Last year, I planted healthy Purple Wave petunia plants in a container, but they hardly grew and hardly bloomed. I’ve seen great Purple Wave plants everywhere in the past. What did I do wrong last season?

Without knowing your exact environmental conditions last year, we will try to give some possible reasons things could have gone wrong. Any petunia will require at least 6 hours of sun a day. Any less than that will cause low bud counts and stringy-looking plants.

Using improper soil for a container-grown plant could be another reason. Stay away from topsoil, which is too heavy, holds too much moisture, and restricts root growth. Use a light, “soilless” mix with peat and perlite.

Fertilize every other week with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. “Wave” petunias are rapid growers and heavy feeders. Use a container large enough to let those Wave petunias grow. A pot no smaller than 12 inches would be best.