Ageratum planting and care in the open field in the urals

Read the content of the article! Ageratum flowers: growing and care

Ageratum: photo planting and walking for flowers in the open field. Among annuals, plants with bright blue flowers can be counted on one hand. One of the few is the hero of this article - Ageratum. Recently, he turned from a beggar into a prince, he was noticed, loved and actively planted in flower beds. The breeders also did not stand aside, they began to develop new varieties, and their successes were rewarded according to their merits. But first things first.

Own nameAgeratum (Ageratum) received from the Greek ageratos - ageless, for its ability to retain the color of flowers for a long time, and for its long flowering in Russia it is called long-flowered.

Ageratum Gauston, or Ageratum Mexican, or Long-flowered (Ageratum houstonianum).

Ageratum is a genus from the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family, including about 60 species from Central America. All of them are annual and perennial herbaceous plants or dwarf shrubs. One type is widespread in culture -Ageratum Gauston, or Ageratum Mexican, or Long-flowered (Ageratum houstonianum) from Mexico and Peru, which has been known since 1733. It is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant grown as an annual.

Note! In Russian-language literary sources and on the Internet, there are various translation options for the specific epithet houstonianum - Houston, Houston, Houston, Gauston.

The specific name of Ageratum Gauston is given in honor of Samuel Houston (1793-1863), one of America's most controversial heroes. His biography is full of ups and downs. Having won the first elections to the US Congress, he loses the elections for a second term due to his addiction to women and alcohol. Divorces his wife and marries a Cherokee woman. During the war with Mexico in the rank of general, he wins the decisive battle in San Jacinto and thereby contributes to the annexation of Texas to the United States of America. For this victory, he becomes the first governor of the state of Texas. Compatriots respected him so much that they named not only a plant in his honor, but also the whole city - Houston.

Ageratum Gauston, or Ageratum Mexican, or Longflower. Botanical description of Gauston's ageratum

The root system of Ageratum Gauston is highly ramified. In places of contact with the soil, many adventitious roots are formed on the main shoot and lateral branches. Stems are numerous, highly branched, erect, pubescent, 10-60 cm high. Leaves are triangular, rhombic or oval, dentate along the edge, serrate or crenate, rough. Lower leaves of ageratum Gauston opposite, petiolate; the higher the stem, the shorter the petioles; the upper leaves are almost sessile and alternate. The flowers are small, narrow-tube, bisexual, fragrant; small baskets are also collected, resembling a “puff” of a powder box, which in turn form complex corymbose inflorescences. The main decorativeness to the inflorescences of the ageratum of Gauston is given by the bilobed stigmas, which are almost twice the length of the perianth and are strongly protruding above it. The perianth and stigmas are colored the same.

The ovary of the ageratum Gauston is inferior. The fruit is an elongated wedge-shaped achene, pentahedral, with sharply protruding ribs, sometimes slightly curved, 2-3 mm long and up to 0.6 mm wide. At the upper end of the achene there is a white filmy crest. The surface of the achenes is very finely longitudinally wrinkled. Coloring - black-brown. There are 6-7 thousand seeds in 1 gram. Seeds remain viable for 3-4 years.

Seed reproduction of ageratum Gauston, even with the most careful selection, does not give homogeneous offspring. Varietal purity for most varieties does not exceed 80%.

Ageratum Gauston seeds set well. In central Russia, seeds ripen mainly on the main shoot and first-order shoots. In the event of a rainy autumn, some of the inflorescences will rot.In the southern regions, the seed yield is much higher.

Note! There are studies that some types of ageratums, in particular Ageratum Gauston, are dangerous to animals, as they have carcinogenic properties and cause liver disease.

 
Ageratum pink

Ageratum has numerous varieties that differ in flowering time, flower color, height, and leaf shape. The most common are:

• Ageratum Blue Mink (Blue Mink), compact cultivar, 20-25 cm tall. Inflorescences are large lilac-blue, seem so silky that the variety in translation sounds like "blue mink" - a valuable fur animal.
• Ageratum Blue Danube (Blue Danube), compact hybrid, 15-20 cm tall, one of the best varieties with lavender-blue flowers.
• Summer Snow (Summer Snow), a compact hybrid, 15-20 cm tall, white baskets, in dense corymbose inflorescences, blooms profusely.
• Ageratum Ash Fields (Purple Fields), compact hybrid, 20-25 cm tall, unusual purple baskets. "Bushes" spread on the ground up to 30 cm. Therefore, the variety is called "purple fields". Received the Fleroselect Quality Award Winner in 2000.
• Ageratum RedSi (Red Sea) "Red Sea". The variety is tall with dark red buds and purple-red flowers.

In addition to single-color varieties of ageratums, there are mixtures on sale, for example Hawaii Mixed(Hawaii Mixed). The mixture includes compact varieties 10-15 cm tall with pink, blue, white and purple colors. Two varieties from this blend have received the Fleroselect Quality Award Winner. These are varietiesSilk Pink Hawaii(Shell Pink Hawaii) in 2000 andHawaiiSkye Blue(Hawaii Sky Blue) in 2003.

After the rains that have recently frequently visited our country, only plants with blue and blue flowers retain their decorative effect. While white ageratums turn to dirty gray. And what color the pinks acquire is even difficult to describe.

Ageratum lavender. Growing ageratum

To obtain healthy seedlings, seeds are sown in late March - early April. Ageratum seedlings appear in two weeks, and after another week they can be cut into separate pots. Seedlings do not tolerate moisture. They are planted in open ground after the end of spring frosts, the distance between plants is maintained during planting 15-20 cm. Plants bloom 60-70 days after germination.

Ageratum is a cross-pollinated plant, but self-pollination is also possible. Pollinated by flies, bees and thrips.

If it is not possible to grow ageratum seedlings on the window, you can sow seeds in the spring directly into the ground. As practice has shown, once, due to a lack of time, faded plants were left in the flower garden in the fall, and in the spring sprouts from fallen seeds appeared in this place. But they bloomed very late, at the end of July.

Ageratum gives adventitious roots very well. Shoots lying on the ground take root easily. Therefore, even having one plant, you can get several seedlings by cutting the mother plant, and all the resulting plants will remain stunted and uniform.

Since ageratum is a perennial by nature, it can be stored in a cool greenhouse in winter, and planted in the garden by cutting off cuttings in summer.

All varieties and hybrids of ageratum bloom for a long time, from early June to September. But in order for it to be magnificent, several conditions must be met.

• Firstly, plants are compact only in open, sunny places. Even with a little shading, they stretch and bloom uncommonly.
• Secondly, the soil should be light, neutral, ageratum develops many shoots and leaves on too fertile soil, to the detriment of buds.
• Thirdly, if the plant is still stretched out, feel free to cut it off, because ageratum easily tolerates a haircut, after which it quickly grows back and blooms profusely again. This technique is also used to prolong flowering.

Ageratum blue.Ageratum diseases and pests

Ageratum is quite stable in culture. But in some years it can be affected by root rot, bacterial wilting. And while the plants are still young, in a room or greenhouse, it is often attacked by a whitefly and a spider mite. If this happens, the affected leaves must be removed, and the plants must be repeatedly treated with insecticides.

Alone, this may not be the most spectacular plant, but plant a few bushes together and you get a spectacular spot, and let low-growing marigolds or calendula bloom nearby. Ageratum is also suitable for outdoor flowerpots or containers, for boxes on the balcony. High varieties are suitable for bouquets that will stand for a long time in water, if the peduncle is cut off when the middle flowers in the inflorescences have just opened.

Ageratum - the name of this flower came 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 windowsills. Some amateurs breed ageratum to decorate rooms. They look good in greenhouses.

Ageratum growing from seeds and planting seedlings When to plant ageratum?

When to plant ageratum for seedlings

You can plant flowers with seeds or purchased seedlings. The seedling method is more reliable, and the seed method is cheaper, but much more time consuming. 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. Store soil in this case must be taken for terraced or ampelous flowering plants.

Many readers are looking for photos of ageratum flowers and ask when to plant seedlings

We answer: the ageratum is planted in the ground from the beginning of April to the end of May.

• Sowing ageratum is carried out in February and until the end of April., not very deep (0.5-1 cm).
• It is best to make small grooves, put seeds there, and lightly crush them with earth on top.
• Ageratum does not like cold, so boxes with seedlings should be placed where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees.
• Planting gives the first shoots in about two weeks. To improve the germination of the plant, it is advisable to cover the boxes with glass or cellophane. That is, to 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, 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 already mature plants, for example, from a garden 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:

Planting seedlings on a flower bed is carried out, focusing not on numbers, but on weather conditions. Ageratum is thermophilic, and too cold weather can destroy it. The optimal temperature regime is not lower than 20 degrees.

How to dive ageratum video:

For the convenience of landing, you can use peat cups when diving at once. Plants are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other.

Propagation of ageratum by cuttings

what does ageratum look like?

Usually this flower is bred using seeds or seedlings. However, ageratum can also be diluted by cuttings. It's just that other methods of disembarkation are less time consuming, therefore they are used more often.

Cutting is good for when the owner wants to get a smaller, but more bushy plant. This method is also shown when they want to breed hybrids, which, as you know, do not reproduce by seeds, or during reproduction, individuals are obtained that are inferior in decorative properties to mother plants.

To grow ageratum from cuttings, proceed as follows:

• In the fall, before the frost has begun, the plant is transplanted into a flower pot, which is subsequently brought into the house.
• Cuttings are cut in the spring. For grafting, side shoots are taken, several of them can be taken from one plant. The incision should be made just below the kidney. In this place, the tissues of the flower contain a special substance that is not susceptible to the action of the fungus and the mother plant will not start to hurt or die.
• Cuttings of the optimal length are about 5 cm in size. It is best to plant them immediately in a mini greenhouse.

Ageratum flowers take root very well and quickly. Further planting in the ground goes, like the usual seedlings of this plant.

Ageratum care

ageratum in the garden photo

Ageratum after planting does not tolerate water flooding and care consists in maintaining uniform hydration of the pova: he 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 out in the sun.

It is best to plant flowers by mixing earth with humus.

Ageratum sprouts will be stronger and, as a result, more aesthetically pleasing. If there is no humus, compost or mineral fertilizers can be used for this purpose. However, the dosage of the substance used should be strictly observed. With an excess of fertilizers, especially organic ones, the plant grows and does not or gives few flowers. It turns out a large non-flowering bush. Some gardeners advise using nitrophoska or amofoska to avoid this. This fertilizer is taken 20-30 grams per 10 liters of water.

If the plant has gone up, it must be cut, after this procedure, the bush is restored very quickly... It will look more attractive. You also need to collect wilted flowers from time to time. If this is not done, the flower will be less ornate.

Ageratum at home

Ageratum growing at home

The flower develops well at home. Choose for it spacious containers with good drainage. In summer, they can be taken out onto the balcony, veranda, or fixed under the windows. In the cold period, flowers delight with luxurious flowering, which practically does not stop.

Ageratum room

So that the perennial does not die, retains its decorative appearance for many 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 root, moisturizing without excess. 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 trace elements and organic matter. In addition, it will have a loose structure that allows air to easily penetrate to the roots.
• Fertilize at least once every six months, choosing complex formulations.
• If the flowers are overgrown, it is best to separate them and transplant them into a larger container.

That's all the simple rules for caring for a room ageratum. As you can see, this is the most unpretentious flower that you can find.

Diseases and pests of ageratum

ageratum on the balcony

The unpretentious plant is very resistant to various diseases, and the tropical origin made the flower "not tasty" for many pests. However, this does not mean that nothing can damage the ageratum. For example, when planting too often, the plants begin to have a cucumber mosaic. It can also occur if these flowers are too flooded. Also in ageratum, if the rules for watering and planting are violated, bacterial wilting may develop. However, if all regulations are followed, these problems can be avoided.

Of the pests to flowers, the most dangerous are spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids. To destroy these pests, you can use both industrial and folk remedies.

Of the folk methods, garlic tincture is the most effective.

Garlic is chopped on a grater or in a garlic dish 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 to spray the flowers. The dosage is 200 grams of garlic per 10 liters of water. If you add too much garlic to the solution, the plants can burn.

From industrial means of combating spider mites, something from the insectoacaricide family is best suited. Usually in such cases Nissoran, Neoron and Agraverin are recommended. Commander, Tanrek and Mospilan are shown to fight the whitefly.

If the flowers are planted in open soil ahead of schedule ..

Their leaves can become lighter in color. This is due to the low temperature at night, since the flowers are very thermophilic and do not tolerate it well. A good preventive measure would be hardening ageratum seedlings or sheltering plants at night when it gets cold. For hardening, the seedlings must be taken out for a short time to a room with a colder temperature, for example, on a balcony. You can cover the seedlings with cellophane, paper bags or large cut plastic eggplants.

Problems can arise with the wrong irrigation angle. 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 with insufficient ventilation of the area, microscopic droplets of water are retained between these villi. As a result, the leaves of the flowers begin to turn black and the flowers begin to mold and rot. It is best to remove such parts immediately, since the ageratum looks very unattractive in this case. As a preventive measure, the root irrigation method is suitable.

How to collect seeds for future planting?

ageratum and marigolds in lagandshaft design photo

Seeds are best harvested immediately after the plant has finished flowering. This happens about the second to third week after the flowers appear. The main thing is that the flowers are pollinated and give seeds. With this, however, problems usually do not arise, since the ageratum is willingly pollinated by bumblebees and bees. The flower seeds are very small and elongated. They are also very light, in a gram they can be up to 6-7 thousand. The collected seeds should be brown with a light shade.

It is best to store seeds in a cool dry place

For this purpose, paper or fabric bags are shown, since future plants in plastic bags can suffocate, which will negatively affect their germination.

It can be concluded that ageratum is an attractive, highly decorative flower, rather 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. With proper care, everything practically comes down to timely watering, weeding from weeds. Plants will thank the owner with luxurious bright flowers.

Description of the Ageratum Photo of flowers

Ageratum blue in the photo

The homeland of the plant is the 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, this is a perennial plant, but in Russia the climatic conditions are colder, it is grown here as an annual. During the winter, the plant simply freezes out. 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, with many bright blue flowers. The ground cover looks very beautiful. All terrestrial parts of the plant: the stem, leaves and even flowers, are covered with soft fibers that look like fluff. This adds decorativeness to the ageratum.

The most popular ageratum varieties

If you liked the description of this flower and there is a desire to start it, then before buying its seeds and planting it in your flower bed, you need to decide on the type of plant.Each of the varieties of this decorative flower has its own advantages.

Agerantum blue Ageratum Blue photo

The most popular variety is "Blue Mink" (original Ageratum Blue). The flowers are large, their color is classic. Numerous hybrids have been created on the basis of this variety. The most colorful of them is Ageratum Blue Danube. This hybrid is smaller in size than the parent variety. However, this hybrid is distinguished by the original color of the flowers. In this species of ageratum, they are purple.

Ageratum Mexican photo

I also fell in love with the Mexican variety (sometimes called the Houston Ageratum). It is larger than the Blue Mink. Individual specimens can reach a height of 50 cm. There are two subspecies of this variety: herbaceous and shrub. The flowers have a delicate light blue color, but they can also be with a lilac tint.

Agerantum white Summer Snow

Ageratum Summer Snow is often used as a curb... The bushes of this species 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 balloon photo

Ageratum pink ball - stunning scattering of dense inflorescences of fluffy sun-flowers. Grows in low bushes, the best annual groundcover for your garden.

ageratum bonjour

Ageratum bonjour variety... Low bushes up to a quarter of a meter tall. The annual blooms from June until frost. A real fragrant cloud of aromatic scent is formed next to the plantings. Small flowers are gracefully collected in bulky corymbose inflorescences. The color is varied. It is grown on balconies, planted in rabatki, flower beds, mixborders.

ageratum snow blanket

Ageratum snow blanket - an amazing ground cover, literally covered with small snow-white flowers, collected in fluffy inflorescences-panicles. It is also low, up to 25 cm. It completely covers the area allotted to it with its green-flowering mass. A luxurious "bedspread" of white flowers can be placed on 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, resembling fluffy balls. it is impossible to look away, such a bewitching sight opens up, especially if bright flowers of red, blue, pink or lilac are planted against the background of the ageratum.

ageratum aztec treasures

Ageratum treasures of the aztecs - has excellent characteristics: fluffy flowers of a wide range of colors look harmonious on flower beds, create spectacular borders, look great in decorative vases.

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. It is most commonly grown in flower beds. Moreover, the flower is grown not only separately, in combination with other ornamental plants, it forms expressive compositions. If you plant one ageratum, you get a beautiful floral carpet.

The southern visitor looks beautiful with plants whose flowers are warm, red, one-time or yellow. These are zinnias, velvet, calendula and many others.

The contrast of cold and warm colors looks very elegant. Low-growing varieties of ageratum are used to decorate curbs or on alpine slides.

How to choose a place for the ageratum disembarkation?

flowers ageratum photo and cultivation

Ageratum is a southern inhabitant, therefore he loves the sun and space. True, now breeders have bred 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 is too stretched and looks less aesthetically pleasing. If the soil is too wet, then the roots of the ageratum rot, and the flower may die.

Of course, the soil for cultivation must be fertile and chemically neutral.To create an optimal environment, the soil is fertilized with manure before planting. It is better to use not fresh, but well-rotted manure, so as not to burn the root system. If the soil is poorly ventilated, drainage should be done to avoid root rot. To do this, you just need to remove the soil from the flower bed, put a layer of gravel below, and then fill it all with the removed earth.

ageratum in landscape design photo

Ageratum Houston

Ageratum (Ageratum) is a representative of the aster family. In nature, such a plant can be found in Central and North America, Eastern India. The name of such a flower is derived from the Latin word ageratos, which translates as "ageless". The fact is that cut adorable flowers can remain fresh for a long time. Since the 19th century, such a plant has become popular in European countries, and in Russia it is also called "long-flowered". This plant fell in love with gardeners for its spectacular fluffy flowers that look like pompons, which are part of very dense inflorescences. As a rule, they are colored in various shades of blue. Also, such a flower is very undemanding to care for. There are approximately 60 types of ageratum.

Features of ageratum

On a fairly compact bush there are bright green petiole leaf plates in the shape of an oval, triangle or rhombus. Their edge is serrated. Leaves in the upper part are alternate, and in the lower and middle - opposite. 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. The fruit is a 5-sided achene of a wedge-shaped elongated shape. 7 thousand seeds weigh only 1 g. Their good germination is maintained for 3-4 years.

In middle latitudes, ageratum is grown as an annual, because it is not frost-resistant. Such a plant will be able to decorate a rabatka, a flower bed, and will also look great in carpet compositions. Such a flower can be planted together with marigolds, calendula, 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 must be filled with a mixture that includes sand, humus and peat (1: 1: 1). Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil. The container is broken up with glass or film and removed into heat (at least 15 degrees). Crops need daily ventilation. The soil should be slightly moistened all the time. Therefore, it must be systematically moistened from 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 real leaves, they need to be planted more spaciously. The pick is carried out 2 times. During the 2nd pick, the plant is planted in separate pots (cups). Ageratums need dry air and a constantly humidified substrate. Plants can only be watered in the morning. A couple of weeks before planting, the plant should be transferred to the street. If there is a threat of freezing, then the seedlings must be covered.

Landing

Landing in open ground should be done after the threat of night frost 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 poorly. A non-acidic, lightweight, well-drained soil rich in nutrients is best suited. However, this plant is not too demanding on the soil.In carefully loosened soil, you need to make not too deep pits, the distance between them is from 10 to 15 cm. You need to plant seedlings to the depth at which they grew in the container. Flowering begins after about 8 weeks.

Outdoor Ageratum Care

In order for the ageratum to please you with its unusually beautiful flowers, it needs to be properly cared for. So, this plant needs to be watered in a timely manner, remove weeds, loosen the soil, and also apply fertilizers to the soil. It needs a fairly abundant watering, but at the same time it is impossible to fill the flower in any case. After the plant is watered, it is necessary to loosen the soil and at the same time pull out all the weeds.

Top dressing is carried out with a frequency of 1 time in 2 or 3 weeks. Mineral or humic fertilizers are perfect for this. It is also recommended for feeding an infusion prepared on a mullein. But it should be borne in mind that fresh manure cannot be used for feeding ageratum, because the plant reacts to it extremely negatively. Also, you should not overfeed the flower, because in this case the green mass will grow vigorously, but the flowering will become scarce. Do not forget to pick off fading inflorescences in a timely manner. This plant needs pruning for abundant and spectacular flowering. 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 the 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 for the entire autumn period, and maybe even part of the winter. From these bushes in early spring, you can cut the cuttings and root them. Then, with the onset of heat, they are transplanted into open ground.

Such a plant is very fond of warmth, therefore, it is not able to overwinter even under cover under the condition of a mild winter. In this regard, in the fall, it is necessary to remove the remnants of plants from the flower bed, and in the spring to plant new flowers there.

Pests and diseases

Ageratums are not resistant to diseases, which is considered their main drawback. 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 borne in mind that the appearance of root rot can be prevented, and some fairly simple preventive measures will help you with this. So, the first step for planting is to choose a light, well-drained soil. Water the plant carefully, avoiding overflow. You also need to systematically loosen the soil. All this will help to avoid the appearance of rot on the roots. Ageratum is also prone to cucumber mosaic, as well as bacterial wilting, and such diseases develop due to violation of the rules of care.

Seedlings of ageratums, located in the house or in the greenhouse, must be protected from such pests as whiteflies and spider mites. If insects are found, the infected leaves must be torn off and treated with an insecticidal agent.

In the open field, nematodes and scoops 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.

The main types and varieties with photo examples

Since it is not very difficult to grow such a plant, and there is nothing difficult at all in caring for it, it has gained quite a lot of popularity among flower growers. Below are the most popular varieties and types of ageratum.

White Ageratum

The height of the bush reaches 20 centimeters, erect shoots. Fragrant flowers are painted white.

Ageratum blue "Blue mink"

Compact, strong and well-branched bushes reach a height of 20 to 25 centimeters. Very fluffy inflorescences are painted in a bluish color shade and outwardly 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 Mexican

Small bushes have the shape of a ball. 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

1. «Alba"- white flowers are collected in dense inflorescences.

   Alba

2. «Azur Pearl"- blue flowers are collected in fairly large inflorescences.

   Azur Pearl

3. «Faye Pink"- dark pink loose inflorescences have a diameter of 4 to 5 centimeters. The leaf plates are rather small. The height of the bush varies from 20 to 30 centimeters.

   Faye Pink

4. «Blue Mink"- bluish flowers have a lilac tint. The leaves are large enough, and the height of the bush reaches 25 to 30 centimeters.

   Blue Mink

5. «Blue Bouquet"- the flowers are painted in a beautiful blue color. This variety has the greatest height - 45 centimeters.

   Blue Bouquet

6. «Bavaria"- rather large loose inflorescences consist of two-colored flowers. So, their middle is pale blue (almost white), and around there are thin petals of a deep blue color. The bush is 25-30 centimeters high.

   Bavaria

7. Hybrid plants of the Hawaii cultivar group: "Royal Hawaii" - the height of dwarf plants does not exceed 15 centimeters, the flowers are violet-purple; "White Hawaii" - dwarf bushes do not exceed 18 centimeters in height, white flowers. Royal Hawaii

   White Hawaii

The Aster family includes many beautiful plants, including ageratum. The flower received such an unusual name because of its characteristics; this plant blooms for a very long time, starting in June and ending with the first frosts. 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, suitable for decorating not only lawns and flower beds, but also balconies. More details about growing ageratum from seeds will be discussed in this article.

Ageless ageratum

Description

Peru is considered the birthplace of the Ageratum. This is a perennial plant, reaching a height of 20-60 cm. Due 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 landscaping, so most often it can be seen in the gardens of country houses. Blooming until the coldest days and beautiful appearance made the long-flowered a must-see at various flower exhibitions. The inflorescences have a pleasant aroma that does not disappear for a long time, as does the pristine beauty of flowers. The decorativeness of the ageratum is given by the fact that its column 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.

Ageratum white 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, on the edges of which denticles are present. Ripe fruits contain a huge amount of seeds (there are at least 6,000 seeds per 1 g). The seeds are unpretentious, so they may well sprout even after several years of ripening.

Ageratum flower

Popular plant varieties

There are more than 70 different plant species, differing from each other in their decorative characteristics (color shades, flowering time, bush height, and so on). But not all are used in gardening. Let's consider the most common varieties.

Table. Popular ageratum varieties.

Alba	An unusually beautiful plant with large lilac-blue or white inflorescences. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 30 cm, which makes it look more collected and compact. It 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 painted with densely pubescent green shoots. The inflorescences of this variety are colored lilac, although plants with blue flowers can be found. The flowering period falls in June.
Neptune blue f1	One of the most popular ageratum hybrids, distinguished by its short stature (up to 15 cm) and small blue flowers. Flowering begins in early summer.
Blue Mink	A sturdy plant with thick and sturdy shoots, reaching a height of 30 cm. The diameter of dense inflorescences is no more than 2.3 cm, they are decorated with lilac flowers. This variety begins to bloom in the second half of June.
Bavaria	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.
Рink Beauty	Refers to compact ageratum varieties. 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 later come out of them have a pale pink tint.

Ageratum is often used to simulate a dry stream or reservoir

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 seeds and the first flowering is at least 60 days. Since this is a thermophilic plant, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of spring frosts at the time of planting seedlings in the soil. Even mild cold snaps can negatively affect the flower - this must be taken into account.

Seedlings of ageratum

On a note! Having carried out simple mathematical calculations, it is easy 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 the beginning of flowering will be slightly delayed.

Growing from seeds

Ageratum is a perennial plant, but in our conditions there is no need at all for its long-term use. Breeding can be carried out in two ways - cuttings and seeds, but, having finally weighed all the pros and cons, growers usually stop at the second method.

Ageratum seeds

On a note! The ageratum development cycle is accelerated, which distinguishes the plant from its “colleagues”. Thanks to this feature, you can 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, therefore, if you decide to prepare the soil mixture yourself, 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, as too much humus will badly affect the flowering, making it more scarce.

Soil preparation

This all concerns only the soil prepared with your 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.

Universal nutritious soil for vegetables and flowers

Sowing seeds

Step 1. Fill the seedling container (in this case, the container) about 80% potting mix. 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 on a plate.You do not need to use everything, since the seeds are very small and there are a lot of them. Half the contents of the package for one container is enough. It is not necessary to carry out preliminary preparation of the seed.

Seeds spill out onto a plate

Step 3. Sow seeds evenly over the surface of the soil. They have a long shape, so you can easily notice if 5-6 pieces have accumulated in some place. Use a regular toothpick to push the seeds apart. This will be much faster than removing seedlings later.

Sowing ageratum seeds

Step 4. During cultivation, monitor the moisture content of the soil. Early on, moisture can be preserved by placing the container in a pre-drilled container. If the seeds are not provided with a sufficient amount of moisture, then the plant in almost all cases dies.

Containers are placed in a container

Step 5. Place the seed container on a sunny windowsill. If all the necessary conditions for seed germination are met, then soon you will receive such friendly shoots.

First shoots

Transplant to open ground

In the second half of May, having chosen a clear and warm week (looking ahead to the weather forecast), start transplanting plant seedlings into open soil. Place seedlings in the wells prepared in advance, and fill the remaining space with soil, which must be slightly (but not strongly) compacted. The distance between low-growing ageratum varieties 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, as even slight shading can cause the shoots to pull out. As a result, the flowering rate decreases. Even though the bulk of the work is behind you, you still have to work hard. It is about caring for the ageratum.

The use of Mexican ageratum in the design of flower beds and flower beds

Follow-up care

Although the plant is considered unpretentious and not demanding to care for, you still need to pay attention to it. But the work and time spent will not be wasted. As a result, you will be rewarded with a lush and bright bloom of the ageratum.

Ageratum coniziform

Top dressing

For feeding, you can use not only mineral, but also organic fertilizers. Also, gardeners prefer to apply complex fertilizers. This should be done every 3 weeks, and the first feeding should be carried out using the minimum dosage of fertilizers. Otherwise, flowering may slow down due to their excess. It is highly discouraged to use manure to fertilize the soil, because it can destroy ageratum.

Mineral fertilizers

Watering

The root system of this plant is very developed, which allows ageratum to extract the right amount of moisture from the soil. Therefore, water regularly - every 3 weeks, but at least once a month. In a hot season, the frequency of watering, as well as the amount of water used, can be slightly increased.

Ageratums will delight you with a gorgeous color, provided that they are additionally watered in dry weather. This should be done generously, but not excessively.

Pruning ageratum

To obtain lush and beautiful bushes, it is necessary to periodically prune the ageratum. Leave no more than 4 internodes when pruning to speed up plant development. Before the first frosts, flowers can be transplanted into separate pots and grown 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 it.

White Ageratum

Loosening the soil

Regular watering and feeding is not the only thing that needs to be done when growing ageratum. The soil around the plants must be loosened regularly.Since this flower loves to grow in airy soil, this procedure will improve its growth. When loosening, be sure to remove all weeds as they inhibit plant growth. 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 subject to various diseases, the most common of which is root rot. Neglect of preventive measures will lead to rotting and, as a result, death of the plant. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the intensity of watering and periodically loosen the soil. The ageratum can also be affected by the 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 should be protected from whiteflies. If these pests do appear, it is imperative to remove the damaged plants, and treat the flowers themselves with insecticides. Treat until all insects are completely eliminated. Over time, when you transplant seedlings into open ground in a flower bed, nematodes or scoops can encroach on the plants. In this case, you also need to use special processing tools. And remember that correct and conscientious observance of the rules of agricultural technology will save your plants from such troubles.

Whitefly

What does a scoop look like

Decorative uses

As noted earlier, ageratum is of great value for landscaping and decoration of sites. This is due to long flowering, unpretentiousness and color diversity. This combination is quite rare among ground cover ornamental plants.

Ageratum photo on flower beds

Ageratum in group composition

Vivid variety of ageratum in the flowerbed

Outdoor Ageratum Care

Low-growing ageratum varieties are ideal for decorating balconies, loggias or borders, and tall plants can be grown for further cutting. If we talk about the combination with other flowers, then blue ageratum varieties will look great with escholzia, zinnias and marigolds. In other words, any unpretentious yellow flowers are suitable here.

Video - Germinating ageratum seeds

Ageratum is grown for fluffy flowers that look like pompons. They are collected in dense inflorescences-baskets and exude a pleasant aroma. Ageratum care is simple, but you need to know some features.

The name of the plant in translation from Greek means "ageless". Ageratum really retains freshness for a very long time in the cut, and in the flower bed it pleases the eye with its lush inflorescences from June to late autumn. Therefore, the people often call this flower a long-flowered one.

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 species of ageratum, but there are not so many color options for flowers: 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 the middle lane, ageratum is grown as an annual and only by seedlings, since it cannot stand the cold. Seeds are sown in the second half of March - early April in a container with a mixture 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 aired daily and when the soil dries up, they are sprayed with a spray bottle. After the emergence of seedlings, the film or glass is removed, and the soil continues to be regularly moistened.

After the formation of 3-4 true leaves, the seedlings are seated in a more spacious container or immediately in separate pots.For seedlings to develop correctly, the air around the seedlings must be dry and the soil slightly damp all the time. 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 flower bed 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 drained soil.

The soil is carefully loosened, holes are dug at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and seedlings are planted in them to the same depth at which they were in the containers.

After that, the plants are watered and regularly looked after until autumn.

Shortly before the onset of 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 dep. And in March, you can cut cuttings from ageratum bushes, root them and plant them in open ground in May. Then you don't have to mess with seeds.

Rules for growing ageratum in the open field

The plant is undemanding to soil, but prefers light, neutral and moderately nutritious soil. Ageratum grows green mass in the “overfed” substrate to the detriment of beautiful flowers. He loves regular and abundant watering, but at the same time he is able to tolerate short-term drought. However, the plant cannot be flooded: root rot may develop.

Ageratum loves light and warmth, therefore it quickly fades with the arrival of the first autumn frosts. Bushes perfectly tolerate a haircut. Therefore, if the plant is frozen over, for example, in late spring, it is pruned, leaving 2-3 internodes on each shoot.

The main summer care for ageratum in the open field is the timely removal of wilted inflorescences, regular weeding and loosening of the soil. During flowering, it is useful to feed the plants with complex mineral fertilizer or mullein infusion every 2-3 weeks. But fresh manure cannot be used.

Ageratum in landscape design

This delicate flower looks good in any plantings: 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. A monoclumba can also be created from the ageratum, but it is better to plant varieties with different shades of flowers. All possible tones of long-flowered inflorescences are perfectly combined with each other. But keep in mind: pink flowers can fade over time.

Since the ageratum retains its fresh appearance for a long time in the cut, beautiful bouquets are obtained from tall varieties of plants. For example, blue ageratum looks good with rudbeckia, zinnia, snapdragon and calendula. It is also suitable for creating winter bouquets.

The most popular types and varieties of ageratum

In landscape design, the most common Houston Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), or Mexican (Ageratum mexicanum). Below we list 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 a snow-white color.

Leda

This blue and 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 to a height of 20-25 cm, during 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.

A large number of ageratum hybrids are currently on the market. 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 flowers). In addition to monochromatic ageratums, you can also find mixtures on sale (for example, Hawaii Mixt), sowing which, you will grow flowers of pink, white, purple and blue color. Ideal for those who love colorful flower beds!

Do you live this attractive annual in your flower garden? And what varieties do you prefer?

Ageratum is grown for fluffy flowers that look like pompons. They are collected in dense inflorescences-baskets and exude a pleasant aroma. Ageratum care is simple, but you need to know some features.

The name of the plant in translation from Greek means "ageless". Ageratum really retains freshness for a very long time in the cut, and in the flower bed it pleases the eye with its lush inflorescences from June to late autumn. Therefore, the people often call this flower a long-flowered one.

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 species of ageratum, but there are not so many color options for flowers: 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 the middle lane, ageratum is grown as an annual and only by seedlings, since it cannot stand the cold. Seeds are sown in the second half of March - early April in a container with a mixture 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 aired daily and when the soil dries up, they are sprayed with a spray bottle. After the emergence of seedlings, the film or glass is removed, and the soil continues to be regularly moistened.

After the formation of 3-4 true leaves, the seedlings are seated in a more spacious container or immediately in separate pots. For seedlings to develop correctly, the air around the seedlings must be dry and the soil slightly damp all the time. 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 flower bed 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 drained soil.

The soil is carefully loosened, holes are dug at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and seedlings are planted in them to the same depth at which they were in the containers.

After that, the plants are watered and regularly looked after until autumn.

Shortly before the onset of 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 dep. And in March, you can cut cuttings from ageratum bushes, root them and plant them in open ground in May. Then you don't have to mess with seeds.

Rules for growing ageratum in the open field

The plant is undemanding to soil, but prefers light, neutral and moderately nutritious soil. Ageratum grows green mass in the “overfed” substrate to the detriment of beautiful flowers. He loves regular and abundant watering, but at the same time he is able to tolerate short-term drought. However, the plant cannot be flooded: root rot may develop.

Ageratum loves light and warmth, therefore it quickly fades with the arrival of the first autumn frosts. Bushes perfectly tolerate a haircut. Therefore, if the plant is frozen over, for example, in late spring, it is pruned, leaving 2-3 internodes on each shoot.

The main summer care for ageratum in the open field is the timely removal of wilted inflorescences, regular weeding and loosening of the soil. During flowering, it is useful to feed the plants with complex mineral fertilizer or mullein infusion every 2-3 weeks. But fresh manure cannot be used.

Ageratum in landscape design

This delicate flower looks good in any plantings: 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. A monoclumba can also be created from the ageratum, but it is better to plant varieties with different shades of flowers. All possible tones of long-flowered inflorescences are perfectly combined with each other. But keep in mind: pink flowers can fade over time.

Since the ageratum retains its fresh appearance for a long time in the cut, beautiful bouquets are obtained from tall varieties of plants. For example, blue ageratum looks good with rudbeckia, zinnia, snapdragon and calendula. It is also suitable for creating winter bouquets.

The most popular types and varieties of ageratum

In landscape design, the most common Houston Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), or Mexican (Ageratum mexicanum). Below we list 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 a snow-white color.

Leda

This blue and 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 to a height of 20-25 cm, during 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.

A large number of ageratum hybrids are currently on the market. 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 flowers). In addition to monochromatic ageratums, you can also find mixtures on sale (for example, Hawaii Mixt), sowing which, you will grow flowers of pink, white, purple and blue color. Ideal for those who love colorful flower beds!

Do you live this attractive annual in your flower garden? And what varieties do you prefer?

Ageratum "Ageless Indian": planting, growing and care

Ageratum has earned popularity among flower growers due to its unpretentiousness in cultivation and care. Planting this flower outdoors will quickly color your garden with the vibrant colors of the fluffy buds.

Varieties of ageratum

In its homeland (in the tropics of Central America) ageratum grows as a perennial plant. The name of this flower in translation means "ageless", which is fully justified by its never-ending flowering.

Ageratum will delight you with long flowering

Ageratum is a herbaceous bushy plant. In our climate, it is grown as an annual flower. Sprawling bush with a lot of 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 slightly pronounced serrations. The flowers are blue, purple, white or pink in color. The flowers are small, fluffy, collected in small dense inflorescences.

At the same time, ageratum produces many peduncles.

The genus ageratum has more than 60 species.In floriculture, the most common Houston Ageratum or, as it is also called, Mexican.

The variety series of this type of ageratum is widely represented in our market.

Each variety is unique and differs in bush height, flower color and flowering duration.

The most popular varieties of the Mexican Ageratum:

• Alba;
• Tetra Veali;
• Blue Perfection;
• "Ocean";
• North Sea.

In the photo, you can see the characteristic features of many popular varieties of ageratum and choose your own, most sunk into the soul of the variety.

It is worth highlighting another type of ageratum - coniziform... It differs from the Mexican in smaller flowers and blunt foliage.

Reproduction of ageratum

The most common way of reproduction of ageratum is by seeds.

Growing seedlings of one-year ageratum at home will not cause difficulties. At the end of March, the seeds are sown in prepared boxes. The soil is suitable for this light, moderately nutritious. For example, a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus in equal proportions.

Important! Ageratum seeds are very small, practically dusty. Therefore, they are not buried in the ground, but evenly distributed over the surface.

The seed boxes are covered with polyethylene and put away in a warm place for germination.

After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and the boxes can be put on the window.

Ageratum does not tolerate excess air humidity, so you should not spray it. Watering is carried out only as the soil dries up, in moderation.

A few weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the first true leaves will develop on the seedlings, and during this period the seedlings dive for the first time.

The second pick is carried out when the young seedlings grow up a little.

This time, each plant is dived into a separate container, since the further development of the seedling will be rapid.

Two weeks after the dive, it is advisable to feed the seedlings with complex mineral fertilizer.

As warm weather sets in, the seedlings are hardened by taking them out into the fresh air. Gradually, the "walk" time is increased.

In the case when it is required 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 overwinter in a cool place, and in early spring shoots are cut off from it for cuttings. Cuttings germinate in a warm room in boxes of sand.

In just a few weeks, the root system begins to develop, 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 to any soil, only in exceptional cases liming of too acidic soil may be necessary.

The place for the landing of the ageratum must be chosen bright, from the southern or eastern side of the site.

Advice. Even a little shading will stretch the plant. In this case, abundant flowering cannot be achieved.

Ageratum seedlings are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. You should not bury it in the ground.

Planting depth in open ground should match the growth rate of potted seedlings.

Ageratum loves sunny and warm places

Three times a season, ageratum needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers. Feeding with manure and other organic fertilizers should be avoided.

Watering ageratum requires moderate, without overabundance. To keep the soil breathable, loosening of the soil is required after watering and rain. As needed, the area with ageratum is weeded, removing weeds that inhibit the development of the bushes.

To make the ageratum bloom abundant and long-lasting, wilted inflorescences are cut from the bushes all summer. If this procedure is carried out regularly, the ageratum will release more and more new buds, delighting with continuous flowering.

It can be concluded that planting and caring for ageratum in the open field is extremely simple due to the unpretentiousness of the plant.

Ageratum diseases and pests

Despite its unpretentious cultivation, ageratum is susceptible to many diseases. From an excess of moisture and without air access to the roots, ageratum is affected by root rot. In this case, the plant cannot be saved and is removed.

Ageratum bacterial wilting

Bacterial wilting disappears for no apparent reason 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 fade 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 infusion of plants with the same properties (wormwood, bird cherry, tansy, etc.).

Of the pests for ageratum, all types of nematodes, spider mites, 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, the ageratum looks very good as a background for flower beds, flower beds and works with perennial flowers. Low-growing varieties of ageratum are used to form decorative borders, and tall ones are grown for cutting.

Ageratum in landscape design

The combination of ageratum with calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other yellow-orange flowers will give a bright color to the flower bed.

Ageratum is grown for landscaping balconies and is suitable for growing in flowerpots. Vases with a joint planting of ageratum and petunias will decorate the gazebos or the threshold of the house.

From the photo, the fluffy flowers of the agegatum look at us as something exotic, but in fact it is very easy to grow this culture that does not get tired of blooming. To do this, you only need to follow some simple rules, which are described above.

Flowering ageratum: video

Types of ageratum: photo

Ageratum - growing from seeds when to plant + step by step instructions

The Aster family includes many beautiful plants, including ageratum. The flower received such an unusual name because of its characteristics; this plant blooms for a very long time, starting in June and ending with the first frosts.

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, suitable for decorating not only lawns and flower beds, but also balconies.

More details about growing ageratum from seeds will be discussed in this article.

Ageless ageratum

Description

Peru is considered the birthplace of the Ageratum. This is a perennial plant, reaching a height of 20-60 cm. Due 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 landscaping, so most often it can be seen in the gardens of country houses. Blooming until the coldest days and its beautiful appearance made the long-flowered a must-see at various flower exhibitions.

The inflorescences have a pleasant aroma that does not disappear for a long time, as does the pristine beauty of flowers. The decorativeness of the ageratum is given by the fact that its column 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.

Ageratum white 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, on the edges of which denticles are present.

Ripe fruits contain a huge amount of seeds (there are at least 6,000 seeds per 1 g). The seeds are unpretentious, so they may well sprout even after several years of ripening.

Ageratum flower

Popular plant varieties

There are more than 70 different plant species, differing from each other in their decorative characteristics (color shades, flowering time, bush height, and so on). But not all are used in gardening. Let's consider the most common varieties.

Table. Popular ageratum varieties.

Alba	An unusually beautiful plant with large lilac-blue or white inflorescences. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 30 cm, which makes it look more collected and compact. It 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 painted with densely pubescent green shoots. The inflorescences of this variety are colored lilac, although plants with blue flowers can be found. The flowering period falls in June.
Neptune blue f1	One of the most popular ageratum hybrids, distinguished by its short stature (up to 15 cm) and small blue flowers. Flowering begins in early summer.
Blue Mink	A sturdy plant with thick and sturdy shoots, reaching a height of 30 cm. The diameter of dense inflorescences is no more than 2.3 cm, they are decorated with lilac flowers. This variety begins to bloom in the second half of June.
Bavaria	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.
Рink Beauty	Refers to compact ageratum varieties. 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 later come out of them have a pale pink tint.

Ageratum is often used to simulate a dry stream or reservoir

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 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 at the time of planting seedlings in the soil.

Even mild cold snaps can negatively affect the flower - this must be taken into account.

Seedlings of ageratum

On a note! Having carried out simple mathematical calculations, it is easy 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 the beginning of flowering will be slightly delayed.

Growing from seeds

Ageratum is a perennial plant, but in our conditions there is no need for its long-term use.

Breeding can be carried out in two ways - by cuttings and seeds, but, having finally weighed all the pros and cons, the growers usually stop at the second method.

Ageratum seeds

On a note! The ageratum development cycle is accelerated, which distinguishes the plant from its “colleagues”. Thanks to this feature, you can 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, therefore, if you decide to prepare the soil mixture yourself, 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, as too much humus will badly affect the flowering, making it more scarce.

Soil preparation

This all concerns only the soil prepared with your 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.

Universal nutritious soil for vegetables and flowers

Sowing seeds

Step 1. Fill the seedling container (in this case, the container) about 80% potting mix. 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 on a plate. You do not need to use everything, since the seeds are very small and there are a lot of them.

Half the contents of the package for one container is enough. It is not necessary to carry out preliminary preparation of the seed.

Seeds spill out onto a plate

Step 3. Sow seeds evenly over the surface of the soil.

They have a long shape, so you can easily notice if 5-6 pieces have accumulated in some place.

Use a regular toothpick to push the seeds apart. This will be much faster than removing seedlings later.

Sowing ageratum seeds

Step 4. During cultivation, monitor the moisture content of the soil.

Early on, moisture can be preserved by placing the container in a pre-drilled container.

If the seeds are not provided with a sufficient amount of moisture, then the plant in almost all cases dies.

Containers are placed in a container

Step 5. Place the seed container on a sunny windowsill. If all the necessary conditions for seed germination are met, then soon you will receive such friendly shoots.

First shoots

Transplant to open ground

In the second half of May, having chosen a clear and warm week (looking ahead to the weather forecast), start transplanting plant seedlings into open soil.

Place seedlings in the wells prepared in advance, and fill the remaining space with soil, which must be slightly (but not strongly) compacted.

The distance between low-growing ageratum varieties 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, as even slight shading can cause the shoots to pull out.

As a result, the flowering rate decreases. Even though the bulk of the work is behind you, you still have to work hard.

It is about caring for the ageratum.

The use of Mexican ageratum in the design of flower beds and flower beds

Follow-up care

Although the plant is considered unpretentious and not demanding to care for, you still need to pay attention to it. But the work and time spent will not be wasted. As a result, you will be rewarded with a lush and bright bloom of the ageratum.

Ageratum coniziform

Top dressing

For feeding, you can use not only mineral, but also organic fertilizers. Also, gardeners prefer to apply complex fertilizers.

This should be done every 3 weeks, and the first feeding should be carried out using the minimum dosage of fertilizers. Otherwise, flowering may slow down due to their excess.

It is highly discouraged to use manure to fertilize the soil, because it can destroy ageratum.

Mineral fertilizers

Watering

The root system of this plant is very developed, which allows ageratum to extract the right amount of moisture from the soil. Therefore, water regularly - every 3 weeks, but at least once a month.

In a hot season, the frequency of watering, as well as the amount of water used, can be slightly increased.

Ageratums will delight you with a gorgeous color, provided that they are additionally watered in dry weather.

This should be done generously, but not excessively.

Pruning ageratum

To obtain lush and beautiful bushes, it is necessary to periodically prune the ageratum. Leave no more than 4 internodes when pruning to speed up plant development.

Before the first frosts, flowers can be transplanted into separate pots and grown 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 it.

White Ageratum

Loosening the soil

Regular watering and feeding is not the only thing that needs to be done when growing ageratum. The soil around the plants must be loosened regularly.

Since this flower loves to grow in airy soil, this procedure will improve its growth. When loosening, be sure to remove all weeds as they inhibit plant growth.

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 subject to various diseases, the most common of which is root rot.

Neglect of preventive measures will lead to rotting and, as a result, death of the plant. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the intensity of watering and periodically loosen the soil.

The ageratum can also be affected by the 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 should be protected from whiteflies.

If these pests do appear, it is imperative to remove the damaged plants, and treat the flowers themselves with insecticides. Treat until all insects are completely eliminated.

Over time, when you transplant seedlings into open ground in a flower bed, nematodes or scoops can encroach on the plants. In this case, you also need to use special processing tools.

And remember that correct and conscientious observance of the rules of agricultural technology will save your plants from such troubles.

Whitefly

What does a scoop look like

Decorative uses

As noted earlier, ageratum is of great value for landscaping and decoration of sites.

This is due to long flowering, unpretentiousness and color diversity.

This combination is quite rare among ground cover ornamental plants.

Ageratum photo on flower beds

Ageratum in group composition

Vivid variety of ageratum in the flowerbed

Outdoor Ageratum Care

Low-growing ageratum varieties are ideal for decorating balconies, loggias or borders, and tall plants can be grown for further cutting.

If we talk about the combination with other flowers, then the blue ageratum varieties will look great with escholtia, zinnias and marigolds.

In other words, any unpretentious yellow flowers are suitable here.

- Germination of ageratum seeds

Ageratum planting and care in the open field seed reproduction

The Ageratum genus belongs to the Astov family. Most of these plants are native to America, but some of them grow in the east of India. In general, the number of the genus is about 60 representatives.

General information

Ageratum is a small bushy plant with toothed foliage, the shape of which differs from species to species.

Forms many straight shoots that can grow up to half a meter in height. Flowers are small, smell good, gather in inflorescences.

The fruit of the achene, which contains a very large number of seeds.

In our belt, ageratum is cultivated as an annual, due to the fact that it is a thermophilic plant. This flower is quite popular among gardeners due to the fact that it is quite easy to grow. Most often we have such types of ageratum:

to the table of contents

Varieties and types

Ageratum White forms a bush up to 20 cm tall with erect shoots, inflorescences are white, fragrant.

Ageratum blue or blue mink slightly above ageratum white. The flowers are plentiful, fluffy, pale blue.

Ageratum Mexican or Houston many varieties have been obtained from this species, depending on which the size of the bush and the color of the inflorescence fluctuate.

Varieties: Alba, Blue bouquet, Bavaria, Pink balloon, a separate group is formed by dwarf varieties Hawaii.

to the table of contents

Ageratum planting and care in the open field

It is necessary to plant ageratum in the soil when you are sure that sudden frosts will not come. It is necessary to plant the plant in a bright place, sheltered from drafts.

In terms of soil, the flower is not very picky, but it is desirable that the soil is nutritious and not acidic, and also has drainage.

To plant bushes, dig holes and, keeping a distance of 10 cm between individuals, plant the plants at the same depth as in the pot.

Caring for the ageratum, it needs to be watered periodically, a lot of liquid is needed, but so that it does not stagnate in the roots. Together with watering, they loosen the soil and get rid of weeds.

It is necessary to fertilize ageratum with mineral or humic dressings every 15-20 days. Mullein can be used. Fresh manure is completely prohibited for ageratum. Apply fertilizer sparingly, otherwise the plant may not bloom.

Also, to enhance flowering, you need to cut off the shoots, keeping only a few internodes. Also, don't forget to prune the dull flowers.

Before the start of frost, the flowers must be removed from the substrate and transplanted into containers and taken to the house, where they can grow for some time.

Leaving the ageratum for the winter, trying to cover it, is a hopeless task - it cannot stand even the mildest cold weather. In March, cuttings can be cut from old bushes and rooted after cold weather.

to the table of contents

Ageratum growing from seeds

Usually ageratum is propagated by seeds. They are sown after mid-March in a mixture of humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. The seeds are placed on the soil and easily covered with a substrate.

Next, the container is covered with glass and kept in a room with a temperature of at least 17 ° C. Do not forget to ventilate the sown and water the soil every day so that it is always slightly damp.

When shoots appear, the glass is removed, and after the development of 4 true leaves, they are dived into separate containers. When they grow up, make a second dive, and this time you need each individual to be in a separate container.

Watering seedlings can only be done in the morning. Move the seedlings to fresh air 15 days before planting so that they begin to harden. But at the same time, make sure that in case of sudden frosts, the flowers do not suffer.

to the table of contents

Diseases and pests

Ageratum's biggest problem is disease. It is very vulnerable to root rot and if the plant is affected, then it can no longer be saved. To prevent this from happening, try to choose light soil for the flower, loosen it and avoid gulf.

• When a spider mite or whitefly appears, cut off the affected foliage and use insecticides until the pests disappear.
• If the plant is attacked by scoops or nematodes, it is almost impossible to get rid of them, therefore it is better to properly care for the flower from the very beginning.

to the table of contents

How to plant and grow ageratum outdoors?

The ageratum plant, which is not very difficult to plant and care for in the open field, is a favorite flower of people who love to see bright cut bouquets in their room.

A flower from North America, it looks very much like an aster. These plants are able to keep fresh for a very long time when cut.

Ageratum characteristics and description can be found both on the Internet and in the literature on floriculture and horticulture for professionals and amateurs.

Plant varieties

Ageratum has many varieties, each of which differs in its color, shape of buds and decorativeness of green mass.

Plants can be both large and small, but they all have one thing in common - the beauty of the buds and their durability.

It is required to dwell in more detail on the varieties of culture.

Ageratum blue is one of the most common varieties. The flowers of this plant are distinguished by a special saturation of shade, although at the same time they are not too large in size.

Ageratum Blue mink is a similar variety, only its buds are smaller and lighter.

Ageratum Blue mink reaches a height of only 15-20 cm, but stands out among all the others with delicate bluish lavender flowers.

• Clairvoyant Baba Nina named the signs of the zodiac, on which money will fall from the sky in May 2018 ...

Ageratum Blue ball is also considered a compact plant, although it is already slightly higher than the previous variety - it reaches 20-25 cm. This species is distinguished by rather dense inflorescences of a pale blue hue. Pink ball - the variety is the same, only it has pink inflorescences.

Ageratum White (Alba) is a variety characterized by snow-white flowers that dazzle your eyes. The bush of white ageratum is not very large - about 20 cm in height, the inflorescences on it are dense and very beautiful, somewhat reminiscent of a bride's wedding dress.

Houston's Ageratum is a type of culture that combines all of the above plants plus a few more varieties.

It is a collection of all ageratums of small size with medium-sized, but tightly adjacent buds in inflorescences.

Houston's Ageratum is a mixture of Mexican plants in a wide variety of vibrant colors.

Site and soil preparation

For ageratum, planting and care in the open field is determined by the choice of a suitable place for the plant, as well as soil that will fully satisfy the needs of this chic bush. If we talk about cultivation, ageratum requires correct planting at first, so it is necessary to consider its main subtleties. So:

1. 1For a plant, it is important to choose a place that will be as illuminated as possible. This flower normally tolerates shade for only 2 hours a day. The rest of the time, it is desirable to stay in direct sunlight, even if the weather in the region is very hot and dry.
2. 2 An important rule in growing ageratum from seedlings or seeds is the absence of drafts. It is preferable to choose an open area that will be protected by a green fence in the distance. This will simultaneously give the plant maximum light and shelter it from the winds.
3. 3 Despite the fact that the plant is not very whimsical to the soil, it is advisable to choose the lightest and most non-acidic soil for it. You should not enrich the land with fertilizers too much, since in this case all the forces will go to the formation of foliage, and flowering will not be so noticeable.
4. 4Avoid the presence of a large amount of stones in the soil, and do not over-water it before planting. Otherwise, the root system can rot and the plant will die, never having time to please with its beautiful buds.

Compliance with such simple recommendations will provide the plants with the necessary conditions for the further development and formation of dense, bright inflorescences, regardless of which way this culture is supposed to be planted in open ground.

General Tips

Successful cultivation of ageratum from seeds at home and in the open field is equally effective. But gardeners still prefer to plant this plant in their gardens or vegetable gardens, so it is necessary to dwell on this process in more detail.

Germination from seeds

If ageratum is grown from seeds, when should they be planted in the ground? This is the most frequently asked question by gardeners. Experts assure that it is best to do this in early March, when there are no longer severe frosts at night.

However, if we are talking about growing a plant from seeds in room conditions, followed by picking rooted flowers, then you can start sowing seeds in January.

There are many varieties of this plant, but the planting material for all is almost the same.

To grow healthy ageratum from seeds, a suitable substrate must be prepared.

It is best to take humus, sand and peat in equal parts, mix everything thoroughly and moisten so that the soil becomes loose.

Prepare wooden boxes or peat pots, pour the substrate into them. Ageratum seeds do not need to be soaked.

In a box or pots, make shallow grooves, spill with warm water, put the seeds there and sprinkle with loose soil on top. You can moisten the ground with water from a spray bottle.

The box is covered with foil. Seedlings will appear in about 10 days, after which the plants can be taken out into the air.

If the greenhouse is located right on the site, start opening it more often so that the flower gets used to the surrounding climate.

Moisten the soil as it dries, sprinkle the sprouts with new substrate to form healthy roots.

The picking of seedlings into separate peat pots or directly into the ground to a permanent place is done when the plants already have several leaves, and the stem has become quite powerful. The first time after picking, ageratum must be watered with any complex fertilizer.

Planting cuttings

When propagating ageratum by cuttings, it is important to choose the right weather - when the temperature will stay at 21 ° C, and there will be no severe frosts at night.

It is necessary to plant ageratum in the ground rooted.

The holes for it are not prepared too deep, since excessive embedding of plants in the ground can lead to rotting of the stem.

In ageratum, seedlings require good drainage from expanded clay, a little chicken droppings or dry leaves. Such organics will serve as a sufficient breeding ground for the near future.

Cover the ageratum with foil immediately after planting. It will be possible to remove it only when the plant is fully strengthened, and outside, both day and night, the temperature will be above zero.

Care advice

If ageratum flowers are properly planted in open ground, then this is already half the success. But ageratum care is just as important as proper landing. This beautiful plant is monitored no less than other inhabitants of the garden. In this case, some subtleties should be taken into account:

1. 1Moderate, but plentiful watering is the key to active flowering of the plant. The culture loves moisture very much, but at the same time does not tolerate its excess in the soil. It is necessary to water the plant as the soil dries. You can do this often, but at the same time use a little water, it is also allowed to water the ageratum less often with a large amount of liquid in order to wet the entire earthen lump. In hot and arid climates, the flower needs abundant moisture.
2. 2Try to remove weeds from the soil around the bushes after each watering. Do this carefully so as not to damage the not yet fully formed root system of the plant when it comes to young seedlings.
3. 3Weeding the soil is one of the main factors in the formation of beautiful bouquets of flowers. The soil should be weeded after each watering (after about 1-2 days, when it dries up a little). This will provide breathing for the roots and prevent rotting.
4. 4 The shrubs of the plant respond well to formation. Thanks to proper pruning, the bushes can be given the most bizarre views - from spherical to elongated upward. Pruning also contributes to a more active and lush flowering of the plant.
5. 5In order for the ageratum to grow not upward, but to form a lush crown of leaves and flowers, you should periodically pinch it. And this should be done at a young age. When pinching, it is important to leave at least 5 leaves on the shoots of the plant. Then the bush will bloom for a long time and magnificently.
6. 6Correct fertilization of the soil is another critical aspect of ageratum care. It is necessary to introduce minerals into the soil no more than three times a week. In this case, you can limit yourself to mullein or chicken droppings. But any manure must be diluted with water.

All of these above tips will help you grow healthy ageratum plants on the site, which will delight you with their bright color and decorative leaves for a long time. If we talk about growing, the flower is not very whimsical to care for.

Possible difficulties

Like any garden flower, ageratum, which is easy to care for, is not protected from pests and fungal diseases.

And although, unlike fruit crops, the flower is more resistant to negative effects, it also needs prevention and periodic treatment as needed.

It is necessary to dwell on these issues in more detail.

Ageratum diseases

The most dangerous disease of ageratum is cucumber mosaic. It manifests itself in the fact that white and yellow spots appear on the leaves. Soon, in the absence of appropriate treatment, such spots lure aphids, which finally destroys the ageratum.

Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment for this disease when it comes to severe damage. You just need to remove the diseased bush from the soil. If the plant is not badly damaged, you can treat it with Bordeaux liquid.

Another dangerous disease is root rot. It infects and destroys almost all plants with the wrong watering regime.

At the initial stage, root rotting has practically no effect on the condition of the plant.

But with the progression of the disease, ageratum literally begins to wither: the leaves wither and turn yellow, the flowers do not differ in particular brightness, the buds are formed weak or do not tie at all.

If signs of root rot are found, then it is imperative to get the ageratum out of the soil and carefully examine the root system. If the plant is severely damaged, most likely, it will not be possible to save the plant.

If only an insignificant part of the roots has rotted, then they are removed, and the cuts are processed with charcoal. After that, it is better to plant the ageratum in another place in order to avoid re-infection.

Typical pests

One of the most common insects that can cause significant damage to the ageratum is the whitefly.

As a rule, it affects the leaves, after which white or yellowish spots remain on them, outwardly very reminiscent of a mosaic disease.

As a method of fighting whitefly, special oils are used, which are sprayed with ageratum bushes. These minerals can be purchased at any garden store.

The interval of treatments is from 1 to 2 weeks. This can be done as a preventive measure. But before the procedure, do not forget to remove all affected leaves and stems.

As for slugs and bears, they do not spoil this plant so often.

If, nevertheless, there are too many pests on the site, then it is better to use baits in a timely manner, thanks to which it will be possible to reduce their number in a relatively short time and thereby protect the plants as much as possible.

For ageratum, the description and growing rules of which can be found today in many reference books for flower growers, it is important to do everything on time - picking, watering, weeding and pruning.

Then beautiful inflorescences with colorful buds will not keep you waiting long and will delight both in the flowerbed and cut in a vase indoors. When choosing a certain variety of ageratum for yourself, remember that almost all types of this plant are unpretentious in content.

Cultivation and care will not be difficult, even if there is a desire to combine several varieties in a flower bed at once.

The story of one of our readers Irina Volodina:

Especially depressing for me were the eyes, surrounded by large wrinkles plus dark circles and swelling. How to remove wrinkles and bags under the eyes completely? How to deal with swelling and redness? But nothing makes a person look older or younger than his eyes.

But how to rejuvenate them? Plastic surgery? Recognized - not less than 5 thousand dollars.

Hardware procedures - photorejuvenation, gas-liquid pilling, radiolifting, laser facelift? Slightly more affordable - the course costs 1.5-2 thousand dollars.

And when to find all this time? And it's still expensive. Especially now. Therefore, for myself, I chose a different way ...

Read the article >>

Ageratum growing from seeds when to plant seedlings planting and care in the open field

Growing seeds - video:

Landing in open ground is carried out in a warm period of time, at a temperature of at least 20 ° C. The heat-loving culture does not tolerate cold weather, so the plants are planted not by numbers, but by weather conditions.

Picking seedlings - video:

When diving, it is recommended to use peat cups. When planting, seedlings are placed at a distance of 20 cm from each other.

Ageratum before planting in the ground

Propagation by cuttings

Usually ageratum is propagated by seeds and seedlings. Compared to cuttings, these methods are less laborious and are used more often. The method of propagation by cuttings is used to breed hybrids, and to achieve a bushy plant appearance.

Propagation of ageratum by cuttings

Preparation for grafting takes place in the fall before the start of frost. Flowers intended for reproduction from open ground are transplanted into pots and brought into a warm room. With the onset of spring, lateral shoots up to 5 cm in size are cut from the plants.

The place of the cuts should be below the buds, where a special substance is located, which further protects the mother plant from the effects of fungus and disease. Cut cuttings should be planted in a mini greenhouse.

Planting in open ground is the same as for normal planting of seedlings.

Ageratum care

Constant and proper care of the ageratum, as well as adherence to important recommendations, allows you to grow a full-fledged culture.

ageratum in the garden photo

Watering ageratum

Flowers do not tolerate increased water flooding. For the full development of plants, daily moderate watering is required. It is best to water in the morning.

The moisture entering the soil gradually evaporates under the influence of the sun's rays, thereby allowing the flowers to receive important vital energy. During the flowering period, the dose of watering should be slightly increased.

You should also maintain an evenly moist soil condition.

Top dressing

The introduction of humus contributes to the good growth of flowers. In the absence of this fertilizer, mineral or compost can be used, precisely observing the required dosage. An excess of fertilizers, including organic ones, can bring a small number of flowers to plants with increased growth.

what does ageratum look like

The result is not a flowering voluminous bush. Stable flowering ageratum brings the use of nitrophoska and ammophoska at the rate of 20 - 30 grams of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.

Loosening and pruning

Continuous maintenance requires periodic loosening of the soil and removal of weeds. During weeding, loosen the soil with care to avoid damaging roots that are close to the surface.

The restoration of the flower after trimming the overgrown upper part is painless and quick. Withered and dry flowers are removed from the plants. This will create an attractive appearance, keep the compact shape of the bushes, and also extend the flowering period.

Ageratum at home

Home conditions are great for flower development.

Unpretentious plants grow wonderfully in spacious containers, with a small amount of drainage on the bottom.

In winter, they delight in amicable flowering. In the summer, they are placed on the balcony, veranda, or fixed under the windows.

Simple rules for caring for ageratum at home will preserve the decorative appearance of plants for a long time:

1. The arrangement of flowers in the room should be on the south side of the apartment, near the windows, with a lot of warmth and light.
2. Watering plants should be carried out daily in the morning, with small doses at the root.
3. The purchase of ready-made soil for ageratum, with the necessary content of trace elements and organic matter, will allow plants to receive useful nutrients. At the same time, the loose structure of the soil will give the roots a constant supply of air.
4. Complex formulations of dressings must be applied once every six months.
5. Overgrown flowers should be separated and planted in spacious containers.

Diseases and pests

Ageratum is resistant to various diseases. Due to its tropical origin, it is not a tasty plant for pests. However, despite its good resistance indicators, it is also subject to some diseases and attacks from dangerous pests:

• frequent planting and increased watering of plants leads to the appearance of cucumber mosaic and bacterial wilting;
• most susceptible to the invasion of aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.

Garlic tincture is the most effective folk remedy for pest control.

To prepare the tincture, use 220 grams of chopped garlic, filled with 1 liter of water. After 5 days, the mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.

The finished tincture is applied to the infected areas of the plant using a spray bottle.

When making a tincture, you should carefully monitor the amount of garlic used in order to avoid burns in plants in the future.

Both folk and industrial special means help to resist pests.

In the fight against spider mites, it is recommended to use industrial products made from insecticidal acaricidal preparations: "Agravertin", "Neoron" and "Nissoran".

To cope with the whitefly will help drugs: "Mospilan", "Tanrek" and "Commander".

Difficulties in growing and caring

With an early planting of ageratum, the color of the leaves may change to a lighter color, due to the low temperature at night.

In this case, timely hardening of seedlings with shelter during cold nights will be an effective preventive measure. Targeted hardening is also possible with the removal of seedlings to the balcony.

As a shelter, they use: cellophane, paper bags, cut bulk plastic eggplants.

With improper watering of the ageratum, blackening and decay of the plant is possible. Abundant watering from above leads to the retention of water droplets in the fuzzy upper part of the plant.

With insufficient ventilation, the flower is covered with mold with further negative consequences.

In this situation, only the root method is a prerequisite and correct condition for watering.

Collecting seeds for planting

To obtain seeds for planting, flowers must be pollinated by bumblebees or bees.

After the end of the flowering period of the plants, after about 2-3 weeks from the appearance of flowers, the seeds are collected for future planting.

The collected seeds are light brown in color, very light, elongated and small in size. 1 gram can contain from 6 to 7 thousand pieces.

Seeds are best stored in paper or cloth bags in a cool, dry place.

Description of ageratum with photo of flowers

The birthplace of the perennial ageratum is considered to be the southern tropical countries: Mexico and South America. A wide distribution of flowers can also be seen in the eastern part of India.

In the climatic conditions of Russia, due to poor frost tolerance, the plant is grown as an annual. A developed root system adapts well to a new place.

A heat-loving culture in greenhouse and home conditions can grow for many years.

Ageratum blue in the photo

The appearance of the ageratum has a small bush shape with stems not exceeding 60 cm in length. Small bright green leaves from 3 to 4 cm completely cover the plant, creating a lush carpet.

The decorativeness of the ground cover plant is given by soft fibers that envelop the leaves, stems and flowers.

In the bushy part there are tubular flowers of blue and purple color, with petals in the form of long soft needles.

The color scheme of flowers of ageratum varieties is represented by pink, white, lilac and other shades. Long flowering up to 5 months, starting from May - June and ending with October, pleases those around with its richness and amazing beauty.

The culture is widely used in landscape design. It goes well with many plants. Used in the design of carpet compositions. Able to harmoniously fill empty spaces among representatives of other cultures. It is in demand in the works of designers and florists.

Popular varieties of ageratum

Florists who wish to replenish their collection with Ageratum must first choose a plant variety. Each type of flower has its own merit.

Blue mink

The most popular of all varieties. This species has large flowers with a classic color. Numerous hybrids have been created from this variety.

The flower called Ageratum Blue Danube is the most beautiful. The hybrid of this plant is smaller than the parent variety.

The main difference between this type of ageratum is its unusual purple color of flowers.

Mexican

The variety has a second name - Houston's ageratum. The flowers are larger than the Blue Mink. It can reach a height of up to 50 cm.

The variety contains two subspecies: shrub and herbaceous. The flowers are light blue with a lilac tint, collected in corymbose inflorescences.

Plants are photophilous, adapt well to bright sunlight and are not afraid of high temperatures.

Ageratum Mexican photo

Summer snow

This species has a miniature and not too branchy bush shape. Small leaves of rich light green color.

Lush white flowers are collected in complex umbellate shields, which are densely distributed over the surface of the bush. Long bloom lasts from early June to late autumn.

Flowers tolerate heat well. The variety is grown on flower bed borders and flowerpots.

Agerantum white Summer Snow

Pink balloon

It is the best annual ground cover variety. A small branchy bush during flowering is hidden by a bright cap of fluffy and fragrant pink flowers.

Blooms intensively from mid-June to mid-October. There are large pubescent leaves. The sun-loving plant grows well in nutritious soil.

Used to decorate flower beds for various purposes.

ageratum pink ball

Bonjour

An annual plant variety is a short bush about 25 cm high. Flowering from the beginning of June lasts until the first frost.

Fragrant multi-colored flowers are collected in large corymbose inflorescences. Photophilous and drought tolerant species can be grown with little shade.

Flowers are an original decoration for balconies, flower beds, rabatki and mixborders.

ageratum bonjour

Snow blanket

The ground cover variety is strewn with snow-white flowers, which are collected in fluffy paniculate inflorescences. A low, spreading bush reaches a height of 25 cm. A luxurious white "blanket" is covered with flowers of the variety, a flower bed, a flower garden, a border, harmoniously combining with other flowering plants.

ageratum snow cover photo

White ball

Small flowers resemble fluffy white balls, densely dotted on small globular bushes. Drought-resistant plants grow on any soil. They tolerate sun and partial shade well.

They are distinguished by abundant flowering until the onset of frost. A mesmerizing impressive appearance is represented by a combination of a variety with red, blue, pink and purple flowers of other ageratum varieties.

Plants are grown to decorate flower beds, balconies, curbs, rocky hills.

ageratum white ball photo

Aztec treasures

The excellent characteristic of the variety distinguishes this species from other types of ageratum. They are grown in seedlings.

Prolonged abundant flowering pleases the entire summer period until the first autumn frosts.

A wide range of colors of flowers looks harmoniously in a decorative flowerpot, on any flower bed, as well as when creating spectacular borders.

ageratum aztec treasures photos

Landing sites of ageratum

Ornamental culture is widely used for home and garden decoration. Most of all grows in a flower bed. When several varieties are planted, a beautiful flower meadow is obtained.

The combination of plant varieties with red and yellow flowers of other cultures, elegantly and effectively decorates any flower bed. Also used for curbs and alpine slides.

To create expressive flower arrangements, ageratum is grown with other decorative flowers: zinnia, velvet, calendula and many others.

A light-loving plant requires a lot of sun and space. Planting in a shady place is not suitable for flowers, they stretch more in height, while losing their aesthetic appearance. For planting, choose a soil fertile and neutral in chemical composition.

Rotted manure is used as fertilizer, which, unlike fresh manure, does not burn the roots of plants. Drainage is done on poorly ventilated soil to avoid rotting of the root system. For this, a layer of gravel is laid under the top layer of the earth.

The best varieties of ageratum are rightfully popular and in demand among many gardeners. An unpretentious plant, with timely planting and proper care, endows all its connoisseurs with an abundance of bright colors.