Can you grow calibrachoa from seeds?
Growing your Calibrachoa. Depending on how much time and effort you are willing to sacrifice, you can either grow your Calibrachoa from seed, or purchase it as a young plug plant. Calibrachoa can be overwintered in a garage or other sheltered location. With heavy pruning, repotting and fertilizing they may look good for a second year. Pest and Disease: Aphids and petunia bud worm are the most common insect issues.Calibrachoas grow best in pots and hanging baskets. Be sure to plant them in well-drained potting soil. Add a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote®, when planting. If you prefer to use a liquid fertilizer, feed every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the growing season.Overwintering: Calibrachoa is typically grown as an annual, but in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, it can be treated as a perennial. In colder regions, you can bring container-grown plants indoors and place them in a bright, cool location (around 50-60°F) for the winter.Transplant calibrachoa into a container or the ground in late spring after the threat of frost has passed. Give this plant room to spread when planted in the garden. It only grows to about 4 inches tall but can spread up to 2 feet.
Can you collect calibrachoa seeds?
You don’t want your calibrachoa pods to burst open, as this will lead to a loss of seeds. Gently clip them from your plant and bring them indoors. Open the seed pods and keep the seeds inside for next year. While they may be small, calibrachoa seeds are easily harvested from their protective pods. Calibrachoa may be started from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or from potted plants. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost using a seed starting kit. Sow seeds thinly and barely press into seed starting formula as seeds benefit from light to germinate.With germination very easy, Calibrachoa is the perfect choice for a beginner gardener; the time between sowing and blooming spans as little as four months! Fill an 8cm pot or half-size seed tray with compost, and smooth out the top with a flat-edged wooden block.SOWING: Transplant (recommended): Sow the seeds in flats, barely covering them. Transplant to individual containers when the seedlings have their first true leaves. Transplant outside in the spring or summer, 6-8 weeks after starting the seeds, spacing plants 12-18 apart.Calibrachoa may be started from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or from potted plants. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost using a seed starting kit. Sow seeds thinly and barely press into seed starting formula as seeds benefit from light to germinate.
Is calibrachoa easy to grow?
If you’ve never grown calibrachoa, you’re missing out on a real treat. The plants are easy to grow, bloom like crazy all summer and never need deadheading. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the trumpet shaped blooms. Calibrachoa is hardy in zones 9 to 11. They can be left outdoors over the winter in these warm climates. In colder climates, dig up the plants and bring them indoors or take cuttings to create new plants inside your home. These sun-loving plants will need supplemental light when grown indoors.Often called “million bells” or “mini petunias,” Calibrachoas may have smaller flowers (typically around half an inch wide), but they make up for it with their dense blossom coverage, brilliant colors, and compact, non-sticky foliage.If you’ve never grown calibrachoa, you’re missing out on a real treat. The plants are easy to grow, bloom like crazy all summer and never need deadheading. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the trumpet shaped blooms.Does Calibrachoa Come Back Every Year? Calibrachoa is grown as annuals in most USDA Hardiness Zones, but can be grown as perennials in zones 9-11.
How long does it take for calibrachoa seeds to germinate?
Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow seeds thinly and barely press into seed starting formula as seeds benefit from light to germinate. Pelleted seed should be misted to dissolve the coating. Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees. Seedlings emerge in 10-14 days. Another option is to tuck seeds directly into soil outdoors. Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results.Gently scatter the seeds over the designated areas. Aim for even distribution, but don’t worry about perfect spacing—a slightly denser sprinkle can be thinned out later. After sowing, lightly cover the area with soil and water it to help the seeds settle into the soil. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.Sow seeds 6-8 apart on the soil surface and press lightly to settle. Seeds will sprout in 10-20 days. Thin seedlings so that mature plants are 18-24 apart.
Can you grow Calibrachoa from cuttings?
It will take a couple of months for Calibrachoa cuttings to become viable plants, so plan accordingly. In zones 9 through 11, where the plant grows as a perennial, take cuttings early in the growing season so the rooted plant can acclimate before winter. Does Calibrachoa Come Back Every Year? Calibrachoa is grown as annuals in most USDA Hardiness Zones, but can be grown as perennials in zones 9-11.