An abundantly flowering caliberhoa plant, the cultivation and care of which is not particularly difficult, is especially attractive for placement in flowerpots and flowerpots. Having become acquainted with this flower closer, it is impossible to refuse to plant it in your garden. Even a novice can cope with the cultivation of culture.
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Calibrachoa: features of cultivation
Often the plant is confused with petunia, which has many similarities with the caliber. In reality, these are completely different species in which even DNA consists of an unequal number of chromosomes.
Calibrachoa flowers are small in size but abundant in bloom, due to which an unusually decorative effect is created from the lush mass of flowers.
The easiest way to grow a culture is by cuttings, rather than seeds that you need to tinker with. Plant plants optimally in hanging planters. The length of the stems can reach one and a half meters, and therefore the main purpose of the caliber is vertical gardening. The resistance of the crop to a lack of moisture makes it the best option even when there is no way to devote enough attention to the garden.
How to grow from seed?
The choice of method for growing caliberhoa through seeds is good only if there is no way to buy seedlings or you do not want to spend a significant amount of money on a plant. The process requires strict observance of all the rules of agricultural technology, since otherwise it will not be possible to obtain high-quality seedlings. Seed germination is usually low, and even the slightest disturbance in agricultural technology leads to the fact that the plant is extremely weak and does not give abundant flowers.
Growing caliberhoa from seeds is a matter for professionals rather than beginners.
Soil and capacity requirements
To obtain quality seedlings, it is very important to provide the plants with the right soil.
Soil is prepared for sowing seeds by mixing the following components:
- peat - 1 part;
- garden land - 1 part;
- humus - 1 part.
Also, mineral fertilizers should be added without fail.
If you wish, you can purchase in the gardening shop special land for seedlings of flower crops.
How and when to plant seeds?
Plant seeds of flower crops for seedlings should be early enough. In the Middle lane this is done in the last decade of February. The seeds of the plant are small, therefore, when planting, care must be taken not to lose them. Seeds are scattered on the surface of moistened soil, gently squeezed into it. Then the box with seedlings is covered with glass or film and placed under the lamp. On the windowsill, seedlings will not succeed, since there will be too little natural light for the sprouts, and the cold from the window will prevent timely germination.
Seedlings dive 45 days after sowing seeds. Weak leaves should not be left, because growing them does not make sense, since it will not be possible to obtain high-quality flowering from them.
Seedling Care
Proper crop care is very important for healthy plants. Water the seedlings as necessary, but at least 1 time in 5 days.
Important for plants and top dressing. The first time fertilizers are applied 2 weeks after the dive. A complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants is used for feeding. Its dosage should be 2 times less than that indicated in the instructions for the composition, as otherwise it will burn the roots. Further dressing is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks until the plants are planted in a permanent place.
Growing caliberhoa from cuttings
Growing from cuttings is the easiest way to propagate caliberhoa. To obtain young bushes from the mother plant, apical cuttings are cut at least 4 cm and no more than 6 cm long and take root in the soil, the same as that prepared for planting seeds. To accelerate the process of root formation, the lower leaf plates from the cuttings are torn off.
In order for rooting to proceed as quickly as possible, a mini-greenhouse is made over the plants, for which the pot with cuttings is covered with a transparent plastic bag. Daily it must be removed for 3-5 minutes for ventilation. Further care is the same as for an adult plant.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Seedlings are planted in open ground after the air temperature is set at not lower than +15 degrees. For planting, you should use spacious hanging planters or tall flowerpots. In the middle lane, landing is usually carried out at the end of May.
The soil needed is the same as the one in which the seedlings were grown.
Flowers are planted in the late afternoon so that the sun does not immediately burn them. After rooting, the plant will need bright sunlight, but not constantly.
Calibracha: Care
In order for the plant to please the rapid flowering for a long time, it is necessary to provide it with quality care. There is nothing complicated in it.
Lighting, temperature and humidity
Since the plant does not tolerate intense heat, it is not necessary to plant caliberhoa in the sun itself. It is optimal to plant flowers in a place that is fully illuminated by the sun only in the morning and in the evening, when its rays can no longer burn the plant.
Air temperature is also very important, and you should not leave a flower on the street when it drops below +12 degrees.
Humidity does not significantly affect the plant. It does not tolerate too much dryness, but otherwise special moistening is not required, and normal or slightly increased air humidity is suitable for calibra.If, due to prolonged heat and lack of precipitation, the air is overdried, then it is worth putting a saucer with water near the plant, the evaporation of which will locally increase humidity. For winter, it is installed in a warm room.
Watering and feeding
When watering, it is very important to take into account the fact that the culture is less demanding on water than petunia, and excessive soil moisture is detrimental to it. Water the flower only when the soil is slightly dry.
Top dressing is carried out 1 time in 14 days, using complex fertilizers for flowering plants.
Fertilizer and spraying
Spraying for a flower is necessary. In hot weather, it is carried out 3 times a day. Use for this should only be settled water at room temperature.
You can combine spraying with foliar fertilizer. For this, it is useful to use a solution of succinic acid or special formulations for treating the aerial parts of flowering plants. They will allow to stimulate the formation of the maximum number of buds and long, especially rapid flowering.
Winter Care Nuances
The culture is perennial and in the winter months is housed. A flower should be placed in the northern part of the apartment away from heat sources. If it is impossible to put it away from the battery, then the radiator should be covered with a blanket.
After 14 days of the plant being warm, its shoots are cut off by half and reduce the intensity of irrigation. In the presence of illumination from cut shoots, cuttings can be made.
Pest and Disease Control
With proper care, the plant does not suffer from diseases. Due to waterlogging, fungal diseases can develop. Compliance with agricultural technology and proper watering will be able to prevent their occurrence. To prevent damage by pests, calibracho must be sprayed with compounds against them once every 2 weeks. You can buy them at any gardening store.
Landscape design
In landscape design, the plant is used to create complex compositions with tall flowerpots and hanging flower pots. The flower harmoniously complements the design of the garden and well creates rich color spots.
Do not confuse caliberhoa with petunia and take the plant for an annual. With proper care, the culture will be an excellent decoration of the garden. A cache-pot with many small bells will undoubtedly attract attention. Kablum variety with bright yellow flowers looks especially impressive.