How To Take Care Of The Annual Superbell Bloom?

Superbells, also known as Million Bells, are perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 and treated as annuals in colder climates. They require full sun, well-drained soil, and regular fertilization to prevent root rot. Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is a popular container plant with a trailing habit and looks great in hanging baskets, bowls, or mixed contai.

Caring for these plants is minimal, as the soil should be kept fairly moist but not soggy, especially in full sun areas. Container plants require more water than regular plants. Calibrachoa are heavy feeders, and using a fertilizer designed to increase flowers (some labeled as blossom-boosters) and one with iron will help keep the leaves bright green. High nitrogen will increase their growth.

Calibrachoas grow in full sun as a tender perennial in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, but in colder zones, they grow as an annual. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and somewhat sticky structured. They have masses of pretty, bell-like flowers that look like mini petunias and come in various shapes and sizes.

To grow, maintain, and use colorful calibrachoas in garden designs, especially containers and hanging baskets, they need a sunny location, well-drained soil, adequate fertilizer, and proper watering. They prefer full sun to partial shade, with a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Superbells require well-drained soil, frequent feeding, and occasional trimming. In containers, allow the top of the soil to dry before watering again. If the plant is wilting even though the soil is still damp, it likely has root rot. Minimal pruning is required, and superbells are self-cleaning and don’t need deadheading.


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How do I make calibrachoa bushy?

The basket of Calibrachoa plants will be trimmed to a maximum of 30 individuals in order to control their rapid growth. This intervention will facilitate the development of a visually appealing flower globe within a few weeks.

Do superbells need deadheading?
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Do superbells need deadheading?

Calibrachoa plants are low-maintenance and require regular fertilization to thrive. They can be sensitive to both high and low pH levels, so if your plants start to look tired or yellow, it could be due to a lack of regular fertilization or a change in the soil’s pH range. If the foliage is still yellow, you can try using a well-balanced water-soluble fertilizer or applying Chelated Iron, which is available at a wider pH range and can help your plants turn green again.

As the season progresses, plants may start to appear open and not as good. This can be fixed by giving them an all-over trim, which will stimulate new growth and flowering. Fertilizing right after trimming them back can help improve their appearance. Trimming plants in late July or early August can also help improve their overall appearance.

For optimal performance, apply fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regularly fertilize plants in pots. Calibrachoa are very forgiving when it comes to trimming, and regular application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and pots can ensure the best possible performance. Overall, maintaining a balanced and well-fed Calibrachoa plant is essential for its continued growth and health.

How do you maintain Superbells?
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How do you maintain Superbells?

Superbells calibrachoa are more sensitive to wet soil than Supertunia petunias, preferring slightly moist but not soggy soil. To prevent root rot, let the soil dry out before watering, but not so much that the plants wilt. Superbells thrive in hanging baskets and patio containers because excess water can drain out the hole in the bottom of the pot. If the pots are staying wet for days, move them to a bright but dry location until sunnier weather returns.

Feeding Superbells with premium water soluble plant food every third time of watering is recommended, as it contains EDDHA Iron and minor nutrients that keep the foliage green, full, and healthy all season.

Are superbells fast growing?

Superbells are a great crop for early spring through fall, taking 4-6 weeks to finish in a 4- to 5-inch container. To maintain a healthy root system, use a porous media with peat-based, bark, and perlite. Keep liners moist upon transplanting, but not oversaturate. Allow the media to dry between irrigations once roots form. Avoid overwatering and stressing plants by allowing them to wilt heavily. A balanced feed with 200- to 250-ppm nitrogen and 25-30% ammoniacal nitrogen promotes fast growth and lush green color. Reduce ammonium levels if signs of stretch. Maintain a pH of 5. 5-5. 8 and an EC of 0. 6-0. 9 using a 2:1 extraction method.

Can calibrachoa get too much sun?

Calibrachoa plants thrive in full sun or partial shade, but can tolerate partial shade. To maintain their blooming, they require regular fertilization, using a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks or adding a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. For containers and hanging baskets, use a quality all-purpose potting mix that drains well, while for bedding displays, amend the soil and ensure quick drainage. Regular watering and proper soil amendment are essential for maintaining the health of Calibrachoa plants.

What causes calibrachoa to stop blooming?

Insufficient irrigation can result in root rot in Calibrachoa plants, whereas excessive irrigation can induce stress and reduce the number of flowers produced.

What do Superbells attract?

The Superbells® Spicy Calibrachoa plant requires periodic maintenance and upkeep. This entails the removal of flower heads after they have faded. The plant attracts bees and hummingbirds, but is not a preferred food source for deer. It is recommended for use in mass planting, border edging, general garden applications, container planting, and hanging baskets. It exhibits no notable adverse characteristics.

How do you revive Superbells?
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How do you revive Superbells?

Calibrachoa plants may appear light green or yellowish due to starvation. To address this issue, start fertilizing with a water-soluble fertilizer to help the plants recover quickly. If the fertilizer is no longer available, start with a water-soluble fertilizer and add a slow or controlled release fertilizer after the plants have grown back up. If the fertilizer is no longer available, start with a water-soluble fertilizer and add a new dose after the plants are green and happy again.

If the plants are still getting light green and getting 6+ hours of sun a day, it may be due to insufficient iron intake. Calibrachoa plants are more sensitive to changes in pH, and the pH of the soil is impacted most by water. Some water will maintain the pH, while others will cause it to become high or low. If the soil’s pH gets too high or low, Calibrachoa cannot take up enough iron to maintain healthy foliage and plant happiness. Always follow the package directions and follow the instructions provided.

How do you get million bells to bloom again?

Million Bells may not be flowering due to poor growing conditions, such as inadequate sunlight, warmth, and proper watering. To ensure abundant blooms, plant the plants in a warm, sunny spot in spring and ensure adequate water during summer. The right fertilizer balance, such as a 20-10-20 slow-release mechanism, should be used every other week to promote strong flowering. Avoid soggy soil and ensure that the plants receive enough water to avoid overwatering. By addressing these issues, millions bells can begin to produce abundant blooms and continue to thrive.

How do you water calibrachoa?

Calibrachoa plants require careful care to promote full, bushy growth. Pinch the growing tips of young plants to promote full, bushy growth. Water slowly and deeply when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, but be cautious of overwatering. Feed calibrachoa every couple of weeks with water-soluble fertilizer for blooming plants. Calibrachoa are pest-resistant, but keep whiteflies or aphids in check with insecticidal soap spray. Trim them if they look tired and spindly in midsummer. They can be complemented with sweet potato vine, Scaevola, Geraniums, Salvia, and Bacopa.

How do I get my million bells to bloom again?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How do I get my million bells to bloom again?

Million Bells may not be flowering due to poor growing conditions, such as inadequate sunlight, warmth, and proper watering. To ensure abundant blooms, plant the plants in a warm, sunny spot in spring and ensure adequate water during summer. The right fertilizer balance, such as a 20-10-20 slow-release mechanism, should be used every other week to promote strong flowering. Avoid soggy soil and ensure that the plants receive enough water to avoid overwatering. By addressing these issues, millions bells can begin to produce abundant blooms and continue to thrive.


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How To Take Care Of The Annual Superbell Bloom
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22 comments

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  • AARON!!! Your editing and filming and overall wizardry behind the camera is MASTERFUL!!! We are here for the gardening inspiration, but there’s no doubt that your part in Garden Answer’s success is the most time consuming and labor intensive part and truly what makes the articles so enjoyable. Thank you, Aaron, so so much for putting in all the hours of editing and fine-tuning, after the flowers are planted and the cameras stop rolling, and for all the forethought and time you put in just setting up shots, so that Laura and her expertise can truly shine! Ya’ll are a dream team! ❤💕

  • I was at my local Nursery picking up flowers when a lady ahead of me said I don’t know nothing about flowers sure wish I knew how to keep from killing them. I told her about Garden Answers and when I did the owner of the nursery came out and said you were her hero also. Thanks to you my yard is beautiful.

  • Your containers look just beautiful. Thank you for the info on the worm that attacks the flowers, I never even gave it a thought, I always noticed that sometimes my containers would start out great then, no matter how much water they got they just looked like something had ravished it, this answers a lot of my questions, and now gives me some ammo to combat these little buggers. Very clever with the camera work, I love the double Laura planting the pots in the front, super cool. Thank you Laura and Aaron again for a awesome article, take care, bye for now.

  • Love the editing with two Laura’s planting! I love supertunias! They do really well in our hot, humid summers in south Louisiana. I just have to not overwater and trim them back a couple of times during the growing season. We had a mild winter last year, and I even had several survive and are still blooming this year! I think the secret for me is not letting them get too leggy, not overwatering, and fertilizing weekly with a water soluble fertilizer in addition to the slow release used when planting. Thanks for the tips on helping grow these beauties successfully! Love your website!

  • OH, how I wish there were two of me in the spring to handle all the chores. Very clever of you Aaron. I didn’t know about the water preferences of supertunias vs. regular petunias. Thank you for that information. I look forward to seeing all your containers with a little more growth on them. I know they’ll be gorgeous.

  • GAH!!! I’m gigging out so hard right now!!! That was crazy 😆 well done Laura and Laura 2.0. I still love the planting part of the article the best. ❤️ We hear a lot of information…..which is great, but then hardly get to see any of the planting up. I usually listen to the commentary at 1.5 speed and then slow the planting way down. Great choices of colors 😍Thanks guys.

  • Shoot! Wish I had watched this three days ago! I will keep a close watch on my containers that have the superbells and supertunias in them. Love and learn! Also – I was so excited this year to find a lot of PW plants at my local nursery and several I’d seen your articles. I love how my gardens and containers are coming together this year! Thank you!

  • Yet another outstanding, informative article, I love container gardening! I especially appreciate your explanations of the “why”. I’m slowing learning the error of my ways, and some of my friends have told me I have a “Green Thumb”. I never thought I would see the day when I wouldn’t kill every plant I’ve tried to grow, and I thank you and Aaron for this wonderful gardening website!

  • Hi Laura and Aaron ~ what fun perusal Laura plant two pots at the same time! LOL! Great job Aaron, as usual! Those containers all turned out beautiful! I found some 9 packs of the superbells/ calibrachoa that had 3 each of double pink, double purple and double yellow flowers at Walmart. They beautiful! This article came at a good time for me. I planted one of each color in hanging baskets with a diamond frost. I’m just trying to figure out where to plant the other 12! Thank you for sharing!

  • Thank you so much for all the great information you share. I learn so much from you. In fact I just planted some Superbells in a bed last night…. one that tends to be a little damp so I think I’m going to replant them I to a container this morning! I have a simple little country cottage garden and I’ve used so many of your suggestions and typically have great results.

  • Very pretty combos! Superbells come in such fun colors. And I really love the double petal ones. But they are one of the plants that I struggle most with keeping attractive all summer. But I keep trying ever year because they look so good when I first get them. The Double Amber is definitely on my wish list for next year.

  • I sure needed this information last weekend . I plant two shade plants in 6 hours sunlight they were dying in the sun their foliage was drooping had to dig them out and move them to the shaded area .love your articles I always put your article first then the other just love your information on gardening.

  • Your articles are very Comprehensive !! Retainable Also!! I Appreciate taking Your Time to Show & Explain Care Issues. …. So much easier perusal & listening to you Explaining!!! ….How To Books—-I hv to go back Few times for info to “Stick”. LoL….. Just not as “Real” nor “Fun” as Listening & perusal Hands on Wisdom 🌺 Thank You 😊 …. Every Laura needs a 2nd Laura 😁 🤗🌸🤗😁

  • I had two yellow doubles last year. Both in coir lined baskets. In the fall I popped one out to put in some pansies and it was a bit scraggly looking. I stuck in a pot and put it under my deck for the whole winter, zone 7b. The other was under a tarp any time we hit freezing. Come spring I gave them both a haircut and they are both doing great with tons of blooms! so I’d. Say calibrachoas are pretty darn tough.

  • I am in love with the assorted colors of the superbells. I can’t wait for the Double Amber to come out so I can get some! Your containers turned out so beautiful! We have been having issues with little green worms hanging from our oak trees a lot more than in previous years. Not sure if it is the same thing you are talking about, but I don’t know what to do about them. Is there something we can put at the base of our trees to get rid of them? The trees are way too tall to spray the leaves.

  • Question: What overall type of pot/container do you find best? I like concrete mainly because my plants don’t get blown over, but find that the same plants in plastic or resin type containers need less water. Maybe you could do a show on the best type of pot/containers for different situations, shaded vs sunny.

  • Hi Laura – You provide such valuable and concise information – Thank you! One question I have – I just bought 4 Proven Winner plants that are all called Supertunia Charm (Mulberry Charm, Hot Pink Charm, Pink Star Charm and Indigo Charm). They look very similar to the Superbells in your article. Do they have similar care needs? Thanks again!

  • So sorry about your hail debacle. Please share this with us and how best to treat damaged plants. Here in Cheyene we have had 3 bad hails storms in the past 2 weeks and more expected. Golfball and billiardball sized hail! My buckets and bricks were not in place for the last round so lots of garden sticks and shreded perennials. I am optimistic! I am a gardener!

  • Your garden is so beautiful. En new tour pretty please. 🙂 I have a question. 🙂 When you fertilize once a week, do you do this manually or do you disolve it somehow in your irrigation system? Aarons editing. Wow! Must be confucing to have two wifes there for a minute. LOL. 😀 Anyways he’s editing scills are impressive. As always love your articles. They bring me such joy every single day. Big hug to you both from Norway. 🙂

  • Great article as always! My supertunias are not doing so well 😢 we have had so much rain in our area that I can not get them to dry out and the plants are shriveled up with yellow foliage. I went to my garden center where I bought them and showed them pics and the had be buy miracle grow bloom boost. It’s not helping! Any suggestions?

  • I got 2 hanging baskets for Mother’s day with a riot of bacopa spilling over the entire basket but with a accent of lobelia in the center. The lobelia has to be watered everyday for sure.They wilt. The resevoir in the hanging basket also has to be filled sometimes 2x a day. The bacopa will wilt. We’ve had 80° weather this week. Some years its a challenge to keep hanging baskets for the full summer. Any suggestions? My patio pots are fine.

  • I’ve always watched wondering how does she take care of all these plants, her baby,and articles? Now I know you have a clone ….lol Loved it ! Thank you so much for all your articles. I’ve never planted anything till this year. I’ve planted Veronica, petunias, black eyed Susan’s, double impatience, and coleus. So far everything is alive and well. Your articles have inspired a new hobby thank you both.