Calibrochia: features, cultivation and care

Calibrachoa – a flower that adorns many balconies and terraces, amazes with its lush cascading beauty. More recently, this plant, completely strewn with small bright bells, was considered by many flower growers to be a petunia. Under this name, Calibrachoa could also be found in books on floriculture, in which, until 1990, it was assigned to the genus Petunia. Later, breeders identified chromosomal differences between these crops regarding the DNA structure. Based on these studies, it was proved that plants related to Petunia Calibrachoa, but at the same time completely different. It will be useful for beginner gardeners to learn about their external differences, as well as how to properly care for and grow caliberchoa.

What does Calibrachoa look like?

Outwardly, the flower is very similar to petunia, in particular, the shape of the flowers resembles gramophones. Their size is small, no more than 2,5-3 cm in diameter, but this is fully compensated by their large number. A million bells – this is how the name of one of the species (Million Bells) sounds in translation. This name fully characterizes the appearance of the flower, which, when grown in hanging pots and flowerpots, forms bushes with long, drooping stems (about 0,5-1 m), decorated with a chic scattering of bells.

Initially, Calibrachoa could please gardeners only with a purple color, which is her own. Over time, the plant attracted the attention of breeders, and they brought out many hybrids of a wide range of colors. Now you can find calibrachoa with white and yellow, red and pink, crimson and brown, blue and light blue corollas. As well as various shades of these colors. Terry varieties are also found, but in terms of the splendor of their flowering, they are very inferior to simple types of caliberhoa.

Description calibrachoa

Calibrahoa is a perennial culture from the Solanaceae genus. In the wild, Calibrachoa bushes are found in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. As a garden plant, hybrids of natural species are grown, which are annuals. The branches of the plant are long drooping, so they consider it ampelous.

Calibrachoa is quite easy to confuse with petunia, especially for gardeners who are new to growing this variety of flowers. Distinctive features of the species are:

• small flowers;
• the pharynx at the base of the bell, the so-called throat, differs sharply in its color, most often it is bright yellow or brown;
• veins located in the center of the flower, a more saturated color (compared to the main color);
• the leaves of the plant are small (length – 30-40 mm, width – up to 10 mm), oblong, their surface is covered with a sparse, short, hard pile, which is also on the lashes;
• stems dense, branched, prone to woodiness, about 0,5-2 m long;
• the trunk of the plant has an external resemblance to a shrub.

Calibrachoa varieties with photos and names

Thanks to the active work of breeders, a huge number of varieties and species of Calibrachoa were bred – both simple, and hybrid, and terry. Many of them have similar features, characteristics and colors, so sometimes even a sophisticated grower can find it difficult to understand the variety of varieties, not to mention amateur gardeners.

Grade Crave Strawberry old

New in 2017 among ampelous plants. A distinctive feature is white-pink flowers-bells. The yellow center of the corollas is separated from the petals by a strip of bright pink.

Сорт Bloomtastic Rose Quartz

Bloomtastic Rose Quartz was introduced in 2018. Breeders compare it with rose quartz, thanks to the soft pink color of the petals, which are separated from the center of the flower by a wide purple belt. The core of the flower is a characteristic yellow color.

Variety Volcano sunset

Volcano sunset is distinguished by an unusual color palette of corollas – yellow, pink, scarlet and orange. The neck is traditionally yellow. Spreading bush, about 50 cm in diameter. In care, the variety is unpretentious.

Variety Tropical sunrise

A new variety that impresses with its bright striped color. The petals are decorated with yellow, scarlet and pink lines that merge towards the center. The throat of the flowers is yellow.

Variety Hula Lavender

Strongly branching bushes, unpretentious in care. The length of the lashes is 0,5-0,6 m. The flowers are small, lavender at the edges, purple towards the center. The pharynx (neck) is yellow.

Сорт Chameleon Indian summer

Chameleon series, translated as Indian summer. The peduncles of the variety have a bright color, which varies depending on the agrotechnical conditions of cultivation and care (watering, lighting, fertilizing). The neck of the flower is yellow.

Calibrachoa in landscape design

Calibrachoa is valued not only for its beautiful and rich appearance, but also for its versatility. Spherical bushes can be used for landscaping balconies and verandas, terraces and ridges. Calibrachoa becomes a real decoration of a garden, alley or facade of a building when planted in flower pots, grown in hanging baskets and flowerpots. A falling cascade of small bright flowers fascinates with its delicate beauty. Original compositions can be created by planting together several varieties of various colors.

If the branches of Calibrachoa are not looked after and periodically cut off, then they can grow quite long. This feature of the variety is often used by landscape designers, creating cascading compositions and beautiful living arches, which are gaining more and more popularity lately.

Calibrachoa Growing Conditions

Favorable growth and comfortable development can be ensured by Calibrachoa, subject to certain important conditions regarding, in particular, cultivation and care:

• The site intended for planting flower bushes should be sunny, protected from drafts and strong winds. Growing indoors involves placing flowerpots and flower pots on the south or southeast side.
• Daytime temperature should be at least 22 °C. Be sure to pass the threat of late spring frosts.
• With aggressive daytime sunflowering bushes of Calibrachoa should be shaded, since not only the leaves, but also the flowers, can simply burn out.
• The landing tank must be equipped with drainage, at least 5 cm high.
• Refusal to introduce hydrogel into the soil during planting, since the plant does not need excessive moisture during the rooting period.

Growing Calibrachoa Seedlings from Seeds

The best results are obtained by growing seedlings of Calibrachoa by planting seeds in peat tablets. They should be soaked first. Experienced flower growers recommend keeping the seeds for about a day in a stimulating solution (Zircon or Epin).

Peat tablets should also be soaked. To do this, they are placed in boiling water, holding in it until completely cooled. Then, one seed is buried in each such tablet and the crops are placed in a film shelter.

Crops need to provide quality care and a long daylight hours of at least 16 hours. To do this, crops should be highlighted. It is important when growing seedlings to maintain a sufficient level of humidity. After a few days, the film or glass should be removed. Care, and in particular to feed the seedlings, should begin after the appearance of the first pair of true leaves. Complex fertilizers can be used to feed young plants.

You can also sow Calibrachoa seeds in soil mixtures, using special boxes or containers for growing. At the same time, the seeds are placed on the surface of the soil. Sowing is carried out quite densely, at the rate of 50-70 seeds per 1 m² sown area.

How to plant caliberchoa

Calibrachoa can be grown outdoors – in flowerbeds and flower beds, as well as indoors, using containers, pots, flowerpots, baskets and planters. The most spectacular flowering bushes look in suspended structures. Caring for such plantings is quite simple.

When to Plant Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa loves heat very much, so it is recommended to plant bushes in open ground in the spring, in mid-late May, when the threat of return frosts has passed. The air outside should warm up well, at least up to 23 ° C. Seeds, for seedlings, are recommended to be sown in winter, in January.

How much to plant caliberchoa

One Calibrachoa bush that has reached a large size needs free space. The volume of capacity required for planting is calculated by the number of planted specimens. One seedling needs from 1 to 2 liters of fertile soil. Adult bushes need at least 3 liters of land.

Soil preparation for planting

The soil of Calibrachoa needs nutritious, therefore, when planting bushes, it is necessary to add humus or compost to it. Also, the soil should be as light as possible, preferably with a lot of baking powder. Optimal is a mixture of leaf and sod land, sand, peat and humus.

The step-by-step process of preparing the soil for planting plants:

1. Sift the earth through a sieve, thereby giving it a loose structure.
2. Sand is added – 25-30% of the total mass of the soil.
3. Baking powder is mixed (for example, Agroperlite) – 30% of the total mass of the substrate.
4. Abundantly watered.
5. The prepared soil is transferred to the planting container, pressing lightly to prevent possible sagging of the roots.

How many pieces of caliberhoa to plant in a pot

Only one caliberhoa bush should be planted in each flowerpot or planter. If you plan to get a chic spherical Calibrachoa, then 35 plants can be planted in a flowerpot with a diameter of about 7 cm.

How to care for Calibrachoa

When growing Calibrachoa, it is important to provide the flowers with full and proper care. Their comfortable development and lush flowering directly depends on the timely implementation of such agrotechnical measures:

• watering;
• pruning;
• top dressing.

Watering and feeding

Calibrachoa responds well to such a care event as spraying. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out water procedures for growing a flower daily. Watering is also necessary regular, but at the same time it should be moderate. Spend it under the root of the plant, 1-2 times a week. In summer, in very hot weather, the plants should be watered more often, but the portions of water should be small. The soil should be in a moist state, but not be too wet, as this can provoke rotting of the root system.

It is difficult to imagine a complete care without top dressing. It is recommended to carry them out with mineral and organic fertilizers, alternating them every 7 days. It is not recommended to feed Calibrachoa with manure, as it provokes the occurrence of fungal diseases that affect the root system. Feeding can be carried out on the leaf and under the root. With a lag in growth, you can feed the plants with stimulating solutions. Nitrogen fertilizers will promote stem growth, phosphorus and potash fertilizers will promote bud formation.

How to shape caliberchoa correctly

Calibrachoa bushes need to be trimmed and pinched regularly. It is also important to carry out care, timely removing wilted buds. Thus, it is possible not only to improve the appearance of the flower, but also to significantly extend the flowering time.

The first pinching is performed when growing seedlings, in order to stimulate the growth of side shoots. Pruning begins as soon as Calibrachoa ends its first flowering period. After withering, all flower stalks are cut off. Such care provides the plant with additional forces for the formation of young shoots, as well as new buds.

Growing and caring for Calibrachoa (photo) involves a procedure such as bush rejuvenation. To this end, in the middle of summer, it is recommended to cut all its stems in half. Thanks to this, the Calibrachoa bush will become much more magnificent. The number of flower stalks will also increase significantly.

Calibrachoa transplant

Rooted cuttings of Calibrachoa should be transplanted after 14 days. The tops of young bushes must be pinched. Rooting of Calibrachoa bushes in a permanent place is carried out after 1,5 months. Quality care for transplanted seedlings is just as important as for adult plants. Seedlings in open ground are moved in late spring.

Wintering

Calibrachoa can be stored during the winter period. In the cold period, a faded plant needs rest. Therefore, in the fall, flowerpots should be brought into a cool room, where they should be stored until spring. The optimum air temperature for wintering bushes is 5-10 ° C. At the same time, it is important to minimize care activities such as watering and fertilizing.

With the onset of spring, it will be possible to cut off the tops from the grown bushes and root them again. Thus, it is possible to save your favorite varieties of Calibrachoa from year to year.

How to propagate caliberchoa

Reproduction of Calibrachoa can be carried out in two ways:

1. Vegetative (cutting).
2. Seeds.

Cuttings are considered the simplest and most effective method of propagation, which allows you to get young bushes with characteristics that are fully consistent with the mother plant. Cuttings are prepared in late summer or early autumn. To do this, the apical branches are cut off from the mother bush, 4-5 cm long. A prerequisite is the presence of 5-6 leaves on the cuttings, but only the top two leaves should be left. Prepared branches are immediately planted in the ground. The distance between the cuttings should be at least 2 cm. Place the containers in a warm and sunny place, equipping a mini-greenhouse. Cuttings should be periodically ventilated, as well as watered, avoiding waterlogging.

Growing calibrachoa from seeds is not practiced by flower growers too often. Due to the fact that this procedure is quite laborious. And it is not always possible to get high-quality planting material

Diseases and pests

Calibrachoa has a fairly high resistance to diseases and pests when grown, both indoors and outdoors. But violation of the rules of care can lead to the occurrence of such diseases:

• blackleg;

  

• powdery mildew;

  

• root rot;

  

• chlorosis.

  

When the first signs of the disease appear, Calibrachoa bushes should be treated with fungicides. Also, these drugs can be used to prevent the development of diseases.

The following pests can pose a threat to weakened Calibrachoa bushes:

• aphid;

  

• spider mite;

  

• whitefly;

  

• thrips.

  

To combat harmful insects, insecticides such as Fitoverm and Aktellik can be used.

What colors go with Calibrachoa

With proper care, the Calibrachoa flower feels comfortable and looks great both in single and in group plantings. It can perfectly coexist in hanging containers with other plants in contrasting shades. The variety is harmoniously combined when grown together with such horticultural crops as verbena, ivy, lobelia, pelargonium.

When growing Calibrachoa in open ground, you can create a chic flower garden by choosing the following garden plants as companions:

• perennial geranium;
• lapchatka;
• evergreen angelonia;
• marigold;
• decorative nettle;
• zinnia;
• decorative sedge;
• sage;
• thyme.

Conclusion

Calibrachoa care and cultivation is not difficult at all. This is evidenced by the numerous reviews of gardeners who love these ampelous plants for their incredible beauty and unpretentiousness in care. Growing this flower helps to show creative imagination and creativity as much as possible, turning any corner of the backyard, terrace or city balcony into a beautiful flower oasis.

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