I've been growing petunias in hanging baskets on my balcony for the second season now. I water them every other day, but they still start wilting by noon, especially when it's hot. Could it be a problem with the soil or drainage?
Planters in direct sun heat up like crazy, and the soil dries out way faster than in garden beds - even with frequent watering it can be bone dry in the root zone.
Check your drainage holes, they shouldn't be clogged, otherwise water pools on top while the bottom stays dry anyway.
Try mulching the soil surface or adding more peat and perlite to the soil for better water retention, and it wouldn't hurt to water every day in hot weather - watering every other day is clearly not enough.
I noticed at the dacha that petunias in large planters with good soil hold up much better than in cramped pots.
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