Ageratum growing from seeds: choosing a place and care
Content:
In this article you will find information about such a plant as Ageratum: growing a flower from seeds and caring for it.
Ageratum: when to plant and where? Growing conditions
Ageratum: photo of flowers
Rarely enough, in a garden plot, you can find plants that do not have an aesthetic appearance, which could surprise with the shape of the flower or the grace of the lines, but, even despite this, they are still favorites with flower growers for a lot of other qualities. One of these flowers is ageratum, the cultivation of which will not take much of your energy. The flower is a large bush in shape, covered with fluffy inflorescences in the form of medium-sized pompons.
Ageratum is very popular among florists and gardeners. First of all, this is due to the fact that the plant has a blue-blue hue, which is not so common among other flowering plants. Nevertheless, there is one more plus of these plants, which distinguishes them from many others - absolute unpretentiousness, thanks to which this flower is quite simple to grow, and this can be done in various regions of our country, regardless of the climatic zone.
Ageratum - growing from seeds - is one of the popular ways to grow a flower. In this article, we will dwell on this in more detail later.
It is not difficult to grow ageratum at home. The main thing that a gardener should do for this is to find a place that is comfortable for the plant. In general, it is not a moody plant, and its only requirement is to receive a lot of sunlight.
Therefore, for growing a flower, gardeners specially select sunny areas, and this applies to borders, flower beds and other places for growing ageratums. The plant everywhere must receive a large amount of sunlight in order to continue growing and flowering, which will delight the gardener himself and the guests of his site.
As for the composition of the soil, here the plant does not put forward any special requirements - in order to bloom for a long time, absolutely any soil will suit it. The exception is stony or swampy soils, in which the planting material simply does not take root, and any grower should remember this.
Also, the flower is not particularly friendly to excessive nutrition and fertilization, therefore fertilizers containing humus, as well as organic matter, are not suitable for ageratums at all. Ideally, this should be loose and easily ventilated garden soil, which has neutral acidity, since it is in it that ageratum takes root best, gives decent inflorescences and lives for a long time.
So, once again listing the ideal growing conditions for Ageratum, which are great for this flower, we note the following:
- the place should be constantly illuminated by sunlight, which ageratums love so much;
- the soil should be well warmed up so that the flower feels as comfortable and cozy as possible;
- the soil should be light, loose, nutritious, because it is this one that can hold the required amount of moisture, but at the same time not be oversaturated with it;
- the flower is very loyal to regular moisture, which gardeners and flower growers need to remember;
- nitrogen-based fertilizing can negatively affect the condition of the flower, so it is necessary to take care of fertilizers and complex fertilizers once again, paying attention to their composition and basic properties.
As a rule, ageratum goes well with other flowers in compositions, and flowers such as marigolds and snapdragons are especially suitable as neighbors. They are suitable not only in appearance, but also in properties, characteristics and schedule of care, feeding, which will simplify the life and care of flowers for the breeder himself.
In relation to small inflorescences, agentum is used to decorate bouquets and flower arrangements, which are perfect for decorating a house or a personal plot, as well as your own apartment.
Ageratum: growing from seeds
Growing Ageratum from seeds: photo
There are two ways to plant ageratums: seedlings or seeds. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on the possibilities of planting by seeds. As a rule, this process does not cause any particular difficulties, but it is nevertheless necessary to take into account some specific features in the planting in order to obtain the desired effect as a result.
In general, growing ageratums is the most preferred method, since in this case the gardener can plant several varieties of this flower in one flower bed at once, thereby creating a unique composition that will attract the attention of people.
In order for the ageratum bushes to be thick and dense, it is very important to follow some planting rules:
- planting ageratum seeds entirely depends on what climatic conditions are observed in the region. The optimal period is from the end of March to the beginning of April. The seedlings themselves must receive enough sunlight, otherwise it will be weakened, stretched out, which will negatively affect it and its appearance;
- seeds are recommended to be planted in shallow plastic containers, as well as in peat tablets. In order for the seed, and then the hatching flower, to be in a state of constant moisture, it is necessary to cover the cups with foil or glass immediately after sowing, which will create a unique bath effect;
- the substrate for ageratum seeds must be chosen, based on indicators such as lightness and nutritional value. A ready-made soil mixture, which is usually used just for seedlings of flower crops, may be suitable.
Approximately 20 days after the first shoots appear, it is necessary to pick the ageratum, and a pick is performed into specially created small greenhouses. As the seedlings grow, it is worth diving it from time to time, as this is a prerequisite for growing this long-flowered plant as a home crop.
The dive must be carried out after about 14 days, and then the duration of the breaks can be increased. As a result, the most resistant seedling materials will remain, which continue to grow and develop. At this stage, the seedlings especially need moderate moisture, as well as the creation of sufficient dry air around them, and ventilation.
You can follow some of the tips given by experienced gardeners. For example, growing ageratums from seeds will be even easier if you sow seeds directly into peat tablets. The nutrients they contain will help the seeds germinate faster, and the seedlings will only get stronger and benefit from it.
The most important thing is that the seedlings do not have to be dived, since an individual peat tablet is designed for exactly one seed. This will significantly reduce the time of the gardener and florist for caring for the plant, and, in general, will reduce labor costs.
Ageratum: growing seedlings
Ageratum: photo of flowers
Watering the seedlings is carried out regularly, in accordance with the schedule created by the gardener himself. But it is worth noting that watering and moisture is best absorbed by the plant in the morning, for this you should use infused water, which has acquired room temperature.At the seedling level, the plant does not need additional feeding, since it will still receive all the nutrients from the soil from which it grows.
A few weeks before planting seedlings in a flower bed, you need to harden it a little by taking it to an outdoor area. So the plant will get used to the outdoor climate and the corresponding conditions a little. Before planting, it is recommended to put the seedlings outside for the whole night.
It should be noted that it is not recommended to do this during periods of freezing, since the ageratum will not survive this, and the seedlings will die within a very quick time.
Ageratum: leaving
Ageratum: photo of flowers
Of course, growing ageratum from seeds is a serious and very big business. But the subsequent care of the plant plays a significant role, because thanks to this, its life cycle as a whole can be extended. At a permanent landing site, the flower does not show any whimsicality and is not whimsical at all. After the plant is transplanted into open ground, it demonstrates rapid growth, and in general it becomes even stronger, very quickly adapts to the surrounding conditions.
Flowering promises to be plentiful only if the soil under the flower is sufficiently moist, and the root system is not limited or damaged by anything. In general, if we are talking about watering, then it is important to use water only at room temperature, and the watering time should mainly be in the morning, and we have already paid attention to this.
The flower is very patient with a haircut, and also, on the contrary, responds very positively to the formation, therefore, ageratums are often pruned. It can be both decorative and sanitary, it all depends on the appearance of the plant, as well as on how much it generally needs it, and how it reacts to such procedures.
As for feeding, it should be no more than 2-3 times for the entire season. In general, they mainly use mineral complexes, exclude organic compounds, since they can only harm the plant.