Ageratum is one of the most "fluffy" herbaceous perennials, which does not possess either particularly spectacular greenery or graceful lines, but during the flowering period conquers with a unique foam of flowers similar to soft pompons in fairly dense inflorescences. Stems are numerous, highly branched, erect or ascending, pubescent, 10-50 cm tall.

This flower has a number of qualities that are valuable in gardening: it has a powerful root system that allows it to endure overheating of the soil and its drying in summer, it blooms for a long time, up to frost. In addition to growing in flower beds (especially parterre), the plant looks good on sunny balconies, in ground containers. It is rarely used in cut, although its sweet, pleasant aroma and tall varieties make it attractive for bouquets.

Growing ageratum from seeds

Ageratum is grown mainly from seeds, but vegetative propagation by cuttings is also possible. The seeds are quite small (6-7 thousand in 1 g), retain their germination capacity for 3-4 years. Sowing is carried out with both ordinary and granular seeds.

For germination of seeds, a sufficiently moist, light and nutritious substrate is used, but without excess moisture, pH 5.5–6.5. For seeds in granules, the soil should be more moist than for normal seeds.

Seeds are sown in March or early April in greenhouses or boxes, without burying the seeds. Seedlings usually hatch after two weeks, after emergence, they are allowed to grow for about 3 weeks and then dive into greenhouses or boxes for a little more

Growing seedlings in cassettes.

distance from each other.

When growing seedlings of ageratum, a double pick is desirable... Seedlings do not tolerate moisture. Watering should be done in the morning, and the greenhouses should be ventilated frequently. 10-14 days before disembarking the seedlings, the frames are removed from the greenhouses and covered again only in case of a threat of frost. They are planted in open ground after the end of spring frosts, keeping the distance between plants 15-20 cm during planting. Plants bloom 60-70 days after germination.

Planting and caring for ageratum in the open field

What soil is best to grow. It grows quickly and develops well on light, neutral, nutritious soils, on too oily soil it develops a large vegetative mass, the flowering rate decreases. Does not tolerate damp rocky soils!

When to plant ageratum. Ageratum cannot withstand frosts, even light ones. Therefore, in the middle lane, it is planted in open ground only at the end of May or at the beginning of June, when you can not be afraid of them.

The flower usually tolerates a transplant painlessly, if only during the rooting period the young plants have enough moisture, heat and light. In order to preserve both the first and the second, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the plants after planting with peat or humus: water from its surface will evaporate more slowly, and with unexpected frosts, only the top of the plant will die (from the lower part, new shoots will soon begin to grow).

Landing scheme. Planting density depends on the variety and type of flower garden. Tall varieties, for example, are planted at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other, and compact, undersized hybrids at a distance of 10 cm.

Care: abundant, but not excessive watering, easily tolerates haircuts and pruning, after which it quickly grows back and blooms profusely again; the plant is thermophilic, it is damaged even by minor frosts. Regular weeding and loosening. Cut off the faded inflorescences constantly.

Gardeners have the opportunity to grow numerous new ageratum varieties. Currently, varieties and F1 hybrids differ in inflorescence color, compactness, leaf size and, most importantly, in plant height. According to this indicator, they are conventionally divided into 3 groups: undersized (15–25 cm), medium-sized (26–40 cm) and tall (over 40 cm).

Undersized

F1 Hawaii Series. Very compact (12-15 cm) leveled plants. Inflorescences are white, blue, blue, purple and violet, very early flowering. The series is suitable for early cultivation in cassettes.
F1 Neptune Blue. The plants are compact (20–25 cm high), the leaves are large, the inflorescences are blue.
F1 Pearl Blue. Compact, well-branching plants 15–20 cm high and 30 cm wide. The leaves are dark green, the inflorescences are blue. Especially suitable for early cultivation and flowering in cassettes.

Medium-sized
F1 High Tide Series. Vigorous semi-compact plants 35–40 cm high and 30 cm wide, branch well in seedlings. Inflorescences are blue and white.
F1 Leilani Blue. Powerful, well-branching semi-compact plants 40–45 cm high and 40 cm wide. Leaves are dark green, inflorescences are light blue.

Tall
F1 Horizon Blue. Plants 45–55 cm high (according to some catalogs up to 70 cm), vigorous, well branching. Inflorescences are large, purple-blue; flowering later, abundant. Suitable for growing in pots with a diameter of 10-15 cm, as well as for cutting.
F1 Red Sea. Vigorous plants 50–55 cm high with dark green leaves. Flowering later, inflorescences are dark purple. Suitable for growing in pots and for cutting.

Ageratum in the garden photo

Plant ageratum (lat. Ageratum) belongs to the genus of the Astrov family. Its representatives are found mainly in North and Central America, as well as in Eastern India. The name of the plant comes from the Latin ageratos, which means "ageless", and in fact, ageratum retains its freshness for a very long time when cut. Ageratum became widespread in Europe in the 19th century, in our country it is called "long-flowered". It is grown in gardens for the sake of fluffy flowers, similar to pompons, collected in dense inflorescences, most often of a blue palette of shades, in addition, it is completely unpretentious to care for. There are about 60 species of ageratum.

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Planting and caring for ageratum (in short)

• Landing: sowing for seedlings - in the second half of March, followed by transplanting seedlings into the ground in the second decade of May.
• Bloom: from June to the first frost.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: light, nutritious, not too oily, neutral.
• Watering: plentiful, at the root.
• Top dressing: once every three weeks, alternately with organic and mineral fertilizers. Fresh manure is strongly discouraged.
• Reproduction: cuttings and seeds.
• Pests: leaf and root nematodes, scoop caterpillars, spider mites, whiteflies.
• Diseases: root rot, bacterial wilting, cucumber mosaic virus.

Read more about growing ageratum below

Ageratum flower - description

Ageratum is a small bush with triangular, oval or diamond-shaped leaves of juicy green color with a jagged edge. The upper leaves are alternate, sessile, while the middle and lower ones are opposite, on petioles. Numerous erect pubescent stems reach a height of 10 cm to 60 cm.The flowers are small, fragrant, bisexual, collected in small inflorescences-baskets from one to one and a half centimeters in diameter, which in turn make up complex corymbose inflorescences - there are not only blue and purple, but also white and pink shades. Ageratum fruit is an elongated wedge-shaped pentahedral achene.

One gram contains about 7 thousand small seeds that remain viable for 3-4 years.

In our climatic conditions, ageratum is grown as an annual plant, since it is very thermophilic. Ageratum looks great on a flower bed, in a rabatka, it is used to create carpet compositions. The ageratum's partner plants include other annuals - snapdragons, marigolds, calendula.

In the photo: Ageratum flowering

Growing ageratum from seeds

Sowing ageratum seeds

Reproduction of ageratum is carried out, as a rule, by the seed method. Ageratum seeds are sown in the second half of March in boxes with soil consisting in equal parts of humus, sand and peat. From above, small seeds are carefully sprinkled with the same soil and covered with glass or film. The greenhouse should be kept in a room where the temperature is at least 15 ºC, and ventilated daily.

It is very important that the soil is slightly damp at all times, so be sure to spray the soil as it dries.

Seedlings usually germinate in a couple of weeks, and from the moment they emerge, you can no longer cover the box with glass or film.

Seedling ageratum

After the emergence of two pairs of true leaves at the seedlings, they need to be planted more spaciously. Ageratum seedlings must be dived twice, and during the second dive, each sprout must be planted in a separate pot or glass. The air around the seedlings should be dry and the soil moist. Watering the ageratum is carried out only in the morning. Two weeks before planting, take the plant out into the open air for acclimatization, but if there is a threat of frost, be prepared to cover them.

Planting ageratum

Planting ageratum in the ground is carried out when the night frosts remain behind. The site is chosen protected from drafts and brightly lit by the sun - if you plant the ageratum in the shade, the shoots will begin to stretch out, and instead of compact bushes, you will grow disheveled bushes that bloom somehow. The soil is preferable well-drained, nutritious, light and not acidic, but ageratum is not capricious in this matter. Before planting, thoroughly loosen the soil, dig holes at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and plant the seedlings at the same depth as they grew in seedling boxes or pots. Ageratum will bloom in two months.

In the photo: Ageratum in the garden

Ageratum care

Ageratum care involves watering, feeding, loosening the soil and weeding. To water Ageratum is needed abundantly, but not excessively; after watering, remove the weeds along with loosening the soil. Feed plant with humic or mineral fertilizers every two to three weeks. Top dressing with mullein infusion has a good effect on ageratum, but in no case use fresh manure as fertilizer - ageratum does not tolerate it.

How to Grow Cineraria - Proven Tips

Try not to overfeed the plant, otherwise it will turn magnificently green and not bloom. Remove wilted inflorescences in time. If you want the ageratum to bloom profusely and beautifully, it is worth pruning it as necessary, leaving only a few internodes on the stem. Usually, after such pruning, ageratum grows rapidly and blooms more luxuriantly.

Ageratum after flowering

On the eve of the first frost, transplant the most beautiful ageratum bushes into flower pots and bring them into the house, on the balcony or veranda - they will decorate your home until the end of autumn, and maybe even in winter. In March, you can cut cuttings from these bushes and root them in order to plant them in the garden after frost.

In the photo: Ageratum begins to fade

In general, ageratum is a thermophilic plant that does not tolerate even the mildest winters. Shelter won't help him either. Therefore, you will have to clear the flower bed from the remnants of the ageratum and plant new plants next spring.

Ageratum diseases and pests

The weakest point of ageratum is susceptibility to disease. Most often, ageratums suffer from root rot, and there is no salvation from this ailment. But taking preventive measures, namely, choosing light soil for planting ageratum, controlling watering and regularly loosening the soil in order to slow down the process of evaporation of moisture from the soil, you can prevent disease. The ageratum amazes with the cucumber mosaic and bacterial wilting, and all this is a consequence of improper care of the plant.

I will repeat my incantation: diseases and pests affect plants when you violate the rules of caring for them for a long time. If you strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology, your plants will not be afraid of such troubles.

Protect young plants while they are at home or in the greenhouse from spider mites and whiteflies, but if they do appear, you will have to remove damaged leaves and treat the plants with insecticides until the insects die. Later, in the flowerbed, the ageratum can be encroached on scoops and nematodes, and you will have to work hard to get rid of them.

Types and varieties of ageratum

Since growing ageratum is not difficult, and decorativeness is quite high, it is not surprising that it is so popular among gardeners. We will present you several popular types and the most attractive ageratum varieties:

grows up to 20 cm in height, has erect stems, fragrant white flowers.

In the photo: White Ageratum

Ageratum blue blue mink

It is a small branched bushes with strong shoots 20-25 cm tall. The fluffy inflorescences of a delicate blue hue really look like mink fur, as they cover the entire bush. The diameter of the inflorescences is 5-8 cm.

Most gardeners cannot imagine their property without flowers. There is a plant that is attractive for its long flowering - this is ageratum. Growing from seed, when to plant this shrub, will be discussed below. In the middle lane, it is grown as an annual, since it does not tolerate winter even with good shelter. In wildlife, ageratum is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant. Belongs to the Astrov family.

Sowing seeds, caring for seedlings

Ageratum grows on 10-50 cm tall depending on the variety. It has diamond-shaped or oval rough leaves with denticles along the edges. Small flowers with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm are collected in complex inflorescences, the diameter of which is 10 cm.

Ageratum thermophilic, so you will have to grow it through seedlings. Sowing is produced from the second half of March.

	Prepare a small box, fill it with potting soil from peat, sand, humus in equal proportions.
	Make grooves 1-2 cm deep, sow seeds... Sprinkle them with earth. Do not compact the soil. When the appearance Make the first dive with 1-2 leaves.

1. Water only with spray bottle so as not to erode the soil.
2. Box cover with foil or glass... Seeds germinate at a minimum temperature of 15 ° C.
3. Open the mini greenhouse daily for airing for 1 hour.
4. Across Seedlings will appear in 7-14 days. The film cover should be removed immediately.
5. Ageratum needs a lot of sun so place the seedlings on the east or south window. Protect the plant from direct sunlight.
6. Regularly, but water sparingly seedlings with settled water at room temperature.
7. Transplant the plants after 14-20 days in individual containers with drainage holes. There they will develop before landing in open ground. It is important not to rush to transplant to a flower garden. Do this after the threat of night frosts has passed - in May - June.

Seeds ripen in September that can be collected and used for the next season. Their germination capacity lasts 2-3 years.

It should be borne in mind that when propagated by self-collected seeds, the varietal properties of the plant are not preserved due to cross-pollination with other varieties.

To preserve varietal properties use propagation by cuttings. To do this, dig a bush of the variety you like in the fall, transplant it into a pot and bring it into the house. The plant will not bloom. He needs to arrange a cool winter with a dormant period. In March, you can start grafting. The mother plant should not be thrown away. Transfer it to open ground, form a crown, it will bloom again. Plants obtained by cuttings are larger and flower better.

How to dive ageratum correctly (video)

Outdoor Ageratum Care

Despite the difficulties with cultivation, growers love ageratum for their decorative effect and a long flowering period, which lasts from June to October.

• Pick up sunny, sheltered from the wind a place.
• Ageratum develops poorly in acidic soil. It suits him best sandy loam and loamy soil.
• The plant needs good drainage... Therefore, make holes, lay a small layer of expanded clay on their bottom, sprinkle with earth, water well.
• Plant plants with with a minimum step of 20 cm.
• In the semi-shrub forms of ageratum, the crown can be formed, especially if the plant is too stretched and the bush looks ugly.

Care is in regular watering, weeding and loosening of the soil. Watering at the root, not getting on the leaves and flowers. Do not overmoisten the plant to prevent root decay.

For the whole season it is enough to make 2-3 feeding mineral fertilizers. Ageratum does not need abundant feeding. With an excess of nutrients, the plant grows green mass and does not bloom.

Pests and diseases

Ageratum usually does not cause trouble for flower growers, but if the cultivation techniques are violated, problems may arise:

1. Excessive hydration leads to the development of root rot. The affected plant will have to be destroyed, the rest will have to be treated with fungicides.
2. Ageratum is subject to incurable viral disease- cucumber mosaic. Yellow specks appear on the leaves, which quickly increase. Plants are immediately burned so that neighboring specimens do not become infected.
3. Deliver a lot of trouble harmful insects- whitefly and spider mite. When pests appear, insecticidal preparations are indispensable. It is necessary to get rid of pests promptly, until they have laid the larvae and multiplied.

Ageratum looks great on flower beds, mixborders. Perfectly manifests itself as a pot culture for balcony landscaping. Looks especially advantageous against the background of calendula, tagetes, verbena, zinnia, rudbeckia, gelenium.

So the warm season is coming, all the flower growers are thinking about how to surprise with their flower bed, how to diversify it, what colors should riot on it. Everyone wants to create a unique floral masterpiece, pleasing to the eye - a living bouquet. Which will be fragrant throughout the spring-summer season. The beautiful Ageratum plant will help you in creating such a masterpiece, the variety of colors and the shape of this flowering bush is amazing, it will perfectly fit into any flower bed, garden, like a potted plant will make any gazebo cozy and colorful. Let's figure out what kind of plant this Ageratum is, look at photos of flowers of different varieties, learn how to sow seeds for seedlings, when to plant in open ground and how to care for this lovely flower.

Ageratum, a native of warm countries, was brought by flower growers from India. At home, this flower is a perennial plant, but in our countries with cold winters, it can only be annual, since it absolutely cannot withstand even small frosts. But this did not stop lovers of this wonderful flower and in our conditions it is grown from seeds.

Ageratum has more than 50 species, the height of the shrub fluctuates from this, from 15 but not more than 60 centimeters, depending on the variety, as well as the illumination of the site. The color range from lilac to hot pink, lavender and blue, white and heavenly, in general, these bright, fluffy shrubs blooming throughout the summer will undoubtedly become your favorites. Due to its constant flowering, it has a second name - "Ageless". One of the varieties of hybrid shrub, is Ageratum Houston, Ageratum Mexican outdoor herbaceous plants, having various heights and a rich variety of colors.

Ageratum bushes can be erect or spreading with fluffy inflorescences throughout the plant. Leaves are round and triangular in shape with small jagged edges. It has a very developed root system. Ageratum achene of pentahedral wedge shape. The seed retains its germination for 5 years.

Varieties of Ageratum and a short description

First, consider the undersized species:

Alba: the variety is dwarf, the shape of the bush is spherical, the buds are dense and white. Suitable for decorating curbs and paths. Photo:

Blausternchen: the variety belongs to the early, flowering begins in early June. Height no more than 15 centimeters, branching shoots, dark green. Inflorescences are blue with a lilac tint. Beautiful surrounded by low-growing roses. Photo:

Little Dorrit: height no more than 20 centimeters. The leaves are diamond-shaped. Inflorescences are small, sky-blue. This variety loves moisture very much, therefore it requires regular watering. It is better to plant it together with congeners, blue and white flowers. Photo:

Blue Ball: shrub in the form of a ball, with voluminous leaves. Inflorescences with a diameter of about 2 centimeters. Shades range from blue to deep lilac. Very unpretentious, calmly tolerates the lack of watering. It can bloom until frost. A beautiful combination with dwarf phlox. Photo:

Blue mink: compact bush up to 25 centimeters high. Sturdy stems with few bulky leaves. Inflorescences are small blue and lilac shades.

Now let's look at medium and high varieties.

Summer Snow: this variety is bushy, rather high in growth up to 45 centimeters, white inflorescences, has earned the love of flower growers for the fact that it blooms very luxuriantly and profusely. The Delphinium planted next to it will only emphasize the chic volume of the blooming ball. Photo:

Fairy Pink: stems with small leaves, height from 30 to 35 centimeters. The inflorescence baskets are separated from each other. The color of this variety is pink. Photo:

Ageratum Blue Mink: small bushes up to 30 centimeters high, large inflorescences are located on dense shoots. Shades of lilac and blue are very soft and fluffy. The variety got its name from the delicate pompoms and is one of the most beloved varieties of flower growers. It is quite resistant to heat, blooms profusely until late autumn. It is in perfect harmony with marigolds, zinnia and calendula.

Ageratum Red bouquet: shrub tall, branched 60 centimeters high. It has shaggy red inflorescences, it goes well with its congener Ageratum. White bouquet is also magnificent next to bright chrysanthemums. Blooms throughout the summer. Photo:

Reproduction of Ageratum at home

Growing Ageratum at home from seeds

The end of March is the time when it is time to sow Ageratum for seedlings. It is necessary to prepare a special soil consisting of peat, sand in a one-to-one ratio, and a small part of humus. Pour the soil into the seedling container, and moisten. Since the seeds are very small, they are scattered over the surface. Cover the containers with foil or glass, and place in a well-lit place. After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, then remove the film so that the plant does not get used to too greenhouse conditions. Be sure to watch the soil, it should be slightly moistened, strong overflows should be avoided so that the soil does not rot. After the appearance of 2-3 full-fledged leaves, the seedlings must be cut open. If you do not pick, then the seedlings will be very weak and its development will take much longer. So that later the bush is lush, the seedlings must be pinched after 3-4 pairs of leaves appear. So we figured out when, and how to grow Ageratum from seeds, now we will consider another method of planting.

By the way: it is by the sowing method that the varietal affiliation of the plant is preserved more. Such seedlings have a varied range of colors.

When and how to plant Ageratum flowers for seedlings, step by step photo:

Cuttings of Ageratum, or without a seedling method of planting

To do this, pick good, healthy shrubs in the fall and place them in a cool place for the winter. In the spring, in mid-April, take out the plants, cut them into cuttings, and place them in a warm place in a container with sand. After a while, the root system will develop and the cutting can be planted in the ground. Plants grown in this way remain even and compact.

Ageratum planting and care in the open field

Soil composition: Ageratum does not like acidic soil very much, if you have just such, it is better to sprinkle it with lime in the fall, then it will become less acidic. The soil should be light, preferably well-drained, with good air permeability to the root system. You should not fertilize the soil too often, and plant in very oily soil. This will lead to the fact that the vegetative system will develop strongly, and the flowering will be weak.

Lighting: This plant variety is very photophilous and should be planted in well-lit areas. If Ageratum is planted in shaded places, it will be underdeveloped, it will begin to stretch, flowering will decrease to a minimum, and of course the colors will be dull.

Watering: Do not pour too often to avoid root rot. But this plant also does not tolerate drought. Watering over foliage is not advisable. It will be correct to water plentifully at the root, after not too long drying, and loosening the soil around the stems.

How to plant seedlings in open ground

Hardening: A couple of weeks before transplanting to the street, the seedlings need to be hardened, otherwise it will be taken for a long time and hurt, it will be weak and more susceptible to various diseases. How the hardening takes place: cups with cut seedlings are placed in warm water and taken out into the street, first for 20 - 40 minutes, increasing the hardening time daily by 15 - 20 minutes. Naturally hardened in the absence of frost.

Landing rules: dived seedlings of low-growing varieties are planted in holes at a distance of 10 -15 centimeters. Tall varieties are 25 - 40 centimeters apart. The seedlings should not be too deep, plant them in the hole at the same depth as in the pot. To avoid stagnation of water in the holes, it is better to fill them with drainage before planting.

These step-by-step photos will demonstrate when and how to properly plant Ageratum flower seedlings in open ground:

Care for Ageratum in the open field

• Top dressing is best done with mineral fertilizers, rather than organic ones. Fertilize 3-5 times per season so as not to oversaturate the soil.
• To form a beautiful, branchy bush, be sure to pinch and trim it as it develops and grows. If the stem is pulled too far, cut off the top.
• Cut off faded buds regularly so that they do not take away the strength from the plant and do not interfere with new inflorescences.
• It is advisable to loosen the soil after each abundant watering.

Major diseases and pests

Ageratum is not very whimsical, but if the soil under it is too wet, it can be exposed to such diseases: "Cucumber mosaic virus" in this disease, the flowers fade without blooming, yellow and brown spots appear on the foliage. It should be treated with antibacterial drugs, from folk remedies, spraying with a solution of wormwood or tansy helps, the damaged areas must be cut off and burned. "Root rot" in this disease, the plant is almost impossible to cure, it is completely removed.

The main pests are: whitefly, spider mites and all types of nematodes. The fight takes place by spraying with chemicals.

Landscaping ideas

Low-growing varieties look great framing curbs and paths, on ridges in combination with bright marigolds, and will create a wonderful cozy tandem. They can also be planted on alpine hills among the plants creeping on the ground, beautiful, lush balls will give the slide brightness and chic.

Tall varieties can take their rightful place in the center of the flower bed, framed by lower flowers of various colors. They can be planted in large flowerpots next to the ampelous petunia, such compositions will perfectly decorate any corner of your yard.

If this magnificent handsome man has not yet visited your flower garden, then be sure to plant it this year. Believe me, you will remain in love with this variety of colors forever, and on cold, winter evenings, the memory of these juicy colors will give you a little summer warmth.

The photo below shows just some of the beautiful flower beds on which the ideas of landscape design with Ageratum are embodied:

Ageratums are decorative flowering plants from the Astrov family. Their genus is quite numerous and includes about 60 species. Almost all of them are "natives" of Central and North America, but some species can be found in the vastness of East India. Translated from Latin, the official name of the flower means "ageless", and this is really so: cute bushes bloom from the beginning of summer and almost until the very frost, and when cut they remain fresh for more than a week. For this property of the ageratum, gardeners called it long-flowered. You can grow an "American miracle" on your site from seeds. True, every year you will have to repeat the breeding procedure, since the perennial culture is unable to hibernate in the open field even in the mildest winters.

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Botanical description

Ageratums are herbaceous or semi-shrub plants with a height of 10 to 50 cm. Their leaves, rough to the touch, have various shapes: triangular, oval or diamond-shaped, but with invariable teeth along the edges. In the upper part of the shoots, the leaves are arranged alternately, in the middle and lower ones - opposite. Stems are erect or ascending, covered with "fluff" and strongly branched. All varieties of ageratum can be divided into 3 categories depending on the height of the adult plant:

• dwarf - up to 20 cm;
• medium-sized - from 20 to 40 cm;
• tall - from 40 cm and above.

Miniature flowers with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm are collected in voluminous corymbose inflorescences, the diameter of the flowering "cap" reaches 8-10 cm. A special decorative effect of the ageratum is given by the two-lobed stigmas of flowers - they are almost 2 times longer than the perianth and effectively rise above it.

Ageratum flowers

The color of tubular flowers collected in baskets has a lilac-blue range: varieties with blue, blue, lilac, purple color are most often found, but there are modern hybrids with white, yellow, pink and red petals. The inflorescences of plants of the same variety bloom at the same height, forming an impressive floral carpet of numerous fluffy "pompoms". Long-flowered has a light pleasant smell and attracts bees to the garden.



Popular varieties

Despite some difficulties in growing ageratum, flower growers often use it to decorate a garden or a summer cottage. Agrofirms offer a large selection of hybrid varieties obtained as a result of long-term selection by crossing the Houston Ageratum (Mexican) with other varieties.

The most popular varieties are.

Ageratum can be used in landscape design in different ways:

• plant a single-color or multi-colored carpet arrangement of plants of the same height;
• create a spectacular multi-colored ensemble in rock gardens, mixborders, rabatki and flower beds;
• plant miniature hybrids as a bright, long-blooming border;
• decorate outdoor flowerpots and pots with flowering bushes, and with the onset of cold weather, transfer them to a heated room.

Tall varieties are suitable not only for decorating the site - they can be cut and placed in a vase to decorate the interior of a room, made in any style. The stunted and dwarf varieties can be grown as a pot crop when kept cool over the winter.

Blue mink variety



Growing from seeds

Ageratum belongs to thermophilic plants, therefore it is planted in open ground only after the threat of return frosts has passed. To fully enjoy the abundant flowering, they use the seedling method of growing.

Small numerous long-flowered seeds remain viable for 2-3 years after collection. It is necessary to sow them in the spring, the optimal time is in the middle of March:

• Fill the seedling boxes or containers with a nutritious soil mixture made up of equal parts of fertile garden soil, peat and coarse sand.
• Moisten the substrate in the box from a spray bottle and sow ageratum seeds on top. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil no more than 1 cm, cover the boxes with future plants with glass or transparent film.
• Put the mini-greenhouse in a bright place with an air temperature of + 15 ° C - this mode will be optimal for seed germination.
• Every day, remove the shelter from the greenhouse and ventilate the seedlings for 30-60 minutes, wipe the condensate from the glass with a hygroscopic cloth.
• Monitor the soil condition in the box and, if necessary, moisten with a spray bottle. It is impossible to water the ageratum from a watering can at this time, otherwise small and light seeds will float to the surface or, conversely, go into deeper layers of the substrate and will not be able to germinate.
• After the emergence of seedlings (after about 10-14 days), the glass can be removed, and when the first pair of true leaves are formed, the seedlings must be dived for the first time.
• The second pick should be done 14-20 days after the first transplant. For each seedling, you need to take a separate volumetric pot, since the plants develop quite quickly.

When caring for seedlings at home, it is necessary to keep the soil moist, but not flood it, otherwise the ageratum will wither away from excess moisture. On the other hand, the air around the seedlings should be dry.

2 weeks before the planned planting on the flowerbed, the seedlings must be taught to fresh air: taken out to the balcony or into the yard, increasing the time of stay every day. This is necessary for the acclimatization of the long-flowered plant, which, after a sharp change in the indoor climate to the outdoor one, can stop growing.



Landing in open ground

Planting ageratum in open ground must be started with the selection of a suitable place:

• This flowering culture is light-loving and drought-resistant, so the site for it should be brightly lit throughout the day and protected from the winds.
• The soil in the flower bed should be light, drained, nutritious and neutral in acidity.
• When planting on marginal or stony lands, do not rely on lush flowering, therefore poor soils must be enriched with humus or compost.
• On acidic soils, the plant will not be able to develop normally and will wither. To bring the pH value back to normal, it is necessary to first add ground chalk, dolomite flour or slaked lime to the acidic soil.

It is possible to transfer seedlings to open ground not earlier than the time when the air temperature at night stops dropping below 0 ° C. Depending on the region, this will be the end of May or the beginning of June.

Having chosen a site suitable for all parameters, you can plant future bushes in the garden:

• Dig out planting holes of the same volume as an earthen lump in pots with seedlings, and spill with water.
• Place the seedlings in the ground so that the surface of the ground on the site coincides with the level of the soil in the pot.
• When planting in a row, maintain a distance of 15-30 cm between specimens. The distance depends on the size of the future bush: tall varieties must be planted at a greater distance, miniature hybrids - closer to each other.

If young plants quickly started to grow and began to stretch, they must be pruned to properly form the bush and stimulate numerous flowers.

Flowerbed with ageratums, made in Mexican style

Care rules

If the procedures for growing seedlings and transferring them to the site were carried out correctly, then in the future, caring for the long-flowering will not cause any special problems. For normal development and lush flowering, traditional agronomic techniques will be required:

• Watering. Carry out as the top layer of the soil dries up, avoiding stagnation of moisture and acidification of the soil. Water at the root, avoiding water getting on the leaves and caps of the flowers.
• Weeding. After the next watering, gently loosen the plantings and remove weeds.
• Top dressing. Feed with humic or complex mineral composition for flowering crops every 2-3 weeks. As an organic fertilizer, you can use mullein infusion diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. With the beginning of autumn, stop feeding.
• Cut. Cut off the faded corymbose inflorescences in a timely manner, so that the plant directs its forces not to the ripening of seeds, but to the formation of new flowers.

Do not get carried away with frequent feeding of ageratum, otherwise it will begin to grow shoots and foliage, and flowering will become rare or completely stop.

Ageratum does not tolerate frost, even if you cover it for the winter. At the end of the summer cottage season, the garden bed must be emptied, and the long-flowered bushes must be disposed of. If you want to keep a rare hybrid variety or just a beautiful flowering specimen, you can transplant it into a pot and transfer it to your home. The flower will feel best at a temperature of + 15 ° C, so a greenhouse, a winter garden, an insulated loggia or a hall of a municipal institution are suitable for it. In spring, the preserved bushes can be planted in open ground or used for propagation.

Ageratum can be propagated not only by growing from seeds, but also by rooting apical cuttings. They must be cut from the mother bush in the spring and planted in the same substrate that was used for sowing the seeds. Cover the cuttings with glass or polymer transparent jars and root at a temperature of +18 ... + 20 ° С. This method is excellent for breeding hybrid varieties with the F1 marking, the seeds of which, collected with their own hands, do not germinate.

Diseases and pests

Long-flowered can not boast of high resistance to diseases and pests. Among the dangerous infections that persecute the culture, the leading place is taken by root rot. It develops with excessive watering and planting in dense, heavy soil. The affected specimens must be removed from the site, and the neighboring plants must be treated with Bordeaux liquid or a suitable fungicide (Topaz, Champion). A similar "treatment" will be required if signs of a mosaic appear on the leaves of the ageratum. In the future, you need to control watering and avoid water droplets getting on the green parts of the ageratum.

Of the insects, gall and leaf nematodes, whiteflies, scoops, aphids and spider mites can be found most often on flowering bushes. You can get rid of pests with the help of modern insecticidal preparations: Biotlin, Aktara, Aktellik, Aktoverm, Nematofagin BT. Each of the drugs must be used strictly according to the instructions offered by the manufacturer, and the rules of individual safety must be observed.

Conclusion

Ageratum is a thermophilic perennial crop grown in the open field of our latitudes as an annual plant. This flower cannot be recommended for novice gardeners, but summer residents with experience can easily cope with the cultivation of spectacular, flowering specimens. And a huge selection of varieties will allow you to realize any flower fantasies and decorate the garden with a bright colorful carpet.