Petunia Calibrachoa: photo, description, cultivation

The article highlights the Kalibrachoa petunia: photo, description of the variety, breeding rules, care instructions, use to decorate the site.

Ampel petunia Calibrachoa: variety description

Petunia Calibrachoa: photo

Petunias of various varieties are frequent plants that adorn flower beds and gardeners' plots. They can decorate not only garden plots, but also an apartment and grow petunias at home.
The flowers of the Kalibrachoa petunia can have different colors and shapes, depending on the variety. At the moment, the Kalibrachoa variety is gaining popularity and is becoming the most beloved variety.

Variety of petunia Calibrachoa: photo

• The Calibrachoa plant belongs to the Solanaceae family and is considered a relative of the petunia.
• In the 19th century, Calibrachoa was officially considered one of the types of petunias and belonged to the subtype of ampoule petunias.
• Calibrachoa has very strong stems that are very hard at the bottom and also have long shoots. The stem can reach up to 60 centimeters in length, but the average is 30-40 centimeters.
• The crown of Calibrachoa has a rounded shape and looks like a ball from a distance. The entire crown consists of small buds.
• The bud itself is small, averaging about 2.5 centimeters. The core of the flower does not change its color and has a yellow color, sometimes a dark yellow color.

The plant has a lot of varieties and varieties, but the original and classic is the lilac color. But due to the work of breeders, it can be completely different, from white to dark purple. The leaves of the plant are very thin and elongated, they have a little fluff, and it is also present on the stems of the plant. The fluff is small and not dense, on average, the height of this fluff is about 2 millimeters. The length of the leaves is variable and depends on care, it varies from 2.5 to 5 centimeters.

Why the Kalibrachoa petunia variety is actually a different plant

In the 19th century, Calibrachoa was considered a species of petunia, but breeders of the 21st century have proven that this is absolutely not the case. These plants were often compared due to their similar appearance, but it turned out that they are different plants and calibrachoa and petunia are different.

What is the difference between calibrachoa and petunias?

Petunia Calibrachoa is small-flowered, and petunia has 1.5-2 times more buds, and the core of petunias can be of different colors, unlike Calibrachoa.
The most visible difference between these two plants is the leaves and their condition. In Calibrachoa, they have a small fluff, and in comparison with petunias they are small in size. The stems and shoots are also very different. Petunia has a flexible and herbaceous stem, like another plant, it is very hard and resembles the bark of a tree.

Petunia Calibrachoa: varieties

This plant has its own varieties and varieties, thanks to the work of breeders. The most popular varieties of this plant are as follows:

• The first grade is called Kablum.

He has very beautiful buds, as they are deep blue in color. Plant height reaches 160 centimeters, which is quite a lot for Calibrachoa. Sometimes the color changes and becomes a deep purple, which is also very beautiful.

• The second most popular variety is named With a million bells.

In this variety, about subtypes of the plant are united, which are characterized by very small flowers.

• The next variety is called Chameleon, because of its color, which changes during life.

The flowers of this variety are terry.

• Variety Noah has very interesting buds, they are very different from all varieties in that they have several flowers in their color at once.

Also, this variety grows well in places where it is humid and dark.

• The next variety is called Kalita... Depending on the period of development, it has a different color, which makes it a very interesting variety.
• A popular variety of this plant are Terry variety, which is used during planting more often than others, since it is completely unpretentious to planting conditions and does not require special care.

Petunia Calibrachoa small-flowered: planting and care

You can plant Calibrachoa using seedlings or using seeds. At the same time, many gardeners grow the plant in the last way. Both methods are considered effective and easy to use. Planting with seeds should be done according to clear instructions so that the plant takes root and begins to develop.

• If planting is carried out using seeds, then it should be borne in mind that the process of their germination is quite long-term and usually about 60-70% of all seeds emerge, so a sufficient number of them should be sown. Gardeners recommend treating seeds with growth stimulants, then almost everything will sprout. You can carry out the treatment with Zircon or Epin, it depends only on the taste of the gardener.
• Also, before planting, you can treat the seeds with a manganese solution, it will help the seeds to take root and in the future have stronger immunity. For this, the seeds must be placed in a bandage or gauze and left in solution for 18-20 hours. Then they are taken out and dried well in paper towels or a thin towel.
• The soil into which the sowing will be carried out must be filled with nutrients. This will also allow the plant to take root better and start growing as quickly as possible. The soil can be bought at the store, everything for the garden and vegetable garden, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to use peat or compost, which is mixed with the ground in equal proportions.
• Also, mineral fertilizing must be added to the soil and then sowing can be carried out.
• For good air conduction, a small amount of coarse sand can be added to the soil.
• It is also worth paying attention to the acidity of the earth, the soil should be neutral or low acidity.
• Before planting, you need to install a drainage system, as it will repel excess water from the root system of the plant. The drainage layer is usually about 6 centimeters. For the drainage system, expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles can be used.
• Seeds must be sown according to the instructions. The seeds should be close together to increase the chance of sprouting.
• Humidity is very important for Calibrachoa and should be slightly increased. To do this, it is necessary to spray the plant regularly to maintain the humidity of the air. Fertilizers can also be applied by irrigation, but this is done only once every 7-9 days.
• After the sprouts appear, which have 3-4 full leaves, the seedlings should be transferred to a place where there is fresh air.
• After warming up the soil and establishing a warm temperature, the plant can be transplanted into open ground.

Landing place

The planting site should be well lit, since Calibrachoa is a photophilous plant. Regular watering of the soil should also be carried out. The site of Calibrachoa development may be slightly shaded, this will not greatly affect the plant. But if the planting is carried out in full shade, then the growth of the plant will slow down 3-4 times, and flowering will come either very late or not at all.Also, with such a planting, the plant will become lethargic and lose its decorative appearance.

Caring for a variety of petunia Calibrachoa

Proper and quality care also has a strong influence on the development of Calibrachoa. The care consists in protection from wind and drafts, in temperature regime, fertilization and maintenance of humidity in the air and soil. When planting Calibrachoa in open ground, it is impossible to control temperature changes, so it is best to grow this plant at home. This allows the plant to grow better and show all its beauty.

In order for the plant to develop well in the open field, it is necessary to protect it with other plants so that they prevent strong winds and drafts. It should be borne in mind that in winter, Calibrachoa does not need to be prepared, since it is an annual plant.

Watering

For good functioning and development of Calibrachoa, it must be well watered. The soil should be irrigated regularly to maintain moisture. But at the same time, watering should be moderate, since excess moisture will not benefit the plant, but, on the contrary, will have a bad effect on its growth and development. Also, excess moisture can lead to the appearance of fungal diseases, which can bring the plant to death.
In order not to overdo it with watering, you just need to spray the plant daily in a small amount. Spraying is not carried out when it rains. Watering and spraying is carried out only in sunless weather, since the sun's rays can cause burns to the plant.

Top dressing

After transplanting into open ground, you need to start applying top dressing to the soil so that the plant has a rich color and blooms for as long as possible. For the first feeding, mineral or complex fertilizers are perfect, as they will have a positive effect on Calibrachoa. Organic feeding is not used for the first feeding, as it attracts fungus.
Fertilizer can be applied at different times, but for spring feeding, nitrophoska should be used. After all, this element helps the plant during the growing season.

How to propagate Calibrachoa

This plant can be propagated by cuttings. For this process, you will need to cut off 2-4 tops from the plant, usually this is done at the very end of summer. Cuttings of Calibrachoa petunia should be about 8 centimeters long. The tops must be cleaned of leaves and planted in the soil. In order for the cuttings of the Kalibrachoa petunia to take root quickly, they must be regularly watered and a small greenhouse created. After such shenanigans, the plant will quickly form its own root system. After 15-18 days, the greenhouse is removed and active care for Calibrachoa begins. Care is carried out in the same way as for an ordinary plant.

What can Calibrachoa get infected

Calibrachoa has a fairly high resistance to diseases and pests and the only reason for the appearance of any disease is associated with improper or insufficient care. For example, if the wrong olive is carried out, then the plant can get sick with a fungal disease, and it will begin to rot. To get rid of the fungus, it is necessary to remove the infected parts and treat the plant with any antifungal drug.
If the leaves begin to turn yellow and the plant becomes paler, then it is safe to say that it is sick with chrolosis. It is also treated with antifungal treatment.

How to decorate the Calibrachoa garden area

Ampel petunia Calibrachoa is often used in the design of a garden plot, as it decorates it with its own appearance. The plant can be used not only on garden plots, but also on city beds, verandas or balconies.
Calibrachoa can grow close to any other plants, so you can create compositions that will look more impressive than separately.

Petunia Calibrachoa: video about the variety