petunias or geraniums for a container planter?

[blisstwins]

I prefer geraniums, but hardly ever see them around here. Are they hardy (OK with sun and don't have to be watered every day). I have done petunias before and they are impossible to kill.

[wendmatt]

Geraniums are not as easy as petunias, will need water every day (so will petunias if it's really hot and dry) and prob need some shade. I love geraniums but haven't got any, I wasn't sure how they'd do in TX. Can you try both? Petunias need deadheading, a yukky job!

[Smillow]

I love geraniums - I am in Virginia - don't know where you are. They take neglect well - I have bought them for ten cents at Lowe's as distressed plants and popped them into my window boxes & they have done beautifully. I always cut off any flowering stems when I plant them so the plant roots can get established first.

[zag95]

I'd probably do petunias- just because they are so hardy...... I have both in my yard- geraniums in the planter box near the front door- petunias all along the path, and in planters in front of house and patio area.

We live in Oregon- and have a southern exposure.

[hellokitty]

I've always done petunias and they look good for the most part until the really hot part of summer, they get kind of fried. However, I love how nicely they fill in.

[MontrealMum]

I've been container gardening for years (all we have are balconies, no yard) and have grown both with success. Both grow well in containers but petunias need deadheading so as to continue flowering and not look straggly and that can be quite a job depending on how many you have. Both also handle (gentle) neglect well. If they're in full sun petunias are going to need much more water than geraniums to keep from getting scorched. Geraniums can be nice because they can handle both full sun and partial shade.

[newnana]

Check out these Wave petunias!

Saw the Home Depot ad last night and they looked interesting. Talked to my coworker this morning and she said she plants them every year and loves them, very hardy, but do need sun.

I think I'm going to get some:

http://www.wave-rave.com/WaveFamily/default.aspx

[Tondi G]

I vote geraniums ... I've never really had the best of luck with petunias. There are different types of geraniums too the standard type like these
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://houseplantsreviews.com/images/Geraniums.jpg&imgrefurl=http://houseplantsreviews.com/Geraniums/&h=224&w=250&sz=27&tbnid=1WGndtUpG7i9hM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=111&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgeraniums%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=geraniums&usg=__u5K-XZBMHeiHCMC0RFfr0asiIl0=&sa=X&ei=9hbITeC_MNTRiAL89M3YBA&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAA

Or Martha Washington (which I like a lot)

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v24HZnm8kXI/SfW5OHJh8vI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/OERSyWVUb8Q/s400/Martha%2BWashington%2BGeraniums.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ktcatspost.blogspot.com/2009/04/martha-washington-geraniums.html&h=300&w=400&sz=48&tbnid=BIwMumCrMmBb_M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmartha%2Bwashington%2Bgeraniums%26tbm %3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=martha+washington+geraniums&hl=en&usg=__MStBfA327Sake1TGbU9KEyyqOJI=&sa=X&ei=VhfITZ6JL-TZiALt2MjXBA&ved=0CC0Q9QEwAQ

[crl]

Check out these Wave petunias!

Saw the Home Depot ad last night and they looked interesting. Talked to my coworker this morning and she said she plants them every year and loves them, very hardy, but do need sun.

I think I'm going to get some:

http://www.wave-rave.com/WaveFamily/default.aspx

I used to plant those in our window box at our first house in VA. They were great. Easy, filled in nicely, very showy so they looked great from the street. They didn't need deadheading per se, but they did need to be cut back a few time over the summer to keep them compact and looking nice.

Catherine

[sariana]

Geraniums actually do not like too much water. Every day usually is too often unless you are in a really hot area and they get full sun all day.

I love geraniums. They are difficult to kill, and they can be transplanted without roots. You just cut off a section of one plant, stick it in some soil, and let it grow. (It will look as though it's dying off, but it usually will recover. If not, try again!)

In most parts of the country they are perennials, but here in CA they grow year-round.