Also known as “Million Bells”, calibrachoas look a bit like small petunias. In fact, the two plants are related. If you’ve never grown them in your garden, you’re missing out! Calibrachoa is easy to grow and blooms abundantly all summer long without the need to deadhead spent flowers. Hummingbirds and butterflies love its trumpet-shaped blooms.
The many varieties available on the market offer a wide range of colours, including red, yellow, purple, magenta, pale pink and white. Some are even striped, others have double blooms, and some are almost blue! They can be planted in the ground, but they are especially beautiful in containers and hanging baskets.
Interesting fact: calibrachoa is native to South America and belongs to the nightshade family, making it related to tobacco, tomatoes and eggplants.
Where should you plant Million Bells?
Most calibrachoas are patented hybrid cultivars, which means few seeds are available to home gardeners and the selection is limited. But don’t worry! Seedlings are widely available at garden centres and nurseries.
Plant your calibrachoa in a container filled with a quality potting mix, such as our Premium Potting Mix, which promotes better water and nutrient absorption for larger plants with abundant blooms. You can also plant it directly in the ground once all risk of frost has passed in spring. It will then form a dense, spreading mound with lightly trailing stems covered in flowers.
These plants need plenty of light and do not bloom as well in the shade. When growing calibrachoas, the soil should be well-drained and enriched with compost or manure. Feeding them with a small amount of slow-release all-purpose fertilizer will give them an excellent start.
How to care for calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is an easy-care plant. With these simple tips, you’ll enjoy abundant blooms for months.
For more flowers: Pinch back the growing tips to encourage healthy, bushy growth.
Watering calibrachoa: Water your calibrachoa slowly and deeply as soon as the top two inches of potting mix feel dry to the touch. Water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the flowers and foliage. Also avoid overwatering, as calibrachoa is susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases. Make sure excess water can drain through the drainage holes.
Fertilizing calibrachoa: Feed your plant with a liquid fertilizer diluted in water every 2–3 weeks.
Managing pest problems: Calibrachoa is usually resistant to pests. However, if you notice whiteflies or aphids, remove them by spraying with insecticidal soap.
Should you remove spent calibrachoa flowers: The faded blooms fall off on their own, so there is no need to deadhead them. In general, calibrachoas do not require pruning, but feel free to trim them back if they start to look tired or leggy around mid-summer.
20 beautiful calibrachoa companions:
Combinations with trailing or upright annuals for your potted arrangements:
- Sweet potato vine
- Scaevola
- Geranium
- Sage
- Bacopa
- Bidens
- Lantana
- Coleus
- Verbena
- Plectranthus
- Lobelia
- Alyssum
Combinations with perennials and shrubs in flower beds:
- Rose
- Dwarf ornamental grasses
- Perennial lobelia
- Heuchera
- Eupatorium
- Boxwood
- Smoketree
- Barberry
Here is an article published on our professional website that discusses the two most common diseases in calibrachoa: Growing Tough Crops: Calibrachoa.
