Potting up self sown hellebore

What kind soil mix do you use when pricking out self sown hellebore seedling?

I would say whatever soil they are currently growing in. How big are they? Or how old are they?

I also want to know, as well as when is the best time? Autumn or Spring?

I think, if it were me, I would do it in the spring. Gives it a longer time to catch hold before winter

But then, I am just thinking about our weather here.

Thanks, will wait till then.

Hi Elsa,
I sow Heliotrope seed every year. Here, zone 6b, it's an annual. It's a perennial in zone 8. I grow it in Bright shade. It blooms for me all summer until a hard frost. It doesn't require much care other than routine water-maybe every two weeks. Watch it closely--when you first plant it out to give it the best chance.
I am going to start the seed soon. It germinates sporadically, and I have found it does Much Better started in doors vs. winter sow.

I use sterile seed starting soil to start my seeds. That keeps rot, mold etc under control. The seed has enough energy to feed the plant; so the seed starting soil doesn't have to have nutrients, But when the plants start to grow, the seed "food, if you will," is depleted, and the plant will have to start getting it's nutrients from good potting soil. So, in conclusion, I start my seeds in one type of soil then, move them to richer soil.

I plant them out when there's no danger of frost here in this area. For you, I would plant them when conditions for growing are "ideal". You know, not too hot, not too dry - kind of Goldilocks, "just right". This gives them the best chance to get a good start in survival.

Don't wait too long to put these babies out. After they have four leaves, you "can" pinch the next (fifth and sixth leaves) out. This will enable them to branch out more offering you more blooms. If they look
1. good and healthy,
2. conditions outside are "right" and
3. they have four leaves, I would plant them outside.

I "hope" this helps and doesn't confuse you. Good luck.

Think she was stalking about Helebores. But good info for me on Heliotropes. I love them and pinch most things but never considered pinching these. Thanks.

Oh goodness. I am so sorry. What was I thinking?? I don't think I was.

I love hellebores. I have many re-seed. They stay pretty much every green here. I like the leaves even if they are not in bloom. They look rather tropical.

Thanks for the info on Heliotropes, anyway. I had a plant a few years ago, but it wasn't all that happy. I suspect it was getting too much sun.
Unfortunately only the "basic" seeds are for sale here in South Africa, and most of the seed companies from overseas prefer not to send seed here.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my helebore for sale in a small garden center. I know it is not very showy (the flowers are very pale pink) but I just love it anyway. :-) I would so love to grow all the gorgeous flowers I have on my "must have" list... Sigh

So sorry Elsa, if I had any of those I would send you seeds. A few years ago, just to try it, I tied some little organza bags on some of my Helebore flowers and I was amazed to find a lot of seeds in them when they dropped.

Yes, they drop seeds and put out a lot of seeds to start new plants. I have found them as far away as almost 20 feet away from the plant. And it came up right in the middle of a peony. I left it and it is now blooming.

However, if you let me know where to get them, which ones you want, and they aren't too expensive, I will get them and send them to you. We can try, say with one pack, and I will just mark them on the outside of the pack that they are flower seeds. It's up to you, if you want to try.

Send me a D-mail. Jeanette

Thanks, Jeanette. will keep that in mind. Thanks to the wonderful gardeners at DG, I have quite a lot of seed I received in a swop. I will however get back to you should I find something I just "have" to have.

Elsa

Sounds good Elsa. All we can do is try. And, I worked for U.S. Customs until I retired. So, I would never try to get around them. Not yours either. But, I think if I do it the way I said, that is not cheating. We could try one and see how it goes. That way it wouldn't be a whole lot of money. The worst they could do is keep them, or throw them away.

Let me know, Jeanette

What a sweetheart you are Jeanette!

wonderearth, in response to your original question, I have hellebores coming up from seed all of the time. I dig them up and move them. I dig them up, pot them in some good container soil (like fertilome) and give them away. It doesn't seem to bother them at all. They are pretty tough little plants. Gosh, they would have to be - they stay green in my 6b winters and bloom late February! If your project fails, I could send you some of my seedlings if you are interested. FYI, I don't use Miracle Grow--my opinion is it stays too wet-but to each his own.

I am sorry I sort of hijacked your thread. Good luck on your seedlings.

Birder, thanks for your info on Heliotrope too. After reading yours and others comments about Miracle Grow I looked back with my experience, I have to agree MG does stay too wet...and dense.

The South Africa dept of agriculture requires import permits for seeds, tubers, bulbs, anything to do with import plants. The reason for their doing so is that even the tiniest seed can harbor a potentially harmful pest or pathogen, or because of the climate, can become invasive. Even with the best intentions, it's better to purchase seeds from growers who have actually gone through the procedures to get legal permits and who have ensured that their gods are properly treated against any issues that might result in huge problems for the populace and growers of a country.

How many people actually inspect their seeds for the minute holes made by weevils, those tiny little worms that are so cosily nestled inside the seeds of their host plant? I know it's human nature to want to be looked on as generous and caring but you can never know how much damage you may cause by doing so. All it takes is one or two seeds to start a population. I've worked with import agencies for over 30 years and have seen numerous personal shipments that when the Usda opened the packages, were crawling with insects, most non native to the Us

Then dragonfly, why do they make it difficult for folks to purchase from dealers? Altho, I would have to go back and look, she may have said that companies don't like to send to their countries. Maybe those specific companies she wants to use have not worked with them and gotten the permits to send to their countries.

Thanks.

Jnette, you are probably right.

I just wanted to put out a caution about sending seeds because of the things I mentioned.

These seed suppliers in ZA seem to have a large variety of seeds:
http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/
http://www.sakata.co.za/ - they sell all over the world, even here in the US
http://www.sanbi.org/sites/default/files/documents/documents/seed-catalogue-2014.pdf

LOL, had to google the word I was looking for. Dragonfly, I guess what I was thinking was that each company would have to have a "phytosanitary" certification to send to countries doing business with people there. Even in this country they have to have them for each STATE. And, I don't know if it would be each company, or country.

Maybe that is why the smaller companies don't want to do it. Those certifications are quite expensive to get I think. I think it means that they have been inspected and found that they have taken steps to ensure their plants and soil do not carry bad diseases or bugs. I am guessing.

What is ZA Dragonfly? Obviously an abbreviation for something.

ZA is the country code for South Africa, like AU for Australia, US for the United States..
.