How to Grow Calibrachoa Cabaret Red

Calibrachoa Cabaret Red

Calibrachoa × hybrida 'Cabaret Red'

flower

Calibrachoa Cabaret Red is a compact, mounding annual flower that produces masses of small, vibrant red trumpet-shaped blooms throughout the growing season. It's a popular choice for containers, hanging baskets, and garden borders due to its prolific flowering and easy care requirements. This variety is part of the Cabaret series, bred specifically for superior flower production and compact growth.

Looking for a specific variety?

Cabaret Violet Cabaret Pink Cabaret Deep Purple Cabaret Scarlet Cabaret Hot Pink Cabaret White

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (more blooms with maximum light exposure)

💧

Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when top inch of soil is dry. Container plants may need daily watering in hot weather. Reduce watering slightly in cooler months.

📏

Spacing: 8 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 30-45 days to significant flowering

🌱

Planting depth: Surface sow or barely cover seeds; germinate at 70-75°F

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile potting soil or garden soil

pH: 6.0-6.5

Amendments:

Compost Peat moss or coco coir Perlite or sand for drainage Balanced slow-release fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-11 as an annual; perennial in zones 9-11

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a

Growth Stages

Seedling

1-2 weeks

Tiny, delicate seedlings with first true leaves emerging. Very small and fragile.

Keep soil consistently moist under grow lights or bright windowsill. Maintain humidity with a clear dome or plastic wrap. Provide 12-16 hours of light daily.

Vegetative Growth

2-3 weeks

Plant develops bushy branching structure with small oval leaves. No flowers yet, focused on foliage development.

Continue regular watering and bright light. Pinch back growing tips at 2-3 true leaves to encourage bushier growth. Keep in cool location (65-70°F) until transplanting.

Pre-flowering

1-2 weeks

Plant becomes fuller and more compact. Flower buds begin to form at branch tips.

Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions if growing indoors. Begin light fertilizing with balanced or phosphorus-rich formula. Maintain consistent moisture.

Flowering

8-16 weeks

Abundant small red trumpet flowers continuously produced along branch tips. Plant maintains compact mounded form covered in blooms.

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming (though this variety is self-cleaning). Fertilize every 2 weeks with blooming formula. Water regularly, especially in containers.

Peak Production & Decline

Variable with season

Maximum flowering occurs mid-season. Flowering may slow in extreme heat (above 90°F) or as day length shortens in fall.

Continue regular watering and fertilizing. Provide afternoon shade in extremely hot climates. Cut back if plant becomes leggy mid-season to rejuvenate flowering.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Ivy (for hanging baskets) Dusty Miller Vinca Creeping Jenny Sweet potato vine Bacopa Ornamental grasses Petunias Verbena Marigolds

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring consistently dry soil Tall shade-casting plants that block light

Common Pests

Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Remove heavily infested leaves. Use yellow sticky traps for monitoring.
Increase humidity and mist foliage. Spray with water forcefully to dislodge mites. Use miticide or neem oil if severe.
Rinse off with water spray. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
Allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps. Apply mosquito bits or neem soil drench if severe.

Uses

🏠

Container & Basket Gardening

Household

Calibrachoa Cabaret Red is ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and container gardens due to its compact mounding habit and prolific flowering. Its trailing tendency makes it perfect for creating full, colorful displays with minimal space. [source]

🏠

Garden Borders & Edging

Household

The compact growth habit makes this variety excellent for garden borders, front-of-border plantings, and landscape edging. It creates continuous color from early summer through first frost. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

The abundant small red flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators throughout the growing season. It serves as a continuous nectar source for butterflies and beneficial insects. [source]

🎨

Floral Arrangements & Cut Flowers

Craft

Small sprigs of flowering Calibrachoa can be used in fresh floral arrangements for delicate, colorful accents. The flowers are long-lasting in arrangements and add texture. [source]

🏠

Seasonal Color Display

Household

This variety provides reliable, long-lasting seasonal color in spring and summer plantings, perfect for creating themed color gardens or complementing other plantings in mixed containers. [source]

Harvest Tips

Calibrachoa doesn't produce harvestable fruit or seeds for consumption. Deadheading (removing spent flowers) is optional as this variety is largely self-cleaning; however, light deadheading encourages more profuse blooming. Pinch back stems in mid-season if plant becomes leggy to rejuvenate growth and flowering.

Fun Facts

🌱 Calibrachoa is sometimes called 'Million Bells' because it produces such prolific quantities of small, bell-shaped flowers throughout the season.
🌱 The Cabaret series was specifically bred for superior flower production and compact growth, making it more reliable and longer-blooming than older calibrachoa varieties.
🌱 Calibrachoa is closely related to petunias but produces much smaller flowers and is genetically distinct; it's native to South America, particularly Argentina and Brazil.

Want personalized planting timelines?

Get started free