Ageratum can be grown as a houseplant

Very often flowering plants from flower beds, borders and alpine slides can be seen on terraces, loggias and balconies. They are planted in boxes and pots of various sizes, large outdoor flowerpots and tubs. This is explained by the simple desire of flower growers to admire their flowering as long as possible and inhale the scent of summer. Among such plants, which often migrate from the garden to the pots, include undersized varieties and hybrids of ageratum - a tropical plant discovered by W. Houston.

The ageratum flower, a photo of the cultivation process of which can be seen below, is often called a long-flowered flower, since the flowering period of most of its varieties is four or even five months. As a rule, it lasts from early June to late September - early October.

Low-growing varieties and hybrids of ageratum form very neat and compact bushes, the height of which reaches only 30-40 cm. These fluffy balls-bushes look very attractive both on a flower bed, in a curb composition, and in a pot on a balcony or terrace.

The color palette of the inflorescences of this plant includes all shades of pink and purple without exception, starting with a pale pink color and ending with a rich blue-violet shade.

There are also white and yellow varieties of this flower, with the help of artistic planting, you can create real masterpieces in flower beds.

Growing ageratum from seeds at home

Ageratum cannot be called too picky or finicky flower, with which many problems arise. It is very unpretentious, therefore, growing ageratum from seeds at home in the vast majority of cases does not cause any particular difficulties. For growing ageratum from seeds at home, southeast and south windows are best suited. The plant reproduces well by seeds, which are planted on seedlings, and then transplanted into separate pots for further planting in the ground or flowerpot.

Despite the fact that growing ageratum with seedlings is a rather troublesome business, many growers resort to it. This method of plant propagation allows you to obtain a sufficient number of seedlings and plant large areas with these beautiful and abundantly flowering plants.

The best time for sowing ageratum seeds at home is mid-March. If the climate allows you to plant plants in the ground or take them out in a pot on an open balcony or terrace at the beginning of May, then you can sow seeds for seedlings 20-25 days earlier, that is, already at the beginning of February.

Before proceeding directly to sowing seeds at home, you need to prepare the soil. It must have the correct composition and be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The ideal soil for germinating seeds and seedlings is a mixture of humus, sand and peat, taken in equal parts.

Since the seeds of ageratum are very small, they are mixed with dry sand for greater convenience of sowing. This will help to quickly distribute them over the beds. Having placed the seeds in the soil, you need to irrigate it abundantly with warm water using a spray bottle. But watering in the usual way is not worth it, since the flow of water can wash off all the seeds in one place and the seedlings will turn out to be uneven. The container with the sown seeds of ageratum should be placed in a warm, well-lit place and covered with glass (plastic wrap).

After the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the container is placed on a well-lit windowsill. Comfortable growing conditions for ageratum are very important - it should be warm enough (at least 18 degrees) and humid. Care must be taken to ensure that the seedlings do not stretch or lean to one side. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to turn the container with seedlings regularly, exposing the sun to one side or the other.

After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the ageratum is planted in separate peat pots or small plastic cups. In late May and early June, mature seedlings are planted in flowerpots or pots, in which they will develop further.

Propagation of ageratum by cuttings

You can also grow ageratum from cuttings, which are cut in spring from a mother plant that has been preserved all winter in a greenhouse or greenhouse. Plants left in the ground for the winter are not suitable for grafting, since they die when frost occurs.

Further cultivation of ageratum flower cuttings takes place in separate containers filled with a soil-sand mixture. Young plants obtained by cuttings should be regularly sprayed and watered. Rooting of ageratum cuttings at home occurs quickly, since the process of formation of adventitious roots in this plant occurs without difficulty.

In most cases, breeders use this method of propagation of ageratum to propagate hybrid or selective plant species. This is due to the fact that a large number of cuttings cannot be cut from one bush, and sowing seeds is most suitable for mass reproduction and growing flowers for seedlings.

Growing and caring for ageratum (with photo)

In most cases, planting and caring for ageratum does not cause any particular problems. The plant does not need any special treatments.

All you need to do is to loosen the soil to ensure a sufficient flow of oxygen to the roots, timely remove weeds that prevent the flower from fully developing and water it periodically, preventing cracking and drying out of the soil.

As for feeding, experts recommend using ammofosk nitrophoska and some other mineral components. But organic fertilizers, according to many gardeners, it is better not to use, since in this case the plant begins to intensively increase the deciduous mass to the detriment of flowering.

If there is no need to harvest seeds for next year, then after the flowers have withered, they need to be cut, thereby stimulating the plant to renew the crown. In the event that some inflorescences lose their picturesqueness and become covered with mold, they need to be disposed of as soon as possible. Most often, such a nuisance occurs when the plants are too densely planted and the density of the inflorescences.

Photos showing planting and caring for ageratum can be viewed below:

Unfortunately, even excellent care of ageratum cannot completely exclude the possibility of the development of diseases of this plant. Basically, the flower suffers from horse rot, since many growers water it too often.

Ageratum is also susceptible to bacterial wilting, to combat which it is necessary to remove all damaged greens. Also, the plant is exposed to the invasion of nematodes, ticks and whiteflies, to combat which insecticides are used.

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 actions of the fungus and the mother plant will not start to hurt and will not 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 flooding with water 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 give 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.

Ageratum diseases and pests

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 for 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 in 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, 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 variety of the 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 the 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 flowerpots.

Where is the best place to plant ageratum

ageratum red Ageratum Red Flint

Ageratum is widely used as an ornamental plant: at home and in the garden. 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, 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 cover it all with removed earth.

ageratum in landscape design photo

Ageratum Houston

Translated from Greek, the word “ageratum” means “ageless”. Indeed, the flowers of this popular ornamental plant are capable of not fading for a long time. Ageratums are often used to decorate courtyards and gardens, as well as loggias and balconies. Sometimes they are grown as indoor plants.

Ageratum: description

This flower belongs to the group of perennials of the Astrov family. His homeland is Mexico and some other countries in South America. It is also sometimes found in the wild in East India. In our country and in Europe, it is bred mainly as an annual. For several years, ageratum can grow only in indoor conditions, as well as in greenhouses and greenhouses.

The root system of this plant is very well developed. The same can be said about the aboveground part. Fluffy compact bushes are literally dotted with small bright blue flowers. One of the distinguishing features of the ageratum is the presence of soft hairs on the trunk, branches, leaves and even flowers.

Varieties

So, you decided to plant ageratum on your site. The seeds can be purchased at a specialty store or online. There are several varieties of this flower, each of which is beautiful in its own way. The most spectacular is Ageratum Blue, or, as it is also called, "blue mink". Ageratum Blue Danube is also very popular with gardeners. This is a hybrid of "blue mink", characterized by greater compactness and lilac shade of flowers.

Very often in gardens and courtyards you can also see the Houston Ageratum or the Mexican variety. This semi-shrub or herbaceous plant can reach a height of 50 cm. Flowers in the Mexican ageratum are usually pure blue. Sometimes they also have a slightly lilac hue.

Another beautiful cultivar is Ageratum Summer Snow. It is a short and very compact plant with small leaves and also small dark pink flowers.

Usage

Ageratum, planting and caring for which is carried out according to certain rules, is most often used to decorate yards and gardens in large flower beds. Many varieties of this plant form a continuous, very thick and beautiful "carpet". These flowers are very well combined with marigolds, zinnias, verbena, calendula, helenium and rudbeckia. Sometimes ageratums are also used in curbs or on alpine slides.

How to choose a seat for landing

Most species of ageratum love sunny areas. In the shade of plants, stems can be extended, which is why they greatly lose in decorativeness. Decay of the root system is what ageratum very often suffers from. Therefore, it should be grown in an open, well-ventilated place.

The soil these plants love light nutritious, neutral. Before planting, the flowerbed should be dug up and fertilized, for example, with well-rotted manure. It is very good to pre-arrange drainage. To do this, the earth is removed from the flower bed and gravel is poured onto the bottom of the resulting pit. Then the soil is placed back.

How to plant

The ageratum flower is usually propagated by seeds, seedlings. The boxes can be filled with garden soil mixed with manure or a special soil mixture from the store, intended for ampel or terrace flowers.Planting is carried out in late March - early April.

The seeds are not buried too deeply, only lightly sprinkling them with earth. The air temperature in the room with boxes should not drop below 20 degrees. Ageratum sprouts appear approximately two weeks after planting. Before that, the boxes should be covered with plastic wrap. In this case, a humid warm microclimate will be established in them, which will allow them to grow a strong ageratum. The seedlings will be more viable and developed.

After several leaves appear on the plants, a pick is carried out into cups. Thanks to a very well-developed root system, the ageratum flower tolerates transplantation very well. In the gardens, summer residents sometimes even dig up flowering plants and plant them in another place. At the same time, there are no negative changes in ageratums. The only thing is that after such a transplant, as well as a pick, the plants should be thoroughly filled with water.

When is it worth transferring ageratum to open ground? Do this immediately after warm weather is established outside. The bushes are planted, carefully removing them from the mashed cups. The distance between plants in the open field should be at least 20 cm.

Propagation by cuttings

Ageratum, planting and caring for which - the procedures are actually usually not too complicated, thus, most often propagated by seeds. However, this method can only produce tall plants with a small amount of foliage. More compact bushes grow when using the propagation method of cuttings. This same method is commonly used for hybrid forms. Such ageratums cannot be propagated by seeds, since in this case their special decorative qualities will be lost.

To get cuttings, the mother plant in the fall, before the onset of frost, is dug up, placed in a pot and brought into a warm room. In the spring, several healthy shoots (lateral) are removed from the bush. The cut should be made directly under the kidney. The fact is that the tissues in this place of the shoot are less susceptible to fungal diseases. The length of the cuttings should be about 5 cm. The shoots are planted in a small greenhouse with a loose nutritious substrate. Cuttings of ageratum take root very quickly. They are transplanted into open ground in the same way as seedlings.

How to properly care

The agertatum plant is tropical, and therefore does not tolerate drying out of the soil very well. Therefore, you will have to water the bushes daily. This is usually done in the morning. But you should not flood the plants too much. Waterlogging can lead to decay of the root system. Water after irrigation should not stand in the garden.

Of course, the owners will also have to fertilize the ageratum. Growing in this case will be much more successful. For feeding, you can use well-rotted manure, compost or complex mineral fertilizer. Too much organic matter cannot be applied for these plants. Otherwise, the bushes will grow very fluffy, but they will not bloom. Instead of organic matter, it is better to use ammophoska or nitrophoska (20-30 g per 10 liters of water).

Pruning plants that are too long should be pruned. New shoots on the bushes appear very quickly. Be sure to remove the buds that have come off. Otherwise, the plant will quickly lose its decorative appearance.

Diseases and pests

Ageratum is quite resistant to all kinds of infections, planting and caring for which are procedures that require compliance with certain rules. But sometimes some problems with these flowers still arise for the owners of suburban areas. For example, if ageratums are planted too often, they may develop a disease such as cucumber mosaic. Also, planting errors can lead to bacterial wilting of plants. The same problems often arise when you water these flowers too often.

Sometimes ageratum in a flowerbed or in a border is affected by aphids, spider mites or whiteflies. In the first case, the flowers should be sprayed with garlic infusion. To do this, the cloves are grated and filled with water (200 grams per 1 liter). The resulting mixture is infused for 5 days. Then 300 ml of the solution is diluted in 10 liters of water.

Spider mites can be dealt with by spraying plants with any preparation from the group of insectoacaricides. You can use, for example, "Neoron", "Agraverine" or "Nissoran". Against whitefly, "Tanrek", "Mospilan" or "Commander" are usually used.

In the event that the plant is planted in the ground too early, its leaves may lighten a lot. The fact is that ageratums do not tolerate low temperatures very well. To prevent this from happening, seedlings of plants should be hardened before planting in open ground. As soon as it gets a little warmer outside, glasses with ageratums are taken out onto the balcony or loggia. At night they need to be taken back to the room.

Ageratum in the flowerbed is actually very beautiful. But only not when his flowers begin to blacken and fade. In this case, the buds can also become slightly moldy. In this case, the affected flowers are removed, and the plants themselves are thinned out. To avoid this problem, watering should be done very carefully. Do not pour water on flowers and leaves. Watering ageratum is best at the root.

Planting material

The seeds are harvested immediately after flowering. Ageratums fade about 2-3 weeks after the buds begin to bloom. Most varieties are pollinated by bumblebees and bees. The seeds of the ageratum are elongated and very small. 1 gram of them can contain 6000-7000 pieces. They are light brown in color.

The collected planting material is placed in paper bags or sachets and stored in a cool dry place until spring.

As you can see, this is a rather spectacular and at the same time not too whimsical plant - ageratum. Planting and caring for him must, however, be carried out correctly. With timely watering and using the fertilizers recommended above, you can grow a beautiful fluffy "carpet" that can become just a wonderful decoration for any garden or yard.

If the florist is faced with the task of creating a blooming flower bed in an open place under the bright sun, it makes sense to pay attention to the ageratum. This annual can be safely included in the list of the most unpretentious flowers. In the article, we will consider the step-by-step cultivation of Ageratum from seeds at home, how to propagate and when to plant a flower.

Botanical characteristics and growing conditions of ageratum

Ageratum is a genus of tropical plants that belongs to the Astrov family. It includes many species, but only one is cultivated in culture - the Houston ageratum or long-flowered. Ageratum Houston is native to Central America. It is a perennial herb with densely pubescent erect branchy shoots. Being thermophilic, ageratum does not tolerate Russian winters and is grown in our latitudes as an annual.

Small bisexual long-flowered flowers are collected in small baskets with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm. Numerous baskets, in turn, form complex shields up to 10 cm in diameter. Ageratum blooms in early summer and blooms in waves until frost. Read also the article: → "Unpretentious annual flowers for a summer residence."

Ageratum is a good honey plant: its flowers are very fragrant.

For the successful cultivation of long-flowered flowers, you need a sunny place and light loose soil. Ageratum does not make increased demands on soil fertility. Calmly tolerates overheating of the soil, lack of water, therefore it blooms even where other plants simply burn out. But this flower does not like shadow and even partial shade - it stretches and blooms badly. It does not tolerate waterlogging, it can get sick and die from excess moisture.

Ageratum varieties for creating carpet compositions

Long flowers can be of different heights. Tall ones reach 60 cm and are mainly used for cutting. Low-growing ones are great for creating even fluffy rugs. Among them, the following varieties and hybrids can be distinguished:

1. Blausternchen. The variety forms compact bushes up to 15 cm high. The color of the inflorescences is lilac.
2. Neptune Blue F1. An early flowering hybrid up to 20 cm high. The inflorescences are dense, bright blue.
3. Royal Hawaii F1. Dense compact bush up to 15 cm high with numerous light purple inflorescences.
4. Aloha F1. Bushes up to 15 cm high with dense snow-white inflorescences.
5. Kalinka. The height of the bushes is up to 20 cm. The inflorescences are lush, up to 8 cm in diameter, of a dark burgundy color.

Ageratum is ideal for arranging carpet beds in a regular style.

Ageratum varieties for creating bouquets

The long-flowered flower holds in the cut no worse than chrysanthemum and is combined with many types of flowers. Therefore, its cultivation for bouquets is a very promising occupation. For this, the following varieties can be recommended:

1. Red sea. Plant height - up to 30 cm. Inflorescences are colored bright red, gradually thickening to dark purple.
2. Blue Mink. Also known as Blue Mink. Height up to 30 cm, the color of the inflorescences is blue with a shade of lilac.
3. Weisser Schnitt F1. A hybrid up to 60 cm high with beautiful snow-white inflorescences.
4. Bavaria. Medium-sized (up to 30 cm) variety with two-color inflorescences: in the center - white-blue, around the circumference - bright blue.
5. Summer Snow. Shrub up to 45 cm high with dense white inflorescences.

Tip # 1. The long-flowered flower retains its decorative effect when quickly dried with inflorescences down and can be used for winter bouquets with dried flowers.

Growing ageratum from seeds: step by step instructions

Despite the fact that ageratum is a southern plant, it has quite adapted to give seeds in temperate climates. They remain viable for quite a long time (up to 4 years), and it is not difficult to grow a long-flowered from them. This is done through seedlings. The optimal time for sowing is the first decade of April, when the daylight hours are already long, and there is no urgent need for additional lighting.Read also the article: → "How to plant flowers correctly."

Step 1. Preparing the soil for planting

There is no need for self-compilation of the soil mixture. For sowing ageratum, you can take ready-made soil. For example, the "Flower" company "Fasco" with the inclusion of sand and expanded clay, "Terra Vita" for flowers with agroperlite and biohumus, "Sadovaya Zemlya" with dolomite flour and sand, or "Humimax" with humic fertilizer and river sand are well suited. Fill the seedling container with the selected soil, lightly compact and water.

Soil preparation for planting seeds

Step 2. Seed preparation and sowing

Pour the seeds into a glass with a solution of the "Fitosporin-M" preparation, stand for 2 hours, and then dry them on a napkin. Spread the seeds at random on the surface of the soil, lightly sprinkle on top and spray a little from a spray bottle. Cover with glass or foil and keep at a temperature of + 22-23⁰С until germination appears.

Step 3. Care of seedlings

Ageratum rises quickly - within 5-10 days. After the seedlings appear, place the container on a light southern or eastern window sill. If this is not possible, it is better to put the seedlings under a phytolamp. Water in moderation. Top dressing can be given with a half dose of full mineral fertilizer once a week. Pinching the seedlings usually does not require, but if it stretches, it is better to pinch the top. Ageratum tolerates transplants well, therefore it can be grown without picking.

Tip # 2. Growing ageratum from seeds using a seedless method in temperate latitudes is futile. From germination to flowering, this plant takes about 3 months.

When 2 pairs of true leaves appear, the long-flowered can be cut into separate cups.

3 mistakes when growing ageratum

Mistake # 1. Excessive nitrogen nutrition.

The desire to stimulate the fastest growth of the plant with the help of mullein and other nitrogen fertilizers leads to the growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering. In addition, the plant becomes loose and prone to disease and pest attacks.

Mistake # 2. Violation of the irrigation regime.

The soil under the ageratum, both during the growth of seedlings and in the future, should be moderately moist. It is better to keep the air dry.

Mistake number 3. Ignore cropping.

It is necessary to remove faded shoots from ageratum. This stimulates lateral branching and prolongs flowering of the plant.

Planting ageratum seedlings in open ground

Long-flowered plants are planted in open ground when stable warm weather is established. This usually occurs at the end of May. It is good if leguminous siderates are sown on the flowerbed before planting the ageratum: clover, vetch or sweet clover. Especially suitable for preparing the soil for long-flowered lupine. Bitter alkaloids, which are secreted by its roots, prevent the development of root rot.

Before planting seedlings, the soil should be well loosened. To make a carpet bed, the holes are made in a checkerboard pattern with an interval of 15 cm. Ageratum is planted at the same depth at which it was in the seedling period. It is possible to deepen, but not much - to a maximum of cotyledonous leaves.

After planting, long-flowered flowers are well watered and mulched. Rotted sawdust, low-lying peat, well-laid (not fresh!) Compost are perfect as mulch. A good result is given by mulching with black agrofibre. On the one hand, it attracts the sun's rays, which the ageratum needs in large quantities. On the other hand, it provides normal air exchange in the upper layers of the soil. Read also the article: → "Types of mulch: features, comparative characteristics and advice to summer residents."

Ageratum is an extremely ornamental plant with bright flowers.

What top dressing does ageratum need

In order for the ageratum to give not a lush growth, but a lush flowering, it must be fed correctly. This plant does not need constant intensive fertilization, but it should be supported with mineral complexes at least three times per season: 2 weeks after planting in the ground, at the beginning of flowering and after pruning. As a dressing for long-flowering, the following compositions are suitable:

Name	Description	Application
"Bona Forte for flower beds"	NPK complex with magnesium, trace elements, vitamins and succinic acid.	Prepare a working solution according to the instructions and use for watering.
"Uniflor Bouton"	Complete NPK complex in liquid form. Contains boron.	Dissolve 2 teaspoons of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and use for irrigation.
"FlorHumate Flower"	Complete complex based on sapropel extract. Contains humates and trace elements.	Dissolve 100 ml of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and use for irrigation.
"Florist - for buds"	Complete complex of NPK and trace elements in liquid chelated form.	Dissolve 5 ml of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and use for irrigation.
"Fasco Flower Happiness"	Complete set of elements in liquid chelated form.	Dissolve 100 ml of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and use for irrigation.

The duration and intensity of ageratum flowering is ensured by top dressing and timely pruning.

Ageratum diseases and pests: preventive measures

Unfortunately, ageratum is not the most disease-resistant flower. It is susceptible to root rot, bacterial wilting, and cucumber mosaic virus. Disease prevention consists in observing the rules of agricultural technology for this crop:

• landing on light, loose soils;
• controlled irrigation;
• soil mulching;
• correct feeding regime.

Of the pests, spider mites, whiteflies, aphids, and nematodes can sit on ageratum. For preventive and eradication purposes, chemical insectoacaricides can be used. However, you should choose those that are toxic to bees:

Name	Description	Application
"Mospilan 20 SP"	Systemic insecticide against a wide range of sucking and gnawing pests.	Dissolve 2.5 g in 1 liter of water. Add 200 g of solution to a bucket of water and spray the flower bed in the evening, after the end of the bees' flight.
Fitoverm	Biological insectoacaricide that is not addictive to pests and not harmful to bees.	Dissolve the drug according to the instructions, taking into account the insect that is supposed to be affected. Spray the flower bed.
"Nemabakt"	Biological preparation against nematodes, safe for soil and beneficial soil fauna and flora.	Dilute the product with water strictly according to the instructions and water the soil on the site.

Outdoor Ageratum Care Plan

It is important to remember that diseases and pests affect plants with prolonged violation of the rules of agricultural technology. Summarizing the information provided, you can develop such an approximate plan for caring for ageratums after planting in the ground:

Duration of the	Event
On the day of disembarkation	watering; mulching; preventive spraying with insecticides.
2 weeks after disembarkation	root feeding with a solution of a complete mineral fertilizer; repeated spraying with insecticides.
The phase of the extension of inflorescences	repeated root dressing with a solution of mineral fertilizer; control of the state of leaves; tillage with the drug "Nemabakt".
Flowering phase	removal of spent inflorescences; soil moisture control.
Second half of August	complete pruning of old peduncles; root feeding with a solution of mineral fertilizers.
Early October	cleaning of flower beds, elimination of plant residues; sowing siderates.

Ageratum bushes are spreading, sometimes dwarf, up to 60 cm tall.

Florists' questions about growing ageratum

Question number 1. Is it possible to keep ageratum outdoors in winter?

Unfortunately no. However, in the fall, you can dig out a good strong ageratum bush and transplant it into a voluminous flower pot. In winter, keep it under a phytolamp at room temperature. In the spring, you can cut cuttings from a bush, root and plant them in the ground.

Question number 2. How to cut ageratum correctly?

Cut the cuttings from the bush in mid-April. Cuttings length - 15 cm. Treat the bottom cut with "Kornevin", place in a mini-greenhouse filled with a damp substrate and cover with a lid. Keep in a bright place at a temperature of + 21⁰С, keeping an eye on the humidity. Rooting occurs quickly - after a month, the cutting is already sprouting. With the onset of warmth, you can transplant them into open ground.

Question number 3. What to do if ageratum blooms poorly?

Check for shading and waterlogging. Without prejudice to flowering, ageratum can be in the shade for no more than 2 hours a day.

Question number 4. What plants can ageratum be combined with in the same flower bed?

In addition to monoplants, where long-flowered flowers are soloed, they can be used in mixed ensembles with other small-flowered annuals - verbena, snapdragon, calendula, nemesia. Of the perennials, heliopsis, rudbeckia or heleniums are suitable.

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