The unpretentious ageratum is a godsend for the landscape designer and experienced gardener. But even novice gardeners can create a stylish flower bed and grow ageratum from seeds on their own. Today I will tell you how I do it.
What should be the conditions?
The flower loves the sun very much. Of course, it can grow in the shade, but then the inflorescences will not be so lush, and the stem will not be so tall. At the seedling stage and after planting in the ground, the main thing is to provide a sufficient amount of sunlight. Ageratum seedlings can also be illuminated, but it is easier to put them on the windowsill and leave it to the real sun.
Ageratum is a global name. In Russia, the name "long-flowered" is more common. So he was nicknamed because in ready-made bouquets the ageratum does not fade for a very long time and can please with its elegant appearance for several weeks.
Since this is an unpretentious plant, in order to grow a "long-flowered" it will be enough:
- provide natural light;
- seeds, and then seedlings, must be planted in well-warmed soil;
- soil can be any. It is optimal to plant ageratum immediately in garden soil;
- watering should be carried out regularly, as the topsoil dries;
- nitrogenous fertilizers should be avoided.
Landing Rules
Seedlings should be planted in open ground when the weather is warm without the threat of frost. The optimal time is the second half of May. In addition, it is not necessary to prepare a flower bed. It is enough to loosen and moisten the earth a little.
Growing from seed
I like it when the color variety rages in the flower bed. Therefore, I always plant different seedlings. To grow strong seedlings, I always follow these steps:
- It is better to plant seeds in the ground in early April, when there will already be enough sun.
- After planting the seeds, the container or peat tablets can be covered with foil. Heat and moisture are the best friends of these seeds.
- The simpler and lighter the substrate, the better. I use commercial potting soil.
- Sprouts appear in 1.5-2 weeks. After another 3 weeks, the ageratum should be swooped down so that the sprouts are denser and stronger.
- Picking is carried out 2 times with a frequency of 2-3 weeks. Each time I increase the distance between the sprouts.
- I water the seedlings with ordinary settled water. I don't feed at all. The sprouts have enough nutrition from the soil.
- Before planting in open ground, I carry out hardening - I take out containers with seedlings in the open air for a day.
Care rules
Ageratum does not require special care. After transplanting to a flower bed, it quickly grows and grows stronger. The main thing is that he has enough sunlight. Watering for a flower is also very important. Only with sufficiently moist soil can the ageratum bloom profusely.
I try to fertilize as little as possible, since it is an annual, it will be enough to fertilize the ground 2 times per season. But weeding is best done regularly. Removal of weeds and timely loosening of the soil contributes to good aeration.
Ageratum lends itself well to molding, it can be given almost any shape. And if dried shoots and faded buds are removed in time, the plant will bloom profusely all season.
A flower can be severely damaged by pests; fungicidal treatment at least once during the summer will not interfere with it at all.
If you follow these simple rules, ageratum can settle in your flower bed. The flower is not able to survive the winter, every year you will have to grow seedlings at the beginning. But thanks to his unpretentiousness, this will not be a big deal. Ageratum is the best solution for a stylish flower bed.
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