Plant, cultivate, propagate and more

Plant liverworts correctly

Choose a spring-bright spot under deciduous trees or in semi-shade as the location perennial bed in deeply loose and calcareous soil, fresh-moist and rich humus. While small plant pits are created there at a distance of 20-25 cm, the ones that are still potted are located liverwort in a vessel with water. A completely soaked root ball noticeably accelerates the subsequent growth process. Proceed as follows:

• Enrich the excavation with compost, horn shavings and a little vital lime
• Repot the plants, place them in the ground down to the lower pair of leaves and water

Follow our recommendation and choose autumn as the best time to plant. Before the first frost, spread a thick layer of leaves over the bed to protect against frost and moisture.

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care tips

Undisturbed, liverworts develop bright blue carpets of flowers in magnificent opulence. You can follow this desire for peace without further ado, because at an adequate location, care is all about the following measures:

• Water with dry tap water
• In March, an organic starter fertilization with compost or, even better, nettle manure
• Liquid fertilize liverworts in the pot every 14 days
• Cut is not required

If liverworts thrive under deciduous trees, no leaves should be raked in autumn. The fallen leaves act as natural winter protection. Cultivated in the planter, the distinctive perennial moves into the bright winter quarters, to move to the balcony at the end of February/beginning of March.
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Which location is suitable?

Hepaticas thrive luxuriantly and vigorously in semi-shady to shady locations that are bright in spring. These requirements are excellently fulfilled under deciduous trees. While the small perennial blooms magnificently in March/April, sufficient rays of sunshine penetrate the leafless branches of trees and shrubs. If the canopy of leaves has closed in summer, the reduced light conditions are completely sufficient for the summer green leaves.
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The right planting distance

With a planting distance of 20-25 cm, you are well advised to arrange a dense carpet of flowers with liverworts. Settle 12-16 specimens per square meter and the delicate perennials stage a magnificent spring picture in the bed.

What soil does the plant need?

The better the soil at the chosen location can cope with humus-rich forest soil, the more opulently the blue blossoms unfold. The perennial shows its strengths in sandy-loamy soil with an alkaline pH value of 7 to 7.4. In the wild, liverworts always look for loose, well-drained and calcareous soil without any risk of waterlogging.

What is the best planting time?

Autumn is the best time to plant spring flowering perennials. The liverwort is no exception. Plant these pretty little plants in the ground between the beginning of September and mid-October and they will be there on time with their first blossoms in March.

When is flowering time?

The native wild perennial Hepatica nobilis and varieties derived from it bloom in March and last well into April. If you combine it with the immigrated Transylvanian liverwort (Hepatica transsilvanica), you can look forward to the cheerful blooming magic as early as January/February.
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Properly cut liverworts

A pruning per se is not necessary on liverworts. If you brush off wilted flowers in spring, this measure creates a clean appearance. In order for the longed-for carpets of flowers to emerge, the perennial should be given the opportunity to sow itself anyway. The foliage draws in the plant itself, so you don't have to unnecessarily expose yourself to the poison content when cutting.

Water liverworts

Under the influence of normal spring weather with repeated rainfall, the need for additional irrigation water recedes into the background. Hepaticas are only watered if the drought persists. This is all the more true when the dense leaf canopy of neighboring deciduous trees no longer lets rainwater through in summer. Ideally, use the spout to give the calcareous tap water directly to the roots, because overhead irrigation impairs the beauty of the flowers.

Fertilize liverworts properly

If the quality of the soil is close to humus-rich forest soil, an organic start fertilization at the end of February/beginning of March is completely sufficient. In order to meet the desire for privacy, we recommend liquid fertilization with nettle manure or a commercially available preparation. In the bucket, on the other hand, there is a higher need for nutrients. If you administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 14 days from March until the end of the flowering period, the abundance of flowers leaves nothing to be desired. In the year of planting and after repotting in nutrient-rich substrate, there is no need to apply fertilizer.

hibernate

So that liverworts do not suffer any damage until the start of flowering in late winter, they are given protection from foliage before the first frost. If the location is under deciduous trees, simply leave the dropped leaves lying around. In pot culture, place the small perennial in a bright, frost-free greenhouse or unheated stairwell. At the end of February/beginning of March, carry the planters onto the balcony to start their blossom festival. Water during the winter in the bed when there is a frost. In the winter quarters, the root ball must not dry out under any circumstances, so that it is watered repeatedly here.

Multiply liverworts

Propagation by division, which seems obvious at first glance, is not recommended for liverworts. If the propagation at the location is so massively disturbed, the next bloom can be delayed for 2-3 years. For the offspring we recommend the sowing. This is nevertheless paired with a long thread of patience, because Hepatica seeds are not in a hurry to germinate. How to proceed correctly:

• Harvest the mature seeds in good time before they are carried away by ants
• Fill a seed tray with loose seed soil, to sow the fresh seeds on it
• Sift with sand or vermiculite, press down and moisten with a fine spray
• Place in a partially shaded, sheltered spot in the garden or on the balcony

In the following year, germination begins in January/February, provided the cold germs received the required cold stimulus of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius for 4 weeks. In the first year, the two cotyledons thrive, followed by more true leaves in the following year. Hepaticas are pricked out in the third year after the seeds have ripened, in order to be planted out in the autumn of the fourth year.

How do I plant correctly?

The liverwort does not like disturbances at all. Where the perennial has its rest, dense, lush carpets of flowers develop over the years. If possible, do not replant the little beauty, because you will have to wait several years for it to flower again. If the unusual flower thrives in a pot or balcony box, it is only repotted when the container has rooted through. The less the root ball is affected by this action, the faster the plant will recover from the stress.

Hepatica in a pot

In the pot and window box, liverworts function as a picturesque underplanting for larger perennials or deciduous trees. As long as the plant neighbors also prefer a calcareous substrate, creative compositions are created that attract everyone's attention. Position the pot in a sunny location so that the liverworts are shaded. To ensure that plants and care run smoothly, please pay attention to the following aspects:

• Spread fine grit over the water drain in the bottom of the pot as drainage
• Common as a substrate potting soil use, optimized with vital lime or rock dust
• Water regularly once the soil has dried
• Fertilize liquid every 14 days from the beginning of the shoot until the end of the flowering period

Since the root ball in the pot could freeze through in winter, place the liverworts in bright, frost-free quarters. Keep watering the perennials to keep them from drying out.

Is liverwort poisonous?

Hepaticas belong to the buttercup family. This fact makes experienced hobby gardeners sit up and take notice, because such plants are all poisonous. The perennials therefore have no place in the family garden. If small children curiously stuff the flowers or leaves into their mouths, fatal symptoms of poisoning are the result. Where pets roam nearby, liverworts should be kept out of reach. Since mere skin contact can already lead to severe irritation, gardeners are strongly advised to wear gloves during all care and planting work.

Hepatica does not bloom

Hepatica contains the strength for a long perennial life over many decades. Thus, the plants are not in a hurry to grow and are leisurely in terms of their willingness to flower. So don't expect lush flowering in the first year. Seedling-propagated species and cultivars take up to 4 years before flowering for the first time. In addition, the following causes are behind when a liverwort does not bloom:

• Too acidic or dry soil
• drought stress
• nutrient deficiency

In addition, the little beauty refuses to flower when subjected to the stress of division or transplanting.

natural reserve

In the wild, the liverwort is enchantingly beautiful with bright blue carpets of flowers in forest clearings and along the path. In enthusiastic hobby gardeners, the delicate beauty awakens the desire to settle them in their own garden. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as the plant isn't picked or dug up in Mother Nature's garden. According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance, liverworts are under nature protection.

Beautiful varieties

• Blue Forest: The variety likes to spread under old trees as a sky-blue carpet of flowers; Growth height 10 cm
• Red Forest: Where red tones dominate, this variety shows its strengths; Growth height 10 cm
• Alba: White-flowered Transylvanian liverwort with fluffy hairs; Growth height 10-15 cm
• Winter delights: The light blue-violet flowers appear in mild climates as early as January; Growth height 15 cm
• Flore pleno: Native liverwort with double flowers in bright blue; Growth height 10 cm