Growing a Primula auricula in a pot

When to plant auricula primrose in pots?

• If you choose to sow primrose seeds, be aware that this technique is generally carried out in a cold frame, typically in early spring, between March and April.
• Pot planting of the auriculas sold in pots is preferably done in autumn from September to October or in spring in March/April.

How to sow the auricula primrose?

Primrose seeds require a cold period to germinate. A week before your sowing, place your packet of seeds in the refrigerator.

• Get a seed tray or a mini greenhouse.
• Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the tray: gravel, clay balls, pumice…
• Cover with a mix of special sowing and potting compost and a bit of sand.
• Moisten and lightly compact the substrate.
• Sow the seeds evenly on the surface of the compost.
• Cover with a very thin layer of vermiculite.
• Water your sowing using a spray bottle.
• Place the tray in a shaded area, at a temperature between 12 and 15°. Outside, cover the sowing (tray, container) and keep it well closed with a stone, for example.

Ventilate occasionally and continue watering throughout germination to keep the substrate moist. Be cautious, as excessive watering can lead to fungal diseases.

Seed emergence occurs between 4 and 6 weeks.

Transplanting into pots can be done when the seedlings have at least 4 leaves. In autumn (from September), your primroses will be well developed, and you can replant them in containers, pots, or in the ground. They will flower the following year, in spring.

How to plant auricula primrose in a pot?

What type of pot for the auricula primrose?

First of all, note that it is essential to use containers with drainage holes, as excess water is fatal for the bear’s ear. Be aware that Primula auricula can be grown in small groups or solitary, and the pot size depends on this. Whether it’s a pot, a planter, a stone trough, or a basin, the container should be at least 15-20 cm deep. Prefer terracotta pots, which are more breathable than plastic pots.

A scene featuring numerous auriculas in small pots

What substrate to use?

The auricula fears humidity. It is therefore imperative to provide a draining layer at the bottom of the container: for example, clay balls, gravel, or pumice.

The auricula primrose prefers airy substrates, rich in organic matter, and especially well-drained. The soil should remain slightly moist but must not become waterlogged. Choose a potting soil for flowering plants that is well-suited for growing perennials in pots. Enriched with garden soil and fertiliser, it provides nutrients to the plants for good growth and abundant flowering. It is also possible to mix good humus-bearing garden soil with river sand, fine gravel, vermiculite, or even turf. The important thing is to achieve a light mixture.

Planting the auricula in a pot

We recommend wearing gloves when handling the primrose. Indeed, it contains primin, a substance that can be irritating.

• Soak your plant in its pot in a basin of water to moisten the root ball and expel any air it may contain.
• Meanwhile, prepare your container. If it is not perforated, drill holes to allow excess water to drain during watering.
• Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.
• Add the substrate up to about 2-3 cm from the top of the pot.
• Remove your auricula primrose from its pot and position it in your pot so that the top of the root ball is level with the potting soil.
• If necessary, add more potting soil.
• Lightly compact.
• Water thoroughly from below by filling a saucer with water.
• After about ten minutes, empty the saucer to prevent any diseases.

What exposure is suitable for the auricula primrose?

Ideally, place your potted auricula outdoors in a partially shaded location, on the terrace, balcony, at the entrance of the house, or on a windowsill. The bear’s ear in a pot can tolerate sunlight as long as the soil is never dry (nor waterlogged).

How to water the auricula primrose in a pot?

Continue watering in the weeks following planting, once or twice a week. Do not water the fuzzy foliage of the bear’s ear to avoid damaging it and to prevent the plant from rotting. Always use a saucer that you should remember to empty after each watering. Ensure that your plant does not lack water during the summer, as well as in winter.

Do not wet the foliage of the auricula primrose when watering

How to care for your primrose in a pot?

• Take care to protect your pots in winter by keeping them sheltered from excess water, in an unheated room or cold greenhouse. You can bring them out again in spring.
• Throughout the year, remove faded flowers, leaves, and stems. This prevents the primrose from rotting and encourages spring flowering. During damp autumn days, place a handful of gravel at the base of the primrose to protect it from rot.
• Regarding fertiliser, never fertilise your auricula while it is in flower. Wait until the end of flowering or the end of winter (before flowering) to add some well-rotted compost or liquid fertiliser for flowering plants, 1 to 2 times a week.
• Divide your bear’s ear when repotting every two or three years, in spring or autumn, after flowering. This will give the root system more space to develop.
• Remember to protect your pot of Primula auricula from slug and snail attacks in spring, as well as from aphids.