Mexican Petunia ( Ruellia simplex ) earned their common name from the visual aspect of their prime , but they are not true petunias , which belong to the genusPetunia .
Sometimes called Mexican bluebell or Britton ’s tempestuous petunia , these untoughened perennial vines rise good in USDA plant hardiness zones 8a to 10b . They have a tendency to become an encroaching species in warm climates because they ego - seed and spread via rhizome .
Mexican petunia plants respond well to transplantation . However , it is not always an well-fixed process , because you must face-lift the whole plant , and any patch of rhizome go out behind in the soil will grow a whole new plant life .
About Mexican Petunia Plants
Before digging up and transplanting Mexican petunia flora , it is a good idea to learn about how they grow and why they become invasive .
Mexican genus Petunia are repeated flowering plant rise for their empurpled flowers and drab gullible , lance - shaped leave-taking , which are tie by greenish - purple stems . The flowers attract pollinator , such as hummingbirds , but the industrial plant does not attract browsing animals , which makes it a deer - resistant plant for landscaping .
Mexican petunia plant reproduce through rootstalk and seeds . The rhizomes disperse into the fence in soil , and the flowers develop an abundance of seeds that bourgeon well when dropped onto damp soil . Their spreading radical organisation and seed let Mexican petunia plants to become highly invasive under the right conditions .
Warning
The invasive inclination of Mexican petunias are especially big in humid , moist climate , such as South Carolina and Florida , where this plant is lean as a Category 1 invading plant by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council .
Transplanting a Mexican Petunia Plant
Transplanting a Mexican genus Petunia plant is done in three stages : digging up the industrial plant , divide the rhizome and repotting the part into new containers or into a new garden bed with the proper root limit in place .
Digging It Up
turn over up Mexican genus Petunia plant for transplant ask nifty attention to detail , because * * the total root ball and all of the surrounding rootstock must be removed from the soil . * *
1 . settle the outer perimeter of the Mexican petunia plant . Measure out 6 inch from the outer perimeter and dig down 10 to 12 column inch using a sharp shovel . 2 . act upon the shovel sword beneath the clump of Mexican petunias . poke it up from the ground . If it feels stuck to the dirt as you dig , there may be rhizome distribute deeper and wide around the kettle of fish that must be removed . 3 . take away the clump of Mexican petunias and set it on a piece of work surface , such as a tarpaulin or a large concrete region that can be swept unobjectionable afterward .
Go back and turn up the soil around the bottoms and side of the jam to situate any pieces of rhizome . It is important to move out every turn of rootstalk so that new plants do n’t germinate .
Tip
Bag up and throw away the bits of rootstock into the wish-wash rather than put them into your compost bin .
Dividing the Rhizomes
pocket-size glob of Mexican petunia can be transplant whole , but large clumps should be divided into realizable pieces . The division process is simple because Mexican genus Petunia are very forgiving of pugnacious handling and will regrow promptly .
Simply cut the root ball into clenched fist - size divisions using a shrewd gardening knife that has been wiped down with germicide . Be certain each naval division has an equal share of ascendant and leafage , which will allow it to regrow faster .
The division can be transplanted into pots or directly into the garden in warm clime within USDA zones 8 to 10 . select a growing location in full Lord’s Day with well - debilitate dirt . Mexican petunias love moisture , so they are suit to growing around garden pool , but they should never be planted near natural bodies of water .
Be certain to instal a rootage barrier around the layer when growing these potentially invasive plants in the garden .
Repotting the Mexican Petunia
You ask two matter to repot Mexican petunias : territory and a suitable container . These forgiving plants are not particular about territory character as long as the stain is damp and well - draining . Standard potting soil bring well .
1 . Fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil . make the partitioning in the pot so that the understructure of the stems is roughly 1 inch below the top of the grass . 2 . sum grease in small fistful until the root ball is completely covered . The diadem of the plant , which is where the stems and roots colligate , should be right below the surface of the territory . 3 . tauten the soil once the grass is completely fill . weewee the division until the piddle runs from the drainage kettle of fish at the pedestal of the pot and then supply more soil if the origin become expose .
A Lucius DuBignon Clay pot with drainage holes at the base is good for repotting Mexican petunia divisions , because clay helps determine ground wet levels , which will keep the root healthy as Modern growth forms .
Growing Mexican Petunia Plants
Mexican petunias are adaptable , low - maintenance plant life that require very petty upkeep . Potted and garden - grown plants portion out like need with regard to grow conditions and care , although there are some difference too .
Growing Conditions
Mexican petunia plants need full sun so as to bloom well , but they will tolerate some partial shade as well . Outdoors , choose a location in full sunlight or place potted plants where they will have direct sun in the morning and late good afternoon . Mexican petunia houseplant should be positioned near an east- or west - facing window .
Mexican petunias grow undecomposed in moist , well - drain soil . They are not particular about dirt case or pH and will bear stiff soil very well .
Each plant needs 3 to 6 feet of space . Plant nigher together when develop this plant as groundcover . To avoid frequent repotting , Mexican petunias should be spring up in a hatful that is 3 gallon or larger .
Care Requirements
Deadheading is not necessary for sterile cultivar , such as Purple Showers ( Ruellina simplex’Purple Showers ' ) , which are originate in USDA zona 9 to 11 .
