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Care of Mexican Petunias
Care of Mexican Petunias. The Mexican petunia (Ruellia rudiflora) is a lovely addition to the garden but has a tendency to take over once it becomes established. It readily self-seeds and has been classified as an invasive plant in the state of Florida. A perennial, the Mexican petunia grows to 3 feet in height and bears light purple flowers. It is...
The Mexican petunia (Ruellia rudiflora) is a lovely addition to the garden but has a tendency to take over once it becomes established. It readily self-seeds and has been classified as an invasive plant in the state of Florida. A perennial, the Mexican petunia grows to 3 feet in height and bears light purple flowers. It is especially low-maintenance, making it great for beginners. Mexican petunias are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness zones 8 through 10 and requires a full-sun location and a warm climate.
Things You'll Need
Fertilizer
Pruning shears
Water the Mexican petunia only when the soil is dry. Water the soil to a depth of 10 inches and allow it to dry before watering again.
Fertilize the petunia with a 10-10-10 formula in early spring. Use the amount specified on the fertilizer label and apply it to the soil around the plant.
Prune back the stems to half their length after the flowering period to prompt the Mexican petunia to re-bloom.
Hand-pull new seedlings to keep the Mexican petunia from invading the rest of the garden. Wait until they produce flowers if you are unsure if what you are finding is actually a Mexican petunia seedling. One way to identify the seedling is by the leaves. Although there are several Mexican petunia cultivars, the shape of their leaves is generally the same: they are longer than they are wide and resemble the adult's leaves, only smaller.
