Growing hellebore plants in your garden provides great late winter and spring flowers.   Hellebores, also know as Lenten roses, bloom from February to late May. These perennials provide year round attractive  evergreen foliage in most regions. Lenten roses adapts well to sunny to mostly shade areas.

Planting Hellebore Plants

 

When selecting a site to grow Hellebore Plants, select partial shade with rich yet well draining soil.  Great to use on hillsides, raised planters and in large pots.

Plant them just below the crown.  The crown is the top soil level. All roots need air and if you plant the crown deep you will have problems.  Remove all old potting soil and spread out the root system. Hellebore plants grow in large clumps which you can subdivide.

Epic Grower LLC current carries the Sunshine  Hellebore plants.  The planned release is mid summer. All Hellebore plants are growing in 1 gallon nursery pots.  Since many of the Hellebores in the sunshine collection cross pollinate you may be a new flower type. The long lasting blooms are somewhat downward facing.

Hellebore Plants Care

 

Hellebore plants are late winter through May bloomers. The start to go dormant during the heat of summer.  Repeat: Heat of summer causes them to stop growth.

Also, once a year provide the plants with additional compost or rich soil (Manure works well).  During their dormant period reduce watering and protect from excessive heat. Yes, they will grow in full sun but prefer partial shade.

During their growing periods (spring/fall) increase watering . Make sure the water drains well to prevent roots problems.  In fall, prune back old foliage/leaves back to base.  Basically leave good/new foliage on the plant.

 

 

Happy holidays to all and wishing you the best.    The holidays season is just starting and so has the Spring planning for our family owned Epic Grower nursery.  Expect new plants to be added and some discontinued.

Air freight costs has tripled since 2019.  All hybrid adeniums come from over seas. Once received, the the desert roses are grown larger at our nursery. However, the increased costs of the plants and freight has forced us to  discontinued ordering more in at this time.  Expect to hear an announcement of a great sale on the remaining adenium desert rose plants in late Winter for your spring growing.

2023 Plants Planned to Carry

 

Epic Grower plans to increase the types and numbers of heritage and exotic day lily’s.  Presently, our grow house has many varieties getting ready for next spring.  Yes, we will offer then in 1 gallon pots in 2023 once they re-sprout in spring for the season.

The Hoyas plants varieties will increase. Some common hoyas will be discontinued to make room for more rare ones.  If you have a particular hoya varieties that you need for your plant collection, please send Epic Grower a note and we will try to get it.

 Climbing roses were 100% sold out in 2022.   Fairy rose, Westminster, Lady Banks, Sea Foam, Cascade, Pinata and others in 1 gallon and 3 gallon sizes disappear before spring ended.   Expect a wider variety of these roses and more of them for 2023.

Fruit Trees, Berries and other deciduous plants

 

Now is the time to obtain and plant deciduous trees and berry bushes.  In our area the leaves are gone from the trees This is the best time (through January) to plant fruits trees and berry bushes.  The tree sap has receded to the lower portion of the trees.

Dig the hole twice as big as the root ball and partially fill it with good compost.  Do not bury the root crown.  Crown?  When you take the plant out of the pot, the top of the roots ball/soil area is the crown. The plant needs air and if you bury the crown you could suffocate the plant.   In late winter use 9 month time released fertilize are the top of the plants.

If you are in our area make an appointment to get apple and pear trees way below market price.   All Epic Growers fruit trees area 7 gallon containers with their root balls out growing them.  Enterprise, Granny smith, Wolf Creek, Golden Delicious, moon glow and others in stock.

 

 

 

 

Several clients asked about magnolia trees when they notice several different types at our nursery.  The large southern magnolia tree with its large white flowers grow symbolizes the south. However, they are many types beyond the regular white to white/pink southern magnolia.

 

Magnolia tree types vary greatly: some are evergreens while others are deciduous. Some grow into very tall stately trees and other impressive tall bushes.  Flowers range from white to pink to lavender to purple.  One type may have large leather leaf while other look like willow leaves.

 

Magnolia trees flower in the spring into early summer.   Yes, some varieties of magnolia trees flower before they produce leaves and some re-bloom during the summer.

 

What Types of Magnolia Trees does Epic Grower Carry?

 

Currently, Epic Grower LLC carries the more unusual “Little Girl” magnolia trees:  Ann, Jane and Betty. These are hardy and impressive flowering shrub or small tree.  These produce impressive spring flowers in the shades of purple-red, purple-white or all purple-lavender flowers.  The flowers have tulip shape.

 

Gives these trees plenty of sun.   The Jane and Betty grows up to 15 feet tall in zones 4 to 8.  The Ann grows 8 to 12 feet tall with a base of 10ft round.   Their grow rate is between 13” to 18” a year (Moderate rate).

 

As with all magnolias, these loves the sun and moist fast draining soil.  Do not plant them in a wet area.  If you live in a dry area then partial while they are young works better.  Give your magnolia a good thick layer of compost the end of winter. Use a slow time released fertilizer once a year for the first 3-4 years.

 

These make excellent specimen trees or a fantastic hedge.  The “Little Girl” magnolia trees are deciduous (lose their leaves during winter).  They produce tons of flowers and many times they bloom again during the summer in many areas.

 

If you have any growing questions please post them on this blog. Do not send questions to our email.  Thank you.

The world of hoya plants include over 870 colorful varieties.   The majority of the hoya plants grow in similar environments in the wild.   Beyond a few (5-9 varieties) common hoyas they are not grown for the mass market.  Some varieties are very hard to maintain while others flourish.

 

Hoyas grow in humid warm environments in nature. Very few will tolerate cold weather below 50 degrees for very long.  Most hoya plants, once you understand they needs, are easy to maintain.  Some grow very slowly while others grow fast.   Some are easy to propagate and others very hard.  99% of all hoyas are propagated by cuttings – not seeds

 

Hoya Plants Growing Basics

 

Have you successfully grown cactus or succulents’ plants?  If yes, then you 75% ready for hoya plants.  The main different between growing hoya plants verses succulents are the amount of light and temperatures.  Many cactus varieties will survive freeing weather and extreme temperature changes. In the desert, most cactus and succulents love bright long hours of sunlight. These two things sun and temperatures are the main differences between hoya plants and succulents/cactus.

 

When growing hoya plants, keep the growing environment warm above 50 degrees. The sweet spot for most hoya plants is between 70 and 85 degrees.  Several hoyas will handle temperatures down to 40 degrees during winter. However, no hoyas I know of will handle freezing temperatures what-so-ever.

 

Epic Grower recommends making 50 degrees as the determination point.  Just because a plant can handle colder weather does not mean they will not suffer.  Now on to light.

 

Many people confuse direct sunlight with indirect sunlight.  A bright window is NOT direct sunlight.  Keep it simple.  If the plant can SEE the sun unfiltered (not through tinted glass) then its direct sunlight.  The exception is shade cloth. True plant shade cloth is designed to allow sunlight through while inhibiting some UV light.  IF growing hoyas under a shade cloth use 50% to 70% shade rating.

 

Hoyas vary in their light requirements to flower. However, 97% of them prefer shaded indirect light.  They grow great in covered patio areas with strong indirect light.  If you have a covered front porch, they make great hanging or draping plant specimens.

 

They will handle a couple hours of morning direct sunlight. But they do not like afternoon direct sunlight. They are great indoors in or close to a bright window, Yes, a few hours of direct through window sunlight light is OK.

 

Watering hoya plants is easy.  In nature most prefer humid warm and wet climates.  However, in nature they do not grow in soil.  Just like a cactus/succulent, when you grow hoya plants you need to let the soil be on the dry side. Water them once a week and then let the soil dry out for a few days. Yes – you can mist the plant when they start to develop areal roots.  Use cactus soil that drains very fast. Make sure you pots have holes in them so they do not retain any water.

 

If you have questions about growing hoyas plants please post them on this blog.  Please DO NOT Send an email.

 

Look for more Hoya plants growing information in the near future including how to propagate them.  As in all living things some plants will thrive while others die. The more you learn about your plants the better chance you have in keeping them happy.