ThePlantAide.com

How to Grow Lush Calibrachoa Hanging Baskets

Marie Schrader
2025-09-24 02:15:44

Greetings, plant lover! We, the Calibrachoa, are often called "Million Bells" for a very good reason—our prolific, petite flowers that resemble petunias can create a breathtaking cascade of color. To help us reach our full, lush potential in your hanging baskets, here is what we need from you, explained from our perspective.

1. The Perfect Home: Soil and Container

First, please do not place us in heavy, dense garden soil. Our roots are fine and fibrous, and they despise being waterlogged. We thrive in a lightweight, well-draining potting mix. A blend that includes peat moss, perlite, and compost is ideal. It holds just enough moisture for us to drink but allows excess water to drain away freely, preventing our roots from rotting. Also, choose a basket with adequate drainage holes. A cramped, soggy home is a sure way to make us weak and unhappy.

2. Our Thirst for Sunlight

To produce the millions of bells we are known for, we require an abundance of energy. Please place our hanging basket in a location where we can bask in full sun. This means at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. The more sun you give us, the more vigorously we will grow and flower. While we can tolerate a little light shade, especially in intensely hot climates, insufficient light will cause us to become leggy, with more stems and far fewer flowers. We simply cannot photosynthesize and show off our true colors without ample sunshine.

3. The Delicate Balance of Water and Food

Our watering needs are a constant balancing act. Hanging baskets dry out much faster than garden beds. When the top inch of our soil feels dry to the touch, it's time for a deep, thorough drink. Water us until it runs out of the drainage holes. However, please avoid letting us sit in a saucer of water. Conversely, do not let us wilt severely between waterings, as this stresses us and reduces flowering. Along with water, we are heavy feeders. Blooming so profusely consumes vast amounts of nutrients. Please feed us regularly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every one to two weeks, or use a slow-release fertilizer mixed into our soil at planting. For even more blooms, a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the package) can be very encouraging.

4. Encouraging More Growth: The Importance of Grooming

As the season progresses, you might notice some of our stems becoming long and our flowers fading. This is where you can play a crucial role in keeping us lush. We appreciate a gentle but consistent grooming. Regularly pinch or snip off the spent flowers (a process called deadheading). This prevents us from putting energy into producing seeds and instead directs it back into creating new flower buds. If we start to look a bit tired or leggy in mid-summer, don't be afraid to give our stems a trim, cutting them back by about one-third of their length. This might seem drastic, but it will encourage us to branch out and produce a fresh, dense flush of growth and flowers.

5. Staying Vigilant Against Pests and Stress

While we are generally resilient, stress from improper watering or poor air circulation can make us susceptible to pests like aphids or spider mites. Please check our leaves periodically, especially the undersides. Good air flow around our basket helps keep these issues at bay. Also, be mindful that we are tender perennials and are very sensitive to frost. Please only place us outdoors when all danger of frost has passed. A sudden cold snap can be fatal to us.

The Plant Aide - Plant experts around you

The Plant Aide - Plant experts around you

www.theplantaide.com