Auricula

Growing Guide

Hardy and exquisitely formed, auriculas deserve to be looked at close up. You can grow all auriculas in containers. It is one of the best ways to appreciate their beauty and scent. Border auriculas are more robust and put up with the worst of winter weather.

Sow Auricula seed in spring to mid summer in good seed compost. Sow seed on surface of compost and gently firm. Seal in a polythene bag or cover with a piece of glass and place in a shady spot, either in a greenhouse or cold-frame but do not exclude light which is beneficial for germination. Keep soil damp but not wet. Be aware with late season sowings that higher temperatures can prevent germination. Once most of the seeds have come up, sprinkle a tiny amount of sieved compost or horticultural grit over the roots to anchor them.

Transplant Auriculas when they large enough to handle in 7.5cm pots. Grow on in cool and fairly moist conditions until the Autumn and later plant out 20cm apart where they are to flower in good soil, sun or part shade.

Auriculas may also be sown outdoors in a seed bed in May and June. Mark out shallow drills and sow the seed carefully and thinly, aiming to get a seed every 2cm and then gently rake the soil to cover, and firm with the back of the rake. Water gently if the weather is dry for a period, but do not water too often as this will encourage the roots to form just below the surface and you will be watering all summer long to save your plants. Aim to encourage the root to look further down for water, and you will have a more relaxed summer and a finer show of flowers in the long run.

When the plants have formed their first pair of true leaves, thin them to 10cm apart and firm the soil around the bases. In September or October carefully raise the plants taking a ball of soil with the roots using a trowel and plant them in the final flowering site and gently water them in. It is sometimes beneficial to give them a little protection from winter winds for the first year.

TOP TIPS

The only way to reproduce an Auricula true to its parent is by taking off-sets from that parent. This can be carried out at any time whilst the plant is actively growing. However probably the best time to take off-sets is whilst re-potting. Tease off any rooted off-sets from the main stem and pot on in 9cm pots. If there are a few off-sets from the same variety, they can also be potted up in a larger pot around the edges.

Auriculas  provide a pretty display when several are grown in pots together, in fact some growers recommend that Auricula should only be grown in pots, and that you should make them as small a pot as possible to keep their roots restricted. A 9cm pot is normally the maximum size used for shows.