(Louisiana)
Hi! I think your idea for the petunias was beautiful. I just wanted to let you know that if you cut back the stems when they start to get 'leggy', the plant becomes more bushy with more blooms instead of 2 or 3 long stems with a few blooms on each. Petunias also love to be fertilized once a week or so.
I would also caution putting them in a pail without a hole in the bottom (in rain-prone areas) because the roots can rot.
Overall, the reception looked beautiful! Congrats on your DIY flowers! :)
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Thank you for your comment,
pruning the plants is a great idea. We didn't put holes in the bottom of the pails because we didn't want wet reception tables, but that is another great idea.