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Post by owdboggy on Jan 6, 2008 15:30:06 GMT
Now is a good time to begin cutting off the old leaves of the hybrid hellebores. Cut them as close to the ground as you can, but take care the flower buds are attached to the base of these old stems. If you leave them on they can lead to Hellebore Black Death. This is a fungus/virus, no one is sure which, that can kill your plants. It travels down the old leaves and into the plant. These leaves have completed their life span so you are not doing the plant any harm by removing them.
Do not do this to H. niger, the Xmas rose or any of its hybrids, they need all their leaves. On those you should only remove any dead or dying or diseased stems.
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Post by beanie on Jan 6, 2008 18:56:17 GMT
Thanks for the tip O.B. mine have started flowering but the old leaf stems spoil the look of them.
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Post by Plocket on Jan 6, 2008 19:08:22 GMT
Ooo good reminder OWDB - thanks! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2008 13:20:45 GMT
Always wanted a hellebore but did not manage to grow them from seed ... now I see that, next Monday, Lidl will be selling them for €2.99 ;D ;D ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by owdboggy on Jan 7, 2008 15:16:43 GMT
They are easy from seed, as long as the seed is fresh. So, you either need to know someone with them or save your own. The trouble with seed is that they do not really breed true and even if you have a good colour form there is no guarantee that your seedlings will be any good.
Pityt you are not close to us, you could come and dig yourself up a few hundred!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2008 10:56:27 GMT
Mine seed themselves all around, they take a few years to come to flower but it's always good to see if you have a winner. Have to go to Lidl early next week, I usually go on Thursday.
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 9, 2008 18:27:36 GMT
Would that be in every Liddl?
I'll have to keep an eye on their ads then.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2008 13:47:31 GMT
Hi Dutchy ... I don't know how much the offers vary nationally - have just returned with a very healthy looking specimen ;D ... cheers ...
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