Calibrachoa - growing and care, appearance and names of varieties

Flowers

Calibrachoa is a striking example of a trailing plant, boasting a profusion of bell-shaped flowers. It belongs to the Solanaceae family. Its wild varieties can be found in Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. This spherical shrub is quite popular among gardeners today.

The plant is often grown in hanging pots to decorate loggias, balconies, galleries, and gardens. This magnificent flowering shrub can add a vibrant touch to any room's interior or landscape design. Its abundant blooms have earned it the nickname "million bells."

Calibrachoa is considered an unpretentious plant, so caring for and growing the bush will not take much time and effort from the gardener.

Plant characteristics

Calibrachoa produces numerous buds and stems that form a beautiful flowering globe. The open flower can reach 3 cm in diameter. The first varieties of the plant had purple flowers, but thanks to selective breeding, today you can find a wide variety of colors: blue, purple, yellow, white, red, and more.

The spherical bush cascades down from the pot with flowering shoots, making it a trailing plant. The flowers are very similar in shape to a bell. A distinctive feature of calibrachoa is the color of the bud's throat, which differs from the petals. Most varieties have single flowers, but double varieties also exist. Double buds are significantly larger, but there are fewer of them on the stems than in single varieties.

The long, semi-drooping stems can reach 1.5 m in length. As they grow, they become woody. The slightly pubescent, elongated leaves are oval in shape and small in size.

Until 1990, calibrachoa was considered a variety of petunia, as the plants are very similar in appearance. In 1990, botanists conducted research that revealed that they are completely different, albeit related, species.

Names of calibrachoa varieties with descriptions

The plant has a large number of varieties, most of which are successfully grown by gardeners in central Russia. Even a novice gardener can grow full-blown flowering bushes in their own garden. To understand the diversity of varieties, it's worth looking at photos and names of the most popular ones.

The Kablum series, comprising only four varieties, is quite popular. This variety is characterized by entire leaflets no more than 4 cm long and 1 cm wide. The woody stems have good bushiness. The bright green leaves are covered with fine hairs. The base of the corolla is always yellow. The varieties have the following characteristics:

Calibrachoa 'White' adds a touch of formal beauty to any garden, as do most white flowers. This annual is perfect for both single plantings and group arrangements. The diameter of a mature bush does not exceed 35 cm.
White
Kablum Deep Pink features miniature flowers in raspberry or pink hues. The base of the bud is also yellow. The lanceolate leaves are densely pubescent. Petal color varies depending on climate and light exposure.
Deep Pink
Calibrachoa 'Yellow' has rich yellow flowers up to 3 cm in diameter. The vibrant coloring has earned the plant the nickname "garden sun." The base of the corolla is a darker shade than the petals.
Yellow
Deep Blue is the most popular among its relatives. Judging by its name, the petals should be dark blue. In reality, they are closer to purple, with a characteristic yellow center. Numerous small flowers bloom successively on the bush throughout the summer and fall.
Deep Blue

Among the variety's diversity, the Million Bells variety is worth noting. Its distinctive feature is its high ability to reproduce from seed, which cannot be said of its relatives, which are most often propagated by cuttings. Flowers can be purple, blue, or lilac.

Caring for calibrachoa at home

Even a beginner can care for this plant, as it's quite easy to maintain. For full growth and abundant blooms, it requires proper care: an optimal location with good lighting, regular watering, and fertilization.

Lighting

The plant should be placed in a sunny spot, but shade is recommended during midday heat, otherwise the delicate leaves may be damaged. Drafts and strong gusts of wind should be avoided, so place the pot between tall plants or near the house.

Temperature and humidity

Plants can be planted outdoors or brought into pots only after the threat of night frost has passed. The air temperature during this time should be at least 22°C.

Important!

The plant loves high air humidity, so don’t forget about regular spraying.

If the pot is kept in a stuffy, hot room, it should be misted at least 3-4 times a day. When doing this, it's important to avoid water getting near the roots, as this can lead to root rot.

Watering and fertilizing

It's best to water calibrachoa in the morning. Use soft water—settled or rainwater. Water regularly, but with moderate amounts, as the plant is sensitive to excess moisture in the soil.

To ensure a lush blooming bush, it's necessary to regularly apply a complete fertilizer. It must contain potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Weekly feeding is recommended. After planting, apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and during the flowering phase, use a fertilizer containing more potassium and phosphorus. A ready-made fertilizer for petunias is ideal for calibrachoa.

Pruning and pinching

The spreading bush is periodically pruned to give it a beautiful appearance and remove damaged shoots.

Trimming — The first pruning should be carried out immediately after the first buds have faded – they are removed to stimulate abundant and long-lasting flowering.

The next pruning and pinching are done around July. The stems are cut back by half, which helps the bush branch better. Pinching involves removing the top shoots and shoots, which also encourages the bush to grow wider. Damaged or dry stems and leaves are also trimmed off. The end result is a lush, beautifully shaped plant.

Diseases, pests and methods of control

Diseases most often affect plants weakened by improper care. Here are a few of the most common:

Pale yellow foliage and sparse flowering indicate chlorosis. It occurs when there's too much calcium in the soil, too little iron, when using hard water, or when overwatering. Treatment involves applying iron-containing fertilizers and adjusting the frequency and amount of watering.
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that attacks flowers and foliage. It can be caused by overfeeding with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, humid and hot weather, and even excessive pruning, which reduces the plant's resistance to disease. Affected areas of the bush should be cut off, and the plant should be treated with sulfur several times.

The following insects can damage the flower: thrips, aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Due to the plant's size and large amount of foliage, it's best to use specialized insecticides to control these insects, as treating with a soap solution is unlikely to be effective. Products such as Aktara, Fitoverm, Sanmite, and others are used for treatment. If the plant is infested with spider mites, it's recommended to repeat the treatment several times, spaced weekly.

Transfer

Repotting is recommended annually, with almost complete soil replacement. This is because during flowering, the bush draws almost all the nutrients from the soil, so the substrate must be replaced for the next bloom. Most calibrachoa varieties are annuals and won't require repotting. However, experienced gardeners distinguish several species that can be preserved for the following season.

Features of caring for calibrachoa in winter

Beginning gardeners often wonder how to properly care for calibrachoa during the winter. This topic is quite pressing, as buying cuttings every year is quite expensive. In most cases, the plant survives the winter dormancy well, and with the arrival of spring, it begins to grow vigorously.

There are several options for preserving the mother flower:

in the basement or cellar;
in the refrigerator;
on a cool windowsill.

Care — After flowering or before the first frost, the pot with the bush is brought indoors and placed on the windowsill.

Continue caring for it as usual until flowering has completely finished. After the flowering phase, reduce watering to once a week. At the same time, reduce the ambient temperature to 12-18°C. The most challenging aspect of winter care is maintaining moderate soil and air humidity. A dormant plant should be fed no more than once a month with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.

In the central part of our country, calibrachoa is considered an annual, so the plants are often discarded. Frosts are indeed detrimental to it, but if you move the pot to a basement, vegetative growth can be resumed in the spring. To do this, cut the bush back, leaving small stumps of about 10 cm from the root, and continue to keep the soil moderately moist.

The basement should be kept humid and cool (no more than 10°C). No additional light source is needed during this time. The pot is left there until approximately mid-February. After that, the container is placed indoors on a windowsill, and with the arrival of spring, the plant will delight you with new shoots.

If storing the flower in such conditions is not possible, a refrigerator can be used to provide a cool wintering environment for several cuttings. The advantages of this method include maintaining a stable temperature (around 3°C) and the appropriate soil moisture without watering. The disadvantages include the need for regular ventilation, a short rest period, and poor plant health (withering and death of the above-ground portion).

Technology of growing calibrachoa from seeds

The plant is most often propagated by cuttings, as flowers grown from seeds don't always turn out as beautiful as the mother plant. Seed propagation requires a lot of time, patience, and attention from the grower.

First, soak the planting material for 24 hours, then dry it with a soft cloth or paper towel. The seeding container should be small. Fill it with a soil mixture containing peat, compost, and mineral fertilizers. After sowing, cover it with glass or a plastic bag.

Seedlings won't appear for a long time, and not all seeds will germinate. To speed up growth, gardeners use special fertilizers or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After germination, the seedlings are fed several times, mixing the fertilizer with water.

For sowing, you can use a peat pellet, pre-soaked in boiling water. Place the seedlings on its surface and cover with plastic film to create a mini-greenhouse.

For germination, it's important to provide additional lighting. The first shoots will appear after 7-10 days, and they should be aired periodically. After a few days, the sprouts will acclimate to indoor conditions, and the film can be removed.

After several leaves have formed, transplant the seedlings. Line the bottom of a small pot with a layer of high-quality drainage, then a layer of sand, and finally the main substrate. After transplanting, it's essential to select the right fertilizer, as this will determine the lushness of the flowering process.

Frequently asked questions about growing

How often should calibrachoa be sprayed?

During the active growing season, the plant requires increased humidity. If the pot is kept indoors with dry, hot air, misting should be done at least three times per day. When growing outdoors, misting should be adjusted based on weather conditions. On hot days, mist the above-ground portions several times a day in the morning and evening.

What fertilizers should be used at different times?

During active growth, calibrachoa is fed with nitrogen-rich fertilizers. During budding and flowering, a complex fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus is applied. In winter, a complex mineral fertilizer for petunias is applied.

What plants can it be combined with in landscape design?

Pots containing calibrachoa varieties in a variety of colors look unique. They pair well in hanging baskets and planters with ivy, verbena, and ivy-leaved pelargonium. In containers and boxes, the plant is often grown with chlorophytums, impatiens, fuchsias, and sweet peas.

What is the best location for calibrachoa outdoors?

The pot should be located protected from strong winds and drafts. Additionally, the plant should receive good morning and evening sun. If midday rays scorch the foliage, the plant should be shaded temporarily.

Calibrachoa is an easy-to-care-for plant, easy to grow even for beginners. Its beautiful, spherical bushes look great both in the garden and indoors.