how to prune million bells

Some varieties of Million Bell hanging baskets tend to get flat on top – a phenomenon we call that 'balding' – and they need to be pinched back regularly. Every couple of weeks, take your basket down and trim the top growth with clean household scissors or use your thumb and fingers to 'pinch' them.

Do Million Bells need deadheading?

While they can be planted in garden beds, they fare much better in containers. This is considered a “self-cleaning” plant, meaning it doesn't need to be deadheaded to keep blooming; however, it will benefit from a serious cutting back toward the end of the summer.

How do you keep Calibrachoa from getting leggy?

You can also pinch Calibrachoa by removing the top of the central stem when the plant has sprouted just a few leaves. This will cause it to produce even more side shoots and discourage too much upright growth. According to the University of Illinois, you can pinch back Calibrachoa regularly throughout the season.

How do you deadhead million bells?

Deadheading this plant is not required, as it is considered to be self-cleaning, meaning the spent flowers readily drop following bloom. You can, however, pinch Calibrachoa back regularly to encourage a more compact growth habit.

Do Million Bells come back every year?

Non-stop flowering

The Million Bells bloom for just one season, but does so for an incredibly long time: from April until October.

Why do my Million Bells keep dying?

Calibrachoa (also known as 'Million bells') is a flowering plant that is a perennial in mild climates but regarded as an annual in cold climates that experience frost as it is not cold hardy and they die back in Winter. The most common reason for a dying calibrachoa is because of root rot due to overly damp soil.

Can you plant Million Bells in the ground?

Million bells plants are also somewhat drought-tolerant, so you can include them in a rock garden where they will appreciate the sharp drainage conditions. If you use million bells as a ground cover, keep in mind that the plants seldom spread more than 2 feet, so plant enough to ensure adequate coverage.

How do you rejuvenate a Calibrachoa?

If you've struggled to grow calibrachoa in the past, here are a few key growing tips to keep in mind.

Superbells grow and bloom best in sun.
Superbells require well-drained soil.
Feed Superbells often.
Give your Superbells a little trim now and then.
Looking for more ideas?

Does verbena need deadheading?

Deadhead faded flowers or blooms to ensure that blooming continues all through the gardening season. ... But, deadheading is necessary if you plant verbena for summer blooms. If the blooms slow, trim the whole plant by a quarter for a new show of flowers in 2 to 3 weeks.

How do you take care of a millionaire plant?

Hydrangea Care Tips

Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. ...
Add mulch underneath your hydrangeas to help keep the soil moist and cool. ...
Apply fertilizer based on your specific hydrangeas. ...
Protect against pests and disease by choosing cultivars with resistant traits.

Why are my million bells not blooming?

Million Bells Not Flowering – Poor Growing Conditions

Inadequate sunlight, for instance, is a common reason they will stop blooming. Make sure you plant million bells where they will get day-long sun. Your million bells plants also need warmth. This is especially true in the spring.

What is the best fertilizer for hanging baskets?

Fertilization Plants in hanging baskets often require frequent fertilization. Water soluble fertilizers or slow release granular fertilizers may be used. Ideally, complete fertilizers with a 1:2:1 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will keep plants healthy and blooming well.

How do I keep my hanging baskets looking good?

After watering, fertilizer is the most important thing to keep your plants thriving. I usually recommend adding a slow or controlled-release fertilizer to your hanging basket right after you buy or plant it. This will provide your basket with a good constant dose of fertilizer.

When can I take cuttings from Million Bells?

Calibrachoa cutting propagation is the method preferred by professional growers. While calibrachoa growers take cuttings in late winter in order to achieve sellable plants by spring, gardeners can take cuttings in spring for late summer plants.

Are Million Bells Hardy?

Type: Tender perennial, usually grown in the UK as a half-hardy annual. Hardiness: Tender in most of the UK, protect from frost.

What temperature can Million Bells tolerate?

Temperature: Million Bells is an annual that is hardy to 28-30 degrees F. It thrives in moderate temperatures. While it will tolerate light frost, it will not tolerate severe frost or freezing. Keep tender greenhouse plants above 38°.

Are Superbells and Million Bells the same?

Also known as: Many gardeners use Million Bells® or Superbells as their common name, however these are actually trademarked names. Others call them mini-petunias or trailing petunias because they look like small petunias.

Why do my hanging baskets die?

Whether that be too much or too little water, or a lack of nutrients. Hanging baskets need to be fertilized regularly to keep producing blooms. But in many cases, even the most well cared for hanging baskets begin to fade fast by early summer. And for these plants, no amount of water or fertilizer is going to help.

Can a plant recover from root rot?

Once root rot is identified, you must determine if the plant can be saved. If the entire root system has already become mushy, it is too late to save the plant. However, if some healthy, white, firm roots exist, try to bring the plant back to good health by replanting in fresh soil with good drainage.

How do you get seeds from Million Bells?

Monitor the plants, watching for swelling under the flowers as they fade and die back. ...
Snip the drying seed pods off at the stem as they turn brown but before they burst open. ...
Spread the seed pods in a single layer in a shallow cardboard box. ...
Break open the seed pods over newspapers and shake out the tiny seeds.

Are Million Bells deer resistant?

Deer Resistance

Calibrachoa is rarely eaten by deer, according to Penn State Cooperative Extension.