Ageratum - the name of this flower comes from Greece, which means “ageless.” The name is very suitable for this plant, as it has a very long flowering period. These decorative flowers are very unpretentious and grow everywhere: in flower beds, in gardens, on balconies, in boxes on window sills. Some hobbyists grow ageratum to decorate rooms. They look good in greenhouses.
Ageratum growing from seeds and planting seedlings When to plant ageratum?
When to plant ageratum seedlings
You can plant flowers using seeds or purchased seedlings. The seedling method is more reliable, while the seed method is cheaper, but much more labor-intensive. If you plan to plant ageratum as seedlings, it is better to mix the soil with manure before this process, or use ready-made soil from stores. In this case, store-bought soil should be taken for terraced or hanging flowering plants.
Many readers are looking for photos of ageratum flowers and asking when to plant seedlings
We answer: Ageratum is planted in the ground from the beginning of April to the end of May.
- Ageratum is sown in February and until the end of April., not very deep (0.5-1 cm).
- It is best to make small grooves, put the seeds there, and lightly sprinkle earth on top.
- Ageratum does not like cold, so boxes with seedlings should be placed where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees.
- The planting produces the first shoots in approximately two weeks. To improve the germination of plants, it is advisable to cover the boxes with glass or cellophane. That is, make a kind of mini greenhouse. This will increase the temperature inside the container and help retain moisture.
Ageratum growing from seeds at home
- When the sprouts produce several full-fledged leaves, the seedlings should be picked, and it is advisable to immediately transplant the flowers into separate cups. This process is less traumatic for ageratum than for other plants due to well-developed roots.
- You can even transplant mature plants, for example, from a garden bed to a pot for the winter.
- After picking, the plants must be watered abundantly.
Ageratum seedlings are ready for planting in the ground
Ageratum growing from seeds when to plant video:
Seedlings are planted in a flower bed based not on numbers, but on weather conditions. Ageratum is thermophilic, and too cold weather can destroy it. The optimal temperature is not lower than 20 degrees.
How to dive ageratum video:
For ease of landing, you can immediately use peat cups when diving. Plants are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other.
Propagation of ageratum by cuttings
what does ageratum look like photo
Usually this flower is propagated using seeds or seedlings. However, ageratum can also be propagated by cuttings. It’s just that other planting methods are less labor-intensive, which is why they are used more often.
Cuttings are good to use when the owner wants to get a shorter, but more bushy plant. This method is also shown when they want to breed hybrids that, as is known, do not reproduce by seeds, or when propagated, individuals are obtained that are inferior in decorative properties mother plants.
To grow ageratum from cuttings, proceed as follows:
- In the fall, before frosts have yet begun, the plant is transplanted into a flower pot, which is subsequently brought into the house.
- Cuttings are cut in spring. For cuttings, side shoots are taken; several can be taken from one plant. The incision should be made just below the kidney. In this place, the flower tissues contain a special substance that is little susceptible to the effects of the fungus and the mother plant will not begin to hurt or die.
- Cuttings of optimal length measure about 5 cm. It is best to plant them immediately in a mini greenhouse.
Ageratum flowers take root very well and quickly. Next, planting in the ground proceeds, as with ordinary seedlings of this plant.
Ageratum care
ageratum in the garden photo
After planting, ageratum does not tolerate flooding with water. and care consists of maintaining uniform moistening of the soil: it also does not like drying out, so it is better to use moderate daily watering. After it there should be no puddles on the ground. It is better to water the bushes in the morning so that excess water, if any, can dry in the sun.
It is best to plant flowers by mixing soil with humus
Ageratum sprouts will be stronger and, as a result, more aesthetically pleasing. If there is no humus, you can use compost or mineral fertilizers. However, the dosage of the substance used must be strictly observed. With an excess of fertilizers, especially organic ones, the plant grows and does not produce or produces few flowers. It turns out big flowering bush. Some gardeners recommend using nitrophoska or amophoska to avoid this. This fertilizer is taken at 20-30 grams per 10 liters of water.
If the plant goes up, it must be pruned; after this procedure, the bush recovers very quickly. It will look more attractive. You also need to collect wilted flowers from time to time. If you do not do this, the flower will be less elegant.
Ageratum at home
Ageratum growing at home
The flower develops well at home. Choose spacious containers with good drainage for it. In summer they can be taken out onto the balcony, veranda or secured under the windows. IN cold period From time to time, flowers delight with luxurious blooming, which practically never stops.
indoor ageratum
To prevent the perennial from dying, it retains its decorative appearance long years, use simple rules:
- Choose window sills on the south side of the apartment, where there is more light and warmth.
- Water only at the roots, moistening without excess. It is better to do this in the morning, a little every day.
- It is better to purchase land for planting ageratum ready-made, with a sufficient supply of microelements and organic matter. In addition, it will have a loose structure, allowing air to easily penetrate to the roots.
- Fertilize at least once every six months, choosing complex formulations.
- If the flowers have grown excessively, it is better to divide them and replant them in a larger container.
That's all the simple rules for caring for indoor ageratum. As you can see, this is the most unpretentious flower you can find.
Diseases and pests of ageratum
ageratum on the balcony
The unpretentious plant is very resistant to various diseases, and its tropical origin has made the flower “unpalatable” to many pests. However, this does not mean that nothing can harm the ageratum. For example, when planted too often, plants develop a cucumber mosaic. It can also occur if these flowers are over-watered. Also, if the rules of watering and planting are violated, ageratum can develop bacterial wilt. However, if you follow all the rules, these problems can be avoided.
Of the flower pests, the most dangerous are spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids. To destroy these pests, you can use both industrial and folk remedies.
Garlic tincture is the most effective among folk methods.
Garlic is crushed on a grater or in a garlic grinder at the rate of 220 grams of garlic per 1 liter of water. This mixture is infused for about 5 days. Then the tincture is diluted for spraying flowers. Dosage - 200 grams of garlic per 10 liters of water. If you add too much garlic to the solution, the plants may get burned.
Of the industrial means of combating spider mites, something from the family of insectoacaricides is best. Usually in such cases, Nissoran, Neoron and Agraverine are recommended. To combat whitefly, “Commander”, “Tanrek” and “Mospilan” are recommended.
If flowers are planted in open soil ahead of schedule...
Their leaves may change color to a lighter color. This is due to the low temperature at night, since the flowers are very heat-loving and do not tolerate it well. A good preventative measure would be to harden off ageratum seedlings or cover the plants at night when it gets cold. For hardening, seedlings must be taken out to short time in a room with a colder temperature, for example on a balcony. You can cover the seedlings with cellophane, paper bags or cut large plastic eggplants.
Problems can arise if the watering angle is incorrect. It was said above that the entire upper part of the ageratum is covered with fluff-like fibers. If the plant is watered abundantly from above, especially if the area is insufficiently ventilated, microscopic droplets of water become trapped between these villi. As a result, the leaves of the flowers begin to turn black, and the flowers begin to become moldy and rot. It is best to remove such parts immediately, since the ageratum in this case looks very unattractive. As a preventive measure, the root method of watering is suitable.
How to collect seeds for future planting?
ageratum and marigolds in landscape design photo
It is best to collect seeds immediately after the flowering period of the plant has ended. This occurs approximately in the second or third week after the flowers appear. The main thing is that the flowers are pollinated and produce seeds. However, problems usually do not arise with this, since ageratum is readily pollinated by bumblebees and bees. Flower seeds are very small in size and have an elongated shape. They are also very light, there can be up to 6-7 thousand of them per gram. The collected seeds should be brown, with a light tint.
It is best to store seeds in a cool, dry place
For this purpose, paper or fabric bags are recommended, since future plants can suffocate in plastic bags, which will negatively affect their germination.
We can conclude that ageratum is an attractive, highly decorative flower, and quite easy to care for. The main difficulty in caring for ageratum is that all stages of planting and watering must be performed correctly and in a timely manner. At proper care everything practically comes down to timely watering and weeding. Plants will thank the owner with luxurious bright flowers.
Description of ageratum Photos of flowers
Ageratum blue in the photo
The plant's homeland is southern tropical countries. It is most common in South America, especially in Mexico. Ageratum also grows in India, in the east of the country. In nature it is perennial, however, in Russia the climatic conditions are colder; here it is grown as an annual. During the winter the plant simply freezes. However, if planted in a pot or greenhouse, the ageratum will grow for many years.
Ageratum flowers have a very developed root system. The ground part is bushy, there are many flowers of bright blue color. The ground cover looks very beautiful. All above-ground parts of the plant: stem, leaves and even flowers are covered with soft fibers that look like fluff. This adds decorativeness to the ageratum.
The most popular varieties of ageratum
If you liked the description of this flower and want to get it, then before buying its seeds and planting it in your flowerbed, you need to decide on the plant variety. Each variety of this decorative flower has its own advantages.
Agerantum blue Ageratum Blue photo
The most popular variety is "Blue Mink"(originally Ageratum Blue). The flowers are large, their color is classic. Numerous hybrids have been created based on this variety. The most colorful of them is Ageratum Blue Danube. This hybrid is smaller in size than the mother variety. However, this hybrid is distinguished by its original coloring of flowers. In this variety of ageratum they are purple.
Ageratum mexican photo
I also liked the “Mexican” variety.(sometimes called Houston's ageratum). It is larger in size than the Blue Mink. Individual specimens can reach a height of 50 cm. There are two subspecies of this variety: herbaceous and shrubby. The flowers have a delicate light blue color, but can also have a lilac tint.
Agerantum white Summer Snow
Ageratum Summer Snow is often used as a border variety.. The bushes of this variety of ageratum are not very branched, and the plant itself is more miniature. The leaves are small, but the lush flowers are very luxurious. They have a dark pink tint.
ageratum pink ball photo
Ageratum pink ball- stunning scatterings of dense inflorescences of fluffy sunflowers. They grow in low bushes and are the best annual ground cover for your garden.
ageratum bonjour
Ageratum variety bonjour. Low bushes up to a quarter of a meter high. The annual blooms from June until frost. A real fragrant cloud of aromatic smell forms next to the plantings. Small flowers are elegantly collected in corymbose voluminous inflorescences. The color is varied. They grow it on balconies, plant it in garden beds, flower beds, and mixborders.
ageratum snow blanket
Ageratum snow blanket- an amazing ground cover, literally strewn with small snow-white flowers, collected in fluffy panicle inflorescences. It is also low, up to 25 cm. It completely covers the area allocated to it with its green-flowering mass. A luxurious “blanket” of white flowers can be placed as a separate carpet in a flower bed or combined with other blooming favorites.
ageratum white ball photo
Ageratum white ball- the bushes are covered with inflorescences of small flowers, reminiscent of fluffy balls. It is impossible to look away, such a bewitching sight opens up, especially if you plant bright flowers of red, blue, pink or purple shades against the background of ageratum.
Ageratum Aztec treasures
Ageratum Aztec treasures- has excellent characteristics: fluffy flowers wide color range They look harmonious in flower beds, create spectacular borders, and look great in decorative flowerpots.
Where is the best place to plant ageratum?
ageratum red Ageratum Red Flint
Ageratum is widely used as an ornamental plant: at home and in the garden. Most often it is grown in flower beds. Moreover, the flower is grown not only separately, but in combination with other ornamental plants to form expressive compositions. If you plant one ageratum, you will get a beautiful flower carpet.
The southern guest looks beautiful with plants whose flowers are warm, red, single or yellow. These are zinnias, marigolds, calendula and many others.
The contrast of cold and warm colors looks very elegant. Low-growing varieties of ageratum are used to decorate borders or on alpine hills.
How to choose a place to plant ageratum?
ageratum flowers photo and cultivation
Ageratum is a southern resident, therefore it loves the sun and space. True, now breeders have developed amazing shade-tolerant varieties. However, if possible, it is better to plant it where there is a lot of light. In the shade, the plant becomes too elongated and looks less aesthetically pleasing. If the soil is too wet, the roots of the ageratum will rot and the flower may die.
Of course, the soil for growing must be fertile and neutral chemical composition. To create an optimal environment, the soil is fertilized with manure before planting. It is better to use well-rotted manure, not fresh, so as not to burn the root system. If the soil is poorly ventilated, drainage must be done to avoid root rotting. To do this, you just need to remove the soil from the flowerbed, put a layer of gravel underneath, and then cover it all with the removed soil.
ageratum in landscape design photo
Ageratum Houston
Ageratum is a member of the aster family. In nature, such a plant can be found in Central and North America and Eastern India. The name of this flower is derived from the Latin word ageratos, which translates as “ageless.” The fact is that cut lovely flowers can remain fresh for quite a long time. Since the 19th century, this plant has become popular in European countries, and in Russia it is also called “long-flowered”. This plant is loved by gardeners for its spectacular fluffy flowers that look similar to pom-poms, which are part of very dense inflorescences. As a rule, they are painted in various shades of blue. Also, this flower is very undemanding in care. There are approximately 60 species of ageratum.
Features of ageratum
On a fairly compact bush there are bright green petiolate leaf plates shaped like an oval, triangle or diamond. Their edge is jagged. The leaves in the upper part are alternately arranged, and in the lower and middle parts they are oppositely arranged. There are many erect shoots, on the surface of which there is pubescence. Their height varies from 10 to 60 centimeters. Small bisexual fragrant flowers are part of not very large (diameter 1–1.5 cm) inflorescences shaped like baskets. And they are collected in complex corymbose inflorescences. They can be colored purple, pink, blue or White color. The fruit is a 5-sided wedge-shaped achene. 7 thousand seeds weigh only 1 g. Their good germination rate is maintained for 3–4 years.
In mid-latitudes, ageratum is grown as an annual because it is not frost-hardy. Such a plant can decorate a garden bed, a flower bed, and will also look great in carpet compositions. This flower can be planted together with marigolds, calendulas, and snapdragons, which are also annual plants.
Features of growing ageratum from seeds
Sowing
Most often, such a plant is grown from seeds. Sowing is carried out from mid to late March. In this case, the boxes need to be filled with a mixture that includes sand, humus and peat (1:1:1). The seeds need to be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. The container is covered with glass or film and placed in a warm place (at least 15 degrees). Crops need daily ventilation. The soil should be slightly moistened at all times. Therefore, it must be systematically moistened with a spray bottle. The first shoots will appear in about 14 days, after which the shelter should be removed.
Seedling
When the seedlings have a couple of true leaves, they need to be planted more spaciously. Picking is carried out 2 times. During the 2nd picking, the plants are planted in separate pots (cups). Ageratums need dry air and a constantly moist substrate. You can water the plants only in the morning. A couple of weeks before planting, the plant should be moved outside. If there is a threat of frost, the seedlings must be covered.
Landing
Planting in open ground should be done after the threat of night frosts has passed. The selected area of soil should not be exposed to drafts. The place must be sunny, because with a lack of light the plants stretch out and bloom very sparingly. Non-acidic, light, well-drained soil rich in nutrients is best. However, this plant is not too demanding on the soil. In thoroughly loosened soil, you need to make not too deep holes, the distance between them is from 10 to 15 cm. Seedlings need to be planted to the depth at which they grew in the container. Flowering begins after about 8 weeks.
Care for ageratum in open ground
In order for the ageratum to please you with its unusually beautiful flowers, it needs to be provided with proper care. So, this plant needs to be watered in a timely manner, weeds removed, soil loosened, and fertilizers added to the soil. It needs fairly abundant watering, but under no circumstances should the flower be flooded. After the plant is watered, you need to loosen the soil and at the same time pull out all the weeds.
Feeding is carried out with a frequency of 1 time in 2 or 3 weeks. Mineral or humic fertilizers are excellent for this. An infusion prepared with mullein is also recommended for feeding. But it should be taken into account that fresh manure cannot be used to feed ageratum, because the plant reacts extremely negatively to it. Also, you should not overfeed the flower, because in this case its green mass will grow rapidly, but flowering will become scarce. Do not forget to promptly pick off fading inflorescences. For abundant and spectacular flowering, this plant requires pruning. So, only a few internodes should remain on the shoot. After the pruning procedure, the plant begins to grow actively and bloom more abundantly.
What to do when ageratum fades?
Before the first frosts begin, it is recommended to dig up the most lush bushes and plant them in separate flower pots. Plants can be placed in the house, on the veranda or on the balcony. Ageratums will bloom all over autumn period, and maybe even part of the winter one. You can take cuttings from these bushes in early spring and root them. Then, with the onset of warmth, they are transplanted into open ground.
This plant loves warmth very much, so it is not able to overwinter even under cover if the winter is mild. In this regard, in the fall, it is necessary to remove the remains of plants from the flowerbed, and in the spring, plant new flowers there.
Pests and diseases
Ageratums are not resistant to diseases, which is considered their main disadvantage. Often rot appears on the root system of such a plant. If this happens, then it will no longer be possible to save the infected bushes. However, it should be noted that the appearance of root rot can be prevented, and some fairly simple preventive measures will help you with this. So, the first thing to do for planting is to choose light, well-drained soil. Water the plant carefully, avoiding overflow. It is also necessary to systematically loosen the soil. This will all help avoid the appearance of rot on the roots. Ageratum is also susceptible to cucumber mosaic, as well as bacterial wilt, and such diseases develop due to violation of the rules of care.
Ageratum seedlings located in the house or greenhouse must be protected from pests such as whiteflies and spider mites. If insects are found, you need to tear off the infected leaves and treat with an insecticidal agent.
IN open ground Nematodes and cutworms can settle on this plant. Getting rid of such pests is not so easy; it is much easier to prevent their appearance. To do this, it is enough to provide the ageratum with proper care. Remember that only with prolonged violation of the rules for caring for such flowers, they become susceptible to various diseases and pests.
Main types and varieties with photo examples
Since growing such a plant is not very difficult, and there is nothing complicated at all in caring for it, it has gained quite a lot of popularity among gardeners. Below are the most popular varieties and types of ageratum.
White ageratum
The height of the bush reaches 20 centimeters, the shoots are erect. Fragrant flowers are painted white.
Ageratum blue "Blue Mink"
Compact, strong and well-branched bushes reach a height of 20 to 25 centimeters. The very fluffy inflorescences are painted in a bluish color and in appearance they are similar to mink fur, since the bush is completely covered with them. The inflorescences have a diameter of 5 to 8 centimeters.
Ageratum Houston, or Ageratum Mexicana
Small bushes have a ball shape. Their height varies from 15 to 60 centimeters (depending on the variety). Fluffy flowers are collected in baskets, which are part of inflorescences with a diameter of 3–8 centimeters.
Varieties
- « Alba» - white flowers are collected in dense inflorescences.
Alba - « Azur Pearl― blue flowers are collected in fairly large inflorescences.
Azur Pearl - « Faye Pink» - dark pink loose inflorescences have a diameter of 4 to 5 centimeters. The leaf blades are quite small. The height of the bush varies from 20 to 30 centimeters.
Faye Pink - « Blue Mink― bluish flowers have a lilac tint. The leaves are quite large, and the height of the bush reaches from 25 to 30 centimeters.
Blue Mink - « Blue Bouquet― the flowers are painted in a beautiful blue color. This variety has the greatest height - 45 centimeters.
Blue Bouquet - « Bavaria― rather large loose inflorescences consist of two-color flowers. So, their center is pale blue (almost white), and around them there are thin petals of a deep blue color. The bush has a height of 25–30 centimeters.
Bavaria - Hybrid plants of the Hawaii variety group: “Royal Hawaii” - the height of dwarf plants does not exceed 15 centimeters, the flowers are violet-purple; "White Hawaii" - bushes dwarf variety do not exceed 18 centimeters in height, the flowers are white.
Royal Hawaii 
White Hawaii
The Asteraceae family includes many beautiful plants, among which is Ageratum. The flower received such an unusual name because of its characteristics; this plant blooms for a very long time, starting from June and ending with the first frost. Translated from Latin, the word ageratos means ageless. Gardeners have already fallen in love with it and this is not surprising, because the plant has an unusually beautiful appearance and is suitable for decorating not only lawns and flower beds, but also balconies. More information about growing ageratum from seeds will be discussed in this article.
Ageratum
Description
Peru is considered the birthplace of ageratum. This is a perennial plant, reaching a height of 20-60 cm. Thanks to its unusual properties, ageratum can delight gardeners with its flowering for a long time, it is not for nothing that it is popularly called “long-flowered”.
Ageratum - growing from seeds when to plant
The plant is used in landscape design, so most often it can be seen in the gardens of country houses. Flowering until the coldest weather and its beautiful appearance have made the long-flowered plant an obligatory guest at various flower exhibitions. The inflorescences have a pleasant aroma that does not disappear for a long time, just like the pristine beauty of the flowers. What makes ageratum decorative is that its style and stigma are slightly longer than the corolla of the flower. The diameter of the baskets reaches 1.5 cm, and they, in turn, form large inflorescences (up to 12 cm), which evenly cover the entire plant.
White ageratum bushes
On a note! The shape of the leaves, depending on the ageratum variety, may vary. Most often, there are plant varieties with oval leaves, the edges of which have denticles. Ripe fruits contain a huge number of seeds (at least 6,000 seeds per 1 g). The seeds are unpretentious, so they can germinate even after several years of ripening.
Ageratum flower
Popular plant varieties
There are more than 70 various types plants that differ from each other in their decorative characteristics (shades of flowers, flowering time, height of the bush, and so on). But not all are used in gardening. Let's look at the most common varieties.
Table. Popular varieties of ageratum.
| An unusually beautiful plant with large lilac-blue or white inflorescences. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 30 cm, which is why it looks more collected and compact. This is a late plant as it begins to bloom in the second half of June. | |
|
Blau Sternchen |
Small bushes up to 15 cm in height are colored with densely pubescent green shoots. The inflorescences of this variety are colored lilac, although plants with blue flowers. The flowering period occurs in June. |
| One of the most popular ageratum hybrids, distinguished by its short growth (up to 15 cm) and small blue flowers. Flowering begins in early summer. | |
| A strong plant with thick and durable shoots, reaching a height of 30 cm. The diameter of the dense inflorescences is no more than 2.3 cm; they are decorated with flowers of a lilac hue. This variety begins to bloom in the second half of June. | |
| An unusual variety of ageratum, the inflorescences of which are painted in two shades: light blue petals surround the white core of the baskets. The inflorescences of this plant are quite large, which makes it an excellent option for decorating the garden. | |
| Refers to compact varieties of ageratum. Its height rarely exceeds 20 cm, although specimens up to 15 cm are most often found. The color of the buds is dark pink, and the inflorescences that then emerge from them have a pale pink tint. |
Ageratum is often used to imitate a dry stream or pond in an area
Ageratum Mexican or Houston/Ageratum houstonianum
Several types of ageratum are toxic, containing the alkaloid pyrrolizidine. For example, Ageratum houstonianum and Ageratum conyzoides
Sowing time
If you decide to grow ageratum seedlings, then you need to understand that the period between sowing the seeds and the first flowering is at least 60 days. Since this is a heat-loving plant, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of spring frosts while planting seedlings in the soil. Even slight cold snaps can have a negative impact on the flower - this must be taken into account.
Ageratum shoots
On a note! Having carried out simple mathematical calculations, it is not difficult to guess that mid-March is considered the most optimal period for sowing ageratum seeds. Of course, you can sow the seeds at a later period, but this will delay the beginning of flowering a little.
Growing from seeds
Ageratum is a perennial plant, but in our conditions there is no need for its long-term use. Propagation can be carried out in two ways - cuttings and seeds, but, having finally weighed the pros and cons, flower growers usually settle on the second method.
Ageratum seeds
On a note! The development cycle of ageratum is accelerated, which distinguishes the plant from its “colleagues”. Thanks to this feature, it is possible to move the sowing period to April-May.
Soil preparation
Like any plant, ageratum loves nutritious soil. In this case, it is better to use slightly acidic or neutral soil, so if you decide to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing humus, lime and garden soil, do not forget to add a little dolomite flour– this will reduce the acidity of the soil. Also, do not add too much humus, since its excess will have a bad effect on flowering, making it more sparse.
Soil preparation
This all applies only to soil prepared with one’s own hands. Few gardeners do this. It will be much easier to purchase ready-made soil for flowers in the store than to prepare it.
Nutritious universal soil for vegetables and flowers
Sowing seeds
Step 1. Fill the seedling container (in this case it's a container) soil mixture approximately 80%. If you want to grow several varieties of ageratum at once, it is better to take a separate container for each of them.
Containers filled with soil
Step 2. Place the seeds from the bag onto a plate. There is no need to use everything, since the seeds are very small and there are quite a lot of them. Half the contents of the package for one container is quite enough. Preliminary preparation seed material no need to carry out.
Seeds are poured onto a plate
Step 3. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface of the soil. They have a long shape, so you can easily notice if they have accumulated 5-6 pieces in any place. Use a regular toothpick to push the seeds away from each other. This will be much faster than removing the seedlings later.
Sowing ageratum seeds
Step 4. During the growing process, monitor the soil moisture. At an early stage, humidity can be preserved by placing the container in a special container with a hole made. If you do not provide the seeds with enough moisture, the plant will die in almost all cases.
Containers are placed in a container
Step 5. Place the container with the seeds on a sunny window sill. If all are met the necessary conditions for seed germination, you will soon get such friendly shoots.
First shoots
Transplantation into open ground
In the second half of May, having chosen a clear and warm week (having looked at the weather forecast in advance), begin transplanting plant seedlings in open ground. Place the seedlings in the previously prepared holes, and fill the remaining space with soil, which must be slightly (but not heavily) compacted. The distance between low-growing varieties of ageratum should be no more than 15 cm, between tall ones - up to 25 cm.
Seedling culture
On a note! The area where you plant the plants should be sunny, since even slight shading can cause the shoots to stretch. As a result, the flowering intensity decreases. Even though the bulk of the work is behind you, you still have work to do. It's about about caring for ageratum.
Using Mexican ageratum in the design of flower beds and flower beds
Aftercare
Although the plant is considered unpretentious and does not require care, you still need to pay attention to it. But the labor and time spent will not go in vain. As a result, you will be rewarded with lush and vibrant flowering of ageratum.
Ageratum conizoid
Top dressing
For feeding, you can use not only mineral, but also organic fertilizers. Gardeners also prefer to apply complex fertilizers. This should be done every 3 weeks, and the first fertilizing should be carried out using the minimum dosage of fertilizers. Otherwise, flowering may slow down due to their excess. It is highly not recommended to use manure to fertilize the soil, because it can destroy the ageratum.
Mineral fertilizers
Watering
The root system of this plant is very developed, which allows the ageratum to extract required quantity moisture from the soil. Therefore, water regularly - every 3 weeks, but not less than once a month. During hot periods, the frequency of watering, as well as the amount of water used, can be slightly increased.
Ageratums will delight you with their gorgeous color, provided they are additionally watered in dry weather. This must be done generously, but not excessively.
Pruning ageratum
To obtain lush and beautiful bushes, it is necessary to periodically trim the ageratum. Leave no more than 4 internodes when pruning to speed up plant development. Before the first frost, you can transplant the flowers into separate pots and grow them in greenhouses or at home. Proper care will allow you to enjoy beautiful flowers throughout the winter.
On a note! With the onset of spring, the bushes can be transplanted into open ground again or the plants can be cut into cuttings, thus rejuvenating them.
White ageratum
Loosening the soil
Regular watering and fertilizing are not the only things that need to be done when growing ageratum. The soil around the plants must be loosened regularly. Since this flower likes to grow in airy soil, this procedure will improve its growth. When loosening, be sure to remove all weeds, as they inhibit the growth of the plant. After completing the next weeding, mulch the soil. This will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.
Disease and pest control
Like most ornamental plants, ageratum can be susceptible to various diseases, the most common of which is root rot. Neglecting preventive measures will lead to rot and, as a result, the death of the plant. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the intensity of watering and periodically loosen the soil. Ageratum can also be affected by cucumber mosaic, which is also the result of non-compliance with the rules of care.
Ageratum diseases
Seedlings that are still indoors or in a greenhouse must be protected from whiteflies. If these pests do appear, it is imperative to remove the damaged plants and treat the flowers themselves with insecticides. Carry out treatment until all insects are completely destroyed. Over time, when you transplant seedlings into open ground in a flower bed, nematodes or cutworms may encroach on the plants. In this case, you also need to use special processing agents. And remember that correct and conscientious adherence to the rules of agricultural technology will protect your plants from such troubles.
Whitefly
What does an armyworm look like?
Decorative uses
As noted earlier, ageratum is of great value for landscaping and decorating areas. This is due to long flowering, unpretentiousness and color diversity. This combination is quite rare among ground cover ornamental plants.
Ageratum photo in flower beds
Ageratum in a group composition
Bright variety of ageratum in a flowerbed
Care for ageratum in open ground
Low-growing varieties of ageratum are ideal for decorating balconies, loggias or borders, and tall plants can be grown for further cutting. If we talk about combination with other flowers, then blue varieties of ageratum will look great with eschscholzia, zinnia and marigold. In other words, any unpretentious flowers yellow shades.
Video - Germination of ageratum seeds
Ageratum is grown for its fluffy flowers that look like pompoms. They are collected in dense inflorescences-baskets and exude a pleasant aroma. Caring for ageratum is not difficult, but you need to know some features.
The name of the plant is translated from Greek as “ageless.” Ageratum really retains freshness for a very long time when cut, and in the flowerbed it pleases the eye with its lush inflorescences from June to late autumn. Therefore, people often call this flower long-flowered.
The average height of ageratum bushes is from 15 to 25 cm. Low-growing specimens do not exceed 10 cm, and tall varieties grow up to 60 cm. In nature, there are about 60 types of ageratum, but there are not so many flower color options: it can be white, blue, blue, purple, lilac and pink. And not so long ago, a variety of yellow ageratum appeared.
Sowing ageratum seeds for seedlings
IN middle lane ageratum is grown as an annual and only by seedlings, since it does not tolerate cold. Seeds are sown in the second half of March - early April in a container with a mixture consisting of equal parts of humus, sand and peat. The seeds are lightly sprinkled with the same soil, covered with glass or polyethylene and kept at a temperature of 15-20°C in the light. The crops are ventilated daily and when the soil dries out, they are sprayed with a spray bottle. After germination, the film or glass is removed, and the soil continues to be moistened regularly.
After the formation of 3-4 true leaves, the seedlings are planted in a larger container or immediately in separate pots. In order for seedlings to develop correctly, the air around the sprouts must be dry and the soil must be slightly moist at all times. It is also important that daylight falls on the seedlings, otherwise they will stretch out.
Planting ageratum in open ground
Seedlings are planted in a flowerbed in late May - early June, when the threat of night frosts has passed. For ageratum, choose a sunny and wind-protected area with nutritious, light, non-acidic and well-drained soil.
The soil is thoroughly loosened, holes are dug at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and seedlings are planted in them at the same depth at which they were in the containers.
After which the plants are watered and cared for regularly until autumn.
Shortly before the first frost, the best specimens can be transplanted into flower pots and placed on the balcony, veranda or in the house. Then these delicate flowers will decorate your interior in late autumn, sometimes at the beginning of the season. And in March you will be able to take cuttings from ageratum bushes, root them and plant them in open ground in May. Then you won't have to bother with the seeds.
Rules for growing ageratum in open ground
The plant is undemanding to soil, but prefers light, neutral and moderately nutritious soil. In an “overfed” substrate, ageratum grows green mass to the detriment of beautiful flowers. It loves regular and abundant watering, but is also able to tolerate short-term drought. However, the plant should not be flooded: root rot may develop.
Ageratum loves light and warmth, so it quickly fades with the arrival of the first autumn frosts. The bushes tolerate pruning well. Therefore, if the plant is frozen, for example, late spring, it is cut off, leaving 2-3 internodes on each shoot.
The main summer care for ageratum in open ground consists of timely removal of faded inflorescences, regular weeding and loosening of the soil. During flowering, it is useful to feed the plants with complex mineral fertilizer or mullein infusion once every 2-3 weeks. But fresh manure cannot be used.
Ageratum in landscape design
This delicate flower looks good in any planting: ridges, borders, rock gardens, in the foreground of a mixborder. Compact varieties of ageratum can be used as container plants: in outdoor flowerpots, balcony boxes.
Ageratum goes well with marigolds, calendula, zinnia, cineraria, antirrinum, verbena, rudbeckia, helenium. You can also create a monoflower from ageratum, but it is better to plant varieties with different shades of flowers. All possible tones of long-flowered inflorescences combine perfectly with each other. But keep in mind: pink flowers may fade over time.
Since ageratum retains its fresh appearance for a long time when cut, plants of tall varieties make beautiful bouquets. For example, blue ageratum looks good in company with rudbeckia, zinnia, snapdragon and calendula. It is also suitable for creating winter bouquets.
The most popular types and varieties of ageratum
Most often found in landscape design Houston's ageratum(Ageratum houstonianum), or Mexican(Ageratum mexicanum). Below we present the best varieties of this species.
White ball
This is a compact plant (about 20 cm high) with neat fluffy inflorescences (1.5-1.7 cm in diameter) of snow-white color.
Leda
This blue-white ageratum leaves no one indifferent thanks to its iridescent inflorescences. The flowers cover the compact bushes so abundantly that the leaves are almost invisible.
Blue mink
The bush grows 20-25 cm high; throughout the summer the plant is decorated with bright dark blue flowers, collected in dense inflorescences with a diameter of 5-7 cm.
Aloha Blue
Low-growing ageratum up to 15 cm high. On numerous stems there are small flowers collected in corymbose inflorescences.
Fire Pink
This fiery pink ageratum is distinguished by loose inflorescences (4-5 cm in diameter) and small leaves. The height of the bush is 20-30 cm.
Currently, there are a large number of ageratum hybrids on sale. For example: Adriatic F1 (15 cm tall, with blue-blue inflorescences), Atlantic F1 and North Sea F1 (purple-blue flowers), Ocean F1 (20 cm tall, light blue flower color). In addition to single-color ageratums, you can also find mixtures on sale (for example, Hawaii Mixt), by sowing which you will grow flowers of pink, white, purple and blue colors. Perfect option for those who love colorful flower beds!
Do you place this attractive annual in your flower garden? And what varieties do you prefer?
Ageratum has earned popularity among gardeners due to its unpretentiousness in cultivation and care. Planting this flower in open ground will quickly color your garden with the bright colors of fluffy inflorescences.
Varieties of ageratum
In its homeland (in the tropics of Central America), ageratum grows as a perennial plant. The name of this flower means “ageless”, which is fully justified by its continuous flowering.
Ageratum is a herbaceous bushy plant. In our climate it is grown as annual flower. Spreading bush, with big amount shoots. The root system is well developed. Stems are erect. The height of the bushes varies from 10 to 60 cm. The leaves are round or triangular with faint serrations. The flowers are blue, purple, white or pink. The flowers are small, fluffy, collected in small dense inflorescences. At the same time, ageratum produces many flower stalks.
The genus Ageratum has more than 60 species. The most common in floriculture Houston's ageratum or, as it is also called, Mexican. The variety series of this type of ageratum is widely represented on our market. Each variety is unique and differs in bush height, flower color and flowering duration.
The most popular varieties of Mexican ageratum:
- "Alba";
- "Tetra Veali";
- "Blue Perfection";
- "Ocean"
- North Sea.
In the photo you can see characteristics many popular varieties of ageratum and choose your own, the variety that most resonates with you.
It is worth highlighting another type of ageratum - coniform. It differs from the Mexican one in having smaller flowers and blunt-shaped foliage.
Reproduction of ageratum
The most common method of propagating ageratum is by seeds.
Growing annual ageratum seedlings at home will not cause any difficulties. At the end of March, the seeds are sown in prepared boxes. The soil suitable for this is light and moderately nutritious. For example, a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus in equal proportions.
Important! Ageratum seeds are very small, almost specks of dust. Therefore, they are not buried in the ground, but evenly distributed over the surface.
Boxes with seeds are covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm place for germination. After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and the boxes can be placed on the window. Does not tolerate Ageratum excess humidity air, so you should not spray it. Watering is carried out only when the soil dries out, moderately.
A few weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the first true leaves will develop on the seedlings, and during this period the seedlings are plucked for the first time. The second picking is carried out when the young seedlings have grown a little. This time, each plant is planted in a separate container, since the further development of the seedling will be rapid.
Two weeks after diving, it is advisable to feed the seedlings with complex mineral fertilizer.
As warm weather sets in outside, the seedlings are hardened off by taking them outside. Fresh air. Gradually, the “walk” time is increased.
In cases where it is necessary to preserve all the qualities of a rare variety of the mother bush, propagation by cuttings is possible. To do this, in the fall the bush is sent to spend the winter in a cool place, and in early spring shoots are cut from it for cuttings. Cuttings are germinated in a warm room in boxes with sand. In just a few weeks it begins to develop root system, and after it shoots are formed.
Planting ageratum and further care
Ageratum seedlings are planted in open ground in late spring, preferably at the end of May. The plant is tolerant of any soil; only in exceptional cases may it be necessary to liming soil that is too acidic.
The place for planting ageratum should be chosen in a bright place, on the south or east side of the site.
Advice. Even slight shading will cause the plant to stretch. In this case, abundant flowering will not be achieved.
Ageratum seedlings are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. There is no need to bury it in the ground. The depth of planting in open ground should correspond to the level of growth of seedlings in pots.
Ageratum needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers three times a season. Feeding with manure and others organic fertilizers should be avoided.
Ageratum requires moderate watering, without excess. To keep the soil breathable, loosening the soil is required after watering and rain. As necessary, the area with ageratum is weeded, removing weeds that inhibit the development of the bushes.
In order for the flowering of ageratum to be abundant and long, faded inflorescences are cut off from the bushes all summer. If you carry out this procedure regularly, the ageratum will produce more and more new buds, delighting you with continuous flowering.
We can conclude that planting and caring for ageratum in open ground is extremely simple due to the unpretentiousness of the plant.
Diseases and pests of ageratum
Despite its unpretentiousness in cultivation, ageratum is susceptible to many diseases. Due to excess moisture and lack of air access to the roots, ageratum is affected by root rot. In this case, the plant cannot be saved and is removed.
Bacterial wilt occurs without apparent cause in the initial stage of leaf chlorosis disease. Ageratum is also affected by the cucumber mosaic virus (yellow spots appear on the leaves, the stem becomes glassy, the buds wither without blooming). At the first symptoms of disease, the affected areas of the plant must be removed, and the remaining shoots must be repeatedly treated with insecticidal preparations or infusions of plants with the same properties (wormwood, bird cherry, tansy, etc.).
Of the pests for ageratum, all types of nematodes, spider mites, and whiteflies are dangerous. Pest control is carried out using special means until they are completely destroyed.
Ageratum as an element of landscape design
In landscape design, ageratum looks very good as a background for flower beds, flower beds and works with perennial flowers. Low growing varieties ageratum are used to form decorative borders, and tall ones are grown for cutting.
A combination of ageratum with calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other yellow-orange flowers will give a bright color to the flowerbed. Ageratum is grown for landscaping balconies and is suitable for growing in flowerpots. Vases with joint landing ageratum and petunias will decorate gazebos or the threshold of a house.
From the photo, the fluffy flowers of agegatum look at us as something exotic, but in fact, growing this ever-blooming crop is very simple. To do this, you only need to follow some simple rules, which are described above.
Flowering ageratum: video
Types of ageratum: photo
In autumn, when very few plants bloom, you can see bright inflorescences of ageratum. His flowers are like light fluffy clouds floating above the dense greenery of stems and leaves. Delicate flower pompoms are painted in a variety of shades: blue, cream, lilac, purple. Ageratum is very beautiful and can decorate any corner of the garden.
This genus of ornamental plants belongs to the aster family (lat. Asteraceae). From Greek, the name of the genus (lat. Ageratum) can be translated as “ageless”, and it is quite justified: long flowering, from June until frost, allowed ageratum to become an important crop in floriculture and landscape design. Moreover, even when cut, such flowers do not wither for a long time, remaining fresh for several days and even weeks. For this quality, ageratum is popularly called centenarian or long-flowered.
The plant's homeland is considered to be America (North and Central), as well as Eastern India. There the flower is found in the wild, but in our country it is grown as a potted and ornamental crop when creating flower beds or borders. Magnificent ageratum is valued for abundant flowering, rich color, variety of colors and is grown everywhere in Russia.
Subshrub or herbaceous plant in its homeland it manifests itself as a perennial crop, but here it is grown as an annual crop. Occasionally, perennial ageratum can be found in greenhouses.
The appearance of ageratum is probably familiar to everyone. There are many stems, they are pubescent with simple hairs, strongly branched, stand erect or rise from the ground, up to 10–55 cm in height. Where the shoots touch the ground, adventitious roots grow. The leaves are rich green, triangular or diamond-shaped, with toothed or serrated edges. The leaves are petiolate, and lower leaves the petioles are longer than those of the upper ones; at the edge of the shoots they are practically sessile.
The flowers are small, collected in inflorescences - medium-sized baskets about 1 cm in size, which look like small puffs. Several baskets are collected into complex shields with a diameter of up to 10 cm. The stigmas of flowers and perianths have the same color - pink, blue, lilac, white, purple, and in the bud state they seem brighter than after blooming. The flowers have a fragrant smell. Flowering continues for 4–5 months until frost hits. The fruits begin to ripen unevenly in August, as individual baskets fade. The fruits are small wrinkled achenes 0.6 mm wide, up to 3 mm long, black in color, with a small white membranous tuft. The seeds are wedge-shaped, pentagonal, light (up to 7 thousand pieces in 1 gram). They show good germination even after 4 years.
The plant is light-loving, can grow in partial shade, and prefers warmth. As an annual crop, it reproduces by seeds, with only 80% of the offspring having qualities similar to the mother plant. When grown as a perennial, it can be propagated by cuttings, from which uniform, strong seedlings identical to the mother plants easily grow. Ageratum is pollinated by bees, flies, and thrips. It tolerates pruning easily and blooms luxuriantly after the shoots re-grow.
[!] Scientists have expressed the opinion that some species of this plant, including the Gauston ageratum described below, are harmful to animals that may eat it, as it causes liver disease due to its carcinogenic properties. There is no information about the danger to people.
Types and varieties of ageratum
The Ageratum genus has more than 60 species, each of which has a different number of varieties. The most popular species in ornamental gardening is Ageratum houstonianum (lat. Ageratum houstonianum). The flower is named after the English botanist who described it while studying Mexican flora in the 1730s. The second, less common name of the plant is Mexican ageratum.
The standard representative of the Ageratum genus today has many varieties, including hybrids. The varieties differ in color and degree of color saturation, in the shape of the leaves, in the color of the shoots, in the size of the baskets, in the height and shape of the bush. We list the most popular varieties of ageratum:
- "Blue Ball" A low-growing variety, bush height up to 15 cm. The inflorescences are loose, consisting of several lilac-blue small baskets up to 1 cm in size. An early variety, it begins to bloom in June.
- "Blue Magic" (Blue Magic). Medium-sized variety, up to 30 cm high. The size of the lilac-blue baskets reaches 1.7 cm. Early variety, multi-flowered inflorescences.
- "Tetra Vary" (Tetra Veri). Compact bush with dense blue inflorescences.
A. "Blue Ball", A. "Blue Magic", A. "Tetra Vary" - "Little Dorrit" Low growing variety. Hemispherical bushes reach a height of 20 cm. An early variety with light blue baskets up to 1.3 cm in size.
- "Summer Snow" (Snowy summer). White-flowered tall variety. The bush grows up to 45-50 cm.
- "Red Sea" (Red Sea). The color resembles the viburnum berry. Height - up to 20 cm in good light (in the shade it grows higher, to the detriment of flowering).
A. "Little Dorrit", A. "Summer Snow", A. "Red Sea" - "White Ball" ( White ball). A medium-sized variety with a bush height of up to 30 cm. The flowers are small, pure white. Flowering is abundant.
- "Pink Ball" As the name suggests, it is bright pink in color.
- "Gold rush" (Gold Rush). One of the most unusually colored varieties is deep yellow.
A. “White Ball”, A. “Pink Ball”, A. “Gold rush” - "Fire Pink" Dark pink inflorescences with a lilac tint. The total height of the bush is about 25 cm.
- "Blue Mink" The color of the flowers is a rare, deep blue. The leaves also have an unusual bluish tint.
- "Blue Horizon" (Blue distances). The height of the variety varies from 10 to 50 cm. The color of the flowers is rich, pink-lilac.
- "Hawaii White" (White Hawaii). A compact variety of ageratum with snow-white small flowers.
A. "Blue Mink", A. "Blue Horizon", A. "Hawaii White" Hybrid varieties are more resistant to diseases and bloom earlier and more luxuriantly:
- "Atlantic" (Atlantic). Purple-blue color, bush height up to 20 cm.
- "Purple Fields" Unusual pink-purple color, plant height up to 25 cm. The bushes are not erect, but half-spread on the ground.
- "Ocean" (Ocean). Light blue baskets, the plant under normal conditions reaches 20 cm.
A. "Atlantic", A. "Purple Fields", A. "Ocean" [!] Low-growing varieties of ageratum, as a rule, have the prefix “nanum” in their names, and dwarf varieties have “pumilum”. In addition, you can find mixtures of different colors on sale. For example, "Hawaii Mixed".
Another plant species has been cultivated - ageratum conyzoides (lat. Ageratum conyzoides), although it is found very rarely and only in extensive greenhouse collections.
Use in landscape design
Typically, ageratum is planted in flowerbeds, flower beds and alpine hills, and is used to create carpet compositions and borders along paths to houses or paths in gardens. Using ageratum, you can create thematic compositions, for example, imitation of a stream. Densely planted low-growing bushes with good flowering have general form colorful, single or multi-colored bedspread. They harmonize well with calendula, marigolds, salvia, phlox, snapdragons and other flowers.
[!] Low-growing ageratum can be planted not only in open ground, but also in flowerpots, boxes, containers, thus decorating a balcony, gazebo or veranda. For a more varied composition, you can plant other flowers in the same container.
Tall flowers are good for cutting. In addition, tall varieties of ageratum are perfect for creating hedges.
A combination of different colors of ageratum looks great in a flowerbed, for example, red/white, yellow/blue or purple/white varieties planted next to each other. Often on sale you can find multi-flowered Ageratum seeds, where seeds of various colors are collected in one package, which in the summer form a motley carpet of fluffy flowers.
Planting ageratum and caring for it
Planting seeds
Ageratum is characterized by a shortened development cycle and rapid growth. Seeds planted in March germinate 7-14 days after sowing and bloom 2-2.5 months later, in June. It is preferable to collect seeds for future planting on the main shoot and first-order shoots.
The best soil option for sowing seeds is a mixture of sand, humus and peat. The soil is poured into the container not to the edge, but a little lower. Having scattered the seeds onto previously watered ground, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, spreading it through a pinch, and slightly moistened with water using a spray bottle. The container is chosen such that it can be closed on top with a transparent lid, glass, cut off bottom of a bottle or plastic bag, that is, during the germination of seeds, you need to create a small greenhouse for them, a mini-greenhouse. Every day, the lid over the container or pot should be opened slightly to let in fresh air, if necessary, water the seeds, and if necessary, wipe the condensation from the glass or lid. This will prevent the appearance of mold and protect future flowers from rotting and death. The temperature in the room where the greenhouse is located should not be lower than +15+17 °C. After one to two weeks, the seeds germinate, bringing the cotyledons above the soil surface. From this time on, the container lid is no longer used.
When the seedlings have a couple of true leaves, they begin to pick. It is recommended to pick ageratum twice, the first time in a looser container, and the second time in separate cups or containers. The soil is maintained at constant moisture, but the air must be dry. Water the sprouts only in the morning. Two weeks before planting in open ground, they begin to harden the plants. Containers or pallets with cups are taken out into the fresh air during the daytime and brought back at night, for example, at home on a glassed-in balcony or in a greenhouse. If during outdoor procedures the sun begins to burn or there is a threat of rain, the flowers should be brought under a canopy/canopy.
Landing in the ground
Since ageratum is a heat-loving plant and is afraid of the slightest frost (it can die even at -1 ° C), you should plant it in open ground or take the boxes out onto an unglazed balcony/terrace only if you are absolutely sure that there will be no return frosts. This period depends on the specific region. So, in warm southern regions this may be the beginning of May, and in the middle and northern regions it may be the end of May or the beginning of June.
The soil for planting must be non-acidic, nutritious, and loose. Application of fresh manure or nitrogen fertilizers is not recommended, as this delays flowering and contributes to the upward pull of green mass. The place chosen is sunny or light partial shade, provided that the flowers will be illuminated by the sun for several hours during the day. Without the sun at all, plants will grow to the detriment of flowering, and not a flowering meadow will grow, but disheveled bushes. In addition, the planting site must be protected from drafts.
Before planting, the soil is loosened, and if it is poor, infertile, then the missing elements are added: sand, peat, mineral fertilizers for flowering plants or add a package of ready-made enriched soil purchased at special garden stores. The holes are dug at a distance of 10–20 cm from each other, this depends on the type of ageratum; the recommended distance is usually written on the packets of seeds. Carefully remove the lump of earth from the cup and place it in a hole at a depth equal to the height of the container or a little deeper.
Caring for planted ageratum: watering, fertilizing, pruning
Caring for ageratum is simple and involves the same manipulations as when growing other flowers, that is: weeding, loosening, watering, fertilizing.
Watering is necessary abundantly, but without excess moisture. In case of excessive watering, as well as very rainy summer or autumn, the fluffy inflorescences begin to rot. After morning watering, loosen the soil and remove emerging weeds.
Feed flowering plants once every 2–3 weeks with mineral or humic (natural organic) fertilizers. It is allowed to feed with infusion of stale mullein. An excess of any fertilizers, especially those where nitrogen predominates, can lead to vigorous growth of greenery to the detriment of the formation of flowers, so there is no need to exceed the dosage of fertilizers indicated on the packages.
To give the bush a spherical compact shape, the growing shoots need to be cut off, leaving only a few internodes. After pruning or pinching, the bush begins to bloom more luxuriantly, while pinching should begin as early as possible, forming a bush of the desired shape: spherical, spreading, hemispherical.
Ageratum does not bloom all at once, but over the course of several months, while on one bush next to the new blossoming inflorescence there are already fading ones. Dying inflorescences must be removed if you are not expecting seeds from them, otherwise they will spoil the appearance.
In order for the flowering to be lush and beautiful, you need to turn Special attention on several factors:
- Sufficient lighting. Remember that in the shade, ageratum blooms too rarely or does not bloom at all, and its shoots stretch too much, trying to catch the sun's rays.
- As mentioned above, the use of nitrogen fertilizers negatively affects the formation of buds, so for feeding it is better to use potassium-phosphorus compositions, which are called “For beautifully flowering ones.”
- Too heavy soils also prevent flowering. The best substrate for agertum - light, loose earth with neutral acidity.
Care after flowering
If you wish, you can leave your favorite ageratum bush to winter indoors. To do this, before the onset of cold weather, a flower growing in a balcony or street pot is brought home. Ageratum, growing in open ground, can be dug up from a flowerbed and planted in an indoor pot - then flowering will last until late autumn or winter. In March, a new season begins: seeds are planted for seedlings or cuttings from an overwintered plant are cut and rooted.
There is no point in leaving plants in the flowerbed in winter; they will not tolerate even slight frosts. Therefore, immediately after flowering, you should clear the flowerbed of flower residues.
Pests and diseases
Unfortunately, growing ageratum is not always without problems. Among the diseases, it is often affected by leaf mosaic, root rot, and bacterial wilt. Most often this happens due to improper care, for example, from excess moisture or lack of sunlight. For prevention, you should loosen the soil, remove weeds and control watering. Diseased plants are easiest to destroy, partially or completely, since such diseases can rarely be cured; in addition, neighboring plantings can become infected.
Ageratum is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. In nature, it is found in Eastern India, Mexico, and Peru. Plants are attracted by their abundant green mass and many flowers. Charming fluffy balls of purple, blue or cream colors form a continuous carpet. They exude a very delicate honey aroma. The heat-loving ageratum does not like frost, so it is grown in the garden as an annual. But under the right conditions, caring for it is not difficult. Ageratum is often used for landscaping balconies, verandas or to create a dense flowering carpet on relief slopes.
Botanical description
Ageratum are perennial herbs or subshrubs. They have soft, branched stems that grow upright or droop toward the ground. The length of the shoots is 10-60 cm. The plant is nourished by fibrous rhizomes. When in contact with the ground, roots can also form in internodes. They are covered with bright green or brownish bark with short, barely noticeable pubescence.
Opposite petiolate leaves, oval, heart-shaped or diamond-shaped, grow in the internodes. The edges of the leaves are jagged and the surface is swollen between the veins. Small soft leaves grow 2-5 cm in length.
From May-June, ageratum blooms profusely. The basket-shaped inflorescences resemble fluffy pompoms with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm. They are painted white, pink, purple, blue or lilac and consist of many small tubular flowers. The flowers consist of long, soft needle-like petals. Inflorescences bloom at the tops of the shoots and also form in the axils of the leaves. They exude a pleasant sweetish aroma that attracts beneficial insects.
After pollination, elongated wedge-shaped achenes with five sides ripen. Inside are very small rounded seeds of dark brown or black color. They retain the ability to germinate for 3-4 years.
Types of ageratum
About 40 plant species have been recorded in the genus Ageratum. Most often, only one of them is grown in culture, and many ornamental varieties have been bred on its basis.
Erect, branched stems form a spherical bush 15-60 cm high. Lush corymbose inflorescences of various colors reach 8 cm in diameter. They decorate the top of the plant and, in turn, consist of small baskets with a diameter of about 1-1.5 cm. Varieties:
- Alba - blooms many white fluffy flowers;
- Ageratum blue mink (blue). A dense subshrub 20-25 cm high and covered with dark green pubescent leaves. The top is decorated with blue inflorescences, which form a soft cap, similar to mink fur or a blue muff;
- Bavaria - a bush up to 30 cm high is covered with an almost continuous cap of inflorescences. The center of each ball is white, and along the edges there is a bright blue border;
- Blue bouquet - erect or lodging stems 45 cm high bear large bright blue inflorescences;
- White ball - long creeping stems at the top and in the internodes are covered with spherical snow-white inflorescences that bloom by the end of June;
- Pink fire - compact bushes with small leaves and large bright pink inflorescences;
- North Sea - low growing plant(about 15 cm) blooms beautiful dark purple flowers.
Growing from seeds
Since in our latitudes, heat-loving ageratum is often grown as annuals, it is convenient to propagate it by seeds. At the end of March, seedlings are planted. For sowing, shallow and wide boxes are used, which are filled with a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus. The seeds are distributed on the surface, sprayed with water and covered with film. Keep them in a bright place at a temperature of +15…+20°C. It is necessary to ventilate and remove condensation daily, and if necessary, spray the soil.
Sprouts will appear in 10-15 days. After this, the cover is removed. It is necessary to moisten the soil with great care, since seedlings are sensitive to fungal diseases. When 2 true leaves are formed on the plants, it is picked for the first time into another box with a distance of 3-5 cm. After 2 weeks, a second pick is carried out in separate pots or cups. Grow seedlings in a well-lit, warm room, where there is no dampness, and the soil is moderately moistened.
The appropriate time when ageratum is planted in open ground is determined depending on the region. It is necessary that night frosts disappear completely and the average daily temperature settles at +15°C and above.
For planting, select well-lit areas protected from drafts with loose, nutritious soil. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline. Plants are planted at a depth of the root system with a distance of 10-15 cm. Flowering of seedlings is expected after 2 months.
Vegetative propagation
Ageratum can be propagated by cuttings and layering, but it must be grown in pots that are brought into a warm room for the winter. At spring pruning Cuttings with 2-3 internodes are cut from the bush. The cut is treated with “Kornevin” and planted in a container with loose garden soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. Before rooting, the cuttings are covered with a transparent cap. After 15-20 days, the shelter is removed and the plants are transplanted into a separate pot. At the end of spring, seedlings can be transferred to open ground.
If the stem comes into contact with the ground, roots will form. It is enough to cut off such cuttings and replant them separately. Often there are already flowers on it. With careful transplantation, they will be preserved and multiplied.
Home care
Regardless of whether ageratum is grown in a container or in open ground, it is easy to care for. Plants definitely need bright lighting. On a hot afternoon, protect the shoots from direct sunlight. With a lack of light, the stems will become very elongated and there will be very few flowers. Ageratum can withstand even extreme heat, but when the temperature drops to +1...+5°C it dies. Before such cold weather, you can dig up the bushes and replant them in pots or bring the flowerpots indoors.
Ageratum needs to be watered frequently so that the soil dries out only on the surface. At the same time, plants are sensitive to stagnant water. They immediately slow down growth and stop flowering. It is especially important not to overwater young flowers.
Three times per season (in spring, during the flowering period and in September) ageratum is fed with a mineral complex for flowering plants. Organic fertilizers undesirable for him.
It is very important that the soil is light and air penetrates to the roots. Therefore, it needs to be loosened several times a month and weeds removed. Since the rhizome is close to the surface, you should not be too zealous with weeding.
As the shoots grow and the flowers fade, pruning is carried out. This allows you to preserve compact ornamental bushes and prolong flowering.
Possible difficulties
Ageratum is quite sensitive to plant diseases. In heavy soil and with regular flooding, the roots suffer from rot. The development of bacterial diseases and leaf chlorosis is possible. Sometimes the leaves become covered with a mosaic pattern with yellow spots (“cucumber mosaic virus”).
Plants that are only slightly damaged can be saved. To do this, the bushes are replanted with soil replacement and treated with a fungicide. You can spray the plants with infusion of wormwood, bird cherry or tansy.
Planting and care in open ground
Use in the garden
Delicate soft greenery and abundant fluffy inflorescences of ageratum add a romantic charm to the flower garden. Plants do not differ in height, because even long stems bend to the ground. Therefore, in a flower garden they are planted in the foreground. You can use ageratum for planting in containers or flower pots. It is great for landscaping verandas and balconies. masonry and borders. Partners for ageratum can be calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other brightly flowering plants.
Ageratum is a beautiful ornamental plant from the Asteraceae family, native to Central America. Approximately fifty species of this plant exist in the world. Due to its long flowering period, it was called “ageratos”, which means “forever young”. This plant is a perennial, however, in middle latitudes it is cultivated only as an annual crop.
Ageratum is small bush with fluffy bright inflorescences and rounded leaves. The plant, depending on the variety, can be from ten to sixty centimeters in height. Its inflorescences have a wide variety of colors: white, blue, pale pink or lavender blue, purple, lilac. You should know that pink ageratum looks like dirty pink, and white fades in the sun. That's why purple and blue plants are best suited for decorating a flower bed. For decorating mixboxers, discounters and balcony boxes Ageratum “Blue Mink” is suitable.
This is a compact, neat bush, the height of which is from thirty to thirty-five centimeters. It has lilac-blue inflorescences that are fluffy and fragrant. From mid-June until late autumn, its large and dense bright inflorescences decorate flower beds.
This plant is heat-loving and light-loving, so it can tolerate drought calmly. The place where ageratum will grow must be sunny and open. If there is slight shading, the plant may not bloom well and become very elongated.
Ageratum grows on light soils. If the soil is very oily, then the plant will mainly develop green mass. Ageratum does not tolerate damp and rocky soils.
Reproduction
Ageratum is propagated by seeds and seedlings. But fiddling with seedlings is too labor-intensive for an amateur gardener, so preference is given to seeds. At the end of March or at the very beginning of April, the seeds of the plant are sown in seedling boxes, lightly sprinkling them. The seeds are very small, so you need to ensure that the soil is constantly moist. You can cover the boxes with seedlings with glass or film.
After one or two weeks, at a temperature of about twenty degrees, shoots appear. The film or glass is removed. After about three weeks, the seedlings dive (after two pairs of leaves appear). Picking cannot be postponed, as the plants develop quickly. And if during early development the ageratum bushes begin to interfere with each other, then later you will see their sluggish flowering. In order to get lush bushes and beautiful flowers, it is better to plant the plants in separate pots.
Should provide ageratum seedlings with regular watering and sufficient lighting. However, waterlogging negatively affects the development of the plant.
Once a week it is necessary to feed the seedlings (not with fresh manure). There is no need to overdo it in feeding, otherwise the plant will give all its energy to the leaves and not to the flowers.
If the seedlings suddenly begin to stretch out, then it will be necessary to cut off their tops. In this case, the ageratum will begin to bush.
Blue mink is planted in the open ground of Ageratum after the threat of frost has passed. The soil should be well drained and not acidic. The soil must be loosened well before planting. Blue mink ageratum is planted in holes at a distance of about twenty centimeters from each other. Two months after germination, flowers will begin to appear.
Blue ageratum care
The algorithm for caring for flowers is as follows.
It is necessary to water the plants abundantly, but not excessively.
Along with loosening the soil after watering, weeds should be removed.
Once every two or three weeks, the plants are fed with mineral or humic fertilizers. Also, cowberry tincture has a good effect on ageratum. We must try not to overfeed the plant so that it blooms and does not turn green.
Wilted inflorescences should be removed in a timely manner.
For blue ageratum to bloom beautifully and abundantly, it is worth trim it as needed. After pruning, you need to leave several internodes on the stem. After such pruning, the plant usually blooms more luxuriantly and grows quickly.
Pests and diseases of ageratum
Ageratums are very susceptible to disease. Most often they suffer from root rot. There is no salvation from such a disease. It is necessary to take preventive measures in advance:
- control watering;
- choose light soil for planting;
- loosen the soil regularly.
Ageratums are also affected by bacterial wilt and cucumber mosaic. This is all a consequence of the plant not being properly cared for.
While plants are at home or in a greenhouse, they should be protected from whiteflies and spider mites. When they appear damaged leaves will have to be removed, and the plants will have to be completely treated with insecticides. This will need to be done until the insects die.
Already in the garden or on the balcony, nematodes and cutworms can encroach on the ageratum. You will have to work hard to get rid of them.
However, if you properly care for the plant, it will not be afraid of any troubles.
Care for ageratum after flowering
Before frost, it is best to transplant the most beautiful ageratum bushes into flower pots and bring them into the house, onto the veranda or balcony. They will decorate their home until late autumn, and maybe even in winter.
In March, cuttings can be taken from these bushes and rooted. And after frost, plant it in the garden.
Since ageratum is a heat-loving plant, no shelter can save it from any winter frosts. That's why the flowerbed will have to be cleared of plant residues and new ones planted for next year.
Very often today you can see ageratums on balconies in boxes, flower pots, baskets, and containers. Or in gardens on flower beds, ridges, borders. In the garden this plant looks great with any flowers. Many people began to grow ageratums in the summer garden plots, and in winter transfer to winter gardens.
