Ageratum (in Latin Agerátum houstoniánum) or, as it is also called, the long-flowered flower belongs to the Astrov family. Its homeland is Central and South America - more than 60 plant varieties grow here.
Ageratum cultivation
Dolgosvetka is a thermophilic plant. Ageratum flowers has small, collected in inflorescences. Pestles protruding above them give a special charm. A plant covered with such fluffy balls looks very unusual and bright. It is difficult to answer the question whether the ageratum is perennial or annual. It can be both that and another, and sometimes it is capable to reach the sizes of a small bush.
Ageratum can grow to a height of about 70 cm. Flowering of long-flowered flowers is very long - from the beginning of summer to the first cold weather. With proper care, seeds may appear in September.
Ageratum
There are two ways that you can grow a flower. And if grafting is used on an industrial scale, then seed germination is more suitable for lovers.
Seed propagation is better than propagation by cuttings for several reasons:
- flowering of the plant will occur earlier, since when grafting, it takes longer to wait for the sprouts;
- by the seed method, you can plant many different types and varieties of ageratum on your site;
- seeds are easy to purchase, as they are sold in any specialized store.
How to collect seeds for seedlings
For seedlings, seeds should be collected immediately after flowering. This usually occurs 15 days after the first flowers appear.
In order for seedlings to emerge from the seeds, the plant must be pollinated. There should not be any problems with this, since bees and wasps willingly collect nectar from the ageratum.
Attention! If the plant is indoor, then for pollination it is necessary to take it out to the street or to the balcony.
Seeds have an oblong shape, very small weight and size. Healthy seeds should be light brown in color. It is better to store them before planting in paper or fabric bags.
Seeds
Popular types and varieties of ageratum
There are more than 60 species of long-flowered flowers and each of them is distinguished by its unique beauty. In garden shops you can find a variety to your taste, but several types of ageratum are especially popular.
Ageratum Blue Mink
Ornamental plant of small stature - in height reaches no more than 35 cm.
Blue mink
It is distinguished by thin petals similar to villi, which resemble mink fur in their appearance (hence the name of the variety). This type is used to decorate flower beds or create live borders.
Blue mink is a heat-loving plant, in the Russian climate is grown as an annual. The flowers have a tubular shape and are collected in inflorescences with a diameter of up to 25 cm.
Ageratum of Houston (or Gauston)
Also known as Mexican blue ageratum.
Ageratum Houston
A distinctive feature of this species is the ability to maintain a decorative appearance of inflorescences for a long time. In suitable conditions it is a perennial. It can reach a height of 50 cm.
The flowers have a pronounced aroma, small in size, form a basket with a diameter of 1 cm. Baskets, in turn, comprise inflorescences with a diameter of up to 10 cm.
Ageratum Summer Snow
Summer Snow
In Russia, it is better known as the "white ball". It is a close-knit bush that can grow up to 45 cm.
Its inflorescences grow in diameter up to 2 cm and become voluminous. Due to this, as well as abundant flowering, adult ageratums resemble lush white balls.
For reference! Although Summer Snow originally grew as a perennial plant, in a cold climate it is planted as an annual.
In addition to these, many other varieties are known: Ageratum Bonjour, Red Bouquet, Inca Gold, Pink Ball and many others. The choice of a plant depends primarily on the climate in which it will live and the purposes for which it is grown.
Ageratum: planting and care in the open ground
Dolgosvetka belongs to unpretentious crops and is very easy to grow. It is enough to plant a flower at home for seedlings, and in the spring to transplant into the garden. The exact time for planting seeds depends on the climate of the region - if it is warm, then you can plant it in early spring, if it is cold, then it is better to sow the seeds in February.
Soil preparation and seedling tanks
Although the ageratum is unpretentious, it is advisable to prepare a special substrate for seedlings.
You can buy soil for flower crops or make it yourself. To do this, you will need:
- soil from the garden,
- peat,
- turf,
- sand,
- drainage.
For seedlings, a wide and shallow container is taken so that the root system does not grow. Small air holes are made in the walls of the tank to allow air to enter.
Seed selection and preparation
Seeds should be selected carefully, because the better they are, the more likely it is to grow up healthy and strong seedlings.
When buying seeds, you need to pay attention to the reputation of the supplier, the integrity of the packaging and the date of manufacture of the seeds. If the storage conditions or shelf life are violated, it will be difficult to grow good seedlings. In addition, you can study the packaging - manufacturers often write on the back the description and characteristics of the plant.
To simplify the planting process, seeds are sold in granules, which are composed of a mixture of nutrients that promote rapid germination. Such seed should be moistened first and with a toothpick a little break the outer layer of the granule.
For reference! Self-collected seeds also need disinfection. You can pickle them with powder fungicides.
Sowing seeds
The sowing procedure is quite simple and even a beginner gardener can cope with it.
A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the prepared container. It is necessary for the normal outflow of water and to prevent acidification of the soil. The soil is disinfected and mixed with other components (peat, turf, sand), after which it is poured into a container and evenly distributed over it. Abundant watering of the soil.
When everything is ready, you can start planting seeds. This procedure is performed using tweezers or a toothpick. Seeds spread over the surface of the soil are pressed very carefully into it, after which they are sprayed with a spray gun. To maintain heat and humidity, the container is covered with a lid. Thus, a semblance of the greenhouse conditions necessary for seed germination is created.
Ageratum propagation by cuttings
Ageratum can also propagate by means of cuttings. To do this, at the beginning of autumn, the most healthy bush is selected and transferred to the room.
Since the plant is thermophilic, in winter it must be kept at a temperature of 20 ° C. At the beginning of spring, cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from the bush. The resulting workpieces are processed with stimulants to grow the root system and planted in containers or pots. It is recommended to use a sand-peat mixture.
Seedlings are covered with polyethylene to create greenhouse conditions. Shelter is removed when the first leaves appear on the cuttings. So that the cuttings are well rooted, they should be grown at a temperature of at least 20 ° C, regularly watered and aired.
For reference! Whichever of the methods seedlings were transplanted into the open ground and care for it will be the same. In order for the plant to grow and bloom well, it must be carefully taken care of.
When to plant an agratum, when growing from seeds or cuttings
Transplanting seedlings in open ground is carried out in mid-May in warm weather. If the climate is too cold, it is better to postpone the transplant. In unheated soil, seedlings can die.
For planting, it is better to choose loose soil with a good drainage layer and neutral acidity. If you plant seedlings in moist rocky soil, the plant will often get sick.
The area on which the seedlings will be planted should be sufficiently lit and windless. In the presence of darkening of the planting area, the stems of the ageratum will stretch upward, the leaves will rarely grow, and flowering will be almost invisible.
Transfer
Home Care
Although the plant is unpretentious, it also needs care.
- Watering
Due to its root system, the plant tolerates well the absence of moisture. It is better to water the ageratum in the absence of bright sunlight - in the morning or in the evening. If the weather is hot, then moisturizing is done every day and 1-3 times a week in rainy times.
- Top dressing
The unpretentiousness of the flower applies to its fertilizing. The plant does not like pure cow dung. You can fertilize them if you dilute it in water. Peat and humus should also be deleted from fertilizers suitable for the agratum. When processed by them, the leaves of the plant will look strong and healthy, but the flowering will be dull.
It is preferable to use special mineral fertilizers for annual plants, which are sold in specialized stores. You can feed a flower no more than once every three weeks.
- Pruning and pinching
In order for the ageratum on the flowerbed to grow voluminous and bright, it needs periodic cropping. In order for it to bloom profusely, dried inflorescences should be pruned. If the stems of the plant are too stretched up due to lack of lighting, then they are also recommended to trim.
Attention! Once a month, to give the desired shape to the bush, a rejuvenating or decorative pruning is performed.
To make the plant grow more voluminous, it is recommended to pinch it. At the stems stretching upwards, the tops of the shoots are trimmed, while at least 6 leaves must remain on them for good growth. By pinching, the growth of new bushes is ensured and the flowering period is extended.
Diseases and Pests
The beauty of ageratum can noticeably suffer from pests or diseases:
- Rot. The disease appears in high humidity environments or soils. The appearance of dark spots on the leaves is typical for rot. It is treated by spraying the plant with Fundazole or Topaz preparations. If this does not help, then the infected bush is dug up and destroyed.
- Cucumber mosaic. Characterized by the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves. It is impossible to cure it, therefore, for preventive purposes, the soil is regularly weeded, weeds are removed. Since insects are carriers of the disease, measures must be taken to eliminate them when they first appear.
Whitefly
- Whitefly These insects are easy to spot on the leaves. Pests feed on the sap of the plant, and if measures are not taken, they can kill it. You can get rid of whiteflies using Actellik or Actar.
Following the requirements for growing and caring for the ageratum, you can get an unpretentious plant that will decorate an apartment or garden plot.
