Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is a dazzling perennial plant that produces small bell-like flowers. This plant is loved so much for its collection of different colored flowers. These flowers change their color throughout the season. This beautiful plant is also grown in hanging baskets due to its trailing nature. If anything is done wrong with its care routine, this plant can die before you know. So if you have been asking yourself, ‘why is my Calibrachoa dying? We are here to help you save your plant.
These are the 8 common signs that signal towards a dying Calibrachoa. If your plant is showing any of these signs, it can be deadly for the following reasons. We have also mentioned the best possible ways to save your plant if it is dying.
Reasons Why Your Calibrachoa Might Be Dying
Discolored Leaves
Discolored leaves are the common symptom of root rot. So if your Calibrachoa is dying and it has discolored leaves with droopy foliage, it means it is suffering from root rot. Discolored leaves can also be due to under-watering, but it rarely happens.
You should check your plant’s roots to make sure it has root rot. If the roots are brown and soft, this cause is confirmed. It would be best to wash the roots with water and cut the affected ones to save your plant from dying.
Wilted Leaves
If your plant is dying due to wilted or crisp leaves, it means it is getting too much sunlight exposure. Direct sun can burn its leaves; therefore, this plant does not like to be placed under direct sun. By observing the texture of the leaves, you can know if the reason your Calibrachoa is dying is direct sunlight.
If your plant is placed on a window sill receiving too much sunlight, you should move it to a farther spot. Indirect sunlight is sufficient for a Calibrachoa to grow correctly.
Droopy Foliage
There can be two reasons why your Calibrachoa is lifeless and droopy. It can either be due to overwatering or low sunlight. Now that you already know how to check if your plant is dying from overwatering and root rot, it’s time we learn more about low light exposure.
Calibrachoa needs at least six hours of sun every day to thrive. They also do pretty well in partial shade. But they droop down in the absence of bright sunlight or partial light exposure. It is how low light can lead to the death of your Calibrachoa plant.
So if you are wondering why is my Calibrachoa dying while it is placed in a dark room in your home, you need to move the plant asap. Place it under bright, indirect sunlight to save it from dying.
White Layered Soil
Your Calibrachoa dying due to white-layered soil is a result of over-fertilization. Over-fertilization leads to excessive nutrients in the soil, which collect on the soil surface as white crystals. It causes a salt build-up, and eventually, a white layer forms on the soil surface.
If your Calibrachoa has a crystal-like white layer on its soil surface, you should wash it thoroughly with water. Avoid fertilizing the plant for some time. You should fertilize this plant only twice a month.
Curled Leaves
Do you know Calibrachoa can survive in low temperatures? Even though it needs a temperature range of 13°C to 18°C to grow correctly, it grows pretty well in mild frost. The real problem starts when the temperature drops below -3°C.
So if it has been too cold outside lately and your Calibrachoa has curly leaves, it means it is dying due to the freezing temperature. It would be best if you moved it immediately to a warmer place in such a case.
Brown Spots on Leaves
If your Calibrachoa has water-soaked brown spots on its leaves, it means it has leaf spot disease. This disease is not that dangerous to kill a plant, but it will affect its flowering and growth rate. Your Calibrachoa will produce fewer flowers with discolored patterns if it has leaf spot disease. Therefore, you must treat this disease.
Instead of buying an expensive pesticide from the market, you can make one on your own in your home. Just mix half a spoon of baking soda in a gallon of water to make a DIY pesticide.
Insects and Yellow Leaves
Fungus gnats are the most common pest of Calibrachoa plants. These are small mosquito-like insects that feed on the soil and roots of plants. This eating habit of fungus gnats directly affects the plant leaves. If your Calibrachoa has small insects lurking around and yellow-colored leaves, it means your plant is dying due to fungus gnats.
You can use the same pesticide solution on fungus gnats as you used for leaf spot disease. However, an even more effective pesticide for fungus gnats will be a mixture of dishwasher soap and water.
Misshapen and Grainy Leaves
The second most common pest problem of Calibrachoa is aphids. You can confirm their presence by looking at the undersides of your plant leaves. If the undersides of its leaves have a tiny grain-like substance on them and the leaves are misshapen, it means aphids are attacking your plant.
If not removed quickly, aphids can kill your Calibrachoa in no time. But you need not worry; getting rid of them is the easiest task. You can either knock them out with a fast stream of water or spray the foliage with neem oil solution.
Conclusion
Why is my Calibrachoa dying? You cannot know why your Calibrachoa is dying until you closely observe the signs that your plant is telling you. Common reasons that can kill Calibrachoa are root rot, improper light exposure, over-fertilization, too much cold, pests, and diseases. These causes always come with a unique sign to signal you what’s going wrong with your plant. You can easily save your dying Calibrachoa plant once you spot the main problem using the solutions mentioned above.
