蜜桃恋人

How to Grow Million Bells: Your Guide to Trailing Petunias

Million Bells bloom in multiple colors in a hanging basket
Photo Credit
Aprilflowers
Botanical Name
Calibrachoa
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Blue
Multicolor
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Yellow
Hardiness Zone
9
10
11
Special Features
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies

Also receive the 蜜桃恋人 Daily newsletter including gardening tips, weather, astronomical events, and more.

No content available.

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Million Bells

Jennifer Keating

Million Bells, a vibrant and prolific flowering plant, is a popular choice for hanging baskets and containers. Known for its abundance of small, colorful blooms, this trailing beauty adds a splash of color to any outdoor space. Learn how to grow Million Bells. With proper care, this plant will reward you with nonstop blooms throughout the growing season.

About Million Bells

Ring out! Commonly referred to by its trademarked name 鈥楳illion Bells鈥 and also sometimes known as 鈥渕ini petunia鈥 for its abundance of 1-inch-wide blooms and resemblance to that annual, trailing petunia belongs to the Calibrachoa鈥 not Petunia鈥攇enus. If given the attention it needs, this plant will pour forth hundreds of colorful flowers on stems up to 30 inches long from spring to first frost. The colors of its blooms range from blue, bronze, magenta, pink, and red to violet, white, and yellow. The plant is well suited for hanging baskets and containers.

says, 鈥淭hey are a fairly new ornamental, introduced in the 1990s, and rapidly gained popularity with the gardening world.鈥

Million Bells is a tender perennial that is winter-hardy in Zones 9 to 11 and treated as an annual elsewhere.
 

Calibrachoa or bell flower, Flower of a cultivated Million bell, Calibrachoa x hybrid
Photo: ElenaNoeva
Read Next

Planting

Million Bells are hybrid plants that produce few to no seeds. Purchasing plants or growing cuttings vegetatively (from an existing plant, unless such propagation is prohibited by trademark law) is recommended. Take a 6-inch cutting that is flower-free and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and plant in potting mix. Provide bright light and warm temperatures (about 70掳F) and keep the soil consistently moist; roots should develop in 2 to 4 weeks.

When planting purchased plants or transplanting cuttings, provide potting mix amended with compost and/or
aged manure and peat moss (if desired). If using potting mix that does not contain fertilizer, add in a slow-release formula at the time of planting. A pH of from 5.0 to 6.5 is crucial: This plant will not thrive in soil with a pH that is outside this range.

Move outdoors when the threat of frost has passed.

Growing

Million Bells require full sun (at least 6 hours per day); while they tolerate light shade, their production diminishes as shade increases.

Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Trailing petunia is somewhat drought-tolerant but check it often in hot, dry weather by pushing a finger 1 inch into the soil: If it is dry, water enough to be damp to moist. Between waterings, allow the soil to dry out. Wilting can be a sign of root rot, caused by overwatering.

Fertilize every 2 weeks with a balanced product.

Pinch back tips to encourage branching and flowers. Deadheading is not necessary, as Million Bells cleans itself. In midseason, if desired, encourage new growth/rejuvenation by cutting back branches.

Purple Million bells, Calibrachoa, a popular outdoor container plant in hanging basket, closeup with selective focus
Photo: mcajan

Types

Numerous collections and series of trademarked trailing petunias have been produced, including the ones listed below. When purchasing, always be sure that you have the 鈥渢railing鈥 type.

  • Calibrachoa Aloha Kona series 鈥楶ineapple鈥: yellow flowers
  • C. Cabaret series 鈥楪ood Night Kiss鈥: pink-purple flowers
  • C. Cruze series 鈥榃hite Pink Eye鈥: white flowers with pink throats
  • C. Kabloom series 鈥楧enim鈥: blue flowers
  • C. MiniFamous Neo series 鈥榁ampire鈥: red flowers
  • C. Superbells series 鈥楲emon Slice鈥: white-and-yellow pinwheel flowers
Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

Pests/Diseases

Diseases: black root rot, powdery mildew, viruses. 

Pests: aphids, spider mites.

Flowers
About The Author

Jennifer Keating

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人. She is an active equestrian and spends much of her free time at the barn. When she鈥檚 not riding, she loves caring for her collection of house plants, baking, and playing in her gardens. Read More from Jennifer Keating
 

More Like This

Comments