Superbells calibrachos are colorful garden stars.
I traveled for a few days, and when I returned home, my garden had exploded with a “punch” of color. I am referring to Superbells calibrachoas ‘Pomegranate Punch,’ ‘Grape Punch’ and ‘Tangerine Punch.’ There are seven punch selections in what has now become a whopping 42 varieties of Superbells.
In addition to the punch selections I am growing, Proven Winners are has ‘Watermelon Punch,’ ‘Black Currant Punch,’ ‘Strawberry Punch’ and ‘Blue Moon Punch.’ All are lush and vibrant.
In my containers, I combined Superbells’ ‘Grape Punch’ with ‘Tangerine Punch,’ as well as other flowers like ‘Lady Godiva’ calendula, Supertunia ‘Royal Velvet’ petunia, Supertunia ‘Vista Paradise’ petunia and ‘Lemon Coral’ Sedum. (All of these also survived the Georgia winter in fine shape, but we didn’t have Texas’ deep freeze.)
Though I am reaping the rewards from planting six months ago, you have a wonderful opportunity to get in the flower color game now if you live in the South. Look for Proven Winners in your nursery, or go to the website, pick out your favorite punch calibrachoa and then read the growing tips. It will put you on your way to the green thumb.
Proven Winners introduced calibrachoas to the garden world almost 25 years ago, and as time has passed, we truly see the Superbells calibrachoa as one of the best buys for your gardening dollar. They will bloom until frost, with just a little work on your part.
Calibrachoas will get about 12 inches tall with a 24-inch spread and are packed with an extralong season of enormous blooming potential. While I have had good luck growing them in raised beds rich in organic matter, their best performance is in containers.
Be creative designing your mixed containers — whether they be hanging baskets, window boxes, bowls, urns or clay pots. This is the time to use the best potting soil, nothing heavy with clay soil from the garden. Try the
Superbells ‘Grape Punch,’ a deep saturated purple color that pairs well with ‘Tangerine,’ ‘Pomegranate’ or this year’s new Superbells ‘Coral Sun.’
Since the Superbells ‘Punch’ calibrachoas are such prolific bloomers, they are counting on us as gardeners to keep them fed. During the warm growing season, most of us water on a daily regimen, which will leach out the nutrients. You can use controlled release granules — or a water-soluble fertilizer at least once a week, which is what many commercial landscapers use.
Get to know your plants, and at just the right time, in late late July or early August, they may just tell you to give them a little trim. This cutting back will pay huge dividends going into fall for an extended season of blooms.