Million Bells Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red = 'Balcabrite' (PBR) (Cabaret Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red, part of the Cabaret Series, is a delightful plant beloved for its vibrant display of small, petunia-like flowers. The rich, bright red blooms are particularly eye-catching, providing a continuous show of color through the blooming season. Each flower presents a delicate, funnel-shaped form with five slightly lobed petals that meld seamlessly to create a charming, miniature trumpet. The plant has a lush, trailing habit with green, narrow leaves that serve as a perfect backdrop to the floral spectacle. The foliage is typically dense, creating a full and robust appearance that accentuates the fiery red blossoms, ensuring this plant is a standout in any garden display or as a cascading element in hanging baskets and containers. The Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red is known for its prolific and long-lasting flowering, able to add a burst of color and interest to any setting without referencing its specific size dimensions.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae
- Synonyms
  Million Bells, Mini Petunia
- Common names
  Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red = 'Balcabrite' (PBR) (Cabaret Series)
Toxicity
- To humans
  Calibrachoa is not known to be toxic to humans. Consequently, ingestion of this plant typically does not lead to any severe symptoms or consequences. However, it is generally advised not to ingest any plant matter that is not known to be edible or considered food.
- To pets
  Calibrachoa is also not known to be toxic to pets. It is not associated with serious symptoms or consequences if pets ingest parts of the plant. Despite its presumed safety, it is still best practice to prevent pets from consuming plants as a precautionary measure.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  0.5 feet (15 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Easy to care for – Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red is known for being easy to maintain and does not require complex gardening skills.
- Long blooming period – This plant typically blooms from spring until the first frosts, providing a long-lasting display of color.
- Attracts pollinators – The bright flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to the garden.
- Versatile usage – Suited for hanging baskets, container gardens, and window boxes, it offers flexibility in garden design and space utilization.
- Vibrant color – It provides an intense, bright red hue that can add a pop of color to any garden setting.
- Drought tolerance – Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, making it suitable for various climates and conditions.
- Continuous blooming – No deadheading is necessary as the plant continuously produces new blooms, keeping the display fresh and vibrant.
- Compact growth – The dense, mounded habit is ideal for creating a full look in containers and garden edges without taking over the space.
- Resistance to pests – Resilient to common garden pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Edging Paths: Calibrachoa can be used to create a vibrant edge for garden paths, providing a splash of color and visually defining walkways.
- Photography Backdrops: The bright flowers of Calibrachoa can serve as a natural backdrop for outdoor photography, accentuating the subject with lively colors.
- Living Mulch: Planting dense Calibrachoa groundcover can help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, acting as a living mulch in garden beds.
- Pressing Flowers: The small, colorful blooms of Calibrachoa are ideal for pressing and using in crafts or as bookmarks.
- Temporary Ground Cover: Calibrachoa can be used to quickly cover bare patches in the garden, providing temporary lushness while permanent plants are established.
- Color Themed Gardens: Incorporate Calibrachoa in red-themed gardens to create a monochromatic display or a specific color pattern in the landscape design.
- Pet Photography: As non-toxic plants, Calibrachoa can be used around pets for colorful photo sessions in the garden.
- Fairy Gardens: The small stature of Calibrachoa makes it a suitable choice for creating whimsical fairy gardens in containers.
- Art Inspiration: The vibrant hues of Calibrachoa can inspire artists for their palette when painting landscapes or floral arrangements.
- Garden Teaching Aids: Calibrachoa plants can be used in educational settings to teach children about plant growth, flowering, and pollination.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Million Bells is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Million Bells is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion and Enthusiasm: The bright red color of Calibrachoa is often associated with strong emotions such as love and excitement, making it a symbol for passionate feelings.
- Liveliness: Calibrachoas are vibrant and full of life, representing an energetic and spirited nature.
- Celebration: The showy nature of the Calibrachoa's flowers often relates to festivities and joyous occasions, symbolizing a time for celebration and happiness.

💧

Every 1-2 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Million Bells should be watered regularly, ensuring the soil is kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season, watering might be required once every couple of days, depending on the weather conditions and soil drainage. Generally, aim to provide about 1 gallon of water per week, adjusting as necessary during hot, dry periods or cool, rainy spells. It is crucial to avoid overhead watering to prevent disease; instead, water at the base of the plant. During winter, reduce watering but do not allow the soil to completely dry out.
Light
Million Bells thrive in full sun conditions, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for these plants is an area where they can receive unfiltered sunlight throughout the day. While they can tolerate light shade, too much shade can lead to fewer blooms and leggy growth.
Temperature
Million Bells prefer warm temperatures and are generally grown as annuals because they cannot withstand frost. They perform best in temperatures ranging from 55°F to 65°F at night, and 65°F to 85°F during the day. The absolute minimum temperature is just above freezing, at around 35°F, and maximum survival temperature caps around 90°F for sustained periods.
Pruning
Million Bells benefit from occasional pruning to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch back the tips of the stems every few weeks, especially if the plant starts to look leggy or sparse. The best time for a more thorough pruning is in midsummer, to rejuvenate the plants for the rest of the growing season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Million Bells prefer a well-draining potting mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 5.5 to 6.8. A mix of peat, perlite, and compost is ideal to maintain moisture while avoiding waterlogging.
Repotting
Million Bells should be repotted annually to refresh the soil, usually in the spring before the start of the new growing season.
Humidity & Misting
Million Bells thrive in moderate humidity levels; however, they can tolerate a range of conditions and do not require high humidity environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light inside; keep soil moderately moist.
- Outdoor
  In full to part sun; protect from strong winds; water when topsoil feels dry.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
The life of Calibrachoa 'Balcabrite' begins with seed germination, which occurs in warm, moist soil conditions. Once germinated, the seedling develops its first true leaves and gradually matures into a flowering plant, characterized by a profusion of bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from spring through fall. During its growing season, 'Balcabrite' experiences vegetative growth, producing a bushy mound of foliage and flowers, and must be deadheaded regularly to encourage continuous blooming. As an annual, it completes its life cycle within one year; after flowering, it sets seed, which can be collected if desired, before the plant succumbs to the first hard frost. Overwintering generally does not occur outdoors in temperate zones, as 'Balcabrite' is sensitive to cold temperatures. However, in warmer climates or with protection, it may survive as a perennial or can be propagated from cuttings taken during the growing season to start new plants for the following year.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to early summer
- The most popular method for propagating Calibrachoa Cabaret Bright Red, commonly known as Million Bells, is through softwood cuttings. This technique typically takes place during late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate Million Bells by cuttings, one would take a 3 to 4-inch-long (approximately 7.6 to 10.2 cm) cutting from the tip of a healthy stem, making sure it has at least two sets of leaves. The lower leaves are then removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to facilitate root development. The cutting is then planted in a well-draining soil mix and kept under warm, moist conditions until roots have established, usually within a few weeks. During this period, it is crucial to maintain high humidity around the cutting, which can be done by covering it with a plastic dome or bag.