Magic bells outdo their big sisters, the petunias, with their abundance of flowers and resilience. Hobby gardeners appreciate that the lavish splendor of Calibrachoa unfolds as if by magic without the need for time-consuming cleaning. The following answers to frequently asked questions provide the roadmap for successful cultivation.
How do you properly care for magic bells?
Magic bells (Calibrachoa) are easy-care, richly blooming summer flowers that bloom from May to October. They prefer sunny locations with slightly acidic, humus-rich soil. It is important to water regularly with soft water and fertilize with petunia fertilizer every 14 days.
Planting magic bells correctly
The departure of the Ice Saints in mid-May heralds the beginning of the planting season for magic bells. Place the young plants that are still potted with the root ball in soft water while you prepare the soil in a sunny location so that it is finely crumbly. Small planting pits 20-25 cm apart accommodate the young Calibrachoa. It is an advantage to mix some peat or rhododendron soil into the excavation. The addition of leaf or needle compost also contributes to optimal starting conditions. To properly plant the enchanting summer flowers in pots and flower boxes, follow these steps:
- Place a shard of pottery over the water drain as drainage
- Fill in one third of the peat or rhododendron soil
- Place 5 Calibrachoa per meter in the loose soil and press down
- Leave a pouring edge of 2-3 cm
Do not plant the plants any deeper than they were previously in the nursery pot. Finally, pour with soft water.
Care tips
The care program for Calibrachoa is based primarily on a well-balanced water and nutrient balance. The sunnier the location and warmer the temperatures, the greater the need for watering. Therefore, check the substrate in the bed and pot daily using a thumb test. If the top 1-2 cm feel dry, the magic bells are watered with soft water. From May to September, the watering water contains a liquid fertilizer for petunias every 14 days. This special preparation is formulated to provide all important nutrients plus iron. Repeated cutting is the third pillar of successful cultivation. If you shorten the tendrils by a third every few weeks, a brilliant abundance of flowers will develop. You can save yourself time-consuming cleaning with magic bells.read more
Which location is suitable?
So that the floral decorations in the bed and on the balcony meet expectations, the location should be like this:
- Sunny location without summer heat
- Permeable, humus-rich soil, fresh and not too dry
- Ideally an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.0
While petunias always focus on protection from wind and rain, calibrachoa prove to be much more resilient in this respect.
What soil does the plant need?
Magic bells live up to their name if the soil is slightly acidic in a sunny location. Otherwise, the attributes of normal garden soil are advantageous, such as nutrient-rich, humus-rich, fresh-moist and well-drained. We therefore recommend rhododendron soil or ericaceous soil, which inherently have a pH value of 5.5 to 6.0, as a substrate for pots and balcony boxes.
When is flowering time?
Calibrachoa present their lavish abundance of flowers in the bed and on the balcony from May to October. Clean out withered flowers regularly, attract new buds and create a well-groomed appearance. If this work is too time-consuming for you, wait until the flowers dry out, as they will quickly become overgrown.
Cut magic bells correctly
Cut Calibrachoa back by a third every 2 to 3 weeks and the summer beauties will branch out continuously. If the other conditions are correct, the plant is covered with a dense floral bloom that almost completely covers the green leaves. Since overwintering the extremely cold-sensitive magic bells is not worth it, wait for the seeds to ripen in the fall, collect the seeds and dispose of the rest in the compost.
Pouring magic bells
Water your magic bells regularly with soft water, as drought stress noticeably affects the abundance of flowers. On warm summer days this can happen every day. Therefore, check the moisture content with a finger every morning or evening so that you can water immediately if necessary. To prevent harmful waterlogging from developing, a coaster is poured out after a few minutes.
Fertilize magic bells correctly
The main pillars of professional care include a balanced supply of nutrients. Calibrachoa require plenty of fertilizer, both in the bed and in the planter. From May to September, administer a liquid petunia fertilizer every 14 days that is tailored to the specific iron needs. Adding compost does not make sense due to the sensitive roots and the dense flowers and leaves.
Wintering
With a view to the uncomplicated sowing, the majority of hobby gardeners decide against laborious overwintering of Calibrachoa. If you want to dare the experiment, cut the tendrils back to 10 cm in autumn. Take the cold-sensitive magic bells to a bright winter quarters. At temperatures between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius, water with soft water every now and then to prevent the root ball from drying out. There is no fertilization in this phase. From mid/end of April, gradually accustom the plants to sunlight and warmer temperatures and repot them in fresh substrate so that they are ready for life in the open air from mid-May.read more
Multiply magic bells
If the magic bells run out of steam in autumn, practice a little patience and don't throw away the busy flowers prematurely. Instead, wait until the green seed pods turn brown and collect them. In an airy, dry place, the capsules open quickly and release the valuable seeds. In January, sow the fine seeds on the partially shaded, warm windowsill and grow the next generation until May. Alternatively, cut non-flowering head cuttings in early summer to let them root in a small pot with lean substrate.
Is magic bell poisonous?
Botanists assign the magic bell to the nightshade family. The flower beauty is therefore distantly related to popular crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. You can therefore rest assured that Calibrachoa is safe to use in your family garden.
Yellow leaves
With yellow leaves, the magic bell signals malaise due to a lack of nutrients. The impairment is caused by the use of calcium-containing irrigation water. The lime content accumulates in the substrate, so that vital iron is deposited. Therefore, switch to collected rainwater or decalcified tap water. Special iron fertilizer, which specialist retailers have available, provides a short-term remedy.
Beautiful varieties
- Ruby Bells: Blooming profusely with ruby red flowers, very he althy and extremely robust; Balcony Plant of the Year 2012
- Deep Yellow: Impresses with its spherical growth and bright yellow flowers all summer long
- Chameleon Sunshine Berry: A floral firework display in pink and yellow on tendrils up to 60 cm long; ideal for the traffic lights
- Petticoat: Double-flowering Calibrachoa in a class of its own in enchanting colors from light yellow to dark purple
- Lemon Ice: Unfolds a sea of flowers with white bells, which adorns a light yellow eye
