Home	Strange Wonderful Things Rare and exotic plants & seeds

Chilean Bellflower

Lapageria rosea

Your seeds should be planted immediately for best germination

Getting started - First soak the seeds for 2 to 3 days in a cup of water.

Cold treatment.  Your seeds should be given a 6 week cold treatment in the refrigerator for best germination.  This tricks them into thinking winter has passed, so they germinate better.

 You may plant all the seeds in a single container about 4 inches wide (10 cm) and 2.5 inches tall (6.5 cm), which will hold them for the first 3-4 months of growth.  You may instead plant them in individual small containers, but this may take up more space in the refrigerator.  Either way, use pots with drainage holes.

 For soil, use a mixture of 1 part potting soil and 1 part perlite.  Alternatively, you may use 1 part peat moss to 1 part perlite or coarse sand.  Do not add lime to the soil.  If you use a single, communal pot, plant the seeds 1 inch (3 cm) apart.  Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch (6 mm) of the mix, and water them.  If your tap water is "hard", meaning high in minerals, use bottled water or rain water.

 Bag up the pot(s) so the soil doesn't dry out.  Then place them in the refrigerator for 6 weeks.  Ensure that the temperature stays above 35 degrees F (2°C).  Mark your calendar so you don't forget about them, or they might germinate in the refrigerator.

 After the 6 weeks, move the pots to an area that is 60-75 degrees F (15-23°C) during the day, and a bit cooler at night (45 to 70°F / 7-21°C).  Give them some air circulation.  They should sprout within 4 to 8 weeks, although allow up to 12 weeks for any slow ones.

 Once they sprout, give them bright light, but shade them from prolonged sun exposure unless it's early morning sun.  Water them enough to keep the soil surface from drying out (but don't keep the soil soggy either). 

 If your potting contains fertilizer, your seedlings shouldn't need feeding the first 3 weeks.  See the section below on fertilizing.

Transplanting -- If you planted all the seeds in a single pot: when they are 3-4 months old, gently scoop them out with a spoon and plant them into individual pots about 2-4 inches wide and 4-6 inches tall (7 cm wide, 12 cm tall).

Lapageria likes rich, moist soil that drains easily and is loose and "airy".  The soil should be slightly acid and have little to no lime.  A good mix would be 1 part good-quality potting soil, 1 part peat moss (or potting soil), 1 part horticultural sand, and 1 part perlite (or pumice), mixed well.  Transplant gently to avoid damaging the roots.  For the first 2 weeks after repotting, shade them from sun, and give no fertilizer.

Lighting -- Lapageria prefers to have its sun filtered through trees (dappled sun).  It can burn from prolonged, direct sun.  Bright shade is fine provided that it does get some morning or late-afternoon sun.  Lapageria likes its roots cool, so try to keep the pot shaded in warmer climates.

Climate -- Lapageria prefers mild daytime temperatures and cooler nights.  It's happiest between about 40 and 80 degrees (5-27°C), and above freezing.  Adult plants are said to tolerate down to the low 20s (-5°C) if given overhead protection.  But protect your seedlings from frost the first 3 years.  You may grow them indoors or in a greenhouse provided that the air is cool and over about 40% humidity with good air circulation.  If the humidity becomes low, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier, which are sold at home improvement stores and thrift shops.

Watering -- Lapageria likes moist soil, but it shouldn't be constantly soggy either.  Don't allow the soil to dry out.  Never let the pot sit in a tray of water either.  Also avoid keeping the leaves wet for prolonged periods, as this may cause leaf fungus in some areas. 

Support -- Adult plants prefer to twist around a trellis, fence, wires, etc.  Your seedlings will not need a trellis for at least 2 years, since they are slow growing when young.

Fertilizing -- Seedlings are slow-growing the first 2 years and do not need much fertilizer during this time, so be careful not to overfeed them.  Feed about every 3 months with a slow-release (pelleted or organic) fertilizer.  When growth speeds up after about 2 years, increase to every 2 months.

Potting up - When your seedlings are 12-18 months old, they may be gently transplanted to 2-quart (2 liter) pots, which can hold them for another 1-2 years.  They may then be transferred to 5 gallon (19 liter) containers, which can be their permanent home.

Pests to watch for -- Protect from snails and slugs, which love Lapageria.  Watch for aphids on the new growth, and spider mites under the older leaves (tiny "dots" on the leaves).  Scale (small discs) and mealy bugs may appear on the stems or leaves.

If you have any questions, please email me.

Enjoy your plants!

Strange Wonderful Things