x Petchoa

( pet - KOH - ah )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes hybrid crosses between Petunia and Calibrachoa species. They are garden ornamentals that need full sun to light shade and regular water to perform well. They produce large flowers from late springtime through the first frost of the year. These plants are perfect for containers and hanging baskets where their trailing stems can dangle. They can also be mass planted as an annual groundcover or as accents in mixed beds and borders. These ornamental trailing shrubs can be grown as perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 and are commonly grown as annuals elsewhere. (To find your zone, click here: Zone Map) ​

Caring for x Petchoa

Grow xPetchoa plants in full sun to partial shade; ideally these plants should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day to flower well. They like their soil to be well-draining, moderately fertile, and to have a pH of between 5.5 and 6.0 (slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water new plantings regularly to help them develop strong root systems. Prune to remove any unsightly foliage; these plants do not need to be deadheaded as they will drop spent flowers naturally. Pinching young plants can produce a more compact and bushy growth habit (versus a trailing one). Petchoa plants are typically pulled at the end of the growing season and replaced.

Propagation

xPetchoa plants can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Petchoa, follow the instructions below:

Propagating x Petchoa by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating x Petchoa by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-12 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

xPetchoa plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Aphids
  • Whiteflies
  • Thrips
  • Root Rot
  • Spider Mites
  • Powdery Mildew
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Petchoa plants are typically used to add annual color to mixed beds and borders.
These plants can either be grown in the ground or in containers, and are perfect for hanging baskets.
Petchoa is grown in a mixed container planting alongside Salvia.

Videos

Learn about these fantastic garden ornamentals.
All about these knockout hybrids.

Resources

Growing Petchoa
Crop Culture Report: Petchoa SuperCal Series
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 496, x Petchoa