash is known for its striking flowers with a unique splash pattern, which can enhance the aesthetic appeal of gardens and landscapes.
- Versatility: These petunias are suitable for a variety of settings including borders, containers, and hanging baskets, making them a flexible choice for garden design.
- Low Maintenance: Petunias generally require minimal care beyond regular watering and occasional fertilization, making them a convenient option for both novice and experienced gardeners.
- Prolonged Flowering Season: They typically bloom from spring until the first frost, providing long-lasting color and visual interest throughout the growing season.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, Petunia Designer Inksplash exhibits some tolerance to brief periods of dry conditions.
- Pollinator Friendly: The bright flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, which are vital for a healthy and vibrant ecosystem.
- Immediate Impact: Petunias, including the Designer Inksplash variety, mature quickly and can provide immediate impact with their lush growth and abundant flowers shortly after planting.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Petunias can be used as a natural dye source. The vivid colors of Petunia flowers, such as the Designer Inksplash, can be boiled to extract pigments for coloring fabrics or paper.
- Edible garnishing. The flowers of the petunia plant are edible and can be used to adorn salads and desserts for an attractive presentation.
- Artistic inspiration. The striking patterns of the Designer Inksplash Petunia make them a popular choice for artists and photographers looking for natural beauty to incorporate into their work.
- Sound barrier. When planted in large, dense groups, petunias can help reduce noise pollution in urban gardens due to their thick foliage.
- Educational tool. Petunias can be used in schools and educational programs to teach children about plant biology, genetics, and hybridization due to their diverse range of colors and patterns.
- Fragrance extraction. While not commercially common, the scent of petunias can be captured and used in homemade perfumes or potpourris.
- Fish tank enhancement. Some aquarists use petunia flowers to decorate the water surface of fish tanks for added aesthetic appeal, though care must be taken to ensure they are safe for the specific fish species.
- Companion planting. Petunias can be planted alongside vegetables to attract pollinators to the garden, enhancing the pollination of crops.
- Mood enhancement. The vibrant colors and pleasant scents of petunias are known to contribute to mood improvement and are often used in gardens designed for relaxation and therapy.
- Color-themed events. Petunias can be featured in events or venues that require specific color themes, as they are available in a wide variety of hues.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Petunia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Petunia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Anger and Resentment: Petunias can sometimes symbolize anger or resentment, perhaps due to their bold and dramatic coloration in varieties like the 'Designer Inksplash'.
- Desire: The vibrant and colorful nature of petunias may translate to a symbolism of desire or passion.
- Soothing the Spirit: With their lush foliage and pleasing form, petunias can also represent the idea of soothing one's emotions or bringing peace to the mind.
- Companionship: Often used in group plantings, petunias might be used to symbolize friendship or the joy of being in company.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Petunias should be watered thoroughly and deeply, making sure that the soil is moist but not soggy. For Petunia Designer Inksplash, it's ideal to water once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which could be about once a week, but may vary depending on climate and weather conditions. Aim to provide about 12-16 ounces of water per plant each time you water, ensuring that water reaches the root zone. During hot, dry spells, watering frequency should increase, but always check the soil moisture before adding more water. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so it's crucial to allow proper drainage.
Light
Petunia Designer Inksplash thrives best in full sun conditions, which means it should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Choose a spot where the plant will be exposed to unfiltered sunlight for the majority of the day, as ample sunlight is crucial for abundant blooming. However, in extremely hot climates, providing some afternoon shade can prevent heat stress.
Temperature
Petunias prefer warmer temperatures and do best when daytime temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F. They can withstand temperatures as low as 40°F and as high as 90°F, but growth and flowering may slow if temperatures exceed this range. For optimal growth, ensure that Petunia Designer Inksplash is not exposed to frost, as it is not frost-tolerant.
Pruning
Pruning Petunias helps promote bushier growth and a greater number of blooms. For Petunia Designer Inksplash, pinch off the tips of stems and any faded or dead flowers to encourage more blooms. Perform this light pruning every two to three weeks throughout the blooming season. The best time to prune is in the late afternoon or evening when the plant is not under direct sunlight.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Petunias thrive in a well-draining, fertile potting mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A recommended soil mix for Petunia Designer Inksplash would include equal parts of peat moss, compost or well-rotted manure, and perlite or coarse sand to ensure good drainage. Regular feeding with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer will support their prolific blooming.
Repotting
Petunias, including the Petunia Designer Inksplash, should be repotted annually for optimal growth. Repotting is best done in the spring before the new growth starts. Ensure the new pot is only slightly larger than the old one to prevent the soil from staying too damp.
Humidity & Misting
Petunias like Petunia Designer Inksplash are tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels but prefer moderate conditions. They do well in typical outdoor humidity and do not require any special humidity adjustments when grown outdoors.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, regular watering, and monthly fertilization for indoor petunias.
- Outdoor
  Place in full sun and protect from strong winds; water regularly.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
Petunia Designer Inksplash begins its life as a seed, typically planted in early spring after the last frost when soil temperatures warm up. The seeds germinate in 5 to 15 days, developing into seedlings with their first true leaves appearing shortly thereafter. As it enters the vegetative stage, the plant focuses on leaf growth and develops a robust root system. Following the vegetative stage, it enters the flowering stage, characterized by the development of vibrant, colorful flowers that attract pollinators and can continue blooming from spring until the first frosts of autumn if maintained properly. After pollination, the plant produces seeds within a capsule, which completes the reproductive cycle. The plant is an annual, so it completes its entire life cycle, from seed to seed production, within a single growing season and then dies.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Petunia Designer Inksplash, a vibrant flower from the Designer Series, can be propagated effectively through cuttings, which is the most popular method. The best time to take cuttings for propagation is during the cooler parts of the year, usually late spring or early fall, when the plant is not in the peak of its flowering period. To propagate from cuttings, select a healthy, non-flowering stem, about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) in length, and cut it just below a node using a sharp, clean knife or scissors. Remove the lower leaves, leaving two to four leaves at the top of the cutting. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth and insert the cutting into a pot filled with moist, well-draining potting mix. Cover the pot with plastic wrap or a clear plastic dome to maintain humidity and place it in a warm location with bright, indirect light. The cutting should root in 4 to 6 weeks, after which it can be transplanted to its own pot.