Primula 2020

[Leena]

Primula auriculata seeds were sown last December, pot kept outside for the winter and they germinated in spring, and now it looks to me like they might flower next spring:). So fast. I'm really looking forward to seeing them flower, I just hope they survive the winter.

[ruweiss]

The summer rest of Primula palinuri is over and new leaves start to grow again.

[Yann]

Primula bella. Seed ex Holubec (as P. nanobella, which is considered a synonym). Sown on 22 December 2019 in a mix of equal parts ericaceous soil and grit with some sharp sand, stood outside without protection. First germination 19 February 2020. The tiny seedlings pricked out in May in ericaceous soil + grit, always kept damp and out of direct sunlight but without overhead shade. First flowering 2 October 2020. The flower is 13 mm across and the largest rosette is 2 cm across.

This is a high-alpine Chinese species (Yunnan, Baima Shan, 4400 m) which I expected to be difficult to keep alive, so I am pleasantly surprised how well it has done - so far. It even survived a heat wave with four days above 35 degrees Celsius. Whether it will survive the coming winter is another matter; I plan to give it some protection against winter wet.
(Attachment Link)

chinese species are gorgous, the leaves of this one look attractive.
Did you let the pots without protection during 2019 winter?

[Tristan_He]

That's a lovely little primula Andre! Congratulations.

[Andre Schuiteman]

An update on Primula bella (apologies to Yann and Tristan – I had not seen your replies, thanks for them). Most of the plants survived their first winter (20/21) outside but protected against rain. They formed new rosettes in the spring but these did not flower in 2021. When they went dormant in the autumn of 2021 they did not seem to have formed proper resting buds and none of them reappeared in 2022. Perhaps this species is naturally short lived, or perhaps they were kept too damp in the autumn. It is often hard to tell why a plant fails. Unfortunately, it will be difficult now to get seeds of this Primula again.