Growing and technical information for our Hellebore Frostkiss program.
SOLUTION STARTER
Liner Size: 72-Cell and 32-Cell Availability: Weeks 5-15 for 72-Cell | Weeks 35-40 for 32-Cell Hardiness Zone: 5-8 Growing Temps: 40-50ºF in fall for flower initiation, 32-40ºF through winter Exposure: Part Sun-Shade Average Finishing Time: 40-52 Weeks using 72-Cell and 18-26 Weeks using 32-Cell for 1 gallon
HELLEBORE FROSTKISS ® TECHNICAL GUIDE
2023
SOLUTION STARTER
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT Trade Name: Hellebore Frostkiss ® | Scientific Name: Helleborus x hybridus Liner Specs: 72-Cell Growcoon and 32-Cell Deep
EXPOSURE Helleborus like cool roots at all times and grow best with sun protection. It is very important to prevent the sun from shining directly on the pots at any time.Therefore, leave as little space between pots as possible and make sure the leaves cover the pots, creating shade on the pot. In the summer months, when temperatures are warmer take further precaution by using 30-35% shade cloth. If overwintering under plastic, be sure to use a white poly vs. clear poly. This will help keep plants from burning on sunny days.
TEMPERATURE In the fall, the perfect temperature for growing Hellebores is between 40-50°F, this range triggers the flowers to initiate. Depending on the climate this will occur between September and December. In winter, keep the Helleborus inside a frost- free greenhouse with temperatures ranging between 32-40°F. When there is no frost the plants will flower by their natural genetics, if there is frost, it will postpone the flowering time. In the summer months, it is important to shade at 30-35% when temperatures rise above 80°F.
CHARMER | PP# 29,873
ANNA'S RED | PP# 24,720
BAYLI’S BLUSH ® | PP# 27,120
CHERYL'S SHINE ® | PP# 28,009
DANA’S DULCET ® | PP# 27,970
DOROTHY’S DAWN ® | PP# 28,010
GLENDA’S GLOSS ® | PP# 28,008
ILLUMI LIME™ | PP# 30,807
MOLLY’S WHITE | PP# 25,685
MOONDANCE ® | PP# 27,969
PENNY’S PINK | PP# 24,149
PIPPA’S PURPLE ® | PP# 27,121
VIBEY VELVET™ | PPAF
2023 Hellebore Program / Pacific Plug & Liner
LATER TO BLOOM & LONGER TO BLOOM Our Frostkiss ® are later to bloom, unlike many niger types on the market, in general these varieties start to bloom late January and will hold till April or later depending on the temperature. HELLEBORE FROM PP&L
HEAT TOLERANT Hellebores and heat are two words that generally do not go well together. Our full line of Hellebore are successfully grown in very warm climates by following a few key growing tips. Curious what these are? Let us know, we can help. GUARANTEED UNIFORMITY Because our liners are born from tissue culture rather than seed, crops will be very uniform and easily row run.Another benefit to tissue culture is that crops will bloom in under one year, crops from seed can take 2-3!
TWO SIZES & PLANTING SEASONS TO FIT YOUR NEEDS Want to save some money, start your crops in the spring using our 72 cell liners. Don't want to over-summer your Hellebore crop? Start crops in the fall using our deep 32 cell to quickly fill pots for early spring sales. TECHNICAL SUPPORT Hellebores are not new to the US market but there is still a bit of mystery to growing a good crop. PP&L has teamed with the breeder of Frostkiss ® to provide unparalleled growing support. If you need help or have questions, shoot us a line!
SOLUTION STARTER
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT Trade Name: Hellebore Frostkiss ® | Scientific Name: Helleborus x hybridus Liner Specs: 72-Cell Growcoon and 32-Cell Deep
*Growers should use the information presented here as a guideline only. Flower times might vary due to winter temperatures. Colder growing temperatures will lead to later flowering.
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Frostkiss® Varieties
Habit
Flower Color
Flowering Time
Tall, less branching
Burgundy Red
December till March
ANNA’S RED
Medium Two-TonedViolet Blush with Creamy White
January till April
BAYLI’S BLUSH ®
Compact
Raspberry Pink
November till March
CHARMER
Vigorous
Light Pink
January till April
CHERYL’S SHINE ®
Compact
Two-Toned Smokey Pink with Greenish White
February till April
DANA’S DULCET ®
Vigorous
Light Pink
February till April
DOROTHY’S DAWN ®
Tall, less branching
White with Magenta-Purple Edging
December till March
GLENDA’S GLOSS ®
Medium
Chartreuse-Lime Green
January till April
ILLUMI LIME™
Vigorous
White Fading Into Green
January till April
MOLLY’S WHITE
Vigorous
White Fading Into Green
January till April
MOONDANCE ®
Medium
Mauve Pink
January till April
PENNY’S PINK
Medium
Smokey Pink with Burgundy Flecking
January till April
PIPPA’S PURPLE ®
December till March
Medium
Dark Red with Burgundy Flecking
VIBEY VELVET™
GROWER TIPS
• Hellebores are fast growing in spring and fall, these are the recommended seasons to plant in. Hellebores grow very slow in the summer months, therefore, it is not recommended to pot liners during the warm months of summer. • Hellebore need a very well drained, coarse soil with lots of aeration. pH should be at 5.5. A peat-based soil with decomposed bark works best. • Plants should be shaded at 30-35% in the summer months to prevent overheating and/or burning of foliage.
• Hellebores do not like to be watered during the hottest part of the day, so water them in the early morning or late evening. • Opposite of many plants, Hellebore need more fertilizer in the fall help to initiate flowers. • Always keep a Hellebore actively growing, even in the summer months. If they stop growing because of low fertilizer it can set back the growth by 2-3 months.
• Flower initiation occurs with shortening of days in the fall and lowering of temperatures, at around 40-50°F. • Keep frost-free during the winter in a cold greenhouse, 32-45°F, to prevent flower delay. • To delay flowering, keep crop very cold, just below freezing. This can delay flowering by 1 month or more.
BLOOM CHART
Late Nov.
Mid Dec.
Early January
Early Feb.
Mid Febuary
Early Mar.
Mid Mar.
Early Apr.
Mid Jan.
Mid Apr.
CHARMER
VIBEY VELVET™
ANNA'S RED
GLENDA’S GLOSS ®
CHERYL’S SHINE ®
MOLLY’S WHITE
MOONDANCE ®
BAYLI’S BLUSH ®
ILLUMI LIME™
PENNY’S PINK
PIPPA’S PURPLE ®
DANA’S DULCET ®
DOROTHY’S DAWN ®
Early
Late
FERTILIZATION & IRRIGATION GUIDELINES The most important thing with Hellebore is to keep them growing during the year. Never stop fertilizing for any reason. Hellebore need a steady feed throughout the growing cycle with an EC of 1.2-1.5, measured directly in the soil.A slow release 8-9 month fertilizer is recommended when spring planted. In the fall, Hellebore start initiating flowers so they need extra Nitrogen (N) and Iron (FE) during this time.This can be supplied using a liquid drench, keeping EC levels at 1.2-1.5.
Macro-elements
PPM MMOL
Micro-elements
PPB UMOL/L
NH4
<1.9
<0.1
Fe
558
10
K
47
1.2
Mn
110
2.0
Na
<58
<2.5
Zn
131
2
Ca
40
1.0
B
108
10
Mg
7.3
0.3
Cu
44
0.7
NO3
155
2.5
Mo
<9.6
<0.1
Cl
<89
<2.5
S
58
0.6
HCO3
<6.2
<0.1
P
15
0.5
K/Ca
1:2
1:2
**Keep in mind; these are not fixed numbers, just guidelines.
The method of watering is very important for Hellebores to avoid stress. Drip irrigation works best but overhead irrigation with feed is also possible.With overhead irrigation, try to avoid watering during the hottest hours of the day because the leaf temperature is high and the water temperature much cooler. Leaf temperatures can go up to 105°F while in most cases the water temperature is around 75°F. This difference creates a temperature shock and causes stress. Stress will weaken plants and make them vulnerable to root problems such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora.When watering using overhead irrigation on warm days, irrigate only in the early morning or late evening.
TECHNICAL GROWING INFORMATION
Use a well-drained soil made with mostly white peat, Canadian or Baltic, and not more than 20% quality black peat. Black peat will shrink throughout the growing cycle causing poor drainage. Contrary to many crops, Hellebores need a lower soil pH at 5.5.
MEDIA
Hellebores need to be grown cool in the winter for proper flower development.A temperature range of 32-45ºF is suggested.
VERNALIZATION
Whether crops are spring or fall planted, it is advisable to pot as early as possible in the season to get the growth needed to fill the pot.This is particularly true in the spring as Hellebore only actively grow when the temperatures are cooler so a delay in planting can stunt the overall finish size of the crop and decrease the flower bud count. For growers not wanting such a long crop time or for growers wanting to avoid over-summering a Hellebore, fall planting is highly recommended as it can cut the crop time in half.The chart below gives recommended planting dates and corresponding crop times.
LINER SIZE
PLANTING DATES
CROP TIME 2.5 QT-1 GALLON
PLANTING
72 Cell
Weeks 5-15 (Once chance of frost has passed) 40-52 weeks
32 Cell
Weeks 35-40 (Once temps start to cool)
18-26 weeks
It is important to fill pots to the top with soil, this will help prevent warm roots. Leaving a gap between the top of the pot and the soil level will cause pots to heat up more than if pot full, potentially burning the Hellebore roots.When planting liners, plant a little deeper than the surface of the soil.This will help to increase flower bud development.
Frostkiss ® varieties are bred with efficiency in mind, so most of the crop life they can be kept can tight. Our varieties do not have a heavy rosette habit, but grow upright; therefore, they need less space and will not stretch when grown can tight. Hellebores enjoy cool roots so keeping plants close together causes the foliage to shade the pot and prevent root burn. Cool roots mean the plants can grow much bigger and create more flowers by time of sale. Once plants start to flower in the spring they can be spaced (12 gallon pots per m²) to give flowers room to develop.
SPACING
Hellebores should never be pinched. Every leaf on a Hellebore helps to form flower buds so removing leaves will decrease flower count and overall finished quality. If there are damaged leaves, they can be removed at time of shipping.
PINCHING
HEIGHT CONTROL
PGRs are not required and are not recommended.
Hellebores are tough plants and rarely get diseases.The main disease issue seen is Botrytis in the flowers. Prevent this by keeping plants dry and in an area with good air flow.
DISEASE
INSECT
Watch for aphids and spider mites.
It is important to remember that Frostkiss ® Hellebore can flower up to 2.5 months. For this reason, crops do not need to be shipped to garden centers all at once.At the garden center, keep plants in a shaded location away from direct sun and in cool temperatures to prevent flower fade and water as needed.
POST PRODUCTION/ GARDEN CENTER CARE
2023 Hellebore Program / Pacific Plug & Liner
PLANTHOLOGY
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Paci c Plug & Liner
750 Casserly Road / Watsonville, CA 95076 / 831.768.6300 find out more at ppandl.com
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