- Plant magic bells correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut magic bells correctly
- Pouring magic bells
- Fertilize magic bells properly
- hibernate
- Multiply magic bells
- Is magic bell poisonous?
- Yellow leaves
- Beautiful varieties
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Magic bells outstrip their big sisters, the petunias, with their wealth of flowers and resilience. Hobby gardeners appreciate that the lavish splendor of Calibrachoa unfolds magically without time-consuming trimming. The following answers to frequently asked questions provide a roadmap for successful cultivation.
Magic bells add color to balconies and gardens
Table of Contents
Show all- Plant magic bells correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut magic bells correctly
- Pouring magic bells
- Fertilize magic bells properly
- hibernate
- Multiply magic bells
- Is magic bell poisonous?
- Yellow leaves
- Beautiful varieties
- Place a potsherd over the water drain as drainage
- Fill in one third of the moor bed or rhododendron soil
- Place 5 Calibrachoa per running meter in the loose soil and press down
- Leave a pouring edge of 2-3 cm
- Sunny location without summer heat build-up
- Well-drained, humus-rich soil, fresh and not too dry
- Ideally an acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.0
- Rubybells: Abundantly blooming with ruby red flowers, very healthy and extremely robust; Balcony Plant of the Year 2012
- Deep Yellow: Impresses with spherical growth and bright yellow flowers all summer long
- Chameleon Sunshine Berry: A firework of flowers in pink and yellow on tendrils up to 60 cm long; ideal for traffic lights
- Petticoat: Top-class, double-flowering Calibrachoa in enchanting colors from light yellow to dark violet
- Lemon Ice: Unfolds a sea of flowers with white bells that adorn a light yellow eye
Plant magic bells correctly
The departure of the ice saints in mid-May heralds the beginning of the planting season for magic bells. Place the still potted young plants with the root ball in soft water while you prepare the soil in the sunny location until it is finely crumbly. Small planting pits at a distance of 20-25 cm accommodate the young Calibrachoa. It is advantageous to mix in some peat or rhododendron soil with the excavation. The addition of leaf or needle compost also contributes to optimal starting conditions. Proceed as follows to professionally plant the enchanting summer flowers in pots and window boxes (€16.99):
Do not plant the plants deeper than they were in the nursery pot. Finally, pour in soft water.
care tips
The care program for Calibrachoa is primarily based on a well-balanced water and nutrient regime. The sunnier the location and warmer the temperatures, the greater the need for watering. Therefore, check the substrate in beds and tubs daily with a thumb test. If the upper 1-2 cm feel dry, the magic bells are poured with soft water. From May to September, the irrigation water contains a liquid fertilizer for petunias every 14 days. This specialty supplement is formulated to provide all of the essential nutrients plus iron. The third mainstay of successful cultivation is repeated pruning. 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.
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Which location is suitable?
In order for the floral jewels in the bed and on the balcony to meet expectations, the location should be as follows:
While petunias always look for protection against wind and rain, Calibrachoa prove to be much more resilient in this regard.
What soil does the plant need?
Magic bells live up to their name when the soil in the sunny location is slightly acidic. Otherwise, the attributes of normal garden soil are advantageous, such as nutrient-rich, humic, fresh and moist and well-drained. As a substrate for pots and balcony boxes, we therefore recommend rhododendron soil or ericaceous soil, which have a pH value of 5.5 to 6.0.
When is flowering time?
Calibrachoa present their lavish abundance of flowers from May to October in the bed and on the balcony. Regularly clean wilted flowers, attract new buds and create a well-groomed appearance. If this work is too time-consuming for you, wait for the short time until the flowers have dried, because they will quickly overgrow.
Cut magic bells correctly
Cut Calibrachoa back by a third every 2 to 3 weeks, the summer beauties will branch out incessantly. If the other basic conditions are right, the plant is strewn with a dense bloom that almost completely covers the green leaves. Since overwintering the extremely cold-sensitive magic bells is not worthwhile, wait for the seeds to ripen in autumn, collect the seeds and dispose of the rest in the compost.
Pouring magic bells
Water your magic bells regularly with soft water, because drought stress noticeably affects the abundance of flowers. On warm summer days this can be the case every day. Therefore, check the moisture level with a finger every morning or evening so that you can water immediately if necessary. So that no harmful waterlogging develops, a coaster is poured out after a few minutes.
Fertilize magic bells properly
A balanced supply of nutrients is one of the mainstays of professional care. Calibrachoa require plenty of fertilizer, both in the bed and in the planter. From May to September, give a liquid petunia fertilizer every 14 days, which is tailored to the special iron requirements. Due to the sensitive roots and the dense blossoms and leaves, it does not make sense to add compost.
hibernate
With a view to the uncomplicated sowing, the majority of hobby gardeners decide against the time-consuming overwintering of Calibrachoa. If you would like to experiment, cut the tendrils back to 10 cm in autumn. Carry the magic bells, which are sensitive to the cold, to a bright winter quarters. At temperatures between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius, pour soft water from time to time so that the root ball does not dry out. There is no fertilization in this phase. From the middle/end of April, gradually get the plants used to the sunlight and warmer temperatures, repot them in fresh substrate so that they are ready for life outdoors from mid-May.
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Multiply magic bells
If the magic bells run out of breath in autumn, be patient and don't dispose of the busy flowers prematurely. Instead, wait until the green seed pods turn brown and collect them. In the airy, dry place, the capsules open quickly and release the valuable seeds. Sow the fine seeds on the partially shaded, warm window sill in January and breed the next generation until May. Alternatively, cut non-blooming top cuttings in early summer to root them in a small pot with lean substrate.
Is magic bell poisonous?
Botanists assign the magic bell to the nightshade family. Thus, the floral beauty is distantly related to popular crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. You can therefore rest assured that Calibrachoa can be used safely in the family garden.
Yellow leaves
With yellow leaves, the magic bell signals malaise due to a lack of nutrients. The impairment is triggered by the use of calcareous irrigation water. The lime content accumulates in the substrate so that vital iron is fixed. Therefore, switch to collected rainwater or decalcified tap water. A special iron fertilizer, which is available from specialist retailers, provides a short-term remedy.