How to Grow and Care for Wishbone Flowers

Wishbone flowers bring color and life to a shadier part of a garden. Their trumpet-shaped blooms come in several color choices although the primary species offers dark blue-purple and lavender with yellow markings. Within each flower, a pair of stamens (the slender stalks) unites in a shape that resembles a wishbone. Unlike many other annual flowers, these compact plants don't mind growing in partial shade. Wishbone flowers should be grown in an area with moderate temperatures and humidity, as anything too hot or humid will stunt the growth.

Wishbone Flower Care

Here are the basic steps to growing and caring for wishbone flowers.

• Plant wishbone flowers in a somewhat shady area.
• Keep wishbone flowers sufficiently watered.
• Plant in rich, well-draining soil.
• Fertilize in spring and fall.
  

Light

The ideal location for wishbone flowers is where they will receive early morning sun and afternoon shade. If you live in a climate that has hot summers, pick a fairly shady location for your plants. It will not thrive in full sun.

Soil

Wishbone flower prefers organically rich, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. Excellent soil drainage is essential to prevent root rot. To improve the soil quality, consider mixing in some compost at the time of planting.

Water

Wishbone flowers require moderate but consistent moisture. Keep the soil moist, but make sure the plants aren't sitting in soggy soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Wishbone flowers grow best in temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. They can tolerate cooler temperatures, though frost will kill the plants. They also don’t like excessive heat or humidity and can benefit from a layer of mulch in hot climates to keep their roots cool.

Fertilizer

To keep wishbone flowers healthy and blooming, provide a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer roughly every few weeks throughout the growing season (spring to fall). You can either use a liquid fertilizer or a slow-release granule fertilizer, following label instructions.

Types of Wishbone Flowers

There are currently about 15 species of wishbone flower in the family Linderniaceae. Several popular varieties of wishbone flowers range in appearance, including:

• Catalina 'White Linen': This variety has pure white flowers with a yellow throat and reaches about 16 inches tall. 
• Kauai 'Rose': This compact variety grows 8 inches tall and wide, has bright pink and white blooms, and is notable for its tolerance to heat and humidity.
• 'Moon Purple': This variety features lavender and dark purple blooms and grows to about 10 inches tall.

Pruning

Pinching off the growing tip of the flower when it reaches a couple of inches high will help to create a bushier plant. If the plant looks scraggly, feel free to shape it as you wish. You can prune this plant back to about half its overall height.

Propagating Wishbone Flowers

Propagate wishbone flowers through cuttings or seeds, which are both easy methods. To propagate wishbone flowers with cuttings, take these steps.

1. Take stem cuttings at least 6 inches long. Try to get a node (raised bump) at the bottom of the stem, which is likely to root.
2. Remove any leaves on the lower half of the cutting and place the cutting in water.
3. Once roots begin to grow, plant the cutting in a peat or paper pot filled with a quality potting mix, and keep the soil moist.
4. Bring the plant outside for increasingly longer stretches for about a week so it acclimates to the outdoors before being planted in your garden or outdoor container.

How to Grow Wishbone Flowers From Seed

If you want to grow your wishbone flowers from seed, start the seeds six to eight weeks before your area's projected last frost date. In frost-free climates, wishbone flowers can be direct-seeded in your desired planting site outdoors about one week before your last expected frost date. Take these easy steps.

1. Start seeds in peat or paper pots that you can plant along with the seedlings. These flowers do not transplant well.
2. Don't cover the seeds with soil because they need light to germinate.
3. Keep the soil moist and relatively warm—around 70 degrees Fahrenheit—until the seeds germinate. After that, they can handle cooler temperatures. 

Potting and Repotting Wishbone Flowers

This plant is mounded with a slightly trailing habit which looks beautiful in pots, window boxes, and container gardens. Choose containers of any material with plenty of drainage holes. Use a soilless potting mix for the best drainage. Pinch flowers for bushier growth in containers. Though potted plants need more water than those in the ground, watch that you don't overwater wishbone flowers because they do not like soggy soil.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Wishbone flowers don't have any major problems with pests or diseases. But they can be susceptible to fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, that can discolor and damage their leaves and stems. They may also suffer from root rot if overwatered in pots. Providing optimal growing conditions and good air circulation for the plants should help to prevent most problems.

Moreover, some common garden pests, including aphids and whiteflies, will prey on wishbone flowers. With aphids, you might notice a sticky residue that these insects leave behind as they feed on the plants. And with whiteflies, you often can see the tiny flying insects rise up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed. You can control these problems with insecticidal soap.

How to Get Wishbone Flowers to Bloom

Bloom Months

Wishbone flowers grow quickly and bloom profusely from early summer until cold weather sets in. 

What Do Wishbone Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Wishbone flowers have irregular, multicolored tubular shapes and a subtle, sweet scent. Petals are light blue with deeper purple lips and a yellow throat but those colors can vary. The petals are shaped in such a way that they look like wishbones.

How to Encourage More Blooms

These flowers readily produce profusions of blooms if the conditions are right. The biggest culprit of wishbone flowers not blooming is moisture. This plant doesn't like sitting in soggy soil and might not bloom if the soil is too wet.

Deadheading Wishbone Flowers

Deadheading (removing spent blooms) isn't essential for wishbone flowers, though it can help to encourage more growth and flowering.

Common Problems With Wishbone Flowers

This plant is extremely low-maintenance. However, as with any plant, be on the lookout for signs it needs attention.

Looks Scraggly

If your wishbone flowers look scraggly, trim them back to about half their height. They will grow back quickly with a new flush of flowers.

Wilting Plants or Browning

Wilting or brown wishbone plants are likely underwatered or they are growing in too much sun. If you live in a very hot climate, these plants will need more shade than sun. Also, make sure there is plenty of air circulation around these flowers.