From our perspective as Calibrachoa plants, often called "Million Bells" for our prolific, petunia-like blossoms, thriving in a pot is an ideal situation. It provides the excellent drainage we crave and allows our trailing habit to cascade beautifully over the edges. To help you help us flourish, here is a detailed guide from our point of view.
Our roots are our lifeline, and they despise sitting in soggy, waterlogged soil. A dense, moisture-retentive medium is a death sentence for us, leading to root rot. Please provide us with a lightweight, fast-draining potting mix. We particularly appreciate mixes formulated for containers, especially those containing peat moss, perlite, and/or vermiculite. As for our home, choose a pot with ample drainage holes. A container that is 10-12 inches in diameter is a comfortable size for a single plant, giving our roots room to explore without being overwhelmed.
We are heavy drinkers and eaters, especially when the sun is bright and we are working hard to produce thousands of flowers. Our soil should be kept consistently moist, but never sopping wet. A good rule is to water us thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to your touch. Water until it runs freely from the drainage holes, ensuring our entire root ball is hydrated. To support our constant blooming, we need a steady supply of nutrients. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied every one to two weeks is ideal. Even better is a "weakly, weekly" approach with a half-strength solution. Alternatively, you can use a slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at planting time, which will feed us gradually over the season.
We are sun-worshippers at heart. To produce our vibrant carpet of flowers, we require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. Full sun exposure (6-8+ hours) is truly optimal. With ample light, we will remain compact, bushy, and covered in blooms. If you place us in too much shade, we will respond by becoming leggy—stretching out with long stems seeking light—and our flower production will significantly decline. A sunny patio, balcony, or deck is our perfect spot.
While many modern hybrids are "self-cleaning" (meaning our spent flowers drop off naturally), we still benefit greatly from a little grooming. If you notice individual faded blooms, pinching them off encourages more buds to form. More importantly, if we start to look a bit tired or leggy in the heat of midsummer, don't be afraid to give us a light "haircut." Using clean shears, trim back about a third of our growth. This might seem drastic, but it invigorates us to push out fresh, new growth and another flush of beautiful flowers.
Generally, we are trouble-free plants, but we can face a few challenges. As mentioned, our biggest threat is overwatering, which leads to root rot. The key is consistent moisture, not constant sogginess. In terms of pests, aphids might occasionally find our new, tender growth appealing. A strong spray of water or an insecticidal soap usually takes care of them. In very humid conditions, we can be susceptible to botrytis (gray mold) if our foliage stays wet for too long. Watering at the base of the plant, keeping the leaves dry, and ensuring good air circulation around our pot are the best preventative measures.
