Five Minute Friday: Planting Calibrachoa Calipetite for a Red, White, and Blue Display
Hey everyone, and welcome back to another quick burst of gardening inspiration on our Five Minute Friday! Today, we're shining a spotlight on a fantastic group of plants that I think often get overlooked: Calibrachoa Calipetite. These incredible plants are just perfect for containers and hanging baskets, and they'll reward you with a non-stop cascade of gorgeous flowers all summer long.
And today, we're going all out with a patriotic punch, planting up a stunning red, white, and blue mix. So, if you love vibrant colour spilling out of your pots, then this is definitely the Five Minute Friday for you!
Choosing the Perfect Pot
The ideal size of your container will really depend on your space and the look you're going for. I've opted for a 25-centimetre container today, which is absolutely spot on for planting six of these beauties – that's two of each colour in our red, white, and blue mix.
I know we often hear about planting in odd numbers, but hey, sometimes you just have to go for the colours you love! So, we're breaking the rule today for a truly patriotic display.
Choosing Your Compost
Just like many of our other flowering favourites, Calibrachoa thrive in good quality, well-draining compost. They're not overly fussy though, so a standard multi-purpose compost will work a treat.
If you're a little worried about drainage (especially in our lovely UK weather!), you can always mix in some grit or perlite to really help things along.
Top tip: Adding a slow-release fertiliser when you plant is always a smart move for plants that flower as much as Calibrachoa do. All those beautiful blooms use up nutrients, so giving them a steady supply from the start is the way to go.
When to Plant?
The best time to get your Calibrachoa Calipetite planted here in the UK is from late spring onwards. Given it's mid-May now, you're spot on for planting!
These plants aren't frost hardy, so make absolutely sure the risk of frost has passed in your area before planting them outdoors. You could also start earlier with plug plants in 9-centimetre pots if you're short on space or a greenhouse.
Caring for Your Calibrachoa Calipetite
Position and Sunlight
These plants are sun worshippers through and through! Aim for at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. A bit less is okay, but you’ll see fewer flowers.
Watering
Calibrachoa need regular watering in summer, but they don’t like soggy soil. Let the top inch or two of compost dry slightly before watering again. Balance is key!
Feeding
They’ll bloom more if you feed them! That slow-release fertiliser at planting gives a good start, and then a liquid feed every 1–2 weeks through the summer keeps them flowering beautifully.
Deadheading
The Calipetite range is nearly self-cleaning – a big improvement on older petunias. But a quick snip of faded blooms now and then encourages even more flowers.
Let's Plant Our Red, White, and Blue Container!
Right, let's get our hands dirty and create this colourful container!
- Fill your container with compost, leaving about 1 cm of space at the top to help with watering.
- Plan your layout: make a triangle of planting spots 2 cm in from the edge, then add a smaller triangle in the centre for balance.
- Prepare holes slightly larger than each plug plant’s root ball.
- Place the plants: Remove gently from the tray, mix or group colours to your liking, and position in the holes.
- Backfill with compost, firming gently around each plant to remove air gaps.
- Water well: Water over the top, let it soak in, and repeat until it drains from the base.
Enjoy the Show!
And there you have it – a fantastic container bursting with red, white, and blue Calibrachoa Calipetite!
Water regularly, feed now and then, and your patriotic pot will keep performing right through the summer. All that’s left to do? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the colourful show!
