2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Calibrachoa (lat. Calibrachoa) Is a flowering plant that is a member of the Solanaceae family. The second name of the plant is mini petunia.
Description
Calibrachoa is a magnificent ampelous plant, which has a very long and rather abundant spectacular flowering. And outwardly, this plant is very similar to petunia (in principle, until 1990 it was ranked among the huge family of petunias), but its flowers will almost always be smaller. In addition, unlike related petunias, the calibrachoa's stems become much more lignified and branched, forming long and graceful ampelous shoots, and the small leaves of this handsome man are almost always lanceolate. And all the green parts of this handsome man are covered with thin and rather tough short hairs.
Calibrachoa flowers rarely exceed three centimeters in diameter. Their natural color is usually purple, but varieties with brownish, yellow, as well as pinkish, red or white flowers are quite common. In addition, in a number of varieties, the throat can be colored in rich dark brown or cheerful yellow tones.
Where grows
Calibrachoa can be found almost everywhere - this plant is very popular.
Usage
Since calibrachoa is an ampelous plant, it is most often grown in tall vases, balcony boxes or hanging baskets. It is often used to decorate interiors or terraces.
Growing and caring
Calibrachoa thrives on fertile garden soils (light and moderately moist), and caring for this plant is usually identical to caring for petunias, however, calibrachoa grows much more slowly than petunias.
When choosing a container for planting calibrachoa, it is important to take into account that a minimum of three or even four liters of soil is required per plant. And if the calibrachoa will grow in the open field, a distance of forty to fifty centimeters should be observed between the plants.
This green pet is quite photophilous (the abundance of flowering and its brightness are in direct proportion to the lighting) and very thermophilic. Sometimes he can suffer from wind or moisture stagnation. In addition, in central Russia, the calibrachoa, unfortunately, will not be able to winter in the open field.
Calibrachoa is watered every day, and in the heat, the number of waterings is increased up to twice a day. For irrigation, soft settled water is used, while it is important to try in every possible way to avoid the possible drying out of the earthen coma under the sun's rays. In addition, in extreme heat, calibrachoa does not hurt to spray.
From time to time, it is recommended to feed the calibrachoa with good organic fertilizers, and in order for this plant to please with its wonderful continuous flowering, it is fed with full complex mineral fertilizers about once every seven to ten days.
Reproduction of calibrachoa occurs either by seeds, which are usually planted for seedlings, or cuttings obtained from mother plants. However, due to the fact that the collection of seeds of this plant is extremely difficult due to their too small size, most often they still resort to propagation by cuttings. And hybrids are not at all recommended to be propagated by seeds, since they either will not give seeds, or will not retain their inherent characteristics in descendant plants.
Uterine plants are usually sent for wintering, from which cuttings are then cut in early spring. Plants that have entered a dormant period must be provided with increased humidity. Top dressing in this case is stopped, and the air temperature is reduced to fifteen to eighteen degrees.
As for diseases and pests, Calibrachoa almost never encounters them.
