PP&L Solution Starter-Hellebore 2026 Technical Guide

Growing and technical information for our Hellebore Frostkiss program.

HOLOGY

O YOU BY

g & Liner

Liner Size: 72-Cell and 32-Cell Availability: Weeks 1-15 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

2026

le, CA 95076 / 831.768.6300

SOLUTION STARTER

Trade Name: Hellebore Frostkiss ® | Scientific Name: Helleborus x hybridus Liner Specs: 72-Cell Growcoon and 32-Cell Deep

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

*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

Large, less branching

ANNA’S RED

Burgundy Red

December till March

BAYLI’S BLUSH ®

Large/Vigorous

Two-tonedViolet Blush with Creamy White

January till April

Compact/ Well-branched

CHARMER

Raspberry Pink

December till March

CHERISA

Compact/Vigorous

Greenish-White with Magenta-Purple Edging

February till April

CHERYL’S SHINE ®

Medium

Light Pink

January till April

Medium/ Well-branched

COSMIO

Smokey Pink

January till April

DANA’S DULCET ®

Compact

Two-toned Smokey Pink with Greenish White

February till April

DOROTHY’S DAWN ®

Large/Vigorous

Light Pink

February till April

ELEMENTAL

Compact

Bubblegum Pink with Deep Pink Streaking

January till April

Large, less branching

GLENDA’S GLOSS ®

White with Magenta-Purple Edging

December till March

ILLUMI LIME

Compact

Chartreuse-Lime Green

January till April

MAGICO

Compact

White with Magenta-Purple Edging

January till April

MOLLY’S WHITE

Compact/Vigorous

White Fading into Green

January till April

MOONDANCE ®

Large/Vigorous

White Fading into Green

January till April

PENNY’S PINK

Medium

Mauve Pink

January till April

PIPPA’S PURPLE ®

Medium

Smokey Pink with Burgundy Flecking

January till April

VIBEY VELVET

Compact

Dark Red with Burgundy Flecking

January till April

QUICK GROWER TIPS • Hellebores grow most vigorously in spring and fall; these are the ideal seasons for potting. Growth slows significantly in summer, so avoid planting liners during hot months. • Use a very well-drained, coarse substrate with excellent aeration.A peat-based mix with decomposed bark is ideal, and pH should be maintained around 5.5. • Provide 30–35% shade during summer to prevent overheating and leaf scorch.

• Water in the early morning or late evening—Hellebores do not tolerate irrigation during the hottest part of the day. • Unlike many crops, Hellebores require increased fertility in fall to support flower initiation. • Keep plants actively growing year-round. If growth stalls due to low fertility— especially in summer—development may be delayed by 2–3 months.

• Maintain a 1:3 phosphorus-to-potassium ratio for optimal shoot and flower development. Flower initiation is triggered by shortening days and cooler fall temperatures (40–50°F). • Keep plants frost-free in winter, ideally 32–45°F, to prevent flowering delays. • To intentionally delay flowering, hold crops at temperatures just below freezing; this can postpone bloom by a month or more.

FROSTKISS ® HELLEBORE BLOOM CHART

Bloom Timing

Late Nov.

Mid Dec.

Early Jan.

Mid Jan.

Early Feb.

Mid Feb.

Early Mar.

Mid Mar.

Early Apr.

Mid Apr.

ANNA'S RED PP# 24,720

Very Early

GLENDA'S GLOSS™ PP# 28,008

Very Early

CHARMER PP# 29,873

Very Early-Early

BAYLI’S BLUSH ® PP# 27,120

Early

CHERYL’S SHINE ® PP# 28,009

Early

ELEMENTAL PP# 35,239

Early-Mid

MOONDANCE ® PP# 27,969

Early-Mid

ILLUMI LIME PP# 30,807

Mid

MOLLY'S WHITE PP# 25,685

Mid

PIPPA’S PURPLE ® PP# 27,121

Mid

COSMIO PP# 36,609

Mid-Late

MAGICO PP# 35,383

Mid-Late

PENNY'S PINK PP# 24,149

Mid-Late

VIBEY VELVET PP# 34,456

Mid-Late

DANA'S DULCET ® PP# 27,970

Late

CHERISA PP# 36,161

Very Late

DOROTHY'S DAWN ® PP# 28,010

Very Late

Early

Late

SOLUTION STARTER

CULTURAL CONDITIONS, FERTILIZATION, & IRRIGATION

EXPOSURE Hellebores prefer consistently cool root zones and perform best when protected from direct sun. Preventing sunlight from striking the pots is essential—keep containers spaced tightly so the foliage can naturally shade the pot surface. During warm months, provide additional protection with 30–35% shade cloth. If overwintering under cover, use white poly rather than clear to reduce light intensity and prevent leaf burn on bright winter days.

TEMPERATURE Ideal fall temperatures for Hellebores range from 40–50°F, which promotes strong flower initiation. Depending on region, this occurs between September and December. During winter, maintain plants in a frost-free greenhouse at 32–40°F. Plants will bloom naturally when frost is absent; prolonged frost delays flowering. In summer, apply 30–35% shade when temperatures exceed 80°F to help maintain plant quality.

FERTILIZATION & NUTRITION The key to producing high-quality Hellebores is to keep plants actively growing throughout the year—fertility should never be interrupted. Maintain a steady feed with a substrate EC of 1.2–1.5, measured directly in the soil. For spring-planted crops, an 8–9 month controlled-release fertilizer is recommended. In fall, when flower initiation begins, plants require additional nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe). Provide these with a liquid feed while continuing to hold EC at 1.2–1.5. Maintain a 1:3 phosphorus-to-potassium ratio for optimal shoot and flower development.

SOIL FERTILITY GUIDELINES pH: 5.5 EC: 1.2–1.5

Macro-elements

PPM MMOL

Micro-elements

PPB UMOL/L

NH4

<1.9

<0.1

558

1.2

110

2.0

Na Ca Mg

<58

<2.5

131

1.0

108

7.3

0.3

0.7

NO3

155

2.5

<9.6

<0.1

<89

<2.5

0.6

HCO3

<6.2

<0.1

0.5

K/Ca

1:2

Note:These values serve as guidelines, not fixed targets.

IRRIGATION Proper irrigation is essential to avoid stress. Drip irrigation provides the best consistency, but overhead irrigation with fertilizer can also be used.Avoid irrigating during the hottest part of the day—leaf temperatures can reach 105°F while water temperatures often sit near 75°F.This sharp difference causes temperature shock and plant stress, increasing susceptibility to Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Phytophthora.When using overhead irrigation in warm conditions, water only in early morning or late evening.

2026 Hellebore Program / Pacific Plug & Liner

TECHNICAL GROWING INFORMATION

Use a well-drained substrate composed primarily of white peat—Canadian or Baltic —with no more than 20% high-quality black peat. Excess black peat shrinks during the crop cycle, reducing aeration and drainage. Hellebores prefer a slightly acidic medium; target a pH of 5.5. Maintain a 1:3 phosphorus-to-potassium ratio to support strong shoot and flower development.

MEDIA

Proper flower development requires cool winter conditions. Maintain temperatures between 32–45°F to ensure consistent vernalization and reliable bud formation.

VERNALIZATION

Whether planting in spring or fall, pot as early in the season as possible to capture the periods of active growth.Timely planting is especially important in spring, as Hellebores grow only during cooler temperatures—delayed potting can reduce finish size and lower bud count. For growers who prefer a shorter production cycle or wish to avoid over-summering, fall planting is highly recommended , often cutting crop time in half.

Recommended Planting Windows & Approximate Crop Time

PLANTING

LINER SIZE PLANTING DATES

CROP TIME 2.5 QT-1 GALLON

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

Fill pots completely to the rim—leaving a gap increases pot-side heat and can damage roots. When transplanting liners, plant slightly deeper than the soil surface to support stronger flower bud development.

Frostkiss® varieties are bred for production efficiency and can be kept tight for most of the crop cycle.Their upright habit prevents stretching and allows close spacing without compromising quality.Tight spacing also shades the pot surface, keeping roots cool and promoting larger plants and higher bud counts. Once flowering begins in spring, space plants to approximately 12 one-gallon pots per m² to allow flowers room to develop fully.

SPACING

Hellebores should never be pinched. Each leaf contributes to flower bud formation; removing foliage reduces bud count and overall finish quality. Damaged leaves may be removed prior to shipping.

PINCHING & HEIGHT CONTROL

PGRs are not required and not recommended for Hellebore production.

Monitor for aphids and spider mites , the most common pests observed in Hellebore production. Hellebores are generally resilient, with few disease issues.The primary concern is Botrytis on flowers. Minimize risk by maintaining good airflow and keeping plants dry, especially during cool, humid periods.

INSECTS & DISEASE

Frostkiss ® Hellebores can bloom for up to 2.5 months , allowing for flexible shipping schedules rather than pushing all product out at once.At retail, keep plants in shaded, cool locations to preserve flower quality, and water as needed to prevent stress and fading.

POST PRODUCTION/ GARDEN CENTER CARE

2026 Hellebore Program / Pacific Plug & Liner

FROSTKISS ® HELLEBORE Categories by SIZE × BLOOM TIME

Bloom Timing

Varieties

Very Early-Early

Charmer

Early-Mid

Elemental

Mid

Illumi Lime, Molly’s White

Mid–Late

Magico,VibeyVelvet

Late

Dana’s Dulcet ®

Very Late

Cherisa

Early

Cheryl’s Shine ®

Mid

Pippa’s Purple ®

Mid–Late

Cosmio, Penny’s Pink

ANNA'S RED | PP# 24,720

Very Early

Anna’s Red, Glenda’s Gloss ®

Early

Bayli’s Blush ®

Early-Mid

Moondance ®

Very Late

Dorothy’s Dawn ®

BAYLI’S BLUSH ® | PP# 27,120

CHARMER | PP# 29,873

CHERYL'S SHINE ® | PP# 28,009

CHERISA | PP# 36,161

DANA’S DULCET ® | PP# 27,970

DOROTHY’S DAWN ® | PP# 28,010

COSMIO | PP# 36,609

ELEMENTAL | PP# 35,239

GLENDA’S GLOSS ® | PP# 28,008

ILLUMI LIME | PP# 30,807

MAGICO | PP# 35,383

MOLLY’S WHITE | PP# 25,685

MOONDANCE ® | PP# 27,969

PENNY’S PINK | PP# 24,149

PIPPA’S PURPLE ® | PP# 27,121

VIBEY VELVET | PP# 34,456

HELLEBORE TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Problem

Likely Causes

Solutions

• Winter temps too warm • Clear poly allowing excess light • High fall fertility • Frost exposure below 32°F • Inadequate fall cooling • Low fall fertility • pH above 6.0 • Low iron • Overwatering / poor drainage

• Maintain 32–45°F • Use white poly • Reduce late-fall fertilizer

FLOWERING TOO EARLY

• Keep frost-free • Ensure 40–50°F in fall • Boost N + Fe, maintain EC 1.2–1.5

FLOWERING DELAYED

• Correct pH to 5.5 • Apply Fe chelate • Improve drainage

PALE / YELLOW FOLIAGE

• Low fertility • Heat stress over 80°F • Warm root zone

• Maintain constant feed • Provide 30–35% shade • Keep pots tight & filled to rim

STALLED GROWTH

• Late planting • Low fall fertility • Liners planted too shallow • Midday watering • Poor drainage • Stress from low fertility • Direct sun on pots • Clear poly in winter • Midday watering • Spaced too late • Low light in fall/winter • Warm winter temps

• Plant earlier in spring or switch to fall • Increase N + Fe in fall • Plant liners slightly deeper

LOW BUD COUNT

• Water AM/PM • Improve aeration • Maintain steady feed • Keep pots tight • Use white poly • Avoid midday irrigation

ROOT DISEASE

LEAF BURN

• Space just before flowers open • Follow shade guidelines • Maintain 32–45°F in winter

WEAK / STRETCHY PLANTS

PLANTHOLOGY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Pacic Plug & Liner

750 Casserly Road / Watsonville, CA 95076 / 831.768.6300 find out more at ppandl.com

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