Campanula: Plant Growth & Plant Care Full Guide

  • By: admin
  • Date: November 22, 2022
  • Time to read: 7 min.
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Macro photo of Campanula Portenschlagiana “Get Me” with shallow depth of field.

Overview

Campanula, also known as bellflower or harebell, is a genus of around 170 flowering plants from the family Campanulaceae. The common name “campanula” is derived from Latin campana, meaning “bell.”

Campanula is an herbaceous plant that generally grows between 15-50 cm in height and has only five petals. The leaves grow alternately and are thin and long with serrated margins. The flowers are blue to purple in color and grow on the ends of the stems.

The species of this genus are annual, perennial, and alpine flowering plants with intricate flowers. A few species grow to become biennials, and some have a bulbous rootstock.

Campanula has been used since times immemorial in traditional medicine, mainly against respiratory problems, digestive disorders, skin infections, and an expectorant for colds. It is also useful for treating depression, anxiety, and stress.

Growing Bellflowers

Campanula is a hardy and easy-to-grow plant that can be easily cultivated in various soil types with full sun or partial shade. Campanulas are ideal for large gardens, but they also do well as small container plants on patios and verandas. They can be propagated from seeds. The best time to sow the seeds is during summer in a cold frame or indoors.

Drop your seed into the hole you have made and cover it with earth, ensuring that all of the seed has been covered by approximately 1 cm. Leave your pot inside for two weeks so that germination happens at room temperature rather than directly under sunlight which may burn off young leaves.

If you want to grow them directly outside, plant the seedlings into any soil once they have reached a height of around 2-4 cm. Try to thin your plants out so that there is no more than 10cm between each one and leave plenty of space between rows for future growth.

Bellflowers need good moist but well-drained soil. Plants can tolerate full sun in warm garden beds that are not dry. Some species have an additional leafy growth called an appendage between their sepals.

The fruit is a capsule of tiny seeds that allow plant mothers to self-sow. Regular divide and transfer maintain the health of plants, and readers should consult their local Nursery for advice about specific growing conditions and the selection of plants they can grow comfortably.

Campanula Care & Maintenance

Campanula
Close-up view of campanula portenschlagiana flowers blooming brightly illuminated by the sun

To keep your bellflowers looking their best, ensure that you only water them when the top layer of soil has dried up. When watering, do not wet the leaves. Rather place some water in the pot base to not become waterlogged or use a drip irrigation system instead.

Top dress with compost regularly and perform deadheading routinely to control reseeding as well as removing old leaves before new ones emerge in

Bellflowers need good moist but well-drained soil. Plants can tolerate full sun in warm garden beds that are not dry. Some species have an additional leafy growth called an appendage between their sepals.

The fruit is a capsule of tiny seeds that allow plant mothers to self-sow. Regular divide and transfer maintain the health of plants, and readers should consult their local Nursery for advice about specific growing conditions and the selection of plants they can grow comfortably.

Soil for Campanula

Campanula

Campanula is a hardy plant that can grow in both poor and well-drained soils. A good mixture for this is peat moss, sand granules, and perlite. Plant the bulbs into pots during spring or autumn when temperatures are cool and low humidity levels. If you live in an area with freezing winters, it is best to keep your pots inside and place them in a cool room. The ideal temperature for Campanula is between 60 F-75 F.

Campanula is susceptible to root rot if there is too much moisture or high humidity around the plant.  You must reduce watering during the winter months and repot the plant during spring or summer when temperatures are warm enough for new growth. This will ensure that your plants have a healthy root system as well as good soil drainage. You can always check on the amount of water by lifting the pot slightly and checking out how wet it looks from below.

You should avoid overwatering your Campanula and prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged because this may cause them to rot. To prevent the plant’s roots from rotting, ensure that you place it in a sunny location but out of hot direct sunlight and provide good air circulation around the plant. Potted Campanula can also be placed indoors near a window with bright indirect light exposure during winter but outdoors in summer when they can experience full sun.

Campanula is not particular about soil ph levels which makes it easy to grow a flower for beginners. For best results, amend your potting mix by adding sand or perlite into peat moss-based compost. The most important thing to remember when growing Campanula is that you should choose a site with at

Rooms with good ventilation are best for growing plants from bulbs as these tend to produce fungal infections if they get too hot or humid.

Growing Bell Shaped Flowers From Bulbs

Bulbs of garden flowers need to be planted in pots filled with quality potting soil and placed outside in early summer. Regular watering is required after planting campanulas to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. The pots must be kept in a sunny area, and the soil must not dry out.

Campanula can tolerate partial shade, but doing so will delay flowering. The flower spikes are often very heavy, particularly when they have been exposed to temperatures below freezing during their early development, and should thus be staked to avoid breakage or at least supported with wire hoops bent into hoops just under half-circle shapes using pliers. The same applies to the plant’s leaves which are known for being somewhat fragile.

If you have planted more than one campanula in a pot, keep the distance between the two of them as wide as possible since these plants often stretch beyond their pots once grown big enough. This way, you’ll also be able to enjoy the lovely blue or white hues of their flowers for longer periods.

How to plant a Campanula from seed ?

Campanula is an easy plant to grow from seeds falling in the ground. They also develop easily when planted in pots. However, it requires a sunny area with well-drained soil. Here are some steps that you can follow to germinate Campanulas from seeds successfully:

The first step to prepare the potting mixture by mixing equal parts of sand, peat, and compost. Now place this potting mixture into a plastic bag, seal its opening and set it aside until you’re ready to sow the seeds.

The next stage involves sowing a few seeds at a time, depending on how you want to space your plants within your garden bed or pots. Cover these after sowing by sprinkling some of the prepared soil mixtures on them and gently pat them down with your hands.

You can either sow your seeds directly in the ground or simply into pots filled with the potting soil mixture. The latter method is more convenient if you intend to transplant your seeds into bigger containers after germination. If you do so, cover the pots with plastic sheets or newspapers and keep them moist but not waterlogged.

For best results, sow Campanula seeds in a brightly lit area that receives direct sunlight for at least 6 hours every day during spring or summer since this will ensure that your subsequent plants grow healthy and vibrant.

Watering Campanula

Campanula
blue bellflowers (Campanula poscharskyana)

Well, once the plants are 2 or 5 weeks old is enough to ensure their development. However, if you live in a region with cold winters where temperatures can drop below freezing at night, ensure that your potting mixture doesn’t get waterlogged.

When transplanting your Campanula seeds, dig up the pot and loosen the planting medium’s soil with a trowel. Gently remove each plant and its root ball and place it into a bigger container filled with the same potting mix. Cover this new container with plastic sheets or newspapers and keep it moist but not waterlogged until the germination process occurs.

You can also start growing Campanula from bulbs that are available as individual offsets during springtime. Keep the soil moist and irrigate it when necessary until the plants have established their roots. Give these new plants plenty of light and space to ensure that they grow healthy and strong.

Pest Control

Campanula is generally very hardy and only get affected by pests such as aphids or slugs, which can be easily controlled using insecticidal sprays. You should apply pesticides for controlling the pests when they first appear since a few treatments at this early stage will save you from further problems later on.

Campanulas flower after 2-3 years. They blossom in various patterns during summer, mostly in early to mid-July and September (in the northern hemisphere), depending on the kind of plant that you have planted and its growing conditions. The flowers usually last till late autumn before fading away due to natural causes like falling leaves.

Conclusion

Campanula is a plant that can bring a touch of nature into any garden, patio, or balcony. The blue and purple flowers that they bear are very striking and often attract insect pollinators. This explains why many people grow the plant near their doorways or on balconies since it ensures that visitors will be surrounded by beautiful sights when they come into your home.

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