Magic bells, Calibrachoa – care and overwintering

The first important step in the optimal care of the Calibrachoa is the choice of the location. This plant loves the sun and is therefore particularly comfortable on a balcony facing south, south-west or south-east. In contrast to the much more sensitive petunias, the magic bell can also tolerate rainy weather and wind. Then it simply folds its petals together a little and waits for the sun to shine again. It is therefore not absolutely necessary that the balcony or terrace is covered. Thanks to this resilience, Calibrachoa are often used as ground cover. If the following care instructions are then followed, nothing stands in the way of a lush abundance of flowers:

• slightly acidic potting soil;
• Petunia or rhododendron soils are well suited;
• do not water with calcareous tap water;
• Calibrachoa need plenty of water;
• water mornings and evenings in summer;
• do not water in blazing sunshine;
• Avoid waterlogging at all costs;
• Rainwater is more suitable;
• provide iron fertilizer once a month;
• now and then pluck out faded things;
• prune if it is too strong.

While the related petunias and mini-petunias have to be freed of withered parts almost daily, this is only rarely necessary with magic bells. As a rule, bloomed bells are simply overgrown by new flowers. This very vigorous type of flower can be trimmed without any problems if it overran the strands. One of the most important maintenance factors is the use of iron-containing fertilizers, either as a liquid or long-term fertilizer. If the colors fade and the flowers start to hang limply, it is high time to foster the Calibrachoa with iron fertilizer.

Wintering is possible

Although the Calibrachoa is an annual plant, experienced hobby gardeners have successfully hibernated it several times. For this purpose, the individual shoots are first pruned to a length of 5 cm to 10 cm in autumn, when the temperatures drop. The magic bell spends the cold season in a bright location where the temperature does not fall below 14 ° Celsius. This can be a heated greenhouse, a winter garden or a window seat in the apartment. The Calibrachoa does not go into hibernation in the true sense of the word, but needs significantly less water during this time than in spring or summer. No fertilizer is given at all during this period. When spring approaches the magic bells get gradually used to higher temperatures and receive their first dose of fertilizer. The plants can then go outside from mid-May. Before that, the committed hobby gardener should take the time to repot them in a new planter with fresh substrate. A tip at this point: the flower boxes and hanging baskets shine like new again when they are cleaned inside and out with vinegar. Any remnants of pests and unwanted germs are completely eliminated at the same time. The flower boxes and hanging baskets shine like new again when they are cleaned inside and out with vinegar. Any remnants of pests and unwanted germs are completely eliminated at the same time. The flower boxes and hanging baskets shine like new again when they are cleaned inside and out with vinegar. Any remnants of pests and unwanted germs are completely eliminated at the same time.

Propagate by cuttings

Once you have taken the magic bells in your heart, you usually want to let them bloom in even larger numbers in your garden. The propagation of this vigorous plant can easily be carried out with the help of cuttings. The best time for this is late spring, because then the Calibrachoa have enough time to put down strong roots. For this purpose, the cuttings, which are around 10 cm long, are placed in a nutrient-rich substrate that is kept slightly moist at all times. The leaves on the cutting should be cut in half so that the shoot does not invest its energy in supplying them, but instead lets it flow into the growth of the roots. Petunia or rhododendron soil, mixed with a little sand, is well suited as a growing medium.

Propagate by sowing
An alternative to propagation by cuttings is sowing. Anyone who collects the seeds of the magic bells in autumn saves themselves having to go to the nursery to purchase them. Small, green seed pods form under the withered and almost dried up flowers. As soon as they turn beige-brown, the seeds are ready to be harvested and the capsules are simply snapped off with your fingers. Then they are kept in an open container in a dry and warm environment. There they complete the last phase of maturation, at the end of which the capsules open and reveal the coveted seeds. If you like to nibble on the gummy bears or the other delicacies from Haribo and keep the round plastic containers, you can use them as a seed pot for the magic bells. In March, the containers are filled up to halfway with a mixture of petunia soil and sand and placed in a warm place, which, however, cannot come under blazing sunlight. The seeds are put into this substrate and lightly covered with soil. The whole thing is now sprayed daily with water and the lid pressed firmly back on. This creates a warm, humid climate that supports germination. As soon as the seedlings are about 3 cm in size, the lid is only gently put on. From a size of 5 cm, it is time to prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots, where they can develop until mid-May, and then move to their summer quarters in flower boxes, hanging baskets, pots and beds. which, however, cannot come under blazing sunlight. The seeds are put into this substrate and lightly covered with soil. The whole thing is now sprayed daily with water and the lid pressed firmly back on. This creates a warm, humid climate that supports germination. As soon as the seedlings are about 3 cm in size, the lid is only gently put on. From a size of 5 cm, it is time to prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots, where they can develop until mid-May, and then move to their summer quarters in flower boxes, hanging baskets, pots and beds. which, however, cannot come under blazing sunlight. The seeds are put into this substrate and lightly covered with soil. The whole thing is now sprayed daily with water and the lid pressed firmly back on. This creates a warm, humid climate that supports germination. As soon as the seedlings are about 3 cm in size, the lid is only gently put on. From a size of 5 cm, it is time to prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots, where they can develop until mid-May, and then move to their summer quarters in flower boxes, hanging baskets, pots and beds. This creates a warm, humid climate that supports germination. As soon as the seedlings are about 3 cm in size, the lid is only gently put on. From a size of 5 cm, it is time to prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots, where they can develop until mid-May, and then move to their summer quarters in flower boxes, hanging baskets, pots and beds. This creates a warm, humid climate that supports germination. As soon as the seedlings are about 3 cm in size, the lid is only gently put on. From a size of 5 cm, it is time to prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots, where they can develop until mid-May, and then move to their summer quarters in flower boxes, hanging baskets, pots and beds.

Popular varieties

Calibrachoa enjoy great popularity, not least because of their enormous variety of colors. Below are some of the most popular varieties:

• Celebration Orange-Red – deep red flowers
• Celebration Sun – deep yellow flowers
• Superbells Peach – stunning peach colored flowers
• Mini Famous Double Blue – double, blue flowers
• Celebration Mozart – white and pink bells
• Celebration Patio Latte Macchiato – white flowers with espresso-colored eyes
• Celebration Lemon Ice – white bells with yellow eyes

The mixtures of several types of magic bells provide even more splendor of color:

• Celebration Carnival – mix of red, yellow and indigo
• Celebration Capri – mixed white, red and yellow
• Celebration Orient – mix of blue, orange and yellow
• Magic Colors – exotic magic bells mix of pink, yellow and red
• Trixi Petticoat – double flowers in yellow, lavender and pink

As various tests by German Chambers of Agriculture have shown, the mixed varieties prove to be particularly vigorous and blooming, with the double flowers particularly striking. Incidentally, there is nothing to prevent the experienced hobby gardener from growing the mixed varieties themselves, simply by placing the cuttings of each variety in a common growing container.

Diseases and pests

Although the Calibrachoa has proven to be a very resilient plant, it is not completely immune to diseases and pests:

Wilt
If the flowers wilt and dry up, this may be due to a lack of water on the one hand; on the other hand, they can also be caused by waterlogging. It is therefore of great importance that every planter has a water drainage hole, which is also covered with a drainage so that it does not become clogged by the substrate.

Chlorosis
If the green leaves turn yellow even though it is far from autumn, the suspicion that the plant is suffering from chlorosis (jaundice) is likely. This is caused by a lack of iron, which can be remedied by giving an appropriate fertilizer. In addition, chlorosis can be effectively prevented if water is poured with soft rainwater instead of hard tap water.

Aphids
are a feared plague throughout Europe and are particularly fond of calibrachoa. The aphids are wingless, only a few millimeters small suckers that feed on the sap of the plants and thus initially weaken them and then let them die. Lecithin has proven to be an effective biological antidote. Half a liter of milk is mixed with one liter of water and sprayed onto the infected plants for several days in a row. Sticky traps with attractants are placed in the flower boxes and hanging baskets, where the aphids stick to contact. The plant extract of the neem tree is available in specialist shops as a natural insecticide, which triggers an immediate feeding stop after use on the Calibrachoa and kills the aphids after a few days.

White flies
They look harmless, are only 2 to 3 millimeters in size and yet can cause great damage to the magic bells. Mostly they settle on the underside of the leaf and suck out the sap. First, small yellow spots appear on the green leaves before they wither and fall off. However, there is one natural enemy that the white tile likes to eat: the ichneumon wasp. Different specimens are available in garden centers and attack the pests straight away.

The best planters for magic bells

Magic bells come into their own in flower boxes when they are placed on the windowsill or on the balcony railing. The lightest possible flower boxes should be chosen, because dark-colored planters heat up when there is increased exposure to the sun. As a result, the delicate roots of the magic bells burn out. Flower boxes measuring 1 meter in length and 20 to 25 centimeters deep are ideal if they also have several water drainage holes. They can easily be pierced in plastic containers with a wrench. Ideally, there is a drainage over it, which can consist of granules or crushed pottery shards. A weed fleece that is permeable to water and air is also suitable. As a rule of thumb for the planting density of the magic bells, that no more than 5 plants are placed next to each other per running meter. No more than 5 magic bell plants should be placed in a white hanging basket with a diameter of 20 centimeters. The drainage hole for the water should not be missing here either.

Conclusion
The name couldn’t be more aptly chosen, because the magic bells with the botanical name Calibrachoa enchant balconies and terraces with an abundance of small flowers. They are available in innumerable shades as single or double flowers. In addition, they are extremely resistant, so that rain and wind cannot harm them so quickly. From spring to autumn, they keep developing new flowers and save the hobby gardener the hassle of cleaning up by simply overgrowing withered parts. Those who quench their great thirst sufficiently, supply them with iron-containing fertilizer from time to time and not place them in the shade, will enjoy the magic bells throughout the summer season.