Occasionally there are plants that do not surprise with their variegated flowering, do not have smooth lines or spectacular greenery, but, despite everything, they are pleasing to the eye and unusually decorate the local area. One of these flowers is ageratum - a dense bush with fluffy inflorescences in the form of small pompoms. Flower growers and landscape designers value ageratum, first of all, for its blue-blue hue, so rare in the world of flowers. But this plant has one more, no less significant, plus - it is unpretentious, and growing it is not at all difficult.
Read about growing ageratum from seeds, when is the best time to plant this flower and how to care for it. Here we will talk about all the nuances of growing flower seedlings at home, present photos of ageratum and tips for placing it on the site.
Ideal conditions
Growing ageratum at home is quite simple; the main thing to do is to choose a suitable place for the flower. In principle, this plant is unpretentious; the only vital requirement of ageratum is a large amount of sun. Therefore, choose the sunniest place for the flower, this also applies to flower beds, ridges, borders - the plant should have enough light everywhere.
The plant came to Europe from hot countries (India, North America), where ageratum grows as a perennial. In the climate of Russia, the flower is grown as an annual plant, repeating the planting of flowers every year with seeds or cuttings.
The name of the flower translates as “ageless”, because ageratum lasts a very long time in bouquets. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. In Russia it can be found under the name “long-flowered”. The height of the bushes can vary from 10 to 60 cm. The stems are pubescent, straight, the leaves are dark green, glossy, with a jagged edge.
The plant is not at all picky about the composition of the soil - any soil except rocky and marshy soil is suitable for long-flowering plants. The flower also does not like excessive nutrition, so humus and manure-fertilized soils are not suitable for it. The ideal option is ordinary garden soil, light and loose, with neutral acidity.
So, Ideal conditions for long-flowering are:
- a place with constant lighting;
- warm, well-heated soil;
- light nutritious soil that can retain moisture well;
- regular hydration;
- lack of nitrogenous fertilizers.
In flower arrangements, ageratum goes well with many plants; the most suitable “neighbors” for it are marigolds, Snapdragon. This plant with small inflorescences is often used in bouquets.
Landing rules
Ageratum flowers are planted as seedlings in the ground immediately after the threat of spring frosts has disappeared, that is, in the second half of May. There will be no difficulties with planting a flower, because it is so unpretentious that it can independently determine its depth in the ground.
Preparing the site consists only of loosening the soil with a pitchfork or digging it with a shovel if the soil is too dense. There is no need to fertilize the soil with anything. It is enough to make small indentations at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. Neither drainage nor fertilizing will be required in this case. Ageratum will begin to bloom 2-2.5 months after transplanting the seedlings into open ground.
Growing from seeds
As mentioned above, propagation of ageratum by seeds is more preferable, because in this case the gardener can plant several types and varieties of this flower in his own flowerbed.
To make the bushes dense and dense, sowing ageratum for seedlings must be done correctly:
- Determine when to sow ageratum based on the climate in the region. The optimal time for sowing seeds is the end of March or the beginning of April. The seedlings must have enough sunlight, otherwise they will be weak and elongated.
- Planting seeds should be done in shallow plastic containers or peat tablets. To keep the long-flowered plant in conditions of constant humidity, after sowing the containers are covered with film or glass.
- The substrate for ageratum seeds needs to be nutritious and light. A ready-made soil mixture for flower seedlings is quite suitable.
- After two weeks, shoots should appear, and after another 15-20 days, the ageratum must be pruned.
- The first selection of flowers is carried out in small greenhouses or greenhouses. The distance between plants should be slightly greater than in the original containers.
- As they grow, ageratum seedlings are picked again - this is a prerequisite for growing longflowers at home. You need to start diving after another 2-3 weeks. The distances between plants need to be increased. If ageratum seedlings are grown in greenhouses, they should be ventilated and condensation should be wiped off the walls. At this stage of development, seedlings need moderately moist soil and dry air.
- Water the seedlings regularly, but only in the morning. For irrigation, use settled water at room temperature.
- There is no need to feed the flowers in the seedling phase; they will have enough nutrition from the soil.
- A couple of weeks before transplanting flowers into a flower bed, it is necessary to harden the seedlings by taking them outside. Immediately before planting, the seedlings are left outside overnight; there should be no frost at this time.
Rules of care
Growing ageratum seedlings from seeds is more than half the battle, because in a permanent place this flower is completely unpretentious and unpretentious. After transplanting into the ground, the plant quickly grows, becomes strong and hardened.
Ageratum will bloom abundantly only if the soil under the flower is properly moistened. Flowers need to be watered frequently, especially during periods of drought.But watering should not be excessive, otherwise the soil will become too damp, and the flower runs the risk of getting sick. Ageratum should be watered with water at room temperature; choose the time for watering in the morning.
The flower tolerates cutting and shaping well, so ageratums are often pruned. In order for new flowers to constantly appear on the bushes, it is necessary to regularly prune faded shoots - this stimulates the growth of young ones. After the first wave of flowering, the ageratum begins to wither, there are few inflorescences on it, they become smaller and fade. Shortening the entire bush by a third or half its height will help save the situation - in a couple of weeks the flower will delight you with an even more magnificent color.
It is necessary to feed ageratums moderately - 2-3 times during the summer. The first fertilizing must be done before the bush blooms. They do not use organic matter, but only mineral complexes that do not contain nitrogen.
In nature, ageratum is a perennial plant, but in Russia it is grown as an annual plant. That is why you don’t have to worry about overwintering the flower - with the onset of autumn cold weather, the bushes will wither and wither. Flowers are usually removed from the flowerbed in early spring. If necessary, at the end of summer, the gardener can collect ageratum seeds.
The flower loves moderate humidity, so if there is excess watering, the roots of ageratum can be affected by root rot. If this happens, only complete removal of the diseased bushes along with the roots will help. Dosed watering, loosening the soil, and sufficient heat and light can prevent the disease.
Various pests, such as cutworms, nematodes, spider mites, and whiteflies, are also dangerous for ageratum. In case of damage to the leaves of the flower, you should immediately treat the bushes with an insecticide or use a folk remedy for this purpose.
Conclusion
Photos of snow-white, lilac, purple and blue ageratums resemble a weightless haze decorating flower beds and borders. This heat-loving flower is not able to withstand even the mildest European winter, therefore in temperate climates it is grown only as an annual plant. Fluffy flowers need to be propagated by seedlings, which the gardener will have to grow at home, independently.
The biggest difficulty lies in sowing the smallest seeds and picking twice, because otherwise ageratum is a very unpretentious and persistent plant. For normal development, this flower only needs sun, warmth, light soil and a sufficient amount of moisture.
