Million Bells Calibrachoa Cabaret Sky Blue = 'Balcabsklu' (Cabaret Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Calibrachoa Cabaret Sky Blue, commonly known as million bells due to its prolific blooming habit, exhibits a cascade of delicate sky blue flowers that possess a subtle, sunny yellow center, giving the appearance of a starry sky. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and small, creating a lush carpet of color when the plant is in full bloom. The foliage of the million bells is green and remains somewhat hidden beneath the abundance of flowers, providing a soft background that allows the blooms to pop visually. The trailing nature of this plant lends itself to a flowing appearance, which makes it an excellent choice for hanging baskets and container gardens where its branches can spill gracefully over the edges, enhancing its ornamental appeal. The million bells offer a continuous display of color throughout its growing season, making it a favorited addition to any space in need of vibrant and long-lasting floral beauty.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae
- Synonyms
  Million Bells, Mini Petunia
- Common names
  Calibrachoa Cabaret Sky Blue = 'Balcabsklu' (Cabaret Series).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Calibrachoa, commonly known as million bells, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, it is not intended for human consumption, and accidental ingestion of the plant may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort or irritation. There are no significant toxic effects reported for humans from ingesting any part of the million bells plant.
- To pets
  Million bells, or Calibrachoa, is typically safe and not known to be toxic to pets such as cats and dogs. Poisoning is not expected from pets ingesting this plant. However, as with any non-food plant, ingestion in large quantities may cause gastrointestinal upset or mild digestive issues. No serious toxicity or life-threatening consequences are commonly associated with pets consuming parts of the million bells plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Sky Blue
- Height
  0-1 feet (0-30 cm)
- Spread
  0-2 feet (0-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Easy to Grow: 'Balcabsklu' is known for being an easy-to-care-for plant that doesn't require complex gardening skills.
- Vibrant Color: The Sky Blue blooms add a vibrant pop of color to any garden or container.
- Continuous Blooming: This variety offers continuous flowers from spring until fall, providing long-lasting beauty.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers attract beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies to the garden.
- Versatile: 'Balcabsklu' is suitable for hanging baskets, window boxes, and as a bedding plant, making it versatile in landscaping uses.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it has good drought tolerance, which is beneficial in areas with water restrictions or for gardeners preferring low-maintenance plants.
- Compact Growth: With its compact and well-branched growth habit, it fits well in small spaces and doesn't become leggy.
- Self-Cleaning: It does not require deadheading, as it self-cleans by dropping spent blooms, saving time for the gardener.
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
- Photography: Calibrachoa can be used as a natural and colorful backdrop in macro or close-up photography due to its vibrant blue flowers, creating beautiful and artistic images.
- Crafts: The blooms of the Calibrachoa can be pressed or dried and used in various craft projects such as making bookmarks, greeting cards, or decorating picture frames.
- Educational: Calibrachoa can be used in school projects or educational programs to teach children about plant growth, flower anatomy, and pollination.
- Thematic gardens: Calibrachoa can be utilized to create a 'blue-themed' garden or as part of a larger design that focuses on specific color schemes.
- Textile design: The distinctive pattern and color of Calibrachoa flowers can inspire fabric prints and other textile designs for fashion or home decor.
- Food decoration: Although not edible, Calibrachoa flowers can be used as a non-toxic decoration for cakes and desserts that are to be removed before consumption.
- Color therapy: The soothing sky blue color of Calibrachoa blossoms can be used in gardens or spaces designed for relaxation and color therapy purposes.
- Artistic inspiration: The delicate structure and hue of the Calibrachoa flowers can serve as an artistic muse for painters, illustrators, and other visual artists.
- Petal confetti: The petals of Calibrachoa, once dried, can be used as a natural, biodegradable confetti for celebrations or eco-friendly events.
- Container garden teaching: Calibrachoa is well-suited for container gardening, making it an excellent example when teaching or demonstrating container gardening techniques.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Calibrachoa is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Calibrachoa is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Relaxation: The serene sky blue color of the Calibrachoa often symbolizes a sense of calmness and relaxation, evoking the tranquil essence of a clear sky.
- Intuition: Blue hues are frequently associated with intuition and wisdom, suggesting that the Calibrachoa may represent an inner guidance or understanding.
- Communication: The color blue is thought to encourage clear communication and thoughtful expression, making the Calibrachoa a symbol for conveying truthful thoughts and feelings.
- Trust: Blue flowers are often used to symbolize trust and loyalty, which could make the Calibrachoa an emblem of dependable relationships and fidelity.
- Infinity: The vastness of the sky blue color may represent infinite possibilities and open-endedness, suggesting that the Calibrachoa symbolizes limitless potential.

💧

Every 1-2 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Million Bells should be watered regularly, ensuring the soil is kept consistently moist but not soggy. Typically, during hot summer days, they may need watering once a day, especially if they are in containers or hanging baskets. It's best to check the top inch of soil; if it's dry, it's time to water. Depending on weather conditions, this could mean watering with about 16 ounces of water for smaller pots, and up to a gallon for larger containers, once every couple of days during peak summer heat. Always avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of disease, and water at the base of the plant.
Light
Million Bells thrive in full sun conditions, meaning they should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth and blooming. An ideal spot would be a south-facing garden bed or a balcony that receives ample sunshine throughout the day. However, in extremely hot climates, providing some afternoon shade can prevent heat stress.
Temperature
Million Bells prefer warm temperatures and are best grown in conditions where the temperature ranges between 55°F and 65°F at night and between 65°F and 85°F during the day. They can withstand a minimum temperature of just above freezing, but frost can damage or kill the plants. To achieve prolific blooming and robust growth, it's important to maintain these temperature conditions as closely as possible.
Pruning
Pruning Million Bells promotes bushier growth and more flowers. They should be lightly pruned throughout the growing season to remove dead flower blooms and encourage new ones. A more extensive pruning can be done in the early summer to rejuvenate plants that have become leggy. The best time to prune is in the morning or evening when the plant is not stressed by the heat.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is well-draining, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic to neutral in pH, typically between 5.6 and 7.0. A blend of peat moss, perlite, and potting soil is recommended to ensure good drainage and aeration.
Repotting
Million Bells should be repotted annually at the beginning of the growing season as they are often grown as annuals. If grown as perennials in suitable climates, repot every two to three years to refresh the soil and promote healthy growth.
Humidity & Misting
Million Bells prefer moderate humidity levels; however, they are quite adaptable and can tolerate a range of humidity conditions as long as they are well-watered and receive adequate airflow.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a bright spot, water regularly, and ensure good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil, and regular watering.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
The life of a Million Bells 'Balcabsklu' (Calibrachoa Cabaret Sky Blue) begins with seed germination, where the tiny seeds require warmth and light to sprout. After germination, the seedlings grow into juvenile plants with characteristic small, green leaves and a compact growth habit. As the plant matures, it develops a robust root system and starts to produce an abundance of small, trumpet-shaped, sky-blue flowers throughout the growing season. Throughout its life, Million Bells will continue to produce new flowers while old ones fade and die, a process called continuous blooming. In temperate climates, this plant is usually grown as an annual and will complete its cycle within one growing season, dying back with the first frost. In warmer, frost-free areas, it can survive as a perennial, going through a period of dormancy in the cooler months before resuming growth in the spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating Calibrachoa, commonly known as Million Bells, is through stem cuttings. This is typically done in the late spring or early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. A gardener would select a healthy stem with several leaf nodes and cut it to a length of 3 to 5 inches (approximately 7.5 to 12.7 centimeters) using a clean, sharp tool. The lower leaves are removed, leaving one or two pairs of leaves at the top. The cut end of the stem is then dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root development and planted in a moist soilless potting mix, ensuring that at least one leaf node is buried where roots can form. The cutting should be kept in a warm, well-lit yet indirect sunlight environment and maintained with consistent humidity, often by covering with a plastic bag to create a miniature greenhouse effect, until roots have sufficiently developed and the new plant can be potted on its own.