How to Grow Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa
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Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa × hybrid 'Kabloom Deep Blue'
flowerKabloom Deep Blue is a trailing calibrachoa cultivar known for its vibrant deep blue-purple flowers and compact, cascading growth habit. This heat-loving annual produces hundreds of small petunia-like blooms throughout the growing season with minimal deadheading required. It's an excellent choice for hanging baskets, containers, and landscape bedding.
When should you plant Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa in your zone?
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Example Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa blooms
Around Jun 1≈ 45 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-11; grown as annual in cooler zones, perennial in zones 9-11
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Get my Kabloom Deep Blue Calibrachoa timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings emerge with cotyledons and first true leaves appearing delicate and small
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light (not direct sun initially). Maintain temperature 65-75°F. Thin seedlings or pot up into individual containers once true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops multiple stems and increasingly dense foliage with trailing branches extending
Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions if starting indoors. Pinch stems once or twice to encourage branching and bushier growth. Begin fertilizing weekly with diluted liquid fertilizer once established. Ensure adequate light.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (or until frost)Small trumpet-shaped deep blue-purple flowers appear at branch tips, with continuous blooming throughout season
Maintain consistent watering schedule; drought stress can reduce blooming. Deadhead spent flowers if desired, though Kabloom types self-clean well. Continue weekly fertilizing with balanced or slightly higher potassium formula. Deadheading and pinching back can rejuvenate plants mid-season.
Peak Bloom & Maintenance
4-6 weeks (or longer)Plant is fully established with prolific flowering and dense trailing growth cascading from containers
Maintain daily watering in hot weather. Apply balanced fertilizer every 7-10 days or use controlled-release fertilizer. Inspect regularly for pests. Cut back leggy growth if needed. Plant continues blooming until frost.
End of Season
2-4 weeks (or until frost)Flowering slows as temperatures drop toward frost; foliage may appear stressed or discolored
Continue watering and fertilizing to extend bloom period as long as possible. Stop fertilizing 4-6 weeks before expected frost. In zones 9+, cut back stems by one-third in fall and protect from frost if continuing as perennial. In cooler zones, this is typically the end of the plant's life.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil if infestation persists. Maintain adequate humidity around plants.
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Apply yellow sticky traps to monitor and catch adults. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Remove heavily infested leaves. Ensure good air circulation.
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Spray with water to dislodge. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization.
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Allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Use sticky traps. Apply beneficial nematodes or insecticidal soap if severe. Repot in fresh soil if necessary.
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Improve air circulation around plants. Avoid wetting foliage; water at soil level. Remove affected flowers and leaves immediately. Reduce humidity. Apply fungicide if needed.
Uses
Hanging Baskets & Container Gardens
OrnamentalKabloom Deep Blue's trailing habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and container arrangements where it cascades beautifully. Its prolific blooming provides season-long color with minimal maintenance. [source]
Landscape Bedding & Ground Cover
HouseholdPlant in garden beds, borders, and mass plantings for vibrant color displays. The spreading growth habit quickly covers ground and creates eye-catching color blocks in landscapes. [source]
Fresh Floral Arrangements
OrnamentalCut short stems of flowers make charming additions to small vases and floral arrangements, bringing the vibrant deep blue color indoors. [source]
Pollinator Garden
WildlifeThe abundant small flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. [source]
Color Combinations & Contrast
OrnamentalThe deep blue-purple flowers provide striking color contrast when planted with yellows, whites, and silvers, allowing creative garden and container design. [source]
Harvest Tips
Calibrachoa is an ornamental flower, not harvested for crops. Pinch or trim stems regularly to encourage bushiness and continuous flowering. Remove spent flower clusters or individual flowers to promote further blooming (though Kabloom varieties are self-cleaning). Cut stems can be used in fresh floral arrangements. Harvest seeds for next season by allowing some flowers to dry on the plant and collecting seed pods once brown and dry.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Calibrachoa is sometimes called 'Million Bells' due to the sheer number of small trumpet-shaped flowers produced throughout the season; a single plant can produce hundreds of blooms.
- 🌱 The 'Kabloom' series was specifically bred to be self-cleaning, meaning spent flowers drop naturally without requiring deadheading, making it lower-maintenance than traditional petunias.
- 🌱 Calibrachoa is closely related to petunia but produces much smaller flowers and has a more delicate, trailing growth habit; it's sometimes called 'mini petunia' though it's a distinct species.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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