Hellebores in pots?

I've made two attempts to grow hellebores in a pot. Each time I've lost them to water logging. I use a pot with holes in bottom and crocs and multi purpose compost. Any ideas? Are they ericacious?

 

Did the pots sit flush to the ground so the water could not drain. To my shame I have 2 zinc planters out the front, I put loads of rough stone in the bottom then some rough top soil with stones, then planted 2 smallish conifers in , as a temporary measure as I don`t want them and hate throwing live plants away, with more top soil, one tree died but its a nice copper colour, so it`s still there and the other is not faring well. BUT as I was near them the other day I noticed they were full of water, there was no gap at the bottom for the water to drain. popped a handy piece of roof tile under one edge okay now.

 

I grow most stuff in pots and stand them on pieces of bathroom tiles just to lift them up a bit. I push the tiles right under so they can't be seen. They haven't suffered from any water logging.

 

I will try again and sit them on bricks thanx. I will also try and buy them from a specialist maybe the corner shop ones weren't good? Their so beautiful I'd love to have some in my garden

 

Have multiple on pots, just used normal multi purpose and they are all flowering again for the third year

 

If they are in plastic pots (several holes in the bottom, rather than one like a Clay pot) skip the crocks - the water won't transition easily through the various layers, so it will hold more water than if just compost & pot.

I think the problem is more likely that multi purpose isn't ideal for long term container growing. I would either use John Innes, or add some small sharp grit (or Perlite) to the multi purpose. Probably about 10% - 20% by volume.

 

Can I ask a Hellebore question here? I found a website selling 6 hellebores in 1 lt pots for £20. Is it worth it? Buying them at this time of year? What should i look for before plunging in ? And how to care for them so that they are happy and well until next year?


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Do they have nice looking flowers, i.e. named varieties?

Otherwise might just be seedlings - and as such the flowers might be "so so".

 

Minki, £20 for 6 hellebores in 1 litre pots sounds a good price to me , at Garden Centres they can be anywhere up to £12 or so for one plant in a 2-3lt pot. That said Home Bargains by us have recently had some very healthy white flowered hellebores in for £1.99 each in 2 litre pots, there are bargains out there if you look.

If you buy any you could plant them straight away if there's been no frost, they like deep rich soils with plenty of organic matter, leaf mould etc. They also like fairly sheltered semi-shaded areas but in all honesty they are a lot tougher than many people realise, as long as they don't dry out they'll be happy.

 

So here is the link for the website http://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=253
All they say is Hellebore orientalis in 6 colors and hv pics too. 5-6 petal flowers and They sure do look pretty.


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