If you are a lover of blooming flowers, then you must be growing Calibrachoa in your garden, as they are the most frantically grown herbaceous plant species around the globe. What if you see the plant dying out and the flowers vanishing? If you are thinking why is my Calibrachoa dying, then we are here to help you identify and solve the problems your gorgeous plant may be facing.
Not caring for the plant and providing it with less-than-idea; conditions are the reasons for a dying Calibrachoa. However, observing the minor details can be somewhat tricky for beginners in gardening. Let’s first look at the answers to why is my Calibrachoa dying and then we will look at the ways you can care for your plant.
Why Is My Calibrachoa Dying?
Before moving towards the way you can fix the issues your Calibrachoa plant may be facing, it is essential to figure out the problem your plant is facing. Here, I am listing the most common answers to why is my Calibrachoa dying. Knowing these and examining your plant will enable you to find the right cause of distress.
Root Rot
Root rot is the most common answer to why is my Calibrachoa dying. If the root rot stays for a long, then it can easily kill the Calibrachoa plant. Overwatering is the main reason for root rot, but surprisingly, underwatering is also a possible reason for root rot.
What are the symptoms of root rot?
Since roots are below ground, the symptoms of root rot may not be visible at first, but as the roots continue to be rotted, this results in the plant becoming nutrient deficient.
The signs of root rot are dying off blooms, wilting, browning, and yellowing leaves, and the overall sad and droopy appearance of the Calibrachoa plant.
If you can’t determine the reason why is my Calibrachoa dying by inspection of the leaves, then another way is to take the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots. If root rot is the problem, then the roots will appear thin and black, and if the plant has been suffering from the issue for a long, then the rootlets will break off even if you touch them slightly.
Root rot cannot just infect a single Calibrachoa plant, but it can also affect other nearby plants and spread by spores or insects such as fungus gnats, which love growing in moist and damp soil.
What are the causes of root rot?
Let’s know about the possible reasons why the roots of Calibrachoa are rotting.
● Overwatering: The most common cause of root rot is overwatering. If the pot is lacking drainage holes and potting mix is arid and not well-draining, then the plant may become waterlogged as water finds no place to drain out. Make sure you plant the Calibrachoa in a pot that has drainage holes and use a good potting mix. If the roots stay drenched in water, then they provide a breeding ground for fungal diseases as oxygen is deficient. The rot also affects the nearby plants and is a common answer to why is my Calibrachoa dying.
● Underwatering: Surprised to know that underwatering for a long time can also cause root rot. All plants need water to survive, even if they are stated to be drought-tolerant. But the water-resilient plants would need a lesser amount of water as compared to the water-loving plants. What happens is that if you keep the Calibrachoa plant dry for a long time, then roots turn fragile and thin. When you water the plant next time, they are unable to soak up the water and stay in a pool of water. The best solution is to set up a good watering schedule and only water the plant when you can feel the top 2-3 inches of soil dried out.
● Poor drainage: The potting mix and the type of growing container also determine how well your plant will grow. If the potting mix you are using for Calibrachoa is not well-draining and packed, then it can cause root rot because of waterlogging. Using a heavy potting mix and a container with no drainage holes can lead to root rot, and you may constantly ask yourself, why is my Calibrachoa dying?
Cold Temperature
Calibrachoa stays to be perennials if you grow them in warm temperatures and regrow every spring. But in colder places, they are annual plants that bloom only once and then die off. These plants love to stay in constantly warm temperatures as they originate from South and Central America. The right temperature to plant Calibrachoa is around the normal room temperature. But if your plant is not growing during the winter, then no need to worry, as it will get back to normal as soon as the summer arrives.
Insufficient light
If you see that your Calibrachoa plant is not growing to its full strength, then inadequate light may be bothering the plant. Find a place where the plant receives bright and filtered light for some hours each day. But ensure that the plant doesn’t get direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves.
Over-fertilizing
A possible answer to why is my Calibrachoa dying is you are using excessive amounts of fertilizers. Using extra amounts of fertilizers can result in limp, brown, weak, and dull foliage while using them in the right amount will boost the growth.
How to solve the issue?
Always fertilize the Calibrachoa plant with a well-balanced dilute liquid fertilizer. To boost up the flowering, it is good to use a phosphorus-based fertilizer (10-20-10) when the flowering season is around the edge. To prevent toxicity and leaf burn, always use fertilizer to half-strength in diluted liquid form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reason why my Calibrachoa is not blooming?
If you don’t provide the plant with the right growing conditions, then it may stop the plant from blooming. You should check some reasons to find the cause and then put your efforts to solve it.
First, check the amount of sunlight you are providing your plant. A common reason why Calibrachoa stops blooming is inadequate lighting. Calibrachoa strives best in a place that gets at least 4 hours of sunlight every day.
Second, check the temperature of the planting site of Calibrachoa. These plants grow well in temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. You should take your plant outdoors in spring and it can stay out even if there is a light frost.
Third, apply the right type of fertilizer every two weeks. Using a slow-release function 20-10-20 fertilizer is ideal to promote flower growth of Calibrachoa.
Lack of blooms can sometimes result from using a fertilizer rich in nitrogen as it promotes leaf growth rather than promoting blooming.
Is it worth waiting for the Calibrachoa plant to come back next year?
In colder climates, most people grow Calibrachoa as summer annuals as they are perennials originating from South America. One of the best things about Calibrachoa is that they are easy to propagate from cuttings. You can cut parts of the stem, root them, and grow them easily indoors in a place with full sunlight. To keep them alive longer, it is good to move the plants indoors in the winter season.
When is it good to trim Calibrachoa?
Trim the Calibrachoa only when it grows out of control. When this happens, trim the clumped-together leaves and remove any dying or dead foliage without any delay.
Which fertilizer works best for Calibrachoa?
It is good to fertilize the plant every couple of weeks, but since they are blooming plants, they need less fertilizer as compared to other types of houseplants.
Avoid over-fertilizing the plant as it can make the plant grow leggy with time.
Never use chemical-based fertilizer for Calibrachoa plants as the salts can promote plant disease and damage its roots. Using an organic plant food or a slow-release fertilizer is good to apply in half of the recommended strength.
Does calibrachoa grow better in full sun?
Even though these plants are sun lovers, they grow better in partial shade and dappled sunlight. Never forget to apply a dilute solution of liquid fertilizer to the plant every week. If you provide the plant with extra meals, then it stays capable of producing constant blooms.
How much watering does Calibrachoa need?
It is important to water the plant carefully, as overwatering and underwatering can both lead to disastrous results. First, stick your fingers two inches into the soil and check whether the soil feels dry or not. Water it only when the soil is dry and during hot and dry weather, you may need to water it daily.
What is the right way to make calibrachoa bloom again?
If you provide the plant with 6 and 8 hours of sunlight, then the plant produces abundant blossoms. Give your plant fertilizers, enough sunlight, and the appropriate temperature, and trim the plant if it grows leggy to make it bloom again.
How to make a calibrachoa plant bushy?
If you pinch back the stems to remove the growing tip, then it will make the plant bushier and produce more flowers. A good thing about calibrachoa is that they are self-cleaning and you don’t need to deadhead the plants.
Wrapping Up
Why is my Calibrachoa dying? Now you know about the reasons that may be bothering your plant and the possible ways to fix these issues. Just look at your plant closely and observe the symptoms which may be root rot, insufficient light, over-fertilization, pests, and diseases. You can easily save your Calibrachoa plant if you correctly identify the cause and make it flower and bloom happily around you.
