Growing caliberchoa from seeds is only gaining popularity. Until recently, flower growers used exclusively cuttings of the mother plant, based on natural feature culture - self-purification from wilted flowers and rare (one might say "as an exception") formation of seed pods.
Today the situation has changed. Recent breeding advances have offered the market several varieties of hybrids suitable for growing at home from seed. So, calibrachoa of the Calita series (Double White, Blue Star, etc.) can only be purchased in the form of rooted cuttings, but caliber of the series:
- Superbells: Cherry Blossom pink; royal blue; Banana Chocolate and others;
- Kabloom: White; deep blue; Yellow and others;
- Crave: Sunset; Strawberry Star etc. can be grown at home from seeds.
What do you need to know about seeds?
F1 group hybrids
When buying a variety of calibrachoa you like, it is important to study the explanatory labels on the packaging. So, for example, the symbol "F1" warns that the plant is a hybrid. The variety declared by the manufacturer will grow from the seeds, but it will not give identical generations. In fact, this flower is an annual. Subsequently, it will not be possible to propagate it by seed or cuttings. No one knows how the second generation caliberhoa will grow.
Why do breeders develop varieties that are unstable to the transfer of morphological traits? The question is philosophical. As a rule, hybrids are taken from parents best qualities. This means that they sprout better, bloom more abundantly, grow faster, and are more resistant to pests and aggressive climate. Conclusion: calibrachoa - an annual definitely has the right to exist.
If desired, the grower will divide the package with seeds for 1-3 years and will admire the lush bushes for 2-3 seasons.
On a note! Packing bags with dragee caliberhoa can be different: from 3 to 500 pieces. The buyer will definitely find a favorite variety and right amount seeds.
Plasma Seeds
Plasma treatment is a topic that has become the subject of heated debate among flower growers. The manufacturer convinces that the latest technology allows you to increase the germination of seeds, reduce the risk of plant diseases, including caliberhoa. Professionals have already noted the effectiveness of know-how. Indeed, plasma seeds produce strong seedlings that do not need to be treated with fungicides, insecticides or herbicides.
Advantages of plasma technology:
- loosening and heating of the seed coat, which contributes to rapid germination when it enters the ground;
- destruction of many harmful microorganisms (viruses, bacteria) that cause various diseases plants;
- increasing the immunity of young caliberhoa, which means improving their development in difficult climatic conditions (during drought, in cold weather).
On a note! Plasma seeds are not soaked - they are immediately sown in the ground! Guarantee period 24 months.
Among amateur flower growers, there is an opinion that plasma processing is just a marketing ploy designed to increase product sales. Part of the statement is true. Practice shows that the germination rate of plasma caliberchoa seed increases by 10 - 20 positions (for example, from 75 to 90%), but does not give 100% of the result.
In this case, the grower may not notice the difference between regular and plasma seeds. There is only one conclusion on the issue - plasma treatment really improves the quality of seeds and stimulates their germination. But! No more than folk methods familiar to many gardeners.
What to Look for When Choosing Calibrachoa Seeds?
First of all, you should contact a trusted supplier, a manufacturer with famous name. This will minimize the risk of purchasing counterfeit goods.
Secondly, it is better to choose "fresh" seeds, which at the time of purchase have not expired even half of the expiration date.
If there is a “multipellet” mark on the package with calibrachoa, this means that there are 3-6-9 seeds in 1 dragee and when planting the granules should be laid out less often than usual.
Soil preparation
Compound
Before figuring out how to sow dragees with caliberhoa seeds, it is important to understand in which container and soil to distribute them. So, the plant prefers nutritious and moisture-intensive soil. In addition, it is important to provide the substrate with special friability and breathability. At the first stages of development, caliberchoa sprouts are much more capricious than petunias and are prone to rot.
Approximate soil composition:
- universal substrate + coir in equal proportions;
- 1 part universal substrate + 1/4 part coarse sand.
At the same time, the base is often diluted with vermiculite, clay, peat, soddy soil, hydrogel, and even sphagnum moss, and part of the sand is left for planting work.
On a note! Peat tablet - ready soil for sowing caliberchoa. After seed germination, seedlings are conveniently transferred to other containers.
fertilizers
These are stimulants that activate the development of the plant's root system, stimulate its tillering and increase stress resistance. Separate phytocomponents restart the ampel culture growth cycle, restore the ability to build up the vegetative mass, which was disrupted due to unfavorable agricultural conditions.
Seeding algorithm
Term
Question number 1 for flower growers: when to plant caliberhoa seeds for seedlings? Usually sowing is carried out in the first week of February, less often in March. The first shoots will appear within 1-3 weeks. The growth of the vegetative mass is very slow, but by the summer the grower will receive a compact bush capable of abundant flowering.
Some producers postpone sowing dates to earlier months (for example, January). This must be noted in the annotation to the bag of dragees. You will definitely need additional illumination of caliberhoa seedlings.
Step-by-step instruction
How to plant? The substrate is poured into the box, well moistened with a spray bottle. Dragees with caliberchoa seeds are laid out on the surface, maintaining a distance of at least 1 cm. You can scatter the seed with your hands, or you can use tweezers.
Water is re-sprayed from above and the soil is lightly sprinkled with sand. Such a measure will prevent the appearance of rot on immature seedlings of calibrachoa. Under sand, the substrate will retain moisture longer, and the stem and leaves will not come into contact with water.
More details about the benefits of the method are described in the video from "Garden, garden, do it yourself" at the end of the article.
When using peat tablets for planting caliberchoa, the essence of the procedure does not change much:
- the tablet is soaked in water or poured with boiling water;
- excess water is squeezed out;
- in the center of each tablet put 1 dragee with caliberchoa seeds.
At the end of the work, the container is covered with glass or film. For 7-14 days, the grower makes sure that the air temperature in the room does not fall below 20-21 degrees and does not rise above 25⁰С.
The substrate with seeds should not dry out, and condensation should accumulate on the ceiling and walls of the greenhouse. The root system of calibrachoa suffers from the first mistake. Restore vitality is unlikely to succeed. In the second case, the contact of leaves with condensate will cause rotting of the vegetative mass.
Finally, direct sunlight can cause the plant to rot. Gradually, even adult caliberhoa bushes are accustomed to the sun, needless to say that young seedlings should be cherished twice as scrupulously.
Care
Pick time
Stimulant preparations will help to form a strong root system of caliberchoa seedlings (although experts insist that their use is not at all necessary).
As new leaves form and seedlings mature, several vital questions arise before the florist: when to dive calibrachoa and how many plants to plant in one pot? About this in order.
The first transshipment of seedlings is carried out approximately 1-1.5 months after germination. 1 sprout is planted in a separate pot with a diameter of about 10-15 cm.
It should be remembered that caliberchoa grows vegetative mass very slowly. So, you do not need to look for a large capacity for the plant. Part of the soil is added as the root system masters the existing volume.
So, a two-month-old bush has enough land collected in a glass of 200 ml. When the roots tightly braid the substrate, the time will come for the next transshipment of caliberhoa. It is important to understand that the transplant big pot contributes to the long-term growth of the root system. This negatively affects the development of the vegetative mass.
On a note! Incorrectly chosen capacity is often the cause of the bay of young plants. Soil acidification, restriction of air access to the roots lead to the death of caliberhoa.
Seedling feeding
For those who sow caliberhoa at home, it is important to know that each time after picking, it is advisable to feed the seedling with a weak Floron solution or complex fertilizers (for example, Universal Nutrivant, Polygro). You can't do without nutrient mixtures. Both young plants and adult caliberhoa bushes are very fond of formulations with iron chelate, phosphorus, potassium and other components. Long-acting formulations are often used.
To increase the tillering of caliberhoa, starting from a week of life (after germination), top dressing is carried out with retardants (for example, Athlete). 3 procedures with 2 week intervals are enough. This drug prevents the stems of ampelous plants from stretching, shortens the internodes, including when there is a lack of light, and also promotes branching of the shoots. Flower growers prepare solutions according to annotations and applications, making sure not to allow a strong concentration of the active substance.
On a note! Aqueous solutions of retardants are prepared immediately before use. Their storage is unacceptable, since the components lose their properties. Processing of calibrachoa is carried out with sprayers that give a fine spray.
Sometimes depleted garden soils cause seedling chlorosis. Yellowed leaves are a signal that the time has come to use Ferovit, Antichlorosis or their analogues.
Lighting
The room in which the seedlings are located needs to be retrofitted lighting fixtures. Considering that the sowing period of calibrachoa begins in February-March, cloudy weather, short daylight hours interfere with normal seed germination.
For seedlings with 4-5 leaves, it is important to organize lighting lasting at least 11-12 hours. During the same period, the temperature can be reduced to 18-20 degrees Celsius.
Watering
Young seedlings of calibrachoa love a moist substrate, but they do not tolerate stagnant water. Watering should be moderate, that is, as the earth dries.
In hot weather, plants respond gratefully to frequent spraying from a spray bottle. However, it is important to remember here that the fragile petals of caliberchoa bells can be easily damaged. For the same reason, they are protected from rain and sudden gusts of wind.
When watering "under the root" weak solutions of fertilizers are introduced into the soil. Then the plant will bloom longer and more abundantly.
Bush formation
A powerful cascade of caliberchoa stems is formed by pinching the tops. The photo clearly shows that for the first time the shoots are cut off when they reach a length of ± 6-8 cm. The procedure is repeated when the growth rate exceeds 15 cm. Then the grower adjusts the pinching independently, focusing on personal taste when forming a bush.
Summarizing
The rules of agricultural technology convince, caliberhoa is an ampelous plant that requires care. When propagating by seeds, concessions should not be expected from a capricious relative of petunia. However, this is not a reason to refuse the cultivation of wonderful hybrids. If the gardeners of the Crimea, Moscow region or Siberia provide the seedlings with the proper conditions, caliberhoa will eclipse most of the flowering perennials in the garden.
We remind you that the standard term for sowing dragees is February / March. The manufacturer of the goods often indicates this on the packaging itself. How many days does it take for caliberchoa seeds to germinate? Within 7-21 days. All this time, the seed container should be in a warm (up to 25 degrees) and bright (11 hours) place. The soil is constantly wet (but without stagnant water).
It is desirable to organize greenhouse conditions for crops. This will help avoid temperature fluctuations, drafts or dry air, which are one of the factors (or explanations) why caliberchoa does not germinate. Another objective reason for failure is poor quality seeds.
What day do seedlings dive? Approximately 1.5 months after seed germination. No need to choose large containers. This makes it difficult for young plants to build up the root system and vegetative mass.
Pinching sprouts 6-8 cm long will allow the ampelous caliber to bush and acquire a spherical shape. Regular fertilizing with complex and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will help to achieve abundant flowering.
It remains to wish everyone good luck!
Charming Calibrachoa flower is the closest relative of petunias, but is endowed with a considerable number of differences. Here are stronger, lignified stems at the bottom, and longer shoots, because of which calibrachoa is included in the category of ampelous plants, and smaller flowers. There are many difficulties in plant propagation, especially when growing caliberchoa from seeds, so novice gardeners rarely try to comprehend this process.
The number of varieties of this amazing flower is no longer calculable, and most of them are quite loyal to the climate middle lane, which allowed gardeners to try to settle almost all types and varieties of calibrachoa on their plots. And thanks to this, after a few years, it is possible to name the most attractive and viable of them, with which even beginner flower growers should try to make friends.
Calibrachoa "Kablum blue" is the same annual as other plant varieties, gained its fame for being the first to be grown from seeds in the middle lane. Due to the fact that caliberhoa propagates mainly by cuttings, the ability to plant a flower on a plot or in a flowerpot through sowing has given gardeners many opportunities. Today, this is far from the only variety of caliberhoa grown from seeds, even within the Kablum group, but it is the most beloved by most specialists. It is distinguished from other species by low (up to 35 cm) bushes with small blue-violet flowers that have a rectangular yellow eye in the center. Calibrachoa "Kablum blue" is sown in early March, and its seeds are not recommended to be kept in growth stimulants, instead, simply placed in a moist substrate where their shell dissolves.
In addition to the main variety, today the Million Bells caliberhoa is also very popular with gardeners: its petals are also painted lilac or blue color, less often - in purple, brightening closer to the edge. It also lends itself well to sowing, however, experts recommend treating seedlings with growth stimulants in liquid form at the 3rd week of life to speed up the process. Calibrachoa of this variety is ampelous, its stems reach 1 m in length, and the flowering is always so plentiful that it easily justifies the loud name. Separately, it is worth noting that, despite the violet color prevailing in the gamut, which is native to her, varieties with pink, orange, yellow and even white petals have appeared through the efforts of breeders, but for the most part they are still available for cultivation only through cuttings.
How to grow a flower from seeds?
If you decide to grow caliberchoa from seeds, instead of purchasing seedlings, carefully follow all the instructions. Although it is difficult to call this flower very capricious, in young age, when its seedlings do not yet have enough strength, it is incredibly vulnerable, so it is extremely difficult to grow caliberchoa.
- Firstly, the seeds hatch very late and not all of them - gardeners often stimulate their germination with the help of various preparations, among which Epin, as well as Zircon, or a simple solution of potassium permanganate of low concentration are especially fond of. It is necessary to keep the seeds in the liquid for at least 24 hours, after which it is necessary to dry them for paper towel or thin fabric. But even this preparation does not guarantee that climatic conditions will not spoil the whole process of growing caliberchoa.
- Secondly, although this plant is flowering, not fruiting, it needs a very nutritious substrate. In addition to the fact that it necessarily contains peat and compost, which dilute ordinary garden soil, mineral fertilizer is introduced into the soil before sowing, and in the process of working with seedlings until it is picked, several top dressings are carried out, combined with watering. In addition, coarse sand and perlite are added to the earth mixture so that it does not clump together, but conducts air well. In addition, it is possible and necessary to lower the acidity of the substrate by adding lime to it. At the bottom of the boxes, where the calibrachoa will be sown, pebbles are scattered in a thick (4-5 cm) layer, which is also covered with a layer (0.5-1 cm) of sand. And only on this drainage litter is the main earth mixture laid. As for feeding an already adult plant, regardless of its location - a garden or a separate container - it will not appreciate organic fertilizers, especially if it is fresh manure that provokes fungal diseases root system of calibrachoa. It is better to add liquid mineral mixtures, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, as well as ordinary compost to the ground. And in the spring, the introduction of nitrophoska is mandatory in order to prepare the plant for the vegetative period.
- Thirdly, since the germination of the seeds is low, they are quite densely distributed over the soil - up to 50-70 seeds fall on a plot of 10 by 10 cm. Therefore, it is better to buy several bags of each variety of caliberhoa beforehand, so that you do not have to think about how to compose a composition from a small number of bushes. True, such a density calculation is more relevant for cases when a flower is sown in boxes suspended from the ceiling or displayed on a balcony. If you plan to subsequently dive calibrachoa and take out in open ground, you can not calculate the number of seeds - all the same, the seedlings will be relocated to another site.
- The last important point in growing caliberchoa seedlings is to maintain high humidity, for which it is not only required to tighten the containers with foil and place them by the window, but also spray the ground up to 3 times a day, and, subsequently, the seedlings, with warm soft water. Up to 4 times a month, seedlings must be fed with liquid fertilizer, and half of these top dressings should also occur through spraying. When 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings, they can be taken out to the balcony, where the window will open. And if the weather is already warm (from 22 degrees) on the street, you can take care of transplanting calibrachoa into open ground. Or continue to grow a flower in boxes, but on fresh air: loggia or external window sill.
- The best spot on a yard or balcony for a calibrachoa is one filled with light. The plant feels great under the sun's rays if it is constantly watered: in high humidity, direct lighting is not afraid of it, which cannot be said about moments of drought that cannot be tolerated. Calibrachoa will not appreciate shading, as a result of which it may refuse to bloom, or even lose the brightness of the leaves, so if the boxes are located against the wall, the south side is preferable.
- Heat and absence strong wind are also extremely important for the plant: this also often becomes the reason for growing caliberhoa in an apartment, on a loggia, and not on open area in the garden. In any room, you can put an artificial light lamp, which will significantly increase the air temperature, and cover the flower’s living area from all sides so that drafts and sharp gusts that can break the stems do not reach it. The ampelous caliber is especially afraid of this, oriented only to the walls of balconies, or to use it as a ground cover plant in a sunny and quiet lowland.
- An important nuance noted by gardeners is the soil into which mature plant if it was grown from seedlings. There are about 1.5-2 kg of land per bush, from which useful substances will be very actively drawn, so you should prepare for annual substrate changes or frequent additions of fertilizers - both compost and those purchased in a store.
- It is also impossible not to say that Calibrachoa does not like watering. More precisely, she appreciates high humidity, dies when the soil is overdried, but it is not recommended to water it: the soil and the bushes themselves should be moistened by constant (3-5 times a day) spraying with settled, non-icy water. The very same watering under the root is done only 1-2 times a week, not plentifully.
- While the bulk of the flowers brought from warm countries, needs to be protected from frost, caliberchoa needs protection from jets of water hitting it. This applies to both targeted watering, which should be carried out only under the root, and rains. The plant is so fragile that large drops can damage the leaves and petals, and prolonged rains often lead to the fact that the flowering of the bushes completely stops. This fact in some regions becomes the main reason for growing calibrachoa on balconies, in order to be able to bring boxes of flowers into the house at any time, protecting them from bad weather. Some gardeners practice creating a kind of greenhouse over the bushes, but in such a situation, the whole point of the settlement of caliberhoa is lost. suburban area. In the greenhouse, the flower will not be visible, and therefore it will no longer be able to decorate the garden.
At a young age, sprouts are quite vulnerable and require careful treatment. Growing caliberchoa from seeds is not easy.
Sowing Calibrachoa Seeds
Sowing seeds begins in late February - early March. Early dates plantings allow you to get a flowering plant in May.
Soil preparation for seedlings of calibrachoa
You can sow seeds in any loose substrate for indoor plants. But experienced gardeners have been preparing soil for planting since autumn.
The composition of the soil mixture includes:
Mature humus;
Garden land;
The components are mixed in a ratio of 1:1:2 and left to freeze in prepared containers.
Before sowing, the soil is brought into the house and treated from pests and infections. To do this, the soil is fried in the oven and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
In addition, caliberchoa can be grown in peat tablets. This method is more suitable for beginners, since seedlings do not need to dive.
Sowing caliberchoa seeds for seedlings
Calibrachoa seeds are similar to petunia seeds, they are quite small, which greatly complicates the sowing process. For beginners, it is better to purchase processed seeds in the form of yeast.
Sowing containers are filled with soil mixture and slightly moistened with a spray gun. Seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil, without sprinkling with soil.
Advice! To distribute the seeds evenly, mix them with sand or snow. You can also sprinkle seeds on White list paper and pick them up with the tip of a toothpick dipped in water.
After sowing, the surface of the soil is moistened with a spray bottle and the container is covered with glass. Calibrachoa seeds need light and heat to germinate. Therefore, seedling cassettes are placed in the most illuminated place, where the temperature is maintained at 22C. The first sprouts are visible in a week. After the appearance of mass shoots, the glass is removed and seedlings are sprayed as necessary.
Growing calibrachoa: care and picking seedlings (photo)
If seeds are sown in peat tablets, then you can not do a pick with a seedling. All other seedlings need mandatory thinning and picking.
Three to four weeks after germination, the seedlings dive into separate spacious containers. The procedure is carried out carefully, lifting the plant along with a clod of earth, and placing it in a new pot. Picking promotes the development of the root system.
Further care for calibrachoa comes down to watering and fertilizing. The plant does not tolerate soil moisture, so it is watered by irrigation several times a day.
Important! In order for the plant to form a lush bush, it is regularly pinched.
The first feeding of seedlings is carried out 10-14 days after picking. For abundant flowering, caliberhoa needs additional nutrition. Seedlings are fed with complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. To prepare the solution, the dose is halved so as not to burn the delicate roots of the plant.
Difficulties in Growing Calibrachoa Seedlings
Growing caliberchoa from seeds, gardeners often face a number of difficulties.
So, what will beginners have to face?
1. The seeds of this plant germinate very poorly.. Experienced gardeners resort to various tricks and soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate. You can use drugs like "Epin" or "Zircon". soaked planting material not a day, after which it is dried on the fabric. But even such processing does not guarantee that germination will increase.
2. Calibrachoa blooms poorly. The soil for planting should be as nutritious and loose as possible, breathable. To do this, it is not only diluted with humus and sand, but perlite is also added. In addition, every week the plant is fed with preparations with a high content of phosphorus and potassium.
3. Seedlings grow poorly and wither. Important point in growing seedlings of calibrachoa - maintaining high humidity around the plant. For this purpose, the pots are covered with a film or a bag, the flower is regularly irrigated from a spray bottle.
Caring for Calibrachoa in the Garden
Calibrachoa seedlings are best planted in hanging pots that decorate terraces, balconies and gardens. It is worth noting that the seedlings are very capricious, and you can take them out into the street no earlier than May.
Heat and light are very important for the full growth of the plant. Take the flower to the most illuminated place, but do not forget to water. Calibrachoa does not bloom in the shade and looks dull. You can place a planter with a plant near the southern wall of the house.
In addition, caliberhoa is afraid of drafts and cold winds. They are able to break the delicate stems of the plant. For this reason, most often the flower is grown indoors.
An adult plant needs space and fertile soil. One plant will require up to 3 kg of loose substrate. Mature humus or compost will help enrich the store soil mixture.
Important! As the plant grows, pinch and remove dry flowers. This will form a lush bush and prolong flowering.
Water an adult plant carefully, trying not to moisten the soil too much. Top dressing is carried out every week with a solution of mineral fertilizers.
So, when caring for calibrachoa, it is important to follow the basic rules:
Water systematically;
Trim in a timely manner
Feed regularly;
Provide enough light and heat.
Calibrachoa - capricious, but beautiful flower. With all the advice experienced gardeners, its cultivation will not cause trouble.
Growing Calibrachoa from cuttings
Collecting caliberchoa seeds for further cultivation does not make sense. The plant does not retain parental qualities and you will grow flowers that are completely different in color and shape.
It is better to propagate caliberchoa by cuttings on your own. This method gives the best result. You will need cuttings about 7 cm long.
1. Cuttings are cut from the mother plant in the spring.
2. lower part the cuttings are bare, cutting off the leaves.
3. Treat the cut in root solution.
4. Planted cuttings in moist soil.
5. Place a container with cuttings in a greenhouse.
Every day, the greenhouse must be aired and the plants watered as needed. In the future, the seedlings are looked after as usual.
Plants grown in this way tolerate winter well at home and are again used for cuttings.
Calibrachoa varieties popular among gardeners
The number of varieties of this plant is very large, many of them tolerate the climate of the middle zone quite well.
The most popular variety of calibrachoa among hobbyists " Cabloom blue". The bushes are low up to 35 cm, the flowers are small, bright blue with a yellow eye in the center. Sowing is carried out in early March, the seeds do not need to be soaked to stimulate growth. Suitable for growing beginners.
Variety " A million bells» is also popular with gardeners.
The petals of the plant are colored blue, purple or lilac. ampelous plant, whose shoots reach a length of 1 meter. In addition, sowing seeds is carried out immediately in the ground, without subjecting them to treatment in growth stimulants. Breeders have bred new varieties of this plant with pink, red, yellow and white petals. But they are grown only by cuttings.
Probably, many have seen this cute plant at garden shows. In May flowering bush exhibit as an example how seedlings that are sold in pots will look like. The name of the flower is calibrachoa, but not everyone dares to buy it. In appearance, the plant is similar to a petunia, only the flowers are much smaller. And few people realize that in summer there are so many of these flowers that leaves are not visible behind them! It is no coincidence that one of the varieties is called Million Bells - Million Bells.
WHO IS WHO?
Most gardeners mistake this flower for a petunia or its hybrid form. Actually, it is not. Calibrachoa and petunia are different plants.
The genus Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa La Llave & Lexarza) was established as early as 1825. However, the most ornamentally valuable species, such as Calibrachoa parviflora, were transferred to it from the genus Petunia only in 1990. The main criterion for such a movement was the number of chromosomes: in petunias it is 2n = 14, in caliberhoa 2u = 18.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CALIBRACHOA
V last years flower growers satiated with large terry forms modern colors, a little "tired" of them. Eyes turned to cultures with small flowers. And then the small "bells" of calibrachoa turned from a disadvantage into a virtue. Such flowers are easier to fit into compositions, they are not knocked out even in natural-style gardens. And the abundance of flowers is a definite plus of calibrachoa. At proper care flowers open all summer, cascading down on stems.
Calibrachoa is usually grown in pots and containers like hanging petunias. The earth in containers dries up quickly. But caliberhoa is more drought-resistant, which distinguishes it from petunias. However, regular watering is required for good growth. During rains, on the contrary, there should be no stagnation of moisture. To do this, it is necessary to make reliable drainage in the container. By the way, small flowers of calibrachoa tolerate precipitation more easily than large petunias, which crumple and deteriorate from rain.
The advantage of calibrachoa is the variety of colors. She repeats everything color shades petunias, plus has yellow and brown tones. They are easy to combine with other colors, such as red pelargonium (photo 3).
The disadvantage of calibrachoa, perhaps, is one. It is propagated not by seeds, but vegetatively (by cuttings). Mother plants are stored all winter, but they do not always survive until spring. Conditions cool and moderate humidity.
PLANTING AND CARECALIBRACHOA
Calibrachoa is sold by seedlings (rooted cuttings) in pots or cassettes. Sometimes the cuttings are so small that they are not of interest to buyers. But after transplanting into a spacious container, they grow rapidly.
For abundant flowering, loose, nutritious soil is needed. You can make the mixture yourself or buy ready-made high-quality soil. Soil dries out quickly in containers. To better retain moisture, it is recommended to add sphagnum moss. As a substitute for moss, a hydrogel is suitable.
2-3 plants are planted in one container, depending on its size. When the seedlings have 4-5 true leaves, pinch the stems for branching. The same is done with the side shoots. The result is lush bushes with an abundance of flowers.
Calibrachoa is photophilous and thermophilic. Grows well in open sunny places. It can grow in partial shade, but there will be fewer flowers.
Watering regularly, not allowing the soil to dry out. It's better to water warm water heated in the sun. From cold water powdery mildew may occur.
Top dressing every 7-10 days with fertilizer for flowering plants or complex Fertikalux. Long-acting AVA fertilizers give a good effect. They are applied to the soil when planting (2-4 tablets, depending on the size of the pot). Stimulates flowering and potash fertilizer. They are sprayed with leaves with potassium sulfate at the rate of 1 teaspoon. spoon for 1 liter of water).
In prolonged rains, containers with calibrachoa are best removed under a canopy. So you save the decorativeness of the plants, and they will bloom until October.
BREEDINGCALIBRACHOA
Before frost, the most the best bushes Calibrachoa are transferred indoors and stored in the winter for reproduction. From large containers, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 18-20 cm. The conditions of keeping are light and cool temperature. Such a climate can be created on a warmed loggia or a cool veranda. Watering is very moderate, only so that the earth does not dry out.
In March, cuttings begin. Apical cuttings with 46 leaves are cut from mother plants. Two top sheet left, the rest are removed. Root cuttings, planting them in pots under a jar or in a common box with a film. The temperature for rooting is 22 C. The soil is disinfected with a fungicide. Calibrachoa takes root within two weeks.
If you come across caliberhoa seedlings this year, don't miss it. Try growing "Million Bells"!
O. Okutin, Nizhny Novgorod
Number of impressions: 9952
Quickly gained popularity among flower growers and summer residents ampelous calibrachoa with its exuberant and long flowering and externally. Its small flowers look like miniature bells, and the flower itself was called "a million bells." The plant is grown in hanging planters or balcony boxes.
Usually ampelous flower purchased at a flower shop, and then propagated by cuttings.
Although in Lately articles have appeared Calibrachoa cultivation at home”, however, without special knowledge of the characteristics of the flower, it is difficult to grow healthy seedlings.
How can this marvelous plant be grown independently from seeds and without problems?
"Country hobbies"
Calibrachoa growing from seeds
What is this flower?
An ampelous plant, the shoots of which can grow up to 1.5 m, with many flowers in the form of bells. It blooms with proper care so abundantly and violently that it is a huge colorful bouquet.
In nature, it usually has purple flowers. However, breeders were able to breed varieties with red, pink, orange, yellow, white petals. Previously, these flowers were propagated only by cuttings. And now it has become possible to breed them through seeds.
Calibrachoa growing from seeds at home
Seed sprouts are so vulnerable until they are well established that you need to carefully and carefully follow our recommendations in a certain sequence.
Seed preparation
When sowing untreated seeds, their seedlings are stretched over time, and the germination rate itself is not enough (some of the seeds simply will not sprout!). Therefore, it is imperative to stimulate germination with drugs: Zircon, Epin, or hold in a solution of potassium permanganate for a day. After the preparations, the seeds should be dried on a cloth or paper.
Soil preparation
The plant needs a nutrient substrate. Therefore, a mixture of peat, garden soil, humus, coarse sand and perlite is prepared so that the soil is light, loose, with good breathability. And be sure to fill the soil with mineral fertilizers. In addition, the soil must have a neutral reaction, so you should add dolomite flour or wood ash.
Sowing seeds
For sowing, peat tablets pre-soaked in water are used. A few seeds are laid out on tablets and covered either with a film or plastic cup. Germination requires a temperature of at least 18-20 degrees. Must be installed additional lighting seeds ( table lamp must be switched on daily for 12-15 hours).
Seeds will begin to hatch in 7-9 days. After seed germination, seedlings should be aired regularly. If the seedlings grow well, the shelter (film) is removed after 4-6 days.
Now we are waiting for real leaves. And the tablets are moistened with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. When the first true leaf appears, you need to pour the seedlings with water with vitamin B 12 (dilute the ampoule in 300 ml of water). Now alternately water it with clean warm water, then with a solution with vitamins.
Transshipment of seedlings
seedling care
Watering. Calibrachoa prefers high humidity. Therefore, you need to spray the ground daily at least three times a day with warm water and 1-2 times a week carefully water the seedlings under the root, avoiding waterlogging, so as not to provoke root rot. Seedlings react negatively to the drying of the soil, so carefully monitor the condition of the soil near the seedlings.
top dressing. For the normal development of seedlings, fertilizing should be carried out weekly. And half of them are carried out by spraying. In the first period of development, the plant needs nitrogen, and when flowering, phosphorus and potassium are needed. You can use complex fertilizer for petunias, diluting it according to the instructions. For seedlings, only ¼ of the norm from an adult flower is used.
hardening. When the plant has 4-5 leaves, it can be gradually taken out to the loggia or balcony in warm weather (20-22 degrees).
Seedlings and seedlings should be protected from drafts and wind just as the shoots of a flower are fragile and can break off or get sick.
From lighting depends on the development of seedlings, it is necessary to install additional lighting daily up to 12 hours.
Seedling transplant
Can be planted in pots or outdoors using Calibrachoa as a ground cover.
When planting in a planter or pot, its capacity should be at least three liters. Pebbles or expanded clay are placed at the bottom with a layer of up to 5 cm, coarse sand up to 1 cm on top, and then nutrient soil.
calibrachoa in the garden Caring for Calibrachoa
It comes down to regular top dressing (once a week), to prevent the earth from drying out, but also not to overmoisten, regularly spray the plant, water only under the root, do not place the flower in the sun at its zenith, so as not to burn the leaves.
Prolonged rains can cause the flower to stop blooming.
We hope that we have convinced you: it is quite possible, although this is a troublesome business.
Be aware that the seeds you collect may grow into plants that are inferior to the mother plant and will flower poorly and have smaller flowers.
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