How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Wave Petunias

Wave^® petunias are some of the most stunning flowers for spreading over beds and containers. They spread fast and cover surfaces with waves of color, true to their name. They almost form carpets of colorful blooms in magnificent pinks, lavender, and lilac. 

Besides their color and vigorous growing habit, they’re easy to maintain. If you’re a novice gardener, you’ll love their carefree nature. Grow them in containers, hanging gardens, garden beds, or in your favorite pots. 

The first Wave^® petunia was the Purple Classic. Since then, the company has marketed the flowers around the world. The Home and Garden Television Network (HGTV) first broadcasted the flowers on US television in 1999 as an advertisement. 

Today, Wave^® petunias are some of the world’s most beloved petunia varieties. You can find several cultivars, including ‘Carmine Velour,’ ‘Lavender,’ and ‘Misty Lilac.’

Characteristics

Like other petunia varieties, Wave^® hybrids grow vigorously. They can grow as tender perennials or as annuals. They can be sensitive to cold and need plenty of warmth and sunshine to thrive. 

As they grow, they spread out to form a carpet-like cluster of flowers around a foot high. The blooms last for the entire summer if they’re well cared for. 

Native Area

As mentioned before, these petunias are hybrids. However, the genus Petunia comes from South America. Its origins lie in the vast plains of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. 

European horticulturalists first started hybridizing petunias in the 19th century. Since then, new hybrids created five distinct types of plants in the genus. 

Grandiflora produce huge flowers up to 5 inches wide while milliflora flowers stay under 2 inches. Multiflora varieties produce tons of flowers, while floribundas combine the traits of multiflora and grandiflora. Wave^® petunias are trailing varieties grown for their spreading growing habits. 

Planting

These hybrids grow great in just about any container or garden bed. They’ll thrive as hanging plants or spread out like carpets of colorful ground cover. 

Transplanting

Petunias are easy to transplant. Because they’re frost sensitive, wait until the soil temperature is above 60°F (16°C) to get them in the ground. 

Remove young flowers from their containers carefully so as to not disturb their root balls. Plant them in a hole that’s about 2 times wider than their original containers. Because of their low growing habitat, transplant them at the same depth as their original containers. 

Always transplant your flowers in an area with full sun. These spreading petunias love full sun and thrive in areas with long hours of daylight. 

Growing From Seed

Start your petunias inside at least 10 to 12 weeks before your area’s last predicted frost. Check the Old Farmer’s Almanac site and put in your zip code. This will tell you when you can expect the last frost to occur in your area. 

When you notice your plants have 3 or 4 leaves and the soil temperature is above 60°F (16°C), you can transplant them. Give them plenty of space, and plant them in an area with direct sunlight. 

How to Grow

Wave^® petunias are easy to grow, but there are some important steps to consider when caring for them. If you get their growing conditions right, they’ll flourish and bring gorgeous color to your garden throughout the year. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow these spectacular petunia varieties. 

Light

Wave^® petunias need plenty of bright light. Plant them in an area with minimal shade and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. If there’s shade, make sure it’s only in the most intense times of the afternoon. 

If you’re growing them indoors, keep them near a south-facing window. Or, you can use grow lights overhead. 

Water

Water your flowers frequently, especially when the soil becomes dry. Long dry periods will stunt their growth and the flowers will lose their vigor. 

If you live in areas with long, hot summers, you’ll have to water them every day. The best time to do this is in the morning. This gives your flowers time to absorb the water before it evaporates. 

Although they love heavy quenching, these plants don’t like growing in soggy soil. If you think you’re overwatering them, stop, and let the soil dry out slightly before continuing. 

Soil

Plant your flowers in a well-drained soil mixture with plenty of organic material. Amend your soil with compost and other organic matter. Try adding worm castings in addition to compost before planting to get the soil health at its peak. 

Cultivate a healthy soil ecosystem to keep your plants healthy and disease-free. Add mulch around your plants to preserve the soil’s moisture content and protect healthy microbes and beneficial insects. 

Temperature and Humidity

If you live in warm regions with a USDA Hardiness Zone of 10 and above, you can grow them as tender perennials. In other zones, they’ll grow as annual flowers. 

They love temperatures above 60°F (16°C). If temperatures drop into the 50s (10°C) or lower at night, your flowers will have trouble growing. 

You can protect your plants from frost in the fall by covering them with cold frames or bringing them indoors. They transplant easily and can survive being brought in from the cold. Just give them enough light, and they should thrive until the next season. 

Fertilizing

Like other petunias, Wave^® petunias are not heavy feeders. However, they do benefit from an organic slow-release liquid fertilizer diluted to half or quarter strength. Apply this every two weeks during the growing season. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer brand you’re using. 

If you notice your blooms becoming faint and poorly structured, you can add more fertilizer. Keep the plant food away from the plant to avoid fertilizer burns. 

Maintenance

By using a few simple maintenance techniques, your flowers will last long into the season. The most important task you can do is pinching or cutting leggy growth. This encourages your plants to produce new growth in healthier parts of the plant. 

Prune your stems to about half their size. Make sure you don’t remove young flower buds or this might affect your blooms. 

Wave^® petunias are self-cleaning and don’t require deadheading. This encourages more frequent blooming in various areas of your garden. 

Propagation

The best way to propagate your Wave^® petunias is by using stem cuttings. Start by clipping a healthy 6-inch petunia stem in the fall. 

Take off the bottom leaves near the cutting base and roll the end in a rooting hormone. This helps encourage new roots to form at the base where you cut. 

Place each stem cutting in a container with well-drained soil and water thoroughly. Spray the soil with water to keep it moist. Wait until you start to see new growth form before placing your cuttings in direct sunlight. Before bringing them outdoors, make sure you harden them off properly to get them used to the elements. 

Popular Varieties

There are several popular varieties of Wave^® petunias to know. Below are a few stunning examples to consider for your garden. 

Wave^® ‘Misty Lilac’

This variety grows a little taller than others but produces stunning lilac-colored flowers. The color pattern is delicate, and the plant has the same spreading growth this hybrid is known for. 

Wave^® ‘Purple Classic’

This is the original Wave^® Petunia created in 1995. It has beautiful magenta blooms and the classic spreading growing pattern gardeners love and expect. It’s a dependable and easy-to-grow variety that’s sure to please any flower gardener. 

Wave^® ‘Lavender’

Wave^® Lavender is a fun variety with magenta and pink petals and delicate lavender-blue centers. They have similar growing habits to other Wave^® varieties. 

Wave^® ‘Pink’

Wave^® Pink is soft and pastel colored variety that looks amazing as a soft ground cover. It stays low to the ground and covers your garden with beautiful, soft petals throughout the growing season. 

Wave^® ‘Carmine Velour’

Wave^® ‘Carmine Velour’ won the All-America Selections award. It puts on dark cherry red blooms that stay low to the ground. If you’re looking for a deeply colored ground color, this is the variety for you. 

Common Problems

The most common problem many gardeners encounter is leggy growth. Watch for long, leggy stems that grow from isolated spots. Usually, this is caused by lack of light. The stems will grow toward any available light source, which elongates their growth faster than other areas of the plant. 

If you see your plants have wilted foliage or flowers, it could be a sign you’re not watering them properly. These flowers need plenty of water, especially if it’s hot or you’re going through a drought. 

Pests

Pests can damage your plants quickly if they have the right conditions. Watch out for aphids, thrips, and cutworms. Prevent these insects from damaging your plants by cultivating a healthy ecosystem in your beds or containers. 

Encourage helpful insects such as ladybugs and wasps. Space your plants far enough apart so they have room to grow without giving harmful insects a home. 

If the infestations are too severe, consider using an organic insecticide like neem oil. Spray the areas of your plants where you see the insects or their telltale streaks of honeydew. Continue spraying until the infestation is gone and you see your plants return to better health. 

Diseases

The most common diseases to watch out for in petunia hybrids like these are rots. These diseases are caused by several types of fungi that feed on decaying roots and plant material. This is usually a sign that you’ve been watering too frequently and the soil is too moist. 

The most common types of rots are stem, crown, and root rots. If your plants are infected, it’s often better to pull them out and throw them in the trash. Never throw diseased plants in your compost. 

To prevent diseases from occurring, plant your flowers in well-drained soil. Avoid over-watering and always check carefully for diseases. 

Frequently Asked Questions