Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Summer Wave Violet Wishbone Flower, Trailing Violet Torenia (Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet').
More about torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet'
About Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet'
Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' · also called Summer Wave Violet Wishbone Flower, Trailing Violet Torenia · flowering
'Summer Wave Large Violet' is a vigorous, large-flowered trailing wishbone flower in the Summer Wave series, smothered in violet-blue, throated blooms all summer. Bred for spreading habit and heat tolerance, it shines in hanging baskets and containers, thrives in shade and humidity, and flowers non-stop until frost without needing deadheading.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Drought wilting and bloom loss: Vigorous baskets dry fast and flag quickly; keep the mix evenly moist and check daily in summer.
The reasons torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' and get the feeding right with the torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' flower?
Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' bloom?
Give torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' normally bloom?
Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' flowering?
Feeding torenia fournieri 'summer wave large violet' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Torenia fournieri 'Summer Wave Large Violet' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library