Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa hybrids
Calibrachoa covers itself in hundreds of tiny petunia-like flowers in every colour from spring to frost, trailing over hanging baskets and window boxes. It is self-cleaning, so no deadheading is needed.
Photo: Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com · CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water when the top of the soil is dry; avoid soggy soil.
Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic potting mix; pH 5.5–6.0.
Temperature and humidity
5–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed weekly with a fertilizer containing iron.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
Trim leggy stems in midsummer to refresh.
Calibrachoa is not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Yellow leaves mean it needs iron or more acidic soil.
Plant after the last frost.
Mix colours in one basket.
Hummingbirds visit the flowers.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseIron chlorosis
Young leaves turn yellow while the veins stay green, usually because alkaline soil stops the plant taking up iron.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
