Here is one of the undisputed queens of the garden with her pretty banded foliage evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous depending on the variety, green or variegated, from which emerge huge stems that can reach 1 meter in height, proudly erect, which bear up to a hundred flowers arranged in umbels. Usually blue in color, this rhizomatous plant is a lively with a singular port which can also give white flowers, or even in a pastel color verging on mauve or violet, since there are different hybrids. Cultivated as much for its decorative foliage as for its sumptuous flowering, the agapanthus or blue tuberose likes both in soil and in pots.
Plant an agapanthus
The agapanthus thrives in a deep groundperfectly drained, humus et light, which retains coolness in summer. A calcareous soil does not disturb it unduly and it also appreciates a slight acidity. You can therefore add a little heather soil to a good quality topsoil.
She likes them hot situations, sunny – a semi-shaded place may suit it only in the most southern regions –, sheltered from wind and severe frosts because it is frost-proof from -5°C. The blue tuberose can therefore be installed in the ground in regions with a mild climate and in tubs or pots in areas with harsh winters because this allows it to be sheltered during the off-season.
This is in spring that we plant the agapanthus by respecting the following method.
- Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the foot if it is already well developed, about three times larger than the root ball.
- Place a drainage layer (clay pebbles, gravel, medium-sized pebbles) at the bottom of the hole.
- Enrich with mature compost.
- Work the soil taken out of the hole to loosen it properly and add a little coarse sand if it is clayey so that it is less compact. In addition, sand promotes drainage.
- Place the root ball in the hole, taking care not to injure the roots. The birth of the leaves must be flush with the natural level of the ground.
- Fill the hole with soil and pack enough around the foot without hurting it.
- Water copiously.
- Apply a mineral or organic mulch to limit the drying out of the soil, subsequently reduce watering and slow down the development of weeds.
L’watering from planting is very important to promote recovery. It eliminates “voids”, these air pockets that are detrimental to rooting. This is the reason why it is necessary to water the agapanthus as soon as it is planted. even in the rain.
It is essential to reserve enough space for it because it is a plant with a substantial development in just a few years.
The blue tuberose can be grown alone, along the path, at the edge of a pond or swimming pool, in a lawn, or associated in a bed with perennials with summer flowering, even with grasses, shrubs such as the buddleia, the banana tree or even palm trees. In pots, tubs or jars, it brings a incomparable vegetal touch on the balcony, terrace or patio.
Sow an agapanthus
It is possible to produce your agapanthus from seeds. All you have to do is make your sowing in May or June, when the risk of frost has completely disappeared. There is no particular problem, this plant being easy to reproduce this way, but you just have to be patient because it only begins to flower after 3 or 4 years.
To sow an agapanthus, it is necessary to:
- Collect the seeds that follow the flowers during the fall.
- Sow them immediately in a seedbed, in a bucket, in a crate or in egg cells, for example.
- Spray the potting soil.
- Place the seedlings in a bright room where the temperature is between 17 and 21°C.
- Keep the soil moist.
It is necessary to count 21 to 28 days for germination. During the summer, each young plant should be planted in a small individual pot and then placed in the shade and sheltered from the wind but not in the cool. It will then be necessary to protect them from the winter by returning them. They will be at set up in spring next and will only begin to flower after at least 3 years.
Propagate an agapanthus by dividing the stumps
After 4 to 5 years, you can start multiplying your agapanthus by simply dividing the clumps. The ideal time is spring. To do this, we extract the rhizomatous strain its hole with a spade fork, taking care to dig deeply so as not to cause injury. Then just take a perfectly sharp spade and then cut the root block clean. Each new foot from a splinter of the stump must have buds but also enough roots to be replanted without delay, either in the ground or in a pot. It will then be necessary to wait a year to see its new agapanthus bloom.
Caring for an agapanthus
The agapanthus is a spectacular plant suitable for all nature lovers, including amateur gardeners with no experience. She is not not susceptible to pests or diseases. Certainly, it is a real delicacy for snails and slugs which can be protected by spreading a little sand or coffee grounds all around the foot to hinder the movement of gastropods.
On the other hand, the rigors of winter are really to be feared. The agapanthus in tray is to store in a cold greenhouse or under a frame from the first frosts. It can also be protected by several thicknesses of winter sail (which also protects the container) and placed in a sunny corner sheltered from cold winds. Thus, it will spend the winter without batting an eyelid. This setting aside is to be extended until spring, ideally until the end of April, the ideal time for revegetation.
Concerning the watering the agapanthus grown in the ground as well as in pots, they can resume in the spring but in a moderate way. They must be more sustained throughout the flowering period, especially if the summer temperatures are scorching. However, after a few years, those in the ground can be satisfied with a few summer showers and they are even quite capable of adapting to dry soil.
When the flowers are wilted, the stems should be cut at the lowest. This is the time when we start to reduce watering. The leaves who turn yellow must also be removed during the fall. This is a sign that it’s time to stop watering your agapanthus. Throughout the wintering period, you just have to take care to keep the soil slightly moist. One watering per month is enough for a potted agapanthus. It may be less common if grown in the ground.
You have to think about enrich the substrate an agapanthus in a container once every two weeks, from April until September. As for the blue tuberose planted in the ground, it is satisfied with the decomposition of the mulch that we took care to spread at the foot during planting.
Finally, we recommend rempoter l’agapanthe environ every 4 years. The best time is early spring. Repotting is highly beneficial since it completely renews the substrate. This obviously only concerns blue tuberoses in containers.
Blooming agapanthus
This is between June and September that the agapanthus blooms. Its flowering can even last well beyond in a mild climate. However, some gardeners lament not seeing their blue tuberoses bloom. There could be several reasons for this:
- A pot that is too big: the agapanthus must feel a bit cramped in its pot to bloom abundantly,
- The stump is still too small: it must be given time to grow a little,
- The plant lacks heat or light (or both): the tank must therefore be moved. If it is an agapanthus in the ground, it will probably be necessary to transplant it to another place so that it benefits from a better situation. This can only be done when spring is already well advanced, that is, when there is no longer any risk of frost.
It is fundamental to choose the right location for your agapanthus before planting them in the ground because these plants do not like to be moved too much once they are well rooted. We therefore do not abuse their transplantation.