Tidal wave petunias are the best choice for this type of usage because they are quite strong and you can plant them close together to create the look and coverage you want. All petunias need average soil that is slightly acid to neutral, which translates to a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, in an area that receives a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day and more, if possible. If you want your petunias to grow back in the spring, store them indoors during the winter. The Wave Team is often asked for advice about planting Wave Petunias and Cool Wave Pansies in the garden. They produce flowers in a broad range of colors including pastels, bright neons, and blends. Doing so may harm the plant’s root-base, and inhibit the ability to take in water and nutrition. is hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 10, where it can be grown as a short-lived perennial, it is generally grown as a colorful annual in most other areas. The trailing types will spread 2 to 3 feet. Pack it in nicely. How to plant Petunias: Petunias can be planted outside from early May, once all danger of frost has passed. Use freshly prepared soil or a balance potting compost when planting. While Mexican petunias will grow in a variety of soil types, they prefer to be planted in well-drained, fertile soil. Their bright trumpet-shaped flowers form and bloom in near staggering numbers on plants and vines that can grow to equally incredible lengths and size. The Supertunia® series of petunias, part of the Proven Winners® plant line, are extremely vigorous bloomers that have the advantage of being self-cleaning, so no deadheading is needed. How to Plant Pansies in Containers and Pots. If you’re planting petunias in containers, use a soil-less mix. Remember to keep them fertilized and within 2 weeks you’ll see a fresh new carpet of color! Privacy Policy   Terms of UseTerms & Conditions of Sale, ©2020 Ball Horticultural Company All Rights Reserved. These plants will grow to an impressive size, spreading as far as 2-3 feet in landscape (up to 5 feet diameter in a good year!) Plant in portable containers (12 inches or less in diameter) so the plants can be moved to a cooler area when the sun starts to get stronger. and mounding to heights of up to 2 feet! They are prolific bloomers, although some forms require deadheading to keep them going. Spreading or trailing petunias that grow to only 6 inches tall but spread to several feet should be planted at least 1 1/2 feet apart. Plant in groups of 6 or 9 for full, bold gardens. (Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the label.). These are sun-loving flowers that need its warmth and energy to look their best! The holes should be roughly 3 inches deep and 2 inches wide. And, they work incredibly well when directly planted into flowerbeds too. I have 7 boxes. Petunias are low maintenance, and most new varieties don't require deadheading; if they get leggy in mid-summer, cut them by one … They are good for containers and hanging baskets and will do fine planted directly in the ground. Tuck petunias in between evergreen shrubs to brighten the area. Water the trays from below or by gently misting above the trays. We planted four wave petunias, four geraniums, one creeping Jenny, and one … Rachel Lovejoy has been writing professionally since 1990 and currently writes a weekly column entitled "From the Urban Wilderness" for the Journal Tribune in Biddeford, Maine, as well as short novellas for Amazon Kindle. They grow and spread extra quickly in marshy soil, or next to rivers and lakes. Place it in the ground all the way up to its soil line. The site should also drain well, as petunias do poorly in soil that is too wet. In year-round warm climates, they survive and sometimes bloom throughout the winter. Because of their aggressive spreading nature, this added nutrition is necessary to keep them sending up new branching and blooms. Wave petunias are a perfect choice to add showy color to pots, planters and hanging baskets. Just use potting soil. Finally, you’ll place the … We recommend planting three or four plugs in a 30cm diameter basket or pot for a full display come June. Th… That's because the petunias are Tidal Wave 'Red Velour' petunias.Planted in the ground, they spread vigorously, growing 6 to 12 inches high and more than 3 feet wide. Some gardeners deadhead wave petunias even though it is not necessary. ‘Tidal Wave Silver’ is a spreading type of petunia. You will love the endless bloom power and the improved shape of this plant, which is ideal for hanging baskets, windowboxes, and flowerpots of … Wave petunias come in several varieties: trailing, mounding, and spreading types. University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Petunias, University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program: Petunias, National Gardening Association: All About Petunias. Petunia plants can be started indoors or grown using transplants from a nursery or garden center. Use the 'Wave' petunias as groundcovers. Petunias need at least six hours of sun, but full sun from morning to mid-afternoon brings on their best performance. Lovejoy graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. We recommend only 3 Wave plants in a typical 10-12 inch (25-30 cm) container. Seedlings at the two-leaf stage should be gently transplanted to larger trays or individual pots and be hardened off, or acclimated to the outside, before transplanting into the garden. The further they can work their way into the soil, the better fed and hydrated they will be. Be sure to add organic matter to each hole to give the petunias their necessary nutrients from the start. So plan your growing application … The site should also drain well, as petunias do poorly in soil that is too wet. When it comes to soil pH, these plants will survive in alkaline beds, but they most prefer neutral to slightly acidic environments. Adding organics or amending your soil with compost creates an ideal Wave root environment. They will spread about 9 to 12 inches and grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall. Deadheading may not be necessary in bedding plants where blooming is widespread, but it's important in pots or hanging baskets where maintaining the plant's appearance is the goal. Wait until soil warms to about 60F degrees and frost danger has passed before transplanting petunias into the garden. Since wave petunias recover quite easily from pruning, do so several times during the summer to revitalize the plants and keep them bushy and thriving. Just like petunias they will want at least 4 hours of direct sunlight — lack of proper sunlight may result in less blooming or an unhealthy plant. Cutting a short piece of stem below the faded flowers is also beneficial, as it removes the part of the flower where the seeds form, and any energy that the plant would have used to produce seeds is redirected toward more flower production. You can find petunias in just about every color but true blue and with growing habits that mound in borders or trail down containers. Pansies are great for containers. Growing Wave Petunias Wave petunia plants have a spreading growth habit, with the ability to fill flower beds with their blooms that sprout all along their stems, which can reach up to 4 feet (1.2 m.). A regular routine of liquid fertilizer (about every 10-14 days) when you water will keep your vigorous Wave plants fed and happy. This will keep the plants from “fighting” for root space and nutrition, and encourage them to trail over the sides. Some varieties of spreading petunias can grow up to as wide as 4 feet or so, and you should space your spreading petunias up accordingly. Tidal Wave Petunias were new to the market last year, and are becoming known as a Hedgiflora petunia because they can grow up to 3 feet tall if spaced closely together. You can help increase the height of some varieties of spreading petunias by planting them about 2 1/2 feet apart. Milliflora petunias can be spaced as close as four to six inches, but the spreading ground-cover types of petunias should be planted at least one and a half feet apart. Just a few plants go a long way! Prune during dry weather. Millifloras, or dwarf petunias, grow to about 12 inches and produce small flowers that measure up to 1 1/2 inches. I want to grow wave petunias in planter boxes. In the spring and fall, space Cool Wave Pansies 12 inches (30 cm) apart in the garden. Answer + 8. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. • A general rule of thumb when planting a hanging basket is to use one plant per inch of basket diameter - so 12 plants per 30cm (12") hanging basket. You can transplant a larger container of Wave Petunias or a hanging basket of Cool Wave Pansies right in the garden. Tidal Wave Petunias grow according to how you space them: Spaced 12 inches (30 cm) apart, they form a dense, mounded hedge. Remove covers when seedlings emerge and allow the soil to dry a bit between waterings. These have 4 regular petunias in each. Easy Wave® Burgundy Star doesn't reach quite as far as the older Waves, but it stands up "taller," reaching 8 to 12 inches high and trailing 2 1/2 to 3 feet! Large varieties generally require a greater distance while small compact types can be grouped more closely together. Petunias must be planted much more closely together in containers in order to look attractively full right from the start. While the petunia (Petunia spp.) They need a sunny spot and grow best with regular watering, plus a liquid plant food every two to three weeks. Nestle the plants in the holes and tamp soil around their bases. After the chance of frost has passed, space Wave and Easy Wave Petunias 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) apart in garden beds. Planting distance between the plants is determined not only by the species and variety but also for the desired effect either in the garden or in hanging pots or baskets. Pansies are handy garden plants that can provide color to your garden when other plants aren't flowering. Plant in a hole deep enough to accommodate the plug. Deadheading may not promote more blooming, but it will help to keep the wave petunias attractive. Answered. The suggested planting differences between the different species is an important factor in achieving the full, lush look that petunias provide. Cover trays covered with plastic or glass and place in bright indirect sunlight in a warm area. However, growing petunias in pots, regardless of their type, should not disappoint you, as long as you treat them right. Make sure your location gives your Wave plants at least 6 hours of sun. According to Nature Hills Nursery, you can potentially get three or more years out of one plant before it stops performing. For the best performance, plant petunias in full sun (at least six hours a day). Keep in mind, it’s recommended to plant petunias 12 inches apart if they’re going in a bed and 10 inches apart if they’re going in a container. When starting indoors, use a commercially prepared seed-starting mix and set the seeds on top of the medium. There’s also Wave Petunias, – a spreading variety – suitable for filling entire plant beds and to use as a trailing plant in hanging baskets to give a spread of 2 to 3 feet of trailing foliage, all with colorful flowering blooms sprouting right along their stems. If your petunias start to flag or grow leggy, cut them back and fertilize them. Petunias, though, are actually perennials. However, do not attempt to break apart the plants or cut through the roots. Spaced a minimum of 12 in./30 cm apart, Tidal Wave petunias form a dense, mounded hedge, 16 to 22 in./41 to 56 cm tall. Petunias benefit from deadheading, which is the practice of removing spent flowers as they start to fade. • The only exception to this is when you use strong-growing plants such as Fuchsias and Geraniums (Pelargoniums). Space grandifloras and multifloras about 12 inches apart in full sunlight, or several inches closer together when planted in a shadier location. Petunias grow in one of several forms. Flowers are single, ruffled or fringed and produce a wide array of colors including blue, violet, pink, white, yellow and striped combinations. Learn how to care for Wave petunias and you may discover a new favorite flower. For your reference, this tutorial’s window box is about 4’ long, 5” wide, and 6” deep. We all aspire to that perfect, spreading bed of gorgeous color! When transplanting your Wave plants, maintain the same plant depth as the original pot or pack. Petunias are one of the most popular garden flowers for both borders and containers. pot. Shop 2.5-quart multicolor wave; series petunia in planter (l00983) in the annuals section of Lowes.com Growth habits range from slightly mounded to trailing, depending on the variety. A colorful accent when you plant with other annuals, perennials, grasses and shrubs. Because they tend to attract lovely moths after dark, many homeowners plant petunias near landscape lighting located near a window or patio where they can enjoy the flowers and their visitors at … Although some species … Do Keep Them Fed Wave petunias and Cool Wave pansies will get “hungry” each week. Tidal Wave Petunias grow according to how you space them: Spaced 12 inches (30 cm) apart, they form a dense, mounded hedge. Space the plants about 1 foot apart. Is one plant for each box enough? Multifloras produce flower heads about 2-inches in diameter. Dig holes two to three inches apart for the petunia plants. Organic matter such as peat moss, aged manure or compost should be applied to a depth of 2 or 3 inches and worked thoroughly into the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Easily damaged by heavy rains and high winds, grandifloras also fall over at times from the weight of their heavy stems. Petunias can be grown in the garden or in containers including hanging baskets. When planting petunias in containers, be sure not to crowd your plants, limiting yourself to three per 12-inch (30 cm.) Spaced a little farther apart – about 18 inches (45 cm) – they will perform as large, mounded bedding plants. When planted close together, about 12 inches apart, you will get tall plants that form hedge-like groupings that can grow up to 3 feet. Grandifloras produce the largest flowers, which can measure up to 4 inches across, on plants that can grow to 2 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart. However, this will require some frequent pruning to keep them from growing into each other too much. After digging your hole, a dose of slow-release or granular fertilizer will give your plants a head start to vigorous growth. Grandifloras and multifloras should be planted 12 inches apart, while multifloras need spacing of just 4 to 6 inches. Transfer this arrangement onto the ground, in the order that you determined looks the best. Why Are My Petunia Blossoms Suddenly Getting Smaller? Soil temperature should register at least 60 degrees F. before it is safe to move petunias outside. Grown in a restricted space with support, they grow an extra 2 to 3 ft./61 to 91 cm upward, like a vine. If the plants get slightly over-grown or leggy in your landscape, you can cut them back. Flowers are 2 inches across, and each plant can grow 10 inches tall and spread 3 feet on it's own, or if planted up to 10 inches apart, they'll grow 2-3 feet tall. How many for each box? After the chance of frost has passed, space Wave and Easy Wave Petunias 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) apart in garden beds. But confine them in a pot and give them a support, like a tomato cage, and they climb -- not with tendrils like a true vine, but by growing up and around and through. In this case it is best to only use 5 plants per 30cm (12") hanging basket. Pansies in Pots. The boxes are each 24" to 30" long and about 7" deep and 7" wide. It may also make it susceptible to disease. Multifloras, so-called because of their profusions of blossoms, are about the same size as grandifloras, but their flowers are only half as large, are more tolerant of heavy rains and winds, and are less prone to falling over. How many wave petunias for each of the rectangular railing planters? However, most petunia varieties will bloom throughout the summer, except in extreme heat.