white wave petunias and mottle leaves

by Ellen
(Grand Haven, MI)

Why do the leaves on only my white wave petunias become a mottled yellow look to the green. I water and fertilize like I'm supposed to but this happens every year and only on the whites. Is this a problem I'm creating to the plant somehow?

Doug says that in theory there should be no difference between plants in this series. The white in any annual flower in my experience can be a bit wonky at times. (or let me rephrase to say that I've had more trouble with white varieties than others over the years) :-)

I'd be tempted to give it some fish emulsion and/or compost and/or compost tea to see if you can boost some of the micronutrients around the root zones. Mottling leaves could be magnesium deficiencies or some other kinds of nutrient problems depending on how the leaves look.

Failing that - pick another white variety or give up on whites. ;-)