Plant, cultivate, propagate and more

care tips

In order to be able to enjoy the filigree carpet of flowers all summer long, no complex care is required. If you pay attention to the following measures, Campanula will bloom in beds and pots for what feels like an eternity:

• the bluebell keep constantly moist without causing waterlogging
• Organic every 2-3 weeks during flowering fertilize with compost, horn shavings or nettle stock
• Trim wilted blooms to encourage a pretty rebloom
• Cut back close to the ground in autumn or, even better, in spring before fresh shoots appear

In exposed locations, the perennial receives protection in the form of leaves, straw or needle brushwood despite its winter hardiness. Before the first frost, bellflowers in pots or window boxes move to a frost-free, cool and dark winter quarters. During dormancy, only water Campanula enough to keep the root ball from drying out. Fertilizer is not applied at this stage.

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Which location is suitable?

The bellflower feels in good hands in a semi-shady location, protected as much as possible from the blazing midday sun. This premise applies universally to the broad perennial family. If you coordinate the location down to the last detail with the preferred type and variety, the flower will achieve its optimum. The dwarf ballflower, which is suitable for the rock garden, does its best in full sun to sunny places, while the forest bellflower prefers to stay in a cool, shady place.
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The right planting distance

The perfect planting distance should conform to the species of bluebell chosen. The following overview shows recommended distances in the bed for some of the most popular Campanula. If you place the perennial in the balcony box, reduce the specified values ​​by approx. 5-6 cm.

• Carpet bellflower: planting distance 20 cm (16-18 pieces per square meter)
• Carpathian bellflower: planting distance 25 cm (16 pieces per square meter)
• Ball bellflower: planting distance 35 cm (8 pieces per square meter)
• Large-flowered bellflower: planting distance 40 cm (6-8 pieces per square meter)
• Tall bellflower umbels: planting distance 70-90 cm (3-6 pieces per square meter)

What soil does the plant need?

The demands on the light and temperature conditions may differ; with regard to the soil conditions, Campanula are largely in agreement. This is how the ideal earth should be structured:

• Deeply relaxed and humorous
• Nutritious and fresh-moist to moderately dry
• Neutral to chalky

Cultivated in the balcony box, the hanging basket or the pot, the bluebell likes to spread its roots in a looser way potting soil based on compost, enriched with some sand, expanded clay or lava granules.

What is the best planting time?

The merry month of May is the best time to plant a bluebell in the garden perennial bed, rock garden or at the edge of the wood. From the middle of the month, the danger of delayed ground frosts is over, so that the young plants that you have brought up yourself or bought ready-made can grow unhindered.

When is flowering time?

The main flowering period for bluebells is from June to August. Of course, with a little gardening attention, you can extend the flowering period by several weeks into autumn. You can achieve this feat by regularly cleaning out wilted flowers or cutting the perennial by half after the first flowering phase.
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Cut the bellflower correctly

If you regularly cut off withered flowers, the bellflower will respond with a vital rebloom. Cut the withered leaves to just above the ground either in autumn or in early spring. If the bellflower acts as a ground cover, you can cut it back in early spring using a lawnmower set to the maximum cutting height.

Attractive campanula, such as the bellflower, are also suitable for long-lasting cut flowers. Ideally, cut off the stems early in the morning after the perennial has been watered.
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Water bellflower

The bellflower prefers a balanced water regime. Do not let the root ball dry out or drown in waterlogging. Avoid overhead watering to avoid spoiling the beauty of the fragile flowers. Poured directly onto the ground with the spout of the watering can, Campanula are happy to take the water.

Fertilize the bellflower properly

Since Campanula are among the weakly consuming perennials, fertilization is of secondary importance for professional care. If you give the bed a portion of compost or horn shavings every 2-3 weeks during the flowering period, the requirements are perfectly met. In the balcony box or pot, an organic liquid fertilizer completely covers the requirement every 14 days. Please note that fertilizer is no longer applied from August to allow the bluebell to prepare for winter.

hibernate

The multi-layered Campanula genus has some pithy species ready for the perennial border that are completely hardy. However, not all bluebells have this attribute. To be on the safe side when in doubt, the following precautions are recommended for safe winter storage:

• Leave the drawn-in foliage until spring as a natural winter protection
• Pile up Campanula with leaves, brushwood or straw before the first frost
• When there is a frost, water on mild winter days

In balcony boxes or pots there is always a risk that the root ball will freeze behind the thin wall of the container. Therefore, carry bellflowers in tubs to frost-free, dark winter quarters. In this case, the withered foliage has to give way, as it increases susceptibility to diseases.
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Propagating bluebells

Very few Campanula are suitable for classic propagation methods, such as division or cuttings. In contrast, the sowing from seed pleasingly uncomplicated. From the end of February, follow these steps:

• Fill a seed tray or small pots with peat sand, coconut fibers or seed soil
• Mix the very fine seeds with some bird sand and sow
• As a light germinator, only press the seeds or sieve a maximum of 0.5 cm with sand or vermiculite
• Moisten with a fine shower and place in the indoor greenhouse in a partially shaded location

At a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, the germination time takes 7 to 21 days. Keep the seed constantly slightly moist and ventilate the mini greenhouse daily. From a growth height of 3-5 cm, the seedlings are transplanted into individual pots.
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Bellflower in the pot

In the pot, the bellflower sets the scene with floral splendor on the sunny to partially shaded balcony. If you plant Campanula in loose potting soil, with a drainage made of potsherds over the water drain in the bottom of the pot, the plant is undemanding. How to properly care for the pretty perennial:

• If the top 1-2 cm of the substrate dries up, it is poured
• Fertilize liquid every 2 weeks from May to July
• Trim wilted flowers for rebloom

Although numerous Campanula species are hardy, they do not survive the cold season outdoors in pots. So that the root ball does not freeze, move the bellflower to a frost-free, dark winter quarters in autumn. Before doing so, cut off all parts of the plant close to the ground to take the wind out of the sails of diseases and pests.

Is bluebell poisonous?

The degree of venom content of Campanula is still a matter of controversy. Until there is clear knowledge about the toxicity, we recommend a vigilant handling of bluebells. Keep children and pets away from the flowers. All planting and care work should be carried out with gloves. Clippings are only disposed of on the compost heap if neither grazing cattle nor horses can get there.
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Are Campanula suitable for houseplants?

Thanks to its creeping growth with lush tendrils up to 20 cm in length, the evergreen star bellflower (Campanula isophylla) is a wonderful indoor plant for hanging baskets. The cushion bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana) with blue or white starry flowers is also popular for indoor culture. Other breeds, on the other hand, are not always suitable for the home windowsill. Therefore, when you buy it, ask specifically whether your favorite bellflower will not give up immediately when the room temperature is cozy and warm.
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Is every bluebell hardy?

The diverse Campanula genus comes up with species and varieties that thrive in almost every place on earth. You shouldn't expect any frost hardiness from Mediterranean bluebells, while other specimens can even stand up to frost. Popular hardy species include:

• Carpathian bellflower (Campanula carpatica): hardy to - 40 degrees
• Knotted Bellflower (Campanula glomerata): hardy to -45 degrees
• Peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia): hardy to -35 degrees

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Which bluebells are suitable for ground cover?

Keep an eye out for Campanula, which cover the ground in a carpet of flowers with creeping growth, there are a diverse selection of species and cultivars to choose from. A selection of the most beautiful ground covers in a nutshell:

Hanging-cushioned bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)
The magnificent species covers the sunny rock garden and the meager dry stone wall with a lush bloom within a short time. The tendrils, which are up to 70 cm long, are covered with violet-blue, large bell-shaped flowers from June to August and a second bloom in September.

Small umbel bellflower (Campanula lactiflora)
Wherever you want to plant a cushion of flowers in sunny to partially shaded locations, this pretty groundcover is the right choice. With white or blue starry flowers, this stoloniferous Campanula species is recommended as a contrasting underplanting to majestic roses or as a wreath for your most beautiful perennial border edge planting.
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