Christmas rose ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (snow rose)

Plant the Christmas rose correctly

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

• Settle in a partially shaded location in nutrient-rich, well-drained and calcareous soil
• Soak the root ball in water while the soil is loosened and weeded
• Dig a pit with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
• Enrich the earth with compost, Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) and vital lime

Pot out the soaked Christmas rose and plant it up to the root neck in the optimized soil. Press the substrate with your hands, pour and mulch. Do not fail to wear gloves during the entire procedure due to the high toxicity.
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Care tips

A Christmas rose requires very little maintenance so that it can present its breathtaking bloom in winter. How to handle the robust ornamental shrub correctly:

• If it is dry, water it regularly with normal tap water
• From November to February fertilize with compost or liquid fertilizer
• Vital lime or every 4 weeks Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) work superficially into the earth
• A 3-5 cm thick layer of mulch is permanently created from leaves, coarse compost or bark mulch
• Cut off the withered flower stalks and the fallen leaves by early summer at the latest

The mulch cover acts as winter protection in the bed, supplemented by the autumn leaves that have been left behind. Wrap a bucket with foil or jute tape.
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Which location is suitable?

In order for the winter wonder of flowers to actually come true, it is primarily a matter of choosing a suitable location. Place the Christmas rose in this location:

• Partly to shady, sheltered location
• Without direct sunlight
• Nutrient-rich, fresh, moist and, above all, calcareous soil

Cultivate the snow rose on your 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 correct 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. Is it a higher-growing hybrid? Christmas rose and Spring rose, a distance of 50 centimeters is considered appropriate.

What soil does the plant need?

The nature of the soil contributes significantly to the vital growth and rich flowering of a snow rose. Make a point of these properties:

• Nutrient-rich, humic and calcareous
• Fresh and moist, often loamy and well drained

Good quality is suitable for bucket culture Potting soil based on compost, enriched with sand, Lava granules and a handful of vital lime or Rock flour.

What is the best time to plant?

Plant the Christmas rose in autumn in the sun-warm soil. At this time the soil is warmed up to 17 degrees, so that 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 the flowering time?

After the first glance at the flowering time of a snow rose, amateur gardeners rub their eyes in amazement. Does the ornamental shrub bloom at a time when the other plants in the garden are in deep hibernation. The central flowering period extends from November to February. Some modern varieties bloom in mild years into April, such as the double '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 the formation of seed heads. The leaves are only removed close to the ground when they have been completely pulled in. Until then, the plant assimilates all remaining nutrients in order to feed on them in the next flowering period.
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Pour the Christmas rose

During its flowering season, the Christmas rose needs an adequate supply of water. If a blanket of snow does not spread as a source of water, you should therefore water regularly on frost-free days. Also keep the ornamental shrub in the summer eye, 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 layer of mulch made from ripe compost, horn shavings, leaves or grass clippings. If the location is under deciduous trees, leave the fallen leaves lying around in autumn so that they can turn into valuable ones humus transform. In the planter, fertilize the snow rose with a commercially available liquid fertilizer during the flowering period.
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Overwinter

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. You should therefore cover a planter with bubble wrap and place it on an insulating material such as wood or styrofoam.
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Propagate Christmas rose

The multiplication of a Christmas rose is uncomplicated by hand by dividing it. Proceed as follows in spring or autumn:

• Tie the leaves together loosely with a bast 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 split the rhizome
• Plant at the new location without delay

Alternatively, harvest the ripe fruits in early summer to remove the seeds from them. However, this form of offspring is only suitable if you are not aiming for single-variety propagation. Since these are cold germs, subject the seeds to a four to six week stratification in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator or put the seed pot on the balcony through the winter. In spring you can look forward to the first seedlings. It takes 3-4 years until the first bloom.
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How do I transplant properly?

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

In order for the snow rose to give its best in the pot, choose a container shape that offers the deep-rooted enough space and has a bottom opening as a water drain. A drainage made of grit, Expanded clay(€ 16.35 at Amazon *) or pottery shards on the bottom of the pot prevent unwanted waterlogging. As a substrate, you should preferably use a mix of potting soil, compost, sand and perlite or lava gravel. How to look after the Christmas rose in an exemplary manner:

• Pour thoroughly until the water runs out of the opening in the bottom
• Empty the coaster after 10 minutes at the latest
• Allow the soil to dry out until the next watering
• Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days during the flowering period
• Before the first frost, wrap the pot with bubble wrap

Cut off the withered flowers in spring. Leave the decorative foliage on the flower until it has withered completely. Throughout the summer, place the plant in a shady place in the garden and water enough so that the root ball does not dry out. If you bring the snow rose into your 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 buttercups and the genus hellebore makes experienced hobby gardeners prick up their ears immediately. All of these plants are very poisonous to humans and animals. Only include the Christmas rose in your garden design if 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 the flower does not bloom, take a closer look at the cultivation of a snow rose for the following reasons:

• Incorrect planting time: plant a Christmas rose in the ground in autumn, at the latest by September
• Intense sunlight: the snow rose blooms in partially shaded areas
• Acid pH: plant the Christmas rose in calcareous soil to encourage it to flower

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 fact by the fact that it subsequently flourishes more splendidly 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-flowering shrub in the bed. There is nothing wrong with integrating them into your home decor at Christmas time. If you place the snow rose in a partially shaded location with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees, the blossoms will not be long in coming. On the other hand, the winter beauty does not feel at home in the cozy, warm living room.

Is the Christmas rose poisonous for cats?

In the interest of your cat, you should refrain from cultivating a snow rose as a bedding or houseplant. All parts of the buttercup plant are so poisonous that their kitty's life is in danger if she nibbles curiously on it.
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Trivia

The literal translation of the botanical name Helleborus niger means black hellebore. This name refers to the earlier use of the ground black roots of a snow rose as sneezing powder. With this joke article, vengeful rascals drove their 'victim' to despair by sneezing attacks. Due to its high toxicity, modern versions of the product contain different ingredients.

Nice varieties

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