Search Results for: heuchera

Heuchera Care Guide

April 28, 2022 Leave a Comment

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Heuchera is an all-star plant in the garden. It is an evergreen perennial in zones 4-9 and is an extremely low-maintenance garden plant (To find your growing zone, click here). You can find them in many different sizes, colors and foliage shapes. Starting Heuchera from seed is so easy that once you try it, you will want to grow it from seed every year. This is definitely a plant that you don’t have to worry about in the garden.

To grow Heuchera from seed, check out this post!

Heuchera are adaptable to many different lighting conditions, from shade to full sun. This makes them a great plant to grow in all areas of your garden. You don’t have to worry about them being burned by the sun or stunted by shade.

During the first year you plant Heuchera in your garden, you will want to keep them watered regularly. The first year in the garden they will be establishing their root systems and may not be able to handle the stress of drought like conditions. The same goes if you plan to keep them in a pot. Keeping the soil moist and not soggy is the key to keeping Heuchera happy the first year. After your first year is up you don’t need keep them on a strict watering schedule. However, I would make sure that if your area has been experiencing a period of drought, give them and any other plants a drink.

Heuchera rainbow colors — Heuchera at a garden center

Each Spring, Heuchera appreciate a boost from fertilizer. You can add a granular fertilizer or compost or both to help your Heuchera get going for the season. You also do not have to add any fertilizer and they will still perform well.

**There is no need to prune your Heuchera unless they have damaged, dead or diseased foliage.**

There are so many ways to style your Heuchera in the garden. You can plant them in hedges, containers, boarders, random plantings and in hanging baskets. Experiment and see what you like best. You can always move them around the garden to find the spot that brings you the most joy.

During the winter months you don’t have to do anything to your Heuchera. You can insulate them with extra mulch but they really don’t need it. What’s even more amazing about Heuchera is that they are evergreen perennials which means they keep their foliage year round. This is great during the winter months when the garden is asleep. The Heuchera are still colorful and gorgeous.

Heuchera are beautiful and easy going plants. They brighten up the darkest areas of the garden and shine in the brightest areas of the garden. Add Heuchera to your garden and watch it transform.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Grow Heuchera From Seed

January 3, 2022 2 Comments

Heuchera also known as Coral Bells have become one of my top favorite plants for shade gardens. Once established, they only need attention in extreme conditions like long periods of drought or full sun. Coral bells are very easy to grow from seed. They will sprout quicker if you cold stratify them just like they would experience if they were outside. Heuchera are an evergreen perennial, growing in zones 4-9.

To grow Heuchera from seed you will need the following supplies:

Pots or Seed starting trays
Seed Starting Soil Mix
Seeds
Grow Light or Bright Window

Buy or Collect Seeds

You will want to acquire some Heuchera seeds. I’ve collected seeds from my own plants and have ordered seeds from Seedville Usa. If you don’t have any Heuchera in your garden yet, feel free to order seeds online. Here is my video explaining how I collect Heuchera seeds in my garden

Grow Heuchera From Seed

If you are collecting your seeds in the Fall, you will want to make sure the seed pods are dry and ready. Heuchera seeds are so tiny, so I don’t bother doing too much separating the seeds from the pod. I do a little shake to get most of the seeds out. I put them In a ziplock bag, then stick them in the refrigerator to cold stratify.

Soil

I have found that you don’t need a fancy soil to start Heuchera seeds. I have used regular potting soil and seed starting soil and both worked well for growing seedlings. You can use whichever you feel most comfortable with. As far as what to grow your seedlings in, you can use pots, trays, or whatever you have access to. I love growing perennials in flat trays. Many are from produce I’ve purchased from the grocery store. They are easy to cut drainage holes in and come in all different sizes.

Light

Because Heuchera are shade plants, I didn’t feel the need to put my seed trays under grow lights. All of my seedlings were grown under window light. They do need light along with warmth to germinate. The light from a window and warmth of your home should be enough to stimulate germination.

Heuchera Seedlings

Watering

Keeping the soil moist is extremely important when starting seeds. Dry soil can lead to no germination so you will want to make sure the soil is not drying out. You can do this by using a spray bottle daily or by bottom watering your trays daily. Bottoms watering is so helpful with seedlings because it doesn’t disturb seed placement like overhead watering can.

Seedlings

Once your seeds sprout it’s time to pat yourself on the back for a job well done! It’s not easy and any wins during seed starting season should always be celebrated. Now don’t get too carried away there’s still more to do! It gets easier from this point.

All that’s really needed is to make sure the soil is kept moist not soggy and that they are getting air flow and light. Once they have about 4-5 true leaves you can move them from the flat trays to individual pots being careful not to bury the crown of the plant under soil. That is a sure way to rot your little Coral Bell babies.

Young Heuchera plants

Heuchera are very cold hardy plants. They handle cold and frost very well so acclimation should be a breeze. What I do once it’s spring and the temps have warmed up a little is allow them days outside in full shade. I bring them in at night even though I don’t really need to.

Once your little Heuchera are big enough to hold their own feel free to plant them. I was able to get many of mine planted in late fall.

Heuchera grown from seed — Heuchera Grown from Seed

Starting perennials from seed can be a time consuming task but the payoff is a beautiful garden that you can enjoy for years to come.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

11 Tips on How to Save Money Gardening

July 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

I’m going to be completely honest with you. Gardening is EXPENSIVE. This is not a cheap hobby to have and pile that on top of all the other financial responsibilities you may have and it can quickly become too much. There are so many ways to save on garden expenses but you have to be realistic with yourself, that while you are saving money you will still be spending. It’s no secret that gardening is beneficial to our well being as well as mother earth but how can we save money?

assorted plants with trees photography — Photo by Creative Vix on Pexels.com

Stop growing grass

People spend hundreds of dollars trying to achieve the perfect lawn. I used to be one of them. While I wasn’t as crazy about it I did spend money on weed killers and fertilizers to keep my grass looking green and lush. Using weed killers are so bad for the environment. The run off of these chemicals make their way into various bodies of water and cause harm to the living creatures that inhabit those areas. Aside from that those pesticides and fertilizers are very expensive and if you use a company to come spray and fertilize your going to be emptying out your wallet. I’m not against grass but there are other alternatives that look great, require less water and are beneficial to our environment.

Propagate Your Plants

This is a great way to expand your garden without spending money on new plants. Many plants require dividing after a few years to be healthy. Many plants are easily propagated from cuttings which will also help to expand your garden.

Trade with neighbors or go to plant swaps

This is a great way to meet people and share plants, tips and maybe even make a few friends. Having a community you can always count on for your garden questions is priceless.

tender white edge hosta plant leaves — Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Save Seeds from your plants

There are many plants that can easily be grown from seed. Hosta’s, Black Eyed Susan and Heuchera are a just a few that I’ve grown from seeds collected in my garden.

Shop second hand

Second hand is the way to go if you are short on funds. You can buy second hand in many ways such as yard sales, thrift stores, auctions, word of mouth, heck people put good garden tools and supplies on the curb all the time.

Take care of your tools

This is very important for the longevity of your tools. Clean and sterilize your tools after use. Oil and sharpen your shears. Clean your edger and lawn mower after each use. Keeping up with regular maintenance can prolong the life of your garden tools.

red and silver hand tool — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Be a forever student

This! The more you learn the better gardener you will be. Research every question you have. Research every plant you have and how to take care of it. The more you learn about plants the less plants you will kill. The less you kill the less you have to replace.

Start your own compost pile

There’s no doubt that having your own compost pile is beneficial to your garden and your budget. Getting started can be as easy as taking a storage bin your not using, poking holes in the bottom and tossing your scraps in.

Save your potting soil

This is a BIG tip! I have always tossed my old soil but with rising costs of everything I decided to not trash it. I either toss it into the compost pile or I “recondition” it by adding compost and a granular fertilizer then reuse it. I do not keep the soil from tomato plants. Tomato plant diseases can survive in the soil and if your compost doesn’t get hot enough to kill it, it can come back and harm your tomatoes the next year.

Buy clearance

Shopping clearance is a big money saver! Not only can you buy some great plants on clearance you can get soil, pots and other garden accessories. It is worth it to check for clearance garden supplies every time you walk into a store.

person digging on soil using garden shovel — Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

Use what you have

The best way to save money is to not spend any. Work on improving what you already have. You don’t have to bring in new plants to have an amazing garden. Keep your plants happy by watering when needed and pruning when necessary and they will reward you with beautiful foliage and blooms.

Using these tips will save you money for sure but the act of gardening provides you with so much more!

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Heuchera Care Guide

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Grow Heuchera From Seed

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