Can All Calibrachoa Be Used in Baskets?

Mounding

• Mounding calibrachoa is a semi-trailing plant that grows in an attractive, rounded form before spilling gently over the sides of a basket. Semi-trailing calibrachoa reaches heights of 8 to 15 inches with an eventual spread of about 20 inches. Varieties of mounding calibrachoa include "Cosmos Pink," which has soft pink flowers with intense red centers; "Terra Cotta," with bright yellow blooms speckled with red; "Cherry Pink," a variety with deep pink flowers and "Lime," which produces blooms in shades of pale lime green.

Trailing

• Trailing calibrachoa is a low-growing plant that reaches heights of only 3 to 7 inches. Although short, trailing calibrachoa is a rambunctious grower that spreads as much as 48 inches, making it a good choice for patio containers or hanging baskets. Trailing calibrachoa varieties include several intense colors, including "Trailing Blue," "Trailing Magenta," "Trailing Pink," "Trailing Yellow" and "Trailing White."

Planting Calibrachoa

• Calibrachoa requires a lightweight potting mixture that drains freely, as the plant doesn't perform well in heavy, soggy soil. Most commercial mixes containing ingredients, such as peat, fine bark or compost, work well. Make sure the container has at least one drainage hole to allow drainage or line the basket with a porous liner. As a general rule, plant one calibrachoa per for every inch of container diameter. For example, plant 10 calibrachoa in a basket that measures 10 inches across. Four or five plants in a 10-inch basket may be enough for mounding varieties, which benefit from slightly more space.

Care Tips

• Although calibrachoa requires little maintenance, regular feeding keeps the plant blooming continually throughout the season. Feed the plant once every month, using an all-purpose, water-soluble plant fertilizer mixed at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 gallon of water, or according to label instructions. Water calibrachoa until water trickles through the drainage hole or seeps from the liner, but only when the top of the potting mix feels dry. Adding water to already moist soil may cause the plant to develop root rot. Calibrachoa is self-cleaning and requires no deadheading. Trim the plant back a few inches if it looks messy in midsummer, or trim as needed to keep the plant tidy.