With its winter blossoms, the snow rose impressively demonstrates the power of mother nature. Read here how the Christmas rose performs the miracle of blossoms in your garden in the midst of ice and snow.

The Christmas rose blooms when all the other flowers are asleep: from November to February

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant the Christmas rose properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. What is the best planting time?
  7. When is flowering time?
  8. Cut the Christmas rose correctly
  9. watering the Christmas rose
  10. Fertilize the Christmas rose properly
  11. hibernate
  12. multiply Christmas rose
  13. How do I plant correctly?
  14. Christmas rose in a pot
  15. Is Christmas rose poisonous?
  16. Christmas rose does not bloom
  17. Is the snow rose suitable as a houseplant?
  18. Is the Christmas rose poisonous to cats?
  19. trivia
  20. Beautiful varieties

    21. Plant the Christmas rose properly

    The snow rose lives up to its reputation as an easy-care ornamental perennial if you take these aspects to heart when planting:

    • Settle in a partially shaded location in nutrient-rich, permeable and calcareous soil
    • Soak the root ball in water while loosening and weeding the soil
    • Dig a pit 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
    • Enrich the soil with compost, horn shavings (32.93€) and vital lime

    Repot the soaked Christmas rose and plant it up to the root collar in the optimized soil. Press down the substrate with your hands, water and mulch. Don't forget to wear gloves throughout the procedure due to the high levels of poison.
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    care tips

    A Christmas rose requires only a small amount of maintenance to be able to display its stunning winter blooms. How to treat the robust ornamental perennial correctly:

    • When dry, water regularly with normal tap water
    • Fertilize with compost or liquid fertilizer from November to February
    • Work vital lime or rock powder (€14.13) into the surface of the soil every 4 weeks
    • Leaves, coarse compost or bark mulch ensure a permanent 3-5 cm thick layer of mulch
    • In early summer at the latest, cut off withered flower stalks and drawn-in leaves

    The mulch cover acts as winter protection in the bed, supplemented by the fallen autumn leaves. Wrap a bucket with foil or jute ribbons.
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    Which location is suitable?

    So that the winter miracle of flowers actually comes true, it is primarily a matter of choosing a suitable location. Plant the Christmas rose in this position:

    • Half-shady to shady, wind-protected location
    • Without direct sunlight
    • Nutrient-rich, fresh, moist and above all calcareous soil

    Cultivate the snow rose on the windowsill at home in a bright place with temperatures not exceeding 15 degrees Celsius. After the flowering period, the perennial belongs in the cool shade in the garden.
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    The right planting distance

    Plant the pure species Helleborus niger at a distance of 35 centimeters, so that no more than 8 specimens per square meter should be arranged. If it is a higher-growing hybrid of Christmas rose and Lenten rose, a distance of 50 centimeters is considered appropriate.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The soil conditions make a significant contribution to the vital growth and rich flowering of a snow rose. Value these qualities:

    • Nutritious, humic and calcareous
    • Fresh, moist, likes to be loamy and well-drained

    Good quality compost-based potting soil, enriched with sand, lava granules and a handful of vital lime or rock flour, is suitable for pot culture.

    What is the best planting time?

    Plant the Christmas rose in autumn, in the sun-warmed soil. At this time, the soil has warmed up to 17 degrees, so the roots of a snow rose can quickly establish themselves. Alternatively, choose spring as the planting date, ideally between mid-April and mid-May.
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    When is flowering time?

    Hobby gardeners rub their eyes in amazement after the first glimpse of a snow rose in bloom. The ornamental perennial blooms at a time when the other plants in the garden remain in the depths of winter dormancy. The central flowering period extends from November to February. Some modern varieties bloom into April in mild years, such as double fashion.
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    Cut the Christmas rose correctly

    The Christmas rose does not require regular pruning. In spring, cut off the withered flower stalks so that the flower does not invest its energy in developing seed pods. The leaves are only removed close to the ground when they have been completely drawn in. Until then, the plant will assimilate any remaining nutrients to feed on in the next flowering season.
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    watering the Christmas rose

    During its flowering period, the Christmas rose requires an adequate water supply. If a snow cover does not spread as a water supplier, water regularly on frost-free days. Also keep an eye on the ornamental shrub in summer, because the root ball should not dry out outside of the flowering period either.

    Fertilize the Christmas rose properly

    Outdoors, the Christmas rose is content with a nutrient-rich mulch layer made of mature compost, horn shavings, leaves or grass clippings. If the site is under deciduous trees, leave the fallen leaves in autumn so that they turn into valuable humus. Fertilize the snow rose in the planter during the flowering period with a commercially available liquid fertilizer.
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    hibernate

    The Christmas rose is completely hardy in the bed. If you consistently mulch with leaves, compost or straw during the cold season, this measure is sufficient as winter protection. In the bucket, however, there is a risk that the root ball will freeze through. Therefore, wrap a planter with bubble wrap and place it on insulating material such as wood or polystyrene.
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    multiply Christmas rose

    The propagation of a Christmas rose is uncomplicated by hand by division. In spring or autumn, do the following:

    • Tie the leaves together loosely with a raffia ribbon
    • Push a pitchfork through the center of the root ball
    • Place the second pitchfork just below the first
    • Move both pitchforks back and forth to divide the rhizome
    • Plant in the new location without delay

    Alternatively, harvest the ripe fruits in early summer to remove the seeds. However, this form of offspring is only suitable if you are not aiming for single-variety propagation. Since they are cold germs, stratify the seeds in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for four to six weeks or place the seed pot on the balcony throughout the winter. In spring you can look forward to the first seedlings. However, it takes 3-4 years until the first flowering.
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    How do I plant correctly?

    Only replant the Christmas rose if this measure is unavoidable. Any change of location carries the risk of total failure. Autumn and spring are possible dates. You increase the chances of success if as much root mass as possible is preserved. In addition, the planting depth should be maintained at the new location.
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    Christmas rose in a pot

    So that the snow rose does its best in the pot, choose a container shape that offers enough space for the deep-rooting plant and has an opening in the bottom for water drainage. A drainage made of grit, expanded clay (€19.73) or shards of clay on the bottom of the pot prevents unwanted waterlogging. As a substrate, you should preferably use a mix of potting soil, compost, sand and perlite or lava gravel. How to care for the Christmas rose in an exemplary manner:

    • Pour vigorously until water runs out of the bottom opening
    • Empty the coaster after 10 minutes at the latest
    • Allow the soil to dry out until the next watering
    • Fertilize every 14 days during the flowering period
    • Cover the pot with bubble wrap before the first frost

    In spring, cut off the faded flowers. Leave the decorative foliage on the flower until it has withered completely. Place the plant in a shady spot in the garden throughout the summer and water enough to keep the root ball from drying out. If you bring the snow rose into the house during the Christmas season, it will only bloom in a bright, cool place with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
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    Is Christmas rose poisonous?

    The botanical assignment of a snow rose to the plant family of the buttercup family and genus Hellebore makes experienced hobby gardeners prick up their ears. These plants are all very poisonous to humans and animals. Only include the Christmas rose in your garden design when children and pets are kept out of reach. Only plant and care for the ornamental shrub with protective gloves.
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    Christmas rose does not bloom

    If there are no flowers, examine the cultivation of a snow rose for the following reasons:

    • Wrong planting time: put a Christmas rose in the ground in autumn, at the latest by September in the ground
    • Intense sunlight: the snow rose blooms in partially shaded areas
    • Acidic pH: plant the Christmas rose in chalky soil to encourage flowering

    A young Christmas rose sometimes takes 1-2 years before it blooms for the first time. The beauty of the flowers makes up for this by the fact that they subsequently bloom more magnificently from year to year.
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    Is the snow rose suitable as a houseplant?

    The Christmas rose fulfills its actual purpose as a winter-blooming perennial in the bed. However, there is nothing wrong with integrating them into your home decorations at Christmas time. If you place the snow rose in a semi-shady location with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees, the flowers will not be long in coming. The winter beauty, on the other hand, does not feel comfortable in the cozy and warm living room.

    Is the Christmas rose poisonous to cats?

    In the interest of your cat, you should refrain from cultivating a snow rose as a bed or houseplant. All parts of the buttercup plant are so poisonous that there is a risk of death for your kitty if she nibbles on it curiously.
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    trivia

    The literal translation of the botanical name Helleborus niger means black hellebore. This designation refers to the earlier use of the crushed black roots of a snow rose as a sneeze powder. With this joke article, vengeful pranksters drove their 'victim' to despair with sneezing attacks. Due to the high toxin content, modern versions of the product contain different ingredients.

    Beautiful varieties

    • Jacob Royal: white flowering variety from the Helleborus Gold Collection, strong and stable
    • Joel: bright white flowers from November and scores with a compact habit
    • Double fashion: double Christmas rose with an extra long flowering period from December to April
    • Candy Love: magical snow rose with pink-white flowers and a growth height of up to 50 cm

Category:

Vegetable garden