This plant is popularly called a bear paw, a winter hut. The flower hellebore belongs to the family of buttercups and has been growing quite successfully for a long time already in the suburban areas in our latitudes. The plant is rather compact and rarely grows above half a meter. Depending on the variety, its flowering period is in a very wide range from the beginning of December to the end of February.
How to grow a hellebore from the seeds?
It is the seed method that is considered to be the most acceptable for growing and multiplying plants. You can purchase ready-to-plant seeds in a specialized store or prepare them yourself. It should be remembered that when growing the hellebore from their seeds, stratification must be observed in two stages: first it is two months at a temperature of no higher than 22 ° C, then two more months at a temperature of no higher than 3 ° C. About a year later the seeds will lose their germination.
When planting and care for flowers such as hellebore, all recommendations should be carefully observed:
- if you decide to plant the seeds directly in the soil, it's right to do it right after harvesting the seeds;
- the depth of seeding into the open ground is about 1 cm, while the distance between plantings should be about a meter;
- if you decide to use only your seeds, then go to the collection around June, waiting for the full maturation of the seed box is not needed, you can simply skip the moment and it will burst.
The soil must be sufficiently loose and well-fertilized. About a year later you will see the first shoots. When planting the seed method and taking care of the flowers of the hellebore, you need to wait for the first two real leaves to appear and only then dive your seedlings to a place where there is no permanent sunlight and there is a light penumbra. Approximately in three years it is possible to transplant ready plants to their constant place safely.
Planting hellebore and caring for it - the main secrets of growing
If you follow the basic recommendations for growing a flower of hellebore, you can avoid a number of difficulties associated with the emergence of various pests and diseases. Before the onset of the cold season, it is always necessary to prepare a litter for the hellebore from fallen leaves, only the leaves of oak, lime or apple tree will do.
If you decide to resort to division for the reproduction of plants, be sure to choose only young plants, then the plants will get well and will not begin to ache. This applies to transplantation: it is better not to touch adult plants once, and when working with young people it is important not to overdo the root system.
When you care for the flower hellebore, you are likely to encounter a number of difficulties. Although this plant and does not belong to the hard-to-grow or often sick, but some difficulties will still be present. They are connected mainly with the influence of weather conditions.
- The flower hellebore is most susceptible to fungal and viral diseases. You will notice spots of a rounded shape and black on the leaves, sometimes flowerpots or buds become the zone of damage. If the time does not take action, the plant will die pretty quickly. To provoke the appearance of a fungus or infection can be too wet and at the same time warm growing conditions.
- If you decide to propagate the hellebore in the garden by dividing, you should be afraid of the appearance of a mosaic foliage color, white and very hard leaves, usually irregular in shape. This is the onset of an infection that can infect other plants in a short time. Remove diseased plants should be as soon as possible, since they do not respond to treatment.
- Often when planting and caring for the hellebore, gardeners encounter attacks of aphids , leaf nematodes, snails and thinners. To fight, we will use insecticides, cut off all affected parts of the plant.