Ageratum Blue Mink: photo and description of flowers, planting and care

How to grow ageratum from seeds: feeding, protection from diseases and pests

Feeding should be done once every three weeks.
In this case, it is best to use mineral and organic fertilizers. The total number of feedings is three, with the first two being carried out using half the dose of fertilizer, which is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. An excess of nutrients in the soil will lead to an increase in leaf mass. Despite the fact that the plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests, there are several types of insects that can cause significant harm to it when growing in open ground. These include whitefly, which causes yellow spots to appear on the leaves. The affected leaves are removed, and the bush is treated with an emulsion with mineral oils 2 times at intervals of a week;

Another problem that can happen to this plant is root rot. It is quite difficult to get rid of it, since the causative agent of the disease may be in the soil itself. To protect the ageratum from diseases and pests, the diseased plant is removed and, if possible, burned to prevent the spread of infection throughout the area.

Description of the flower

Ageratum (translated as “ageless”) , a tropical flower native to India and Central America. There the plant grows as a perennial, but here it is an annual, because it is not used to even slight frost.

Blooming ageratum

The flower blooms for a long time, continuously in pink, purple, blue or white. The flowers are pubescent, small, and are in inflorescences. The inflorescences come from the stem, their diameter does not exceed 5 cm. The shape varies depending on the subspecies.

The plant is bushy, spreading, with many shoots. The rhizome is developed. The stem is erect and can reach half a meter in height. The foliage is dominated by a rich green color, its shape is oval, triangular, the edge is with small jagged edges.

The foliage of the flower contains substances that irritate the mucous membranes and cause allergies.

Early flowering varieties and hybrids of ageratum

According to various sources, the genus Ageratum in the Asteraceae family includes from 40 to 60 species of annual and perennial herbs originating from North and Central America and Eastern India. Translated from Greek, the name of the flower sounds like “ageless.”

This name is associated with the ability of the plant to retain freshness in the bouquet for a long time after cutting. Mostly grown in cultivation are Ageratum houstonianum, or otherwise - Mexican Ageratum, and popularly - long-flowered.

Most varieties are bred precisely on the basis of this natural species. Depending on their height they are divided into:

1. low or dwarf up to 15-20 cm high,
2. medium – from 25 to 35 cm
3. tall – more than 40 cm.

However, when planting ageratum from seeds in open ground, the speed of development and timing of flowering play the greatest role. Therefore, for this purpose, flower growers opt for early flowering varieties and hybrids. Unfortunately, the popular and very common Blue Mink variety is grown from seedlings.

Dwarf varieties with blue inflorescences-baskets:

• Little Dorrit
• Blausternchen
• Ocean Blue
• Aloha Blue
• Blue Angel
• Cloud Nine Blue
• Cloud Nine is a pink-flowering variety.

Medium-sized varieties with lilac-blue inflorescences:

• Blue Lagoon
• Blue Perfection

The recently developed heterotic F1 hybrids are particularly popular among flower growers due to their rapid development, compact bush shape, as well as early and long flowering. Among them are attractive and common low-growing varieties 15-20 cm high with blue or blue-violet inflorescences:

• Adriatic
• Atlantic
• Blue Ribbon
• Neptune Blue F1
• Hawaii Blue F1

The tall hybrid Red River F1 (RedSea) with a height of 35 to 60 cm, which is often used for bouquets, stands out for its unique spectacular beauty.

Favorable days in 2022 for sowing ageratum

By listening to the recommendations of the lunar calendar, you can get friendly shoots, as well as early and lush flowering. The table shows the best periods for working with ageratum seeds:

How to grow ageratum

Growing ageratum is a simple process and any amateur gardener can do it, the main thing is to follow the instructions below.

Planting seeds

To properly decorate the area near your house, it is enough to plant an exotic ageratum plant, but before breeding you should carefully study how to properly plant seeds in the ground. It is better to grow a flower crop from seed material, and at the initial stage of propagation, sowing is carried out from the middle to the last days of the first month of spring.

Sowing ageratum seeds

For the process, containers of shallow depth are used, which are filled with soil mixture. The substrate must contain a small amount of sand, organic matter, and peat. Before sowing, the soil is well moistened. The grains of the plant are very small, so they are scattered randomly, after which they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil.

The box with plantings is covered with microclimate-preserving material and put away in a warm place. Crops require daily ventilation and periodic moistening. For this purpose it is very convenient to use a small special sprayer. After the seedlings appear two weeks later, the covering material is removed.

Growing ageratum from seeds at home is not difficult, the main rule is to comply with all the few requirements. When the seedlings have become stronger and have produced two true leaves, they are planted in another, more spacious container. Ageratum seedlings are planted in two stages.

Repeated diving is carried out after a few weeks. The grown, strong sprouts are planted in individual cups. Keep the plantings in a dry, warm room; the soil is periodically moistened. They do this only in the morning. Before planting ageratum in the ground, the seedlings are hardened off.

Planting ageratum seedlings in open ground

When the threat of late frosts has passed, they begin planting ageratum in open ground. Choose a place that is as bright as possible without exposure to drafts. In the area where the exotic plant will grow, the sun's rays should be present throughout the day. Lack of lighting leads to elongation of the stems, causing sparse flowering.

Planting ageratum in open ground

The soil is prepared light, slightly acidic with plenty of drainage and nutrients. The holes are made shallow, at a distance of ten to fifteen centimeters. Determine the depth at which the seedlings developed and plant at the same level. Properly planted plants begin to bloom in the second decade of June.

Selecting a location

In order for the flowering of ageratums to be long and lush, you should choose the right place and prepare the soil.

The flower prefers sunny, open areas. Even a slight shadow leads to stretching of the stems and unfriendly flowering.

Too high soil fertility will ensure rapid growth of shoots and leaves, but not buds. Choose not too fertile, but light, neutral, well-drained soil.

Preparing the site and soil

For ageratum, planting and care in open ground are determined by choosing a suitable place for the plant, as well as soil that will fully satisfy the needs of this chic bush. If we talk about growing, ageratum requires proper planting first, so it is necessary to consider its main subtleties. So:

1It is important for the plant to choose a place that will receive maximum light. This flower normally tolerates shade only 2 hours a day.

The rest of the time, it is advisable to keep the ageratum in direct sunlight, even if the weather in the region is very hot and dry.

2An important rule in growing ageratum from seedlings or seeds is the absence of drafts. It is preferable to choose an open place, which will be protected in the distance by a green hedge. This will simultaneously give the plant maximum light and shelter it from the winds.

3Despite the fact that the plant is not very picky about soil, it is advisable to choose the lightest and most non-acidic soil for it. You should not over-enrich the soil with fertilizers, as in this case all the energy will be spent on the formation of foliage, and flowering will not be so noticeable.

4Avoid having a large number of stones in the soil, and do not over-moisten it before planting. Otherwise, the root system may rot and the plant will die without having time to please with its beautiful buds.

Following these simple recommendations will provide plants with the necessary conditions for further development and the formation of dense, bright inflorescences, regardless of how exactly this crop is supposed to be planted in open ground.

Reviews of Ageratum Blue Mink

Polina, 35 years old, Stavropol

The blue mink settled with me a long time ago. Excellent as a background plant for decorating flower beds. True, I don’t grow seedlings. I plant it in the ground in April. I don't particularly bother. What grows will grow. But in April it’s almost summer here. This will not work in the northern regions.

Sofia, 50 years old, Sebezh

Last year I wanted to grow Blue Mink ageratum in the country. To be honest, it's not worth it. A beautiful flower with an original aroma. An excellent neighbor for almost any flower crop. But fiddling with him since February is not my thing. And it's a pity for the place.

Ageratum: description and characteristics

Longflower is a heat-loving flowering crop. The flowers are formed in miniature sizes, collected in inflorescences. The pistils that protrude above the flowers give the plant an unusual appearance.

The color is bright, the shape is unusual, which attracts the attention of domestic flower growers.

What do ageratum flowers look like?

The question of whether ageratum is a perennial or an annual cannot be answered unequivocally. This crop can grow for just a year or several.

Interesting! Perennial plants form in the form of a small bush.

The height of ageratum sometimes reaches 0.7 meters. Subject to agrotechnical rules, flowering is long, starting from mid-June until the first frost. Under favorable development conditions, seed pods are formed.

Using ageratum in landscape design

Growing and propagating a flower can be done in two ways. On an industrial scale, cuttings are used, but at home, the seed method is more common.

The main reasons why it is better to give preference to propagation by seeds:

• Seed material is quite easy to purchase; they are sold in almost all specialized stores.
• Using the seed propagation method, you can grow a large number of different plant varieties in your garden.

And, perhaps, one of the main advantages is that the plant begins to bloom earlier and also grows more hardy.

The seeds are collected soon after the plant has finished flowering. As a rule, this happens after two to three weeks from the moment the first flowers appear.

In order to grow seedlings from seed, the crop must be pollinated

Usually there are no problems with this issue, since ageratum flowers attract the attention of bees and wasps, they willingly pollinate them

Important! When growing crops at home, the pots are taken out onto the balcony or into the yard for pollination. The seed material is characterized by an oblong shape, small size and weight

Healthy seeds are light brown in color. Before planting, it is recommended to store in fabric or paper bags, dry glass glasses

The seed material is characterized by an oblong shape, small size and weight. Healthy seeds are light brown in color. Before planting, it is recommended to store in fabric or paper bags or dry glass glasses.

The flower is indispensable when decorating a personal plot.

Popular types

Delphinium - care and growing from seeds

Today there are more than 60 varieties of culture, and each has its own individual characteristics. In hardware stores you can find almost all varieties, but several types are the most popular: Blue Mink ageratum, Houston (Houston) and Mexican variety. Each one is worth reading in more detail.

Ageratum Blue Mink

An ornamental plant of miniature size, not exceeding 35 cm in height. Characteristic features - the inflorescences visually resemble mink fur in their appearance. In landscape design, ageratum is mainly used in the flower bed, as well as for the design of living borders.

Appearance Ageratum Blue Mink

The plant is heat-loving; in the not entirely favorable climate of Russia it is grown as an annual. The flowers are characteristically tubular in shape and are grouped into inflorescences with a diameter of no more than 25 cm.

Description of the popular variety Ageratum Gauston (Houston or Mexican)

Gauston's Ageratum is also known as Mexican Blue Ageratum. A characteristic feature of the variety is that the inflorescences retain their decorative properties for a long time. Under favorable weather and climatic conditions it is a perennial. The bush reaches about half a meter in height.

During flowering, the bushes exude a rich, pleasant aroma; the flowers are small in size and form bright baskets no more than 1 cm in diameter.

Gauston's Mexican ageratum

Variety Summer Snow

In Russia, this plant is better known under another name - “white ball”. It is formed in the form of a close-knit bush, which can reach a height of 45 cm.

The inflorescences do not exceed two centimeters in diameter and become voluminous. Thanks to this feature, Summer Snow's ageratums resemble lush white balls.

Note! Initially, the variety is perennial, but in unfavorable climatic conditions they are grown as an annual.

Flower growers should also pay attention to varieties such as Pink Ball, Bonjour, Inca Gold, Red Bouquet and Whitefly. When choosing, you should take into account the weather and climatic conditions in which the plant will grow.

Reproduction

Ageratum is most often propagated by seeds. They are sown in open ground in May or for seedlings in March. In the second case, it will begin to bloom in June.

Ageratum seeds are very small, so they are not sprinkled with soil at all. The seedling box is filled with a light nutrient substrate.

It may contain peat, sand, humus, vermiculite, and turf soil. The mixture is moistened and planting material is sown.

The top of the box is covered with glass or polyethylene film to achieve a greenhouse effect. It is necessary to ventilate the seeds periodically and constantly monitor the moisture content of the substrate.

The box should be in a warm, bright place, then seedlings will form after 8-15 days. After seed germination, the film and glass are removed. Caring for sprouts consists of regular watering and application of mineral fertilizers with a break of 10-14 days.

A couple of weeks before planting in open ground, seedlings begin to harden off so that they can withstand changing climatic conditions well.

The seedlings need to be taken outside, each time increasing the residence time. If it is not possible to grow seedlings at home, you can sow the seeds directly in the front garden.

However, it is worth considering the fact that about 60-70 days pass from germination to flowering. Therefore, seeds should be sown in the third ten days of April.

In this case, Ageratum is planted in some containers and covered with lutrasil using arcs. The shelter can be removed no earlier than the third ten days of May, when there are no longer frosts.

Any sprouts must be pinched if you want to get lushly branched bushes. Pinching is usually carried out above the 3rd or 4th pair of true leaves.

Landing

For normal development of Ageratum, well lit by the sun is necessary. The soil required is light, breathable and neutral.

Heavy infertile soil is improved by adding loosening additives - peat, sand, vermiculite, perlite, humus.

The use of cow manure and nitrogenous fertilizers is not recommended, as this provokes excessive development of green mass.

The optimal planting scheme for Mexican Ageratum is 25 by 20 cm. This way the bushes will not interfere with each other, and you won’t get unsightly bald spots in the flowerbed. Transplanting seedlings does not present any particular difficulties and is easily tolerated by hardened seedlings.

Botanical description of Gauston's ageratum

The root system of Ageratum Gauston is highly branched. In places of contact with the soil on the main shoot and lateral branches, many adventitious roots are formed. The stems are numerous, strongly branched, erect, pubescent, 10-60 cm high. The leaves are triangular, rhombic or oval, serrated along the edge, serrated or crenate, rough. The lower leaves of Ageratum Gauston are opposite, petiolate; the higher up the stem, the shorter the petioles; the upper leaves are almost sessile and alternate. The flowers are small, narrow-tubular, bisexual, fragrant, collected in small baskets, reminiscent of a “puff” of powder compact, which in turn form complex corymbose inflorescences. The main decorative effect of Gauston's ageratum inflorescences is given by bilobed stigmas, which are almost twice the length of the perianth and protrude strongly above it. The perianth and stigma are equally colored.

The ovary of Ageratum Gauston is inferior. The fruit is an elongated wedge-shaped achene, pentagonal, with sharply protruding ribs, sometimes slightly curved, 2-3 mm long and up to 0.6 mm wide. At the upper end of the achene there is a white membranous pappus. The surface of the achenes is very finely longitudinally wrinkled. Color: black-brown. There are 6-7 thousand seeds in 1 gram. Seeds remain viable for 3-4 years.

Seed propagation of Ageratum Gauston, even with the most careful selection, does not produce homogeneous offspring. The varietal purity of most varieties does not exceed 80%.

Ageratum Gauston seeds set well. In central Russia, seeds ripen mainly on the main shoot and first-order shoots. In the event of a rainy autumn, some of the inflorescences rot. In the southern regions, the seed yield is much higher.

Ageratum pink. Shihmei Barger

Optimal timing for planting ageratum seedlings

If you want to succeed, then any vegetable and flower crop must be sown at the right time - not too late and not too early. When is the best time to plant ageratum seeds for seedlings? It is better to sow the crop from mid-March to mid-April .

But when choosing the time for the procedure, take into account weather differences in different regions, which also affect the timing. For example, in Siberia, the Urals, the Leningrad region , it is better to sow from mid-April (not earlier); in the warm South , planting can be done in mid-March, in In the middle zone (including the Moscow region) it is better to plant at the end of March or at the beginning of April.

An excellent assistant in this matter is the moon; based on its cycles you can choose the most and least suitable days. Landing dates according to the lunar calendar 2022:

How to plant ageratum with seeds

Propagation by seeds is a common method for ageratum, although the vegetative method (propagation by cuttings) is also suitable for it. In greenhouse conditions, this is how the crop is propagated. At home, they practice growing ageratum from seeds.

To obtain seedlings, it is necessary to prepare the soil substrate. You can buy soil at a garden store ("Universal" or "For Tomatoes" will do) or prepare the mixture yourself.

For the substrate take:

• high-rise crumbly peat – 1 part;
• soil taken from under an oak or linden tree – 1 part;
• fatty humus – 1 part;
• coarse river sand or vermiculite – 1 part.

All ingredients must be disinfected: steamed for half an hour in a water bath or poured with a hot raspberry solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure is necessary to rid the substrate of fungi and other pathogens.

Complete mineral fertilizer for flowers is added to the cooled soil, 1 matchbox per 5 liters of soil.

The finished soil is laid out in boxes, cassettes or individual pots.

How to plant ageratum seedlings:

1. Flower seeds collected independently from their own plants are disinfected for half an hour in a Fitosporin solution before sowing.
2. The seeds, dried until they flow, are laid out in seedling containers according to the following scheme: the distance between rows is 2-3 cm, the gap between seeds in a row is 1 cm. The sowing depth is no more than 5 mm.
3. The crops are sprinkled with warm water and covered with glass or film. Before the seeds germinate, the bowls with ageratum should be kept in the light and warm (+22..25 degrees).
4. Shoots will appear in 7-10 days. During this period, the boxes are periodically opened to ventilate and moisten the soil from the sprayer.

Ageratum sprouts are gradually accustomed to air by removing the film, first for a few minutes, then for several hours.

Ageratum flowers - photos, varieties

Depending on the variety, the plant can be from 20 to 50 cm in height. In the photo you can see that ageratum is a small bush with heart-shaped leaves and fluffy inflorescences. Its flowers can be white, pale pink, lavender blue, blue.

The opposite lower and middle leaves of the plant grow on petioles, and the alternate upper leaves are sessile. Bisexual fragrant flowers of ageratum are located on corymbose inflorescences and reach a diameter of one to one and a half centimeters. The fruit is a pentagonal wedge-shaped achene. The germination of plant seeds lasts for 3-4 years.

The plant has more than fifty species. Only a few of them are the most popular and in demand by gardeners.

Ageratum blue

The plant got its name because of its pale blue flowers, which are similar in color and fluffiness to mink fur. Therefore, the second name of this type of ageratum is “Blue Mink”. The low bush is completely covered with rather large inflorescences, which can be from 5 to 8 cm in diameter.

Mexican ageratum

Reaching a height of 10 to 50 cm, the plant is distinguished by numerous erect, branched stems. Its leaves, rough and jagged along the edges, can be oval or rhombic. The small fragrant flowers of the plant are collected in inflorescences-baskets, which, in turn, are collected in complex corymbose inflorescences.

This type of ageratum has many varieties, which differ in the height of the bush, flowering time and shades of flowers.

1. The Blue Mink variety is distinguished by weakly leafy, strong and thick shoots that grow up to 25-30 cm. This compact columnar bush is strewn with dense and large inflorescences up to 2.1 cm in diameter. The plant of this variety blooms with lilac-blue flowers from mid-June to October.
2. Ageratum "Blaustenchen" is a compact bush, the height of which is only about 15 cm. Its thin, dark green shoots are covered with a purple bloom and are densely pubescent. Loose and few-flowered inflorescences are covered with blue flowers with a lilac tint. The plant requires watering. It begins to bloom in early June.
3. The “Blau Kappe” variety begins to bloom only at the end of June, so it is considered late. The hemispherical compact bush grows up to 20-30 cm. Loose inflorescences with a diameter of 5-6 cm are distinguished by a lilac-blue hue and short stigmas.
4. Ageratum "Alba" is a spherical, compact bush about 20 cm high, on which dense white inflorescences are located.

Application in landscape design

Ageratum Blue Mink is widely used for growing in group flower beds. Bright and tall lilies or gladioli look great against the background of gray-blue inflorescences. Plants are planted in the root circles of clematis and roses.

It will not only highlight the beauty of gardeners’ favorites, but will also reliably shelter their roots from the summer heat throughout the season.

You can plant such unpretentious flowers as marigolds next to the Blue Mink ageratum and create a chic composition that will delight you until the cold weather.

Reproduction of ageratum at home

The plant can be propagated in two ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings.

Seed propagation

Most often, ageratum is grown from seeds. One ripe fruit of the plant contains up to six thousand seeds, which can be collected and stored for several years. Planting takes place in the second half of March.

1. The seedling boxes are filled with a soil mixture, which should consist of humus, peat and sand (1:1:1).
2. Ageratum seeds are very small, so they are sown on the surface of moist soil, and only a little soil is sprinkled on top.
3. The top of the boxes is covered with glass or polyethylene.
4. Greenhouses are placed in a warm place and ventilated daily.
5. You need to ensure that the soil is moist at all times. Therefore, if necessary, it should be sprinkled with water at room temperature.

After about 10-14 days, the first shoots should appear. After this, the glass or film can be removed and the boxes placed in a well-lit place. The seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Caring for seedlings involves timely watering with settled water.

When two true leaves appear, you need to plant the sprouts, increasing the distance between them. After about two more weeks, the young bushes that have grown stronger and grown are planted in separate pots. At home, water the seedlings only in the morning. The soil should always be slightly moist and the air around the sprouts dry.

Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, young plants need to begin to “harden off”. To do this, cups with sprouts are taken out into the open air in warm weather.

Cuttings

It is much easier and faster to grow ageratum from cuttings. Many young shoots with buds are formed on the branches of the plant, which need to be cut off for propagation. This method of propagation is very convenient, since the plant is an annual plant, and it is not always possible to tinker with seeds.

Growing ageratum from cuttings and planting them has its own characteristics:

1. Before frost, the best bushes of the plant are dug up and transplanted into large containers.
2. Flowers in pots are brought into a warm room and grown at home until March. Ageratum will also feel good on an insulated loggia.
3. In March you will need to cut cuttings or dig up queen cells.
4. The cuttings are planted in a container with an earthen mixture or in a greenhouse, and covered with plastic bags or jars. Buds germinate at a temperature of at least 20C.

It is recommended to propagate and grow hybrid varieties of ageratum in this way. This is due to the fact that their seeds usually do not germinate.

Recommendations for growing ageratum

Growing ageratum from cuttings is quite a difficult task for a novice gardener; it is best to sow it from seeds. Seedlings are planted in the ground only when positive temperatures occur at night, because this is a very heat-loving plant.

Water the ageratum until it sprouts, only with a spray bottle, and under no circumstances from a watering can. Control the volume of water poured and the dryness of the soil; there should be no excess moisture, but you shouldn’t overdry the future shrub either.

Pick the plant in a timely manner. Picking is carried out twice, do not forget about fertilizers and feeding. Unfed plants grow poorly and lose leaves.

When transplanting, the best place will be a sunny area with no wind in the planting area. During prolonged flowering, dying inflorescences are cut off, this helps to enhance flowering and last longer. It’s not for nothing that the plant is popularly called “long-flowered.” With proper care, it will delight you with its delicate flowers before the onset of frost on the soil.

4.When ageratum blooms

Abundant flowering lasts from late spring until frost ; ageratum blooms for a very long time at home. Garden plants interrupt their flowering only with the onset of frost.

During the long period of flowering, the bush was given a second name - “ long-flowered” .

If you take the flower indoors in the autumn months and cut off the tops of the shoots, then a second wave of flowering , but it will be less abundant.

↑ Up,

How to grow a flower at home?

Growing at home (on a balcony or loggia) is advisable for low-growing varieties of ageratum. They will rise only 0.3-0.4 m. The spherical bushes formed by these plants can be lost from sight in a lush flower bed or in a border composition. But pots on balconies or terraces (verandas) are ideal for this indoor plant. In the vast majority of cases, ageratum is grown at home from seeds.

Initially, seedlings are formed. Then you will have to dive it into pots. When the plants develop in them, they will be ready to be planted in the ground or in a vase. It is recommended to grow seedlings on a south or south-east window. The optimal sowing time is mid-March.

But for this you will need to sow seeds for propagation of seedlings in the first ten days of February. This can only be done in places with a warm climate. Already in the central zone of the Russian Federation, it would be wiser to stick to later dates. The quality of the soil plays a special role. The slightest deviation from the optimal composition or infection defeats the plan of the flower growers.

The best option for both seeds and developed seedlings of ageratum is a homogeneous mixture of sand, peat and humus. To make sowing very small seeds easier, mixing them with dry sand helps. Then distribution into the beds will happen quickly and easily. Having laid the seeds in the ground, water it generously with warm water from a spray bottle. But the usual method of watering will simply wash away most of the planting material from the soil.

Or the seeds will be concentrated in one part of the container, and the germination will be uneven. Immediately after sowing, the tank is placed in a warm place with intense sunlight. To create a greenhouse effect, glass or polyethylene is used. As soon as the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed and the container itself is placed on a lighted windowsill.

High humidity is also necessary. You will have to make sure that the plants do not stretch or deviate to one side. Prevention is very simple: the box or other container with seedlings is constantly unfolded. Then the sun's rays will hit from different directions to more or less equal extent. When the second pair of leaves appears, ageratum is planted in peat pots (preferably) or in small plastic cups.

In the last ten days of May or in the first days of June, the developed seedlings are transplanted into flowerpots or pots. This container is ideal for further growth. For home use, seedlings are also grown from cuttings. They are cut in the spring, using a mother plant that has been kept in a greenhouse or conservatory all winter. Specimens that have overwintered in the ground are not suitable for cuttings - as soon as frost sets in, they quickly die.

Correctly collected cuttings should be grown in separate containers, which are filled with a homogeneous mixture of soil and sand. Young ageratums obtained in this way should be systematically watered and sprayed. Rooting occurs quite quickly, because adventitious roots are formed without any complications. Cuttings are used mainly by breeders.

Answers to private questions

How to plant ageratum in peat tablets?

Peat tablets are a very convenient thing; if you plant seeds in them, then you will not have problems with replanting later. To do this, you need to do the following steps:

• Take a tray and place the tablets in it, making sure that the indentations point upward;
• Then pour in warm water, but make sure that the water is sufficiently infused;
• After the moisture has been completely absorbed, take tweezers and place the seeds and press lightly.

Then simply cover the tablet with film and transfer it to a warm place.

How can you stimulate seeds for further growth?

To stimulate growth, you can treat the seeds with a solution of a growth stimulant, then the sprouts will sprout together and faster.

Why don't the seeds germinate?

There can be many reasons for non-germination, for example, mistakes were made when transporting the seeds and they were damaged. It may also be that you placed the soil with the seeds in a room with a low temperature.

Why are seeds soaked?

Soaking seeds can make them more viable, and soaking increases their chances of germination.

What to do if ageratum seedlings do not grow?

If the seedlings have stopped growing, then it is worth trying fertilizers, or better yet, adding stimulating fertilizing.

Further care

First shoots

In order for the seeds to germinate faster, it is recommended to move the containers to a well-lit place with a temperature of +22°C. As a rule, shoots appear in 7–10 days. During this time, you will need to periodically remove the cover and moisten the soil with a spray bottle.

Sprouts need to be provided with regular moderate watering. It is necessary to moisten the soil with standing running water or rainwater. It should be at room temperature. After watering, the soil should be loosened using a toothpick or match. In order to prevent the development of black leg, it is recommended to water the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate 2 times during the growing period. 10 days after the sprouts appear, they need to be fed with mineral fertilizer with a minimum nitrogen content.

As soon as the plants have at least 4 true leaves, the seedlings need to be planted in peat pots or 400 ml glasses. A week after transplantation, ageratums must be fed with Agricola or Fertica.

2 weeks before transplanting plants into open ground, they need to begin to be hardened by briefly moving the glasses to fresh air. You should plan to plant ageratums only when the night temperature stops falling below +7°C. The place should be well lit. The area must be cleared of weeds in advance and dug up, adding complex mineral fertilizer for flowers. Instead of fertilizing, you can use compost (7 kg per 1 m²) and wood ash (2 cups per 1 m²).

It is recommended to plant ageratums in open ground in the evening or in cloudy weather. Recommended distance between bushes: 15–25 cm. Planted plants should be watered abundantly at the roots, and the surface of the soil should be mulched with tree bark.

Further care of the plantings involves watering as needed and timely removal of faded inflorescences. It is also recommended to feed ageratums with complex flower fertilizer 3 weeks after planting.

Miniature varieties of this ornamental plant will be an excellent decoration for borders, and tall specimens are perfect for further cutting. Ageratums can be combined with other flowers, and varieties with blue flowers look good in an arrangement with marigolds and zinnias.

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Growing Ageratum

Unfortunately, the conditions of our climate are such that it is possible to force a plant to bloom earlier only by planting it as seedlings in open ground. Many gardeners prefer to grow seedlings themselves. In order to grow seedlings on time, seeds must be sown in March.

Seeds are sown in March

Room temperature is suitable for sowing ageratum. Containers with seedlings can be kept directly on the windowsill. The seeds are quite small, so they need to be distributed over moist soil. They also sprinkle the seeds on top. The first shoots should appear very soon.

Seedlings can be grown at home

In the first week of growth, the sprouts form a root system, and only after this the plant’s energy will be used to form foliage. When the plant produces its first true leaves, the grown seedlings will need to be planted in individual containers. For replanting, it is better to choose the most viable shoots.

Watering

Ageratum does not tolerate highly moist soil; its developed powerful root system allows it to tolerate a lack of moisture well. It is optimal to maintain moderate soil moisture, while watering is carried out exclusively at the root; watering the plant from above or spraying it should not be allowed.

Ageratum prefers moderate soil moisture

Advice! In pouring, very heavy rain, it is advisable to cover the ageratum with something.

Varieties of ageratum

In its homeland (in the tropics of Central America), ageratum grows as a perennial plant. The name of this flower means “ageless”, which is fully justified by its continuous flowering.

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Ageratum is a herbaceous bushy plant. In our climate it is grown as an annual flower. The bush is spreading, with a large number of shoots. The root system is well developed. Stems are erect. The height of the bushes varies from 10 to 60 cm. The leaves are round or triangular with faint serrations. The flowers are blue, purple, white or pink. The flowers are small, fluffy, collected in small dense inflorescences. At the same time, ageratum produces many flower stalks.

The genus Ageratum has more than 60 species. In floriculture, the most common ageratum is Houston or, as it is also called, Mexican. The variety series of this type of ageratum is widely represented on our market. Each variety is unique and differs in bush height, flower color and flowering duration.

The most popular varieties of Mexican ageratum:

• "Alba";
• "Tetra Veali";
• "Blue Perfection";
• "Ocean"
• North Sea.

It is worth highlighting another type of ageratum - coniform. It differs from the Mexican one in having smaller flowers and blunt-shaped foliage.

Literature

1. Read about the topic on Wikipedia
2. Features and other plants of the Asteraceae family
3. List of all species on The Plant List
4. More information on World Flora Online
5. Information about Garden Plants
6. Information about Perennials
7. Information about Herbaceous Plants
8. Information about Annual plants
9. Information about Subshrub

Sections: Garden plants Perennials Herbaceous Flowering Annuals Compositae (Asteraceae) Subshrubs Plants on A

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Growing Ageratum

To obtain healthy seedlings, seeds are sown in late March - early April. Ageratum shoots appear in two weeks, and after another week they can be planted into separate pots. The seedlings do not tolerate dampness. They are planted in open ground after the end of spring frosts; when planting, maintain a distance between plants of 15-20 cm. Plants bloom 60-70 days after emergence.

Ageratum is a cross-pollinated plant, but self-pollination is also possible. Pollinated by flies, bees and thrips.

If it is not possible to grow ageratum seedlings in a window, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground in the spring. As practice has shown, one day, due to lack of time, faded plants were left in the flower garden in the fall, and in the spring, shoots from fallen seeds appeared in this place. But they bloomed very late, at the end of July.

Ageratum produces adventitious roots very well. Shoots lying on the ground take root easily. Therefore, even if you have one plant, you can get several seedlings by cutting out the mother plant, and at the same time all the resulting plants will remain stunted and uniform.

Since ageratum is a perennial by nature, it can be stored in a cool greenhouse in winter, and in summer, by cutting cuttings, it can be planted in the garden.

All varieties and hybrids of ageratum bloom for a long time, from early June to September. But in order for it to be lush, several conditions must be met.

• Firstly, plants are compact only in open, sunny places. Even with slight shading, they stretch out and bloom unharmoniously.
• Secondly, the soil should be light, neutral; on too fertile soil, ageratum develops many shoots and leaves, to the detriment of the buds.
• Thirdly, if the plant has become elongated, feel free to prune it, because ageratum easily tolerates pruning, after which it quickly grows back and blooms profusely again. This technique is also used to prolong flowering.

Ageratum blue. TANAKA

A haircut

Ageratum easily tolerates pruning; this is an effective way to prolong flowering. In some cases, it is necessary, for example, if ageratum seedlings begin to grow too quickly. In this case, the tops of the shoots are cut off, after which the plant begins to bush rather than stretch upward. Be sure to remove faded inflorescences. After pruning, the bush grows quickly and abundantly, and flowering is restored.

Haircut is an effective way to prolong flowering

Care for Ageratum in open ground

Although it is believed that caring for Ageratum is very simple, in order for the plant to bloom beautifully and for a long time, some effort will have to be made.

Watering

Ageratum is a moisture-loving plant, and therefore needs to be watered regularly. You shouldn’t skimp on water, but you also shouldn’t overwater the plant, since stagnation of water can cause the development of rot.

After watering, the soil must be loosened; if weeds have sprouted, remove them.

Feeding

During the growing season, Ageratum is fed several times. The first feeding is 2 weeks after planting in the ground. The second time, fertilizers are applied during the formation of buds, the third - during the flowering phase (if there is a need for fertilizing). Humic or mineral fertilizers are used, which alternate.

When flowering is poor, complex mineral fertilizers are recommended. Experienced gardeners advise watering the plant with diluted mullein once a season. To ensure intensive flowering, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers should be used.

Ageratum after flowering

If you want Ageratum bushes to delight you with their bright inflorescences until mid-winter, then in the fall, before frost sets in, you need to carefully dig up the bushes and plant them in separate pots that can be moved to a warm room. In addition, it will be possible to take cuttings from these bushes and grow young specimens of Ageratum, which can be planted in the garden in May.

For rooting, the cuttings are treated in a growth stimulator, and then planted in small containers and covered with film on top. For rapid rooting, it is necessary that the soil is moist and the temperature is +20°C ... +22°C.

It is not recommended to leave bushes in the garden over the winter. Ageratum is very afraid of cold weather, and therefore it will not survive winter frosts, no matter how much it is insulated. In this regard, in late autumn the bushes are removed from the site, the place is dug up, and in the spring new specimens can be planted here.

Ageratum Houston Aloha Blue

Diseases to which Ageratum is susceptible

Ageratum does not have high immunity to various diseases. Under unfavorable conditions, especially in excessively wet weather, the root system of the plant may be affected by rot. To protect Ageratum from this destructive disease, it is necessary to plant it in a well-drained, permeable, loose area.

If improperly cared for, Ageratum bushes can be affected by cucumber mosaic, as well as bacterial wilt. Cucumber mosaic leads to the destruction of tissue cells, causing damage to chloroplasts, partial destruction of chlorophyll, breakdown of plastids and a decrease in carbohydrate levels. All this leads to the death of tissue areas and the death of the plant.

Pests dangerous to Ageratum

Pests can even settle on Ageratum seedlings, especially if they are grown in a greenhouse. On seedlings you can notice pests such as whitefly and spider mites. In this case, it is necessary to urgently remove the affected leaves and treat the plant with an insecticidal solution.

Cutworms and nematodes can settle on Ageratum bushes growing in the garden. It is very difficult to fight them, and therefore it is better to prevent the appearance of these pests, carefully monitor the condition of the plant, and provide it with favorable conditions.

Pests and diseases

The ageratum flower is prone to damage by various diseases and harmful insects

The following may appear:

• root rot
• gray rot
• bacterial wilt
• cucumber mosaic

Diseases do not arise only with proper care.

If we talk about harmful insects, then there are:

• whiteflies
• aphid
• spider mites
• scoops
• nematoids

For prevention, it is advisable to treat the plant with insecticides.

Let us consider in detail what to do if the plant becomes infected or is struck by this or that insect:

Root rot

Root rot

Blackleg or root rot often appears. Main symptoms of the disease:

• wilting of the plant
• drying out of foliage
• the occurrence of constrictions
• color change
• appearance of brown spots
• growth slowdown

If this happens, nothing will help. The plant will have to be removed, and the soil that is also contaminated will be removed. To prevent this disease, care should be taken to keep the soil light and avoid waterlogging.

In addition, systematic loosening is required. Thanks to these manipulations, the appearance of rot is minimized.

Gray rot

Among the most dangerous plant diseases caused by fungi of the genus Botritis is gray rot. Spores are spread by wind, also by contact (with the gardener’s hands, through tools) while caring for ageratum, on the legs of insects, by droplets of water (rain or during watering). The disease is activated when there is humidity.

Dark spots on the foliage indicate damage to the plant.

In the future, a grayish coating will appear - this is the appearance of spore-bearing mycelium. At the first signs of disease, it is necessary to immediately treat all plantings with fungicides.

It is advisable to purchase:

• Fundazol
• Topaz
• Bordeaux mixture

If the situation changes for the worse, all affected individuals should be removed. You can't leave them. It is recommended to burn immediately.

Bacterial wilt

In the southern regions, plants may also suffer from this disease. At the same time, the foliage cracks, the moisture evaporates from them, and the turgor decreases.

Yellow spots appear, they have a brown border

When cut, it is clear that the choroid plexuses have darkened. As a result, sap flow is impaired. As a result, the plant dies.

To cure a flower, you need to treat it with Coronet. It's important to start this right away. If you miss time, it is not possible to save the ageratum.

If you use wilting-resistant varieties, you don’t have to worry about infection.

Cucumber mosaic

The virus is transmitted by sucking harmful insects. After infection, white or yellow spots appear on the foliage. It is impossible to eradicate the disease as it progresses, but it can be prevented.

Cucumber mosaic

It is important to weed the beds on time, plant healthy planting material and control pests.

Aphid

The size of the insect is small.

It ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 mm. The shape depends on the type of aphid. It can be elliptical, ovoid, teardrop-shaped, etc. The color is the same as that of the plant on which it parasitizes.

To get rid of aphids, flowers are sprayed with a special solution. You can prepare it yourself.

To do this take:

• garlic cloves (200 g)
• water (1 l)

The first ingredient needs to be crushed. This is done using a grater or meat grinder. Then the resulting slurry is filled with water. The resulting solution must be infused for five days.

After the required time, the infusion is diluted with additional water. Here you should adhere to the following proportions: 300ml/10l.

Spider mite

Body in the shape of an ellipse, covered with hair

The back is convex. Larvae have six legs, adults have eight. The feet have nails, which are what they use to cling to the plant. The color of young individuals is light green, but with age it darkens and becomes brownish. They reproduce by laying eggs.

Spider mites can be removed by treating with insectoacaricides.

These drugs are in the form of:

• Agraverina
• Neorona
• Nissorana

Whitefly

Whitefly

This insect is not large in size. No more than 3 mm long. The wings are covered with a coating that is somewhat similar to flour.

You can remove it:

• Mospilan
• Tanrek
• Commander

scoop

The cutworm belongs to the Lepidoptera. In appearance it resembles a gray butterfly. This insect lays eggs on the underside of ageratum leaves. The caterpillars subsequently spoil the buds and spread over all the flowers.

scoop

You can protect your garden by timely destruction of weeds. Chemical treatment of plants would also be useful.

If pest larvae are noticed on the foliage, you need to spray the flowers:

• Tsitkor
• Decis
• Inta-Virom
• Spark
• Leptocide

Nematode

This pest feeds on plant sap, as a result of which it begins to grow more slowly, loses its appearance and dies. There are leaf, root and stem nematodes.

They are a worm no more than 2 mm long

Their shape can be oval, circle or oblong. Color – white, beige.

Signs of flower damage are as follows:

• dull color of the plant
• the appearance of brown spotting on foliage
• leaf curling
• enlargement of petioles, stem
• stunting
• poor flowering
• inflorescences quickly dry out and fall off

Drugs in the form of:

• Vidata
• Dimethoate
• Nafamosa

Both the plant itself and the soil should be treated (a solution is made that is used to water the soil at the root of the ageratum).