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Looking to easily add some galaxy glamour to your home? Consider growing some Night Sky Petunias and bring the sky to the ground!
The deep-colored flowers, which are native to South America, are dark purple with white specs of various sizes. The spots give the appearance of bright stars against the dark hue of the petals. For obvious reasons, these plants are also called galaxy flowers.
The pattern is dependent upon the temperature range you’re growing them in, and regardless, you’ll want to plant them while temps are cool. Warmer weather brings out the purple, and if you want those white stars, you’ll need cool nights. Without cooler overnight temperatures, these blooms won’t get as many white speckles. Keep them consistently cool and they’ll fade to white.
Galaxy flowers come in 35 different species, but their primary colors are purple, white, red, yellow and orange. They are easy to find, especially online, with a pack of seeds costing less than $2 on Amazon.
Night Sky Petunias can reach a height of up to 16 inches in the spring and summer. Their beauty and ability to grow so high make them popular with flower enthusiasts.
For growing purposes, gardeners will have to rely on those day and night temperature swings to see perfect patterns. Even if Night Sky Petunias are kept too warm throughout a 24-hour period, the flowers will be more purple and the white specks will be less visible.
Expert gardeners say the galaxy flowers can be pinched just 18 to 24 days after sticking — when the roots are developed. That will promote early branching.
Every flower’s starry, speckled pattern is unique, making the Night Sky Petunia an awesome choice for hanging baskets and planters. They are at their best from mid-May through mid-October, according to gardening pros.
Because the petunias are heat tolerant, you won’t have to water them as much as other plants, which is nice if you’re away from home a lot in the summertime.
If you see any of them fading, be sure to remove them to prolong blooming.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
