Living in a Funtopia World

Lauren Blume

Here at Selecta One, we like to have fun with our calibrachoa assortment. We’re always looking to improve and advance our novelty types, and introduce new colors and habits to meet market needs.

For 2025 retail sales, we’ve launched our MiniFamous Uno Funtopia line in both pink and blue varieties. The semi-double blooms have a tie-dye pattern and this texture helps them look great in a mono-pot application, as well as mixed in combinations. It impressed us so much that Funtopia Pink is our 2025 Selecta One catalog cover star! (View our latest catalog online now at our website, selectanorthamerica.com.)

To refresh your memory, the MiniFamous Uno series of calibrachoa are medium-compact types with a mounded habit that are good for use in high-density production. It’s available in classic core colors, doubles, star patterns and now this new Funtopia design. MiniFamous Uno, when used in combos, mixes well with other medium-compact and early flowering components.

Below are some helpful rooting and finishing guidelines to help you produce the best-looking calibrachoa baskets, tubs and pots for your customers.

Average propagation is about four to five weeks. Stick your unrooted Funtopia cuttings into a recommended cell size of 20 mm. No rooting hormone is needed. Provide a mist for nine to 12 days. An early PGR treatment is optional in the rooting stage seven to 10 days after sticking. Use sprays only; cover the plants and avoid run-off as much as possible. For vigorous products, a second application can be provided when needed. A pinch in propagation is also optional.

Best results are achieved if media with the correct pH is used starting with propagation. We recommend a media pH of 5.5 to 6.2. Start with low concentrations of fertilizer, 200 to 250 PPM N/EC 2.0 to 2.4 after roots show and increase with plant development to the recommended levels.

Keep the media evenly moist. In general, avoid drying out or overwatering the substrate, as this will affect plant quality and finishing time. The root system will suffer when conditions change from one extreme to the other.

“Growing on the dry side” means letting the substrate become dry (substrate color turns light brown and substrate starts to separate from the pot edge) before watering. “Keep constantly moist” means watering the plants just before substrate becomes dry. Water management in rooting and finishing is half the success and the best way to prevent root-bound diseases, improve performance and control plant quality.

During rooting, keep soil temperature measured in the liner at 70F (21C) until cuttings are well-rooted. After planting the liner, keep temperature up until roots have developed nicely. Afterward, follow these recommendations:

Day Temperatures: 65 to 80F (18 to 27C)

Night Temperatures: 55 to 65F (13 to 18C)

The use of “cool morning” treatments will improve plant quality, flower and foliage color, and plant habit, as well as harden the plants. Lower the temperature by 8 to 12F (4 to 6C) two hours before sunrise until two to three hours after sunrise. Start these treatments after the plants are rooted in, well-branched and cover the media (reach the pot edges).

To avoid delayed flowering, keep the average day temperature under a close watch, and if necessary, increase night temperatures. Finishing of the crop depends on the average day temperature and positive or negative DIF methods, as well as “cool morning” can be used to improve plant quality.

A pinch after transplant is optional. Maintain light levels at 4,000 to 7,000 f.c. For additional plant growth control, provide a B-Nine 1,500 PPM spray, Bonzi 1 PPM drench.

Calibrachoa are generally susceptible to Thielaviopsis, powdery mildew, aphids and mites, though the MiniFamous Uno series is screened for better powdery mildew resistance.

Note: Growers should use the information presented here as guidelines only. Selecta One highly recommends growers conduct a trial of products under their own conditions, as they vary from region to region. Crop times will also depend on the climate, location, time of year and greenhouse environmental conditions. GT

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Lauren Blume is the regional territory manager and technical lead for Ball FloraPlant and Selecta One North America. Reach out to her with production questions at lblume@ballhort.com.

Explore all the colors and patterns for MiniFamous Uno Calibrachoa from Selecta One and especially this new design, Funtopia. For additional combination inspiration, be sure to check out our online Dynamix recipes at selectanorthamerica.com/dynamix.