Translated from Greek, the word "ageratum" means "ageless". Indeed, the flowers of this popular ornamental plant able not to fade 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. 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 only grow 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 distinctive features 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 purple tinge of flowers.

Very often in gardens and courtyards you can also see the Houston Ageratum or the "Mexican" variety. It is semi-shrub or herbaceous plant can reach a height of 50 cm. Flowers of 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, the 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 flower bed should be dug up and fertilized, for example, with well-rotted manure. It is very good to pre-arrange drainage. For 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. 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. Distance between plants in open ground must 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 care for

The agertatum plant is tropical, and therefore does not tolerate drying out of the soil very well. Therefore, the bushes will have to be watered 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 a large number of organic matter cannot be introduced under 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 and loose buds. Otherwise, the plant will quickly lose its decorative appearance.

Diseases and pests

Ageratum is quite resistant to all sorts 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 flower bed 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 quite 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.

Sun and warmth are the main conditions that a flower called ageratum needs. How to grow on summer cottage guest from South America, is covered in this article.

It is called the Houston ageratum, the Mexican ageratum or long-flowered. A semi-shrub plant, with a height of 10 to 55 cm, is grown in our area as an annual.

Small flowers, lilac, blue, blue, white or pink, are collected in small baskets up to 1.5 cm in diameter.

The baskets, in turn, form inflorescences. There are a lot of them on a low bush, and this turns it into a blooming ball.

Blooming splendor begins in early summer and lasts until cold weather. In September, seeds can be obtained from the plant.

In nature, about 60 species of ageratum are known, but only one is used in culture, namely the Mexican ageratum. The plant has been known for over 200 years. Currently, it is successfully grown in summer cottages, used to decorate flower beds in city parks. Not requiring special care, the plant creates a flowering carpet from early summer until frost.

By the height of the bush, it can be divided into three groups:

• high, 55 cm
• medium tall, 30 cm
• dwarf, 10-15 cm

The variety of varieties makes it possible to grow flowers of various colors on the site.

A bush of medium height, densely covered with bright blue flowers that hold on to strong erect shoots. Flowering will end before the onset of cold weather.

This variety looks perfect in balcony drawers. The height of the bush of 20-25 cm allows you to use it in the foreground of flower beds. In addition, varieties with blue and lilac inflorescences are less exposed to sunlight, they retain their original color until the end of flowering.

Ageratum of this variety will bloom profusely and continuously in an area where there is a lot of sun. The plant is drought tolerant. Strong shoots with rounded pubescent leaves adorn the caps of lilac-blue inflorescences.

Ocean

Another variety with pale blue flowers. The plant, 15-20 cm high, belongs to the early flowering varieties, so blue islands in the flower garden will appear at the very beginning of summer.

A hybrid perennial with delightful purple flowers. Erect stems, about 25 cm, densely leafy. Long bloom, about three months.

The name itself contains the characteristic of the plant in color. Very intense red, or even purple-red, inflorescences hold on to strong, leafy shoots.

This is a mixture of colors. By sowing this variety on the site, the gardener will receive a flower garden of white, pink, red, blue and purple flowers. A bush 20-25 cm high is decorated with small fragrant inflorescences.

A compact bush with large leaves, flowers up to 2 cm in diameter. The plant, 30 cm high, tolerates a haircut well and looks great both in the flower bed and in containers. The flowers are white.

Another variety with white inflorescences, which are strewn with a bush 30 cm high. The purity of the color makes the plant a real decoration of the suburban area. Looks great in borders and flower beds.

A mixture of seeds of the highest ageratum varieties, thanks to which they can be used in the design of bouquets. Ageratum goes well with zinnia and rudbeckia, and remains fresh and bright for a long time in cut. Care requirements do not differ from other varieties of ageratum.

If you are going to grow your own seedlings, the gardener should know that 2-2.5 months will pass from sowing to the beginning of flowering. And at the time of planting seedlings in the ground, the likelihood of a return of spring frosts should be completely excluded, since this thermophilic plant does not tolerate even minor cold snaps.

Having carried out some simple calculations, it can be determined that the most suitable time for sowing ageratum will be mid-March. It is permissible to sow ageratum at a later date, but in this case the beginning of flowering will also be postponed.

For those who like to check their work with the Moon, you can refer to the recommendations of the lunar calendar.

For florists auspicious days there will be the following dates:

• in March - 11-13; 16; 17; 21;
• in April - 2; 6; 21-26;
• in May - 1-4; 21-26;

The difficulty of sowing seeds lies only in the fact that the flower seeds are very small, and it is not always possible to distribute them evenly over the soil surface. To make the work easier, the seeds are mixed with sand.

Sowing should be in shallow containers with nutrient soil, which should consist of equal parts of peat, sand and humus. Before sowing, the soil is disinfected with a manganese solution and well moistened. After scattering a mixture of sand and seeds over the surface, they are lightly pressed against the soil and sprayed with a spray bottle.

To avoid excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil, it is covered with glass or foil. At the stage of plant germination, two components are important: the soil temperature should be 20-25 ° C, and the humidity should be 90-95%. The presence of light does not matter during the period until the seeds have germinated.

The next stage of development lasts a week and consists in the appearance and disclosure of cotyledons and the growth of the root system. At this time, moist soil (without stagnant water) and a temperature that should be at least 25 ° C are important for the sprouts. All this time, you should monitor the crops, ventilate and remove condensation from the glass.

After the emergence of shoots, along with the moisture content of the soil and its temperature, the shoots will need good lighting. By the end of the third week from sowing, a third leaf should form at the seedlings. They begin to dive seedlings after it has formed two pairs of true leaves.

To get healthy and strong plants, do not forget about top dressing, the lack of nitrogen and mineral fertilizers will slow down the development of seedlings. It is better to use complex fertilizers from a specialized store, following the instructions for use.

In relation to ageratum, two-time picking of sprouts is often used. This is due to small shoots, which are impractical to plant immediately in large containers. For the first transplant, 5x5 cm cups will be enough, and as it grows, the seedling container can be increased.

10-14 days before transferring seedlings to open ground, it must be hardened. This process allows the plant to gradually get used to the conditions of its further growth.

At the end of May, having learned the long-term weather forecast, you can start planting seedlings in flower beds at your summer cottage. The soil should be prepared by that time. Small holes are watered and the plant is rolled over them, the remaining space is filled with earth, slightly compacted and mulched. The distance between the tall bushes of the ageratum is kept at 20-25 cm, and 15 cm is enough for the undersized ones.

The place where ageratum is planted should be sunny, even light shading leads to stretching of the shoots. This, in turn, reduces the flowering rate.
Although the most painstaking and time-consuming process of growing seedlings has been left behind, the time has not come for the gardener to sit back.

During growth in open ground, the flower will need two, or even three, feeding.

• The first can be done one week after the transplant.
• The second should occur during the budding period. In the need for a third feeding, the gardener will be determined during the flowering ageratum.
• If its flowers are not bright enough or the color of the leaves has lost the richness of colors, then feeding will not be superfluous.
• In all cases, complex mineral fertilizers are the best option.

Attention! The use of fresh manure or other fertilizers with a high nitrogen content is unacceptable. Its excess will lead to rapid growth of shoots, and flowering will be late and not so abundant.

Watering the plants is carried out as the soil dries up. If the flowers are watered less often in the area of ​​heavy loam, the sandy loam soil requires more frequent watering. There should be a measure in everything, the plant should not be flooded, it tolerates drought more easily than excessive moisture.

To create a compact and long-flowering ageratum bush, it needs pruning. Removing wilted inflorescences stimulates the emergence of new flowers, and this will continue until frost. The best option the removal of part of the shoot is considered.

Leaving a few internodes at the base, the gardener forms a lush plant, preventing the shoots from stretching.

With the onset of autumn, the gardener can leave the most ornamental shrub for transferring it to home conditions. The plant will not bloom all winter, but in the spring the gardener will have a great opportunity to cut green cuttings from it and root them.

In the fall, after transplanting a flower into a pot, it should be kept in a cool room for a week, this will reduce stress. Further, the plant will have a dormant period, which will continue until spring. And in March you can start grafting.

Shoots cut at an angle are treated with growth stimulants (Kornevin, Heteroauxin) and placed in a moist substrate. From above, the seedling should be covered with a glass jar. It will create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse, and its transparency will not interfere with the passage of light.

Oblique cut increases the absorption area of ​​the cut nutrients and moisture from the soil. It will take about 3 weeks for the roots to grow back. And in another month, new shoots will begin to appear at the ageratum.

If the gardener's plans do not include the reproduction of ageratum by cuttings, then it can be transplanted into the whole soil, where it will bloom in the same way as other plants.

The method of propagation of the plant by cuttings gives stronger and more developed bushes. In open ground, flowers grown from cuttings are planted at the same time as seedlings obtained by the seed method.

Flower care in summer period uncomplicated and requires a minimum of time and labor from the gardener. But sometimes the ageratum is damaged by any disease or insects, and the gardener will need some knowledge to prevent and combat such troubles.

Most often, the cause of diseases is a violation of the rules of agricultural technology. Excessive soil moisture causes root rot of the plant. The flower slowly fades, inflorescences and leaves begin to crumble. At the first signs of damage, it must be removed from the flower bed. The remaining plants are subject to fungicide treatment; Fundazol and Oxychoma are suitable for this.

There is no way to cure cucumber mosaics on ageratum. The appearance of yellow specks on the leaves of a flower, which gradually increase in size, indicates the presence of this viral disease. If you leave these signs unattended, then soon the leaf will completely change its color. In addition, neighboring plants will become infected, which is highly undesirable. Flowers affected by cucumber mosaic should be removed by the root and, best of all, burned.

Delicate tropical plant defenseless even when attacked by small insects.

Microscopic dimensions of a spider mite do not give the gardener a chance to determine its appearance on the flower. And only a thin web that braids a flower serves as a signal for the appearance of a pest. Small light specks form on the leaves, which will increase in size if the plant is not treated with acaricides. It could be Akarin, Apollo, Nissoran.

Whitefly is a very small butterfly that looks like a common moth... It is impossible not to notice her. White moths will fly into the air with any movement near the plant, and if they have chosen an ageratum bush, they will certainly lay the larvae on it. They are the ones who cause greatest harm flower, feeding on the juice of its shoots. The plant weakens and stops developing. To combat whitefly, insecticides are used: Tanrek, Aktara, Bankol.

Ageratum: growing and care - video

An excellent option in this case can be ageratum, which, despite its not spectacular appearance, is able to make any garden unique. Planting and caring for the aguratum will not be difficult, so even inexperienced gardeners can decorate their plot with this overseas flower.

In this article, we will consider the features and description of the ageratum, and also note the main and most popular types and varieties of this ornamental flowering plant. We will tell you in more detail about all the nuances of agrotechnics for growing ageratum.

Features and description of ageratum

Ageratum is an ornamental flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. In total, there are about 60 species of this plant in the world. The birthplace of ageratum is considered to be South America and Central America, mostly the territory of Mexico. The most popular cultivated type of ageratum is Ageratum Gauston, its second name is Ageratum Mexican. It is this plant that has become popular among gardeners in the CIS countries, since it can be planted as an annual. Indeed, by their nature, all ageratums are perennial plants that are difficult to take root in severe frosts.

Translated from Greek, Ageratum means "ageless", which very accurately describes the flowering of this plant. It is distinguished by the duration of flowering, as well as long retention of shape and color when cut.

Ageratum description:

• Ageratum is a perennial, less often annual, decorative flowering plant.
• This flower is very thermophilic, therefore, in the territory of the CIS countries, it is difficult for it to take root as a perennial. In this case, ageratum can be grown as annual plant.
• Ageratum is distinguished by long flowering, from early June to the very frost. This quality is especially appreciated by landscape designers and gardeners.
• Ageratum is a herbaceous plant that branches very well. The branches grow strongly, allowing for the creation of hedges and flowering carpets.
• In height, this plant can reach 10-60 cm, so it can be used for various plantings.
• Ageratum leaves have different shapes, it all depends on the specific species and variety of plants. You can find casting triangular, diamond-shaped, oval. The color is dark green.
• Ageratum flowers are very small, have a head start of narrow tubes that form small baskets. In turn, the baskets are collected in larger inflorescences. The flowers are covered with colorless villi, which are much longer in length than the flowers themselves.
• The colors can be varied. The most common is blue, as well as all shades of this color. There are ageratums of white, pink, burgundy color.
• During flowering, these plants create a dense flowering carpet that looks beautiful against the backdrop of a green lawn or other flowering plants.
• After the end of flowering, fruits appear on the plant, which are in the form of a small box of dark color.
• Ageratum seeds are very small and there are a lot of them in the seed capsule. They can be stored for 3-4 years.

The main types and varieties of ageratum

Today in the world there are about 50-60 species of ageratum. However, on the territory of Russia and other CIS countries with severe winters, the Mexican Ageratum or the Gauston Ageratum is the most popular. Varieties of this type can be used as annual plants, planted in open ground every year. There are many different varieties Ageratum Mexican.

Several classifications can be distinguished, which are based on individual signs and characteristics.

In terms of height, ageratums are divided into the following groups:

• undersized or dwarf - they reach a height of 10-15 cm;
• medium-sized plants - grow by 15-30 cm;
• tall ageratums - from 30 to 60 cm.

Also, all varieties of ageratum are divided according to color of flowers:

• white ageratums - flowering plants with snow-white or cream flowers;
• blue ageratums - flowers with different shades of blue and blue;
• red ageratums - in this group includes plants with flowers of a red or pink hue;
• yellow ageratums - flowers of various yellow colors;
• multicolor ageratums - these flowers are distinguished by the presence of flowers of various shades.

Let's take a closer look at the Ageratum Gauston species and its most popular varieties.

Ageratum Gauston

A more familiar name for this species is Mexican, Russian gardeners call it long-flowered. Ageratums of this species are rather compact plants, spherical in shape. In height, the Mexican ageratum can reach 15-60 cm, it all depends on the specific variety. Flowers are small, covered with colorless villi, collected in small inflorescences up to 1.5 cm in diameter, which, in turn, are collected in inflorescences with a diameter of 8-10 cm. pink.

Popular varieties of Ageratum Gauston:

• Alba is an ageratum with snow-white flowers. It reaches a height of 20 cm, a spherical bush with dense inflorescences.

• Summer Snow is a fairly tall bush, it can reach a height of 45 cm. It has good branching. The inflorescences of this ageratum variety are dense, white.
• Leda - this ageratum variety is similar to Summer Snow, only it has blue-white inflorescences.
• Blue Mink. In height, this ageratum variety can reach 20-25 cm. The inflorescences are rather large in size, with a delicate violet-blue hue. For this color and tenderness of flowers, this variety is popularly called "Blue mink", comparing it with an animal with fluffy fur.
• Blue Danube. Also a very popular variety, it stands out effectively with its bright inflorescences of a delicate blue-lavender shade. This variety belongs to undersized, reaches a height of only 15 cm.

• Blausternchen. It is a dwarf variety, reaches a height of 10 cm. A compact bush with densely pubescent shoots. The foliage is dark green. The flowers are very small, which are combined into small inflorescences, up to 1 cm in diameter. The flowers are blue with a lilac tint, inside the bud the color is bright lilac.
• Fire Pink. It reaches a height of 20-30 cm, being a medium-sized variety of ageratum. It differs in not very dense inflorescences of a bright dark pink hue.
• Pink ball. 20-30 cm high, very compact variety. Inflorescences can reach 4 cm in diameter with a delicate pink hue.
• Ash Fields (Purple Fields). It is a hybrid variety that reaches a height of 20-25 cm. It grows very compactly, its shoots spread 30 cm along the ground, hence the name of this variety - purple fields. The inflorescences have a bright and rich purple hue.
• Hawaii Mixed. This variety is multi-colored. The mixture consists of varieties of white, pink, blue and purple ageratum. It belongs to the undersized species, the bushes are very compact, reaching a height of 10-15 cm.

Photo of the ageratum of popular varieties

Ageratum of the bright blue Blue Mink

Ageratum of bright mixed colors

Ageratum propagation methods

Ageratum can be bred independently without much difficulty, the main thing is to correctly observe all stages of reproduction. Typically, this exotic flower can be propagated in two ways: by seed and cuttings.

Seed propagation of ageratum

This method is the most widespread and often used, since in our climatic conditions practices annual cultivation ageratum. And for this, planting with seeds is the most optimal solution.

Seeds can be planted in boxes for ageratum seedlings, or they can be sown directly into open ground. You can purchase planting material in specialized stores or collect it yourself. Ageratum seeds are very small, so they must be sown very carefully. The remaining planting material can be stored without problems for up to 4 years.

Ageratum seed sowing process:

• The best time for sowing seeds is the second half of March, when the threat of frost return has passed.
• Ageratum seeds can be sown in open ground, or they can be sown in boxes. This method is most preferable, since ageratum prefers greenhouse conditions.
• The boxes must be filled with fertile soil, then loosen it thoroughly, making it airy and light.
• After that, remove the top layer of earth, about 1.5 cm.
• Sow seeds gently over the entire surface and sprinkle with soil. It is important not to make the topsoil too thick - it will be difficult for the seeds to germinate.
• Do not water the soil after planting, it is best to spray with a spray bottle.
• Then the boxes need to be covered with foil or glass, thereby creating a small greenhouse for the ageratum.
• You need to put the box in a warm and sunny place with a temperature of at least 15 degrees.
• Ventilate the soil every day, open glass or foil for about 30-60 minutes.
• The first shoots of seedlings may appear in 1-2 weeks, and you need to start picking after 3 weeks, when 1-2 leaves appear.
• It is necessary to plant ageratum seedlings in different cups or pots so that they have enough space.
• Before landing in the ground, the boxes are taken outside for several days for acclimatization.
• Ageratum is best planted in mid or late May.

Propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is a rarer method, but it is he who allows you to save the plant until next spring. To do this, before the first frosts, it is necessary to dig out the mother plants, the healthiest and strongest. Transplant them into large pots and place them in a warm room. You can even keep them on the balcony, the main thing is that the room does not freeze. In March-April, the bushes can be transplanted into a greenhouse or greenhouse for germination. This process is very fast and you get an ageratum plant ready to bloom.

Preparation before planting ageratum in the ground

To get a beautiful and lush blooming plant, it is important to prepare thoroughly before planting. The main thing is to properly grow the seedlings of the plant, as well as to choose the right place for planting. It is important to prepare the soil in advance.

When to plant ageratum and where

The preferred time for planting ageratum is from mid-May to late May. In this way, you will avoid the possible return of frost, which could destroy your plant.

The place must be sunny and open, but well protected from drafts. A site on a small hill is best suited. Before choosing a place, think about what kind of composition you plan to get as a result. Will you plant ageratum with other plants or prefer a single planting.

Selection and preparation of soil before planting

The soil for ageratum should be loose and light, therefore, the site must first be well dug up and loosened. These plants prefer well-drained soil and nutritious ones. In terms of acidity, neutral or slightly acidic soils are suitable for them. Therefore, if you have soil with high acidity, during planting you can add dolomite flour or lime.

Also, make sure that there is not too much humus in the soil - this can lead to poor flowering.

The process of planting ageratum in open ground

After preparatory phases in May, you can start planting ageratum seedlings, the main thing is that there is no threat of recurrent frosts. Also, make sure that the soil has time to warm up.

Landing ageratum:

• First of all, you need to loosen the soil at the planting site. This is necessary to saturate the earth with oxygen, since ageratum prefers airy and light soils.
• Then prepare the planting holes. The distance between them will depend on the ageratum variety you choose. For tall plants make indents between the holes 20-25 cm, and for more compact and dwarf varieties, 10-15 cm will be enough.
• The depth of the holes should not be too deep. Most often, ageratum seedlings are buried at the same distance at which they grew in boxes.
• Then spill all the holes with plenty of water and wait for the earth to absorb all the moisture. Never put manure in the holes - the plant may die.
• Next, place seedlings in each hole and cover with earth. Avoid compacting the soil around the plants too tightly.
• It is recommended to mulch the land around the ageratum. This will help the plant retain moisture and protect the flower from possible frost. Dry peat or sawdust can be used as mulch.

Features of care for ageratum in the open field

Ageratums are not very demanding on care, however, they also need a certain amount of attention and care. In the future, the plant will thank you with bright and lush flowering.

Watering

Ageratum flowers are very fond of abundant watering. The approximate watering schedule is evenly moist soil around the plant. If puddles appear there, this is bad and the plant may die. Ageratum can perfectly tolerate drought. However, in the driest times, it is preferable to increase the number of irrigations. It is thanks to proper watering that you get beautiful and lush ageratum bushes.

Loosening and mulching

After watering, it is recommended to periodically loosen the soil around the plants. Since ageratum loves airy land, this will come in handy and allow the plant to grow better. During loosening, it is imperative to remove all weeds that interfere with the growth of ageratum. After weeding, the soil around the plant must be mulched. This will protect the plant from excessive moisture evaporation.

Top dressing ageratum

Plant feeding can be done with organic and mineral fertilizers, complex fertilizers are also suitable. Fertilizing is best every three weeks. At the same time, keep in mind that it is best to feed the first few times with a lower dosage of fertilizers. Since an excess of them can lead to excess foliage growth and delayed flowering. Do not use manure as fertilizer - it is detrimental to ageratum.

Ageratum haircut

Ageratum is very fond of cutting shoots and foliage. This has a beneficial effect on the growth of the plant. Periodically, it is imperative to remove all dried shoots and cut off weak and broken ones. Thus, you will increase the number of inflorescences and the duration of the ageratum flowering itself.

Wintering ageratum

In our climatic conditions, ageratum is grown as an annual plant, therefore, after the onset of frost, it completely dies. It is possible to extend the life of the ageratum by breeding this plant with cuttings. In this case, you completely dig up the bushes and transplant them into pots. The next spring, you simply plant the ageratum back into the open ground.

Pest and disease control

Like any other garden plant, Ageratum can be susceptible to diseases and pests.

Ageratum diseases:

• Root rot. This is a fungal disease that affects the root system of plants with the wrong irrigation regime. When this disease appears, all damaged areas must be removed. This disease is much easier to prevent than to cure. Be sure to properly loosen the soil and adjust the amount of water to the plant.
• Bacterial wilting. Also a fungal disease that appears with improper care of the plant.

Ageratum pests:

• Spider mites can infect a plant both outdoors and while growing seedlings. When this pest appears, all affected leaves must be removed and the plants treated with insecticides.
• Nematodes and aphids. These pests appear on plants outdoors. To combat them, special preparations are also used - insecticides.

Ageratum is a great way to decorate any garden area. This plant does not require much effort during planting and care, and in the end it will delight everyone with beautiful flowers and excellent appearance.

(Ageratum) is a small plant of the Aster family that came from America. In our geographic zone, it is grown by an annual due to its thermophilicity.

Ageratum description

Did you know? One ageratum fruit can contain up to 8 thousand seeds

How to transplant ageratum into open ground, rules for picking a flower

Ageratum, which will subsequently be transplanted into open ground, must be dived twice. The first is carried out after the appearance of the fifth leaf on the seedlings, they are transplanted into a more spacious container or similar size, but with a greater distance between the plants.

15-20 days after the first, a second pick of each seedling is made into a separate glass or other individual container. At this time, the seedlings need regular and sufficient lighting.

Important! Since the grown ageratum seedlings root system rather weak, it is advisable to carry out the second pick in separate peat pots, and in them also land in open ground. This will protect the delicate roots when transplanting.

Ageratum is popularly called "long-flowered" and for good reason. This annual brought to us from Central and South America, where he feels well perennial plant, very long flowering period. It begins in June and lasts until the very frost. Our summer residents mainly grow the Mexican ageratum, or, as it is also called, the Houston ageratum.

Ageratum, depending on the variety, grows from 15 to 50 centimeters. Its leaves are dark green, with denticles along the curls and a core that has a round, triangular or diamond-shaped shape. Ageratum flowers are small, fragrant, usually blue, but there are also white, pinkish, and purple colors. In shape, they resemble pom-poms, and during the exuberant flowering of these pom-poms there are so many that even the leaves are not visible.

Ageratum: growing from seed

Such scenic beauty for your flower bed can be grown from seeds. But before starting this activity, you need to decide on the varieties. The name of the variety or hybrid must be indicated on the package, otherwise, instead of beauty, you will receive different-sized plants with different flowers and the timing of flowering. The following varieties can be recommended for beginners.

"Рink Beauty" is a compact variety, from 15 to 20 centimeters high, at first it produces dark pinkish buds, and the inflorescences come out pale pinkish;

"Nepttune Blue F1" is a popular hybrid with dark blue flowers on small, low plants about 15 centimeters;

"Ocean" - an early species, a dwarf plant up to 20 centimeters, flowers of a light turquoise color;

"Bavaria" is an original variety that produces large inflorescences with two colors: the middle of the basket is almost white or pale blue, around which there is a fringe of clear blue petals;

“White Hawaii F1” - the height of this hybrid is no more than 18 centimeters, and it blooms with snow-white flowers, “Summer Snow” is a bush, abundantly blooming with snowy inflorescences, about 40 centimeters high.

Growing seedlings of ageratum

In ageratum, it takes about 60 days from planting seeds to the appearance of the first flowers. Therefore, ageratum is usually grown in seedlings.

Ageratum seedlings are sown in late March - early April in order to get a luxurious blooming carpet by June. For cultivation, you can use a ready-made soil mixture from a flower shop, or you can make it yourself. To do this, you need to mix peat with sand and add a little humus or leafy soil. After that, the soil mixture must be calcined in the oven for 15-20 minutes and left for a day.

The seeds of the ageratum are small, therefore they are sown on the surface of the soil mixture, without falling asleep with earth. The planted seeds are moistened with a spray bottle. After sowing, the container is covered with cling film and placed in a sufficiently warm and well-lit place. Seeds germinate at temperatures not lower than 18 degrees. In this case, once every two days, the film is opened for airing.

Growing conditions for ageratum seedlings

Ageratum seedlings usually appear on the 4th day after planting, however, germination may take 10-12 days due to the quality of the planting material. Remember to water your seedlings regularly with a spray bottle. You can use a weak solution of complex fertilizers for irrigation.

After the appearance of the second or third true leaf, the seedlings dive into separate cups. If ageratum is intended for growing on a balcony, it can be immediately dived into flowerpots at a distance of no more than 5-7 cm from each other. Usually the pick is carried out at the end of April.

The grown seedlings are planted in a flower bed in the second half of May at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other so that the ageratum feels as comfortable as possible. Then, having grown, the plants will close into a beautiful long-flowering carpet, for which growers appreciate ageratum.