Million Bells Calibrachoa Noa Apricot (Noa Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Calibrachoa Noa Apricot, often simply called Calibrachoa or trailing petunia, features a bountiful display of small, trumpet-shaped flowers that showcase a delightful blend of apricot, peach, and pink hues. The flowering blossoms frequently have a subtle gradient effect, ranging from deeper tones at the center to lighter shades at the edges, creating an enchanting visual depth. The center of each bloom may display a more intense yellow to deep apricot color, often with a delicate, darker throat adding contrast and depth to the flower's appearance. The foliage of the Calibrachoa Noa Apricot is typically a bright green, which creates a striking backdrop for the abundant flowers. The leaves are small, with a somewhat oval shape and smooth edges, lending a gentle texture to the overall appearance of the plant. The plant itself tends to have a trailing habit, gracefully spilling over the edges of containers, hanging baskets, or window boxes, which makes it an excellent choice for adding a cascade of color to elevated garden displays. The vivid, floriferous nature of this Calibrachoa, coupled with its soft, warm color palette, provides an inviting look that is often sought after for its decorative appeal in various garden settings.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae
- Synonyms
  Million Bells, Mini Petunia
- Common names
  Calibrachoa Noa Apricot.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Calibrachoa, commonly known as Million Bells, is not known to be toxic to humans. There are no significant toxic effects reported for the ingestion of this plant. However, it is generally recommended to avoid eating ornamental plants due to their potential unknown health effects.
- To pets
  Million Bells is not listed as toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. Ingesting this plant typically should not cause any serious symptoms of poisoning. However, as with any non-food plant, ingestion could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea in some pets, but significant toxicity is not expected.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Apricot
- Height
  8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
- Spread
  10-12 inches (25-30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Easy to Grow: Thrives in a variety of conditions and requires minimal maintenance.
- Continuous Blooming: Produces flowers throughout the growing season, from spring through fall.
- Vivid Coloring: Features bright apricot-colored blooms that add a splash of color to gardens and landscapes.
- Versatile: Suitable for hanging baskets, containers, and as a ground cover, offering flexibility in landscaping design.
- Attracts Pollinators: Draws in hummingbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects, supporting biodiversity.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it can handle periods of low water, making it suitable for water-wise gardening.
- Self-Cleaning: Does not require deadheading, as it naturally drops spent flowers and continues to bloom.
- Compact Size: Its mounded and trailing habit is ideal for small spaces and balcony gardens.
- Non-Invasive: Unlike some plants, it is not known to be invasive, making it a responsible choice for local ecosystems.
- Hybrid Vigor: As a hybrid, it often demonstrates improved growth and resistance to diseases compared to non-hybrid varieties.
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
- Pressed flower art: The vibrant blossoms of Calibrachoa can be pressed and used in creating bookmarks, greeting cards, or framed art pieces.
- Photography subject: Owing to their apricot hue, they can be an excellent subject for macro and nature photographers looking to capture the detailed beauty of flowers.
- Education: Calibrachoa can be used in botanical studies and horticultural programs to teach about plant growth, hybridization, and care.
- Culinary decoration: While not edible, the bright flowers can be used as a natural decoration for salads and desserts that will be removed before consumption.
- Fairy gardens: Because of their small size, these plants are ideal for creating miniature fairy garden landscapes.
- Fabric dyeing: The pigments from the blossoms could potentially be used to naturally dye fabrics with a soft hue, though it's not a common use.
- Art inspiration: The unique coloration could inspire artists looking for natural color palettes or interesting organic textures in their work.
- Nature crafts: Their flowers can be included in nature crafts such as wreaths or potpourri.
- Gift plant: Due to its attractive appearance and easy care, Calibrachoa can serve as an ideal living gift for a variety of occasions.
- Biology experiments: These plants can be used in experiments concerning plant biology, like understanding the influence of light on flower coloration.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Calibrachoa is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Calibrachoa is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Joy: Calibrachoa is known for its colorful and abundant blooms that can bring a sense of joy and happiness to gardens and homes.
- Innovation: The Noa Series, including Calibrachoa Noa Apricot, represents horticultural innovation through the creation of new and improved varieties designed to have superior qualities such as vibrant colors and longer bloom times.
- Adaptability: As a plant that can thrive in various conditions and environments, Calibrachoa symbolizes adaptability and versatility.
- Friendship: With its welcoming and bright appearance, Calibrachoa Noa Apricot can symbolize friendship and the sharing of happiness with others.
- Beauty: The attractive apricot hues and delicate blossoms are emblematic of natural beauty, often reminding observers to appreciate the simple aesthetics in life.

💧

Every 1-2 days

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Million bells should be watered regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. They generally require watering once every two to three days during hot weather, but this can vary depending on climate conditions and soil type. It's best to check the top inch of soil, and if it feels dry, it's time to water. Use approximately one gallon of water per plant each week, adjusting as needed based on rainfall and temperature. Overhead watering is not recommended as it can promote disease; instead, water at the base of the plant.
Light
Million bells thrive best in full sun, which means they need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. They can tolerate partial shade, but flowering may be reduced. The ideal spot for these plants is somewhere that gets plenty of light in the morning and some protection from the intense heat of the late afternoon sun.
Temperature
Million bells prefer warm temperatures and perform best in conditions between 55°F and 65°F at night, with daytime temperatures around 70°F to 85°F. They can tolerate a minimum temperature of around 50°F and a maximum of about 90°F. However, extended periods outside of their ideal range may stress the plants and affect flowering. Protection from frost is essential, as they are not cold-hardy.
Pruning
Pruning million bells is essential to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch back the tips of the stems every few weeks to promote branching. The best time for pruning is in late spring or early summer, just as the plant starts to grow vigorously. Regular deadheading of spent flowers can also help maintain a tidy appearance and encourage more blossoms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Million Bells thrive best in a well-draining potting mix with added perlite or sand for aeration. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal for optimal growth and flower production.
Repotting
Million Bells should be repotted every year at the beginning of the growing season to refresh the soil and provide room for growth, as they can become root-bound in containers.
Humidity & Misting
Million Bells prefer moderate humidity levels but are adaptable to a wide range, ensuring they are not in an environment that is too dry for extended periods.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, regular watering, and good air circulation for indoor Million Bells.
- Outdoor
  For outdoor Million Bells, choose a sunny spot and keep soil moist but not soggy.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
Calibrachoa Noa Apricot, commonly known as Million Bells, begins its life as a seed, which, when provided with the right conditions of warmth and moisture, will germinate into a seedling. As the seedling matures, it develops true leaves and establishes a root system, transitioning into the vegetative stage where the plant focuses on growth. The vegetative phase continues until the plant has reached a sufficient size and environmental triggers such as daylight hours and temperature signal the onset of the flowering stage. During the flowering stage, Calibrachoa Noa Apricot produces apricot-colored blooms that can attract pollinators, though many cultivars are self-fertilizing. Following pollination, the plant may produce small, non-viable seeds as many varieties are sterile hybrids; if viable, the seeds can be dispersed to create new plants. Eventually, as temperatures drop or other adverse conditions occur, the annual plant completes its life cycle and dies, requiring replanting the following season if continuous cultivation is desired.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating the Calibrachoa, commonly known as Million Bells, is through stem cuttings. To do this, gardeners typically select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 3 to 6-inch segment (about 7.5 to 15 centimeters) just below a leaf node in the late spring or early summer. The leaves on the lower half of the cutting are removed, and the cut end is dipped in a rooting hormone to enhance root development. Then, the cutting is planted in a well-draining soil mixture. It should be kept moist and in indirect sunlight until the roots develop, which generally takes a few weeks. After sufficient roots have formed, the new Million Bells plant can be transplanted into a larger pot or directly into the garden.