Be careful not to remove more than one-third of the roots from your hollyhocks or you could end up damaging them. [5] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source When you’re finished taking root cuttings, re-bury the root ball so your parent hollyhocks continue to grow and bloom next season.
When you soak seeds before planting them, water penetrates their outer casing and reaches the seed embryos inside. That triggers the seeds to start growing. This trick works for most types of seeds![13] X Research source
Hollyhock seeds do need some light to germinate, so be careful not to smother them with potting mix. [16] X Research source
Leave about 2 feet (61 cm) between each seedling so the hollyhocks aren’t overcrowded. [20] X Research source
To be safe, sow 2-3 seeds per hole. That way, if any of the seeds don’t sprout, you’ll have some backups. [23] X Research source
If your hollyhocks don’t flower during the first season after planting them, don’t worry! Many types of hollyhocks are biennials, meaning they have a 2-year life cycle and won’t bloom until the second year. You may only end up with small clusters of leaves during the first growing season, which is normal. The following growing season is when you’ll see the plants put out their signature tall stalks and large, beautiful flowers.
Hollyhocks don’t love being transplanted, but it can be done if you’d like to move your hollyhocks to a new, better spot in your garden (like against a wall or fence along the perimeter).
Give your transplanted hollyhocks about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of water per week for the first month or two to help them settle into their new spot.
