Characteristics of the ageratum appearance, recommendations for growing in the open field, steps for flower propagation, difficulties arising in the cultivation process, notes for growers, species and varieties. Ageratum (Ageratum) is referred by botanists to the Asteraceae family, which is often referred to in the scientific literature as Compositae. Such plants are distinguished by the presence in their embryo of a pair of cotyledons located opposite each other. Mostly such representatives of the flora are found in the eastern regions of India, as well as in North and Central America. This genus carries, according to various estimates, the number of varieties, which varies from 40 to 60 units. But if you rely on the information provided by the The Plant List database from 2013, there are 51 species in the genus.
Agertum got its scientific name thanks to the translation of the Greek term "ageratos", which means "ageless", since the flower is distinguished by the property of not fading for a long time and staying fresh.
| Family name | Asteraceae, Asteraceae |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Shrub or grass |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (cuttings) |
| Landing period in open ground | Rooted cuttings or seedlings, planted in spring |
| Disembarkation scheme | Between plants 15 cm, and between rows 20-25 cm |
| Substrate | Fertile, sandy loam or loamy, with neutral or slightly alkaline acidity |
| Illumination | Open area with bright lighting |
| Moisture indicators | Some varieties tolerate drought well, excessive moisture is harmful |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 0.1-0.6 m |
| Color of flowers | Blue, pink, lavender, blue, snow white |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Inflorescences-baskets, collected in complex corymbose inflorescences |
| Flowering time | July-September |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Flowerbeds, lawns, flower beds, containers, greenhouses |
| USDA zone | 3, 4, 5 |
Ageratum has a long lifespan and takes the form of a grass or shrub. A large number of stems are formed, and they are distinguished by strong branching. Shoots grow erect or can rise above the soil surface. All stems have pubescence on top. The height of the plant varies in aisles from 10 cm to half a meter. Leaf plates grow in different ways, depending on their location. So that foliage that forms in the lower part of the stem and grows oppositely in its middle and has petioles, in those leaves that appear in the upper part, they are arranged in a regular sequence, sessile. The shape of the leaf also varies, it can be triangular, rhomboid or oval. There is a serration along the edge. The surface is rough to the touch. The color of the leaves varies from light to dark green.
During flowering, buds are formed, gathering in small inflorescences-baskets. The flowers themselves look like a narrow tube, they are bisexual, with a fragrant aroma. The diameter of the inflorescences reaches 1–1, 5 cm. These flower baskets, in turn, are combined into complex inflorescences of corymbose outlines. Their diameter is already 10 cm. The large decorative effect of such inflorescences is given by the two-lobed stigmas formed in the flowers. The stigma is almost twice as long as the length of the perianth and strongly rises above it. The color of flowers can take on tones of blue, pink, lavender, blue and snow-white colors. The flowering process varies from region to region: if they are southern, then flowers bloom at the end of May days, and to the north - from mid-summer and can last until the first frost.
After pollination in early September, the ageratum ripens fruits - achenes of a pentahedral shape, with a tuft of a filmy appearance. Seed germination is not lost for a very long time, and the plant can be propagated by them for 2-3 years. The seeds are very small, so there are up to 6,000 of them in just one gram.
If the ageratum variety is undersized, then its peduncles are arranged in several tiers, in species with average height, the flower-bearing stems reach the same level, and when such plants are planted in group plantings, then a variegated fluffy carpet is formed from the flowers. Ageratum is fairly unpretentious and resists drought well, but loves bright lighting.
Growing ageratum - planting in the open field and care
- Choosing a landing site. The plant prefers bright light, so a flower bed located in the east, west or south direction is suitable for it. The need for fresh air for the “ageless flower” is also quite high. Therefore, they try to choose an open place in which shading can be only 2 hours a day. It should also be borne in mind that this representative of the flora does not tolerate stagnant water and if there are closely passing groundwaters in the garden area, then you should choose a place on a hill or in the hole when planting, lay a layer of drainage material that will protect the roots from waterlogging.
- Growing temperature. Ageratum is thermophilic and begins to fade with the first frost. Therefore, many growers dig up bushes and plant them in pots, thus preserving them for the winter. If this is done on time, then the plant will continue to bloom throughout the winter, decorating the room. However, when such a requirement is not met, then the bushes growing in open ground will not survive even a low-frost winter. When the frosts recede in the spring, you can plant them back on the flower beds.
- Soil when planting ageratum is selected fertile with good drainage characteristics, so that air and moisture can easily reach the roots. Experts recommend using a sandy loam mixture or loam. The acidity should be neutral or slightly alkaline (pH 6-8). Humus is unacceptable for ageratum, and it is also harmful to grow on a rocky substrate. When planting in the holes, it is strictly forbidden to introduce manure, otherwise the flower will quickly die.
- Seedling planting rules. Seedlings that have turned out by any method (sowing seeds or cuttings) can be planted in open ground when frosts have passed and the soil has already warmed up well under the sun's rays. For all types of ageratum, the following planting scheme is valid: at least 15 cm is left between the plants, and the rows are spaced at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other.
- Watering. For ageratum, it is important to correctly withstand the abundance and frequency of soil moisture, so during drought, flowers begin to fade, and waterlogging of the soil will lead to root rot. In order not to provoke a cucumber mosaic, there are recommendations to water the plant with warm water (temperature about 20-24 degrees). To do this, you can collect containers of water and let them warm up in the sun during the day.
- Fertilizers. For the beauty and splendor of flowering, it is necessary to fertilize the "ageless" flower with mineral agents intended for flowering annual plants. Usually, there are many such finished products already on the market. The frequency of feeding is once a week.
- General care for Ageratum. It is important that the owner monitors the formation of the bush, while the side branches should be periodically shortened, giving a spherical contour. When young shoots begin to stretch towards the sun, it is recommended to cut off their tops to ensure subsequent bushiness. In this case, at least eight leaf plates or more should remain on the stem. In order for the flowering to be long and lush, then faded inflorescences should be removed. Frequent loosening of the soil (every 3-4 days) and removal of weeds, which can provoke bacterial diseases, are carried out.
Steps in propagating ageratum from seed and grafting
To get new bushes of "ageless" flower, sowing of seeds or rooting of cuttings is performed.
For seed propagation, it is recommended in our latitudes to sow a month before the seedlings are moved to open ground. Since the ageratum seeds are very small in size, they are distributed over the surface of a moistened peat-sandy substrate without covering them up. After that, the container with the crops is placed under glass or wrapped in a plastic transparent film. This will help keep the sprouts warm (temperature 15 degrees) and high humidity. Under these conditions, the first seedlings will appear in 10-12 days. As soon as a pair of true leaf blades has developed on the seedlings, it is recommended that the cut young Ageratum be held in separate pots. As the latter, you can choose those made from peat.
It should be noted
The root system of seedlings is more resistant to damage than the roots of grown plants. Therefore, the last tip is especially important when growing an "ageless" flower. Seedlings are watered very sparingly and only in the morning, as the plants can quickly die from waterlogging of the soil. While the seedlings have not yet been planted in the flower bed, it is recommended to carry out two applications of mineral fertilizers intended for plants blooming in the summer. The dosage of the drug is halved. Before young ageratums are planned to be moved into open ground, a two-week hardening is carried out. So the seedlings are exposed to the air at first for 2-3 hours, gradually lengthening the time.
When grafting before the first frost occurs, it is recommended to remove Ageratum without destroying the earthen lump and transplant it into spacious containers. In winter, plants are kept close to windows to keep the light level high. Watering is moderate and fertilizing is carried out once a month. Only 1/4 of the dose of mineral fertilizer is diluted in water for irrigation. 45-50 days before planting the bushes back on the flower beds, blanks for grafting are cut from the shoots. Their length should be 10-15 cm. The lower cut is treated with a root formation stimulator and planted in moist peat-sandy soil. Then the cuttings are covered with a glass jar or cut plastic bottle, placed in a warm place with a temperature of 22 degrees and bright, but diffused lighting. It will take 20–28 days and roots will form on the cuttings; in a month you can see new shoots.
Difficulties arising in the process of cultivating ageratum
Despite the beauty of flowering, Ageratum is considered a rather painful flower. Most often it suffers from root rot. If symptoms of the disease are noticed, it is recommended to carry out a complete replacement of the substrate. In order for the plant not to hurt, it is necessary to strictly control the frequency and abundance of watering, the soil mixture is needed when planting light and it will be necessary to regularly loosen it.
This "ageless" flower also suffers from various infectious ailments, such as, for example, bacterial wilting, cucumber mosaic. Alas, such diseases are not susceptible to the effects of chemicals, and only preventive measures can be taken: frequent weed removal, disinfection of soda equipment.
It is periodically recommended to carry out preventive treatment of bushes from pests, using insecticidal and acaricidal preparations, as well as from diseases, spraying with fungicides.
Notes for florists, photo of ageratum flowers
A number of species (according to the 2013 database The Plant List) have been assigned the status of an unresolved name. This is due to the fact that, according to their properties, a decision has not yet been made whether to give these plants a name as separate species or they are supposed to be reduced due to the descriptions in the system index (synonymy) of existing taxa.
There is also evidence that some species of the genus Ageratum contain toxins, which are pyrrolizidine alkaloids. And the species Ageratum Gauston (Ageratum houstonianum) and Ageratum conyzoides differ in the content of such carcinogenic substances that can cause kidney disease.
Types of ageratum
Ageratum blue can be found under the name "Blue mink". The plant got its middle name thanks to the delicate shade of flower petals, which includes a soft blue color scheme, reminiscent of the delicate fur of this small predator to flower growers. The height of the stems does not exceed 25 cm. The size of the inflorescence varies in the range of 5–8 cm. The flowers in the corymbose inflorescences almost completely cover the stems of the plant.
Ageratum Mexican (Ageratum mexicanum mix) is found under the name-synonym of Ageratum Houston or Ageratum Gauston (Ageratum houstonianum), Dolgotsvetka. This is because the flowering process stretches from early June to the first frost. The species is widespread in the southern regions of the North American continent and the northern regions of South America. But today it is cultivated in both hemispheres, if the climate permits. In Russia, it was found as an invasive plant in the Moscow region, and in Ulyanovsk there is evidence of its self-renewal in flower beds.
Stems are erect, multiple with abundant branching. In height, they can reach from 0.1 m to 0.5 m, but this indicator directly depends on the variety. The leaf plates are oval in shape, or they can take the form of a rhombus, there is a serration along the edge, the surface is rough.
When blooming, fragrant flowers with narrow tubular outlines are revealed. They are rather small, collected in inflorescences-baskets, which do not exceed 1–1, 5 cm in diameter. Such inflorescences are then combined into already large inflorescences-shields, measuring 10 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers depends on the variety, and also the flowering period and the height of the flowering stems are associated with this. The most popular varieties of this variety are considered
- Alba, it is distinguished by a compact spherical shape (the stems do not exceed 20 cm in height) and dense inflorescences of a snow-white color.
- Blaue Kappe has a stem size of about 20-30 cm, while the bush takes on a spherical shape. Shoots with a dense fluffy coating, painted in a dark green color. The size of the inflorescences is average (only 5-6 cm in diameter), they are loose, with short stigmas. The color of the flowers is lilac-blue. The variety is considered late, since the flowering process occurs at the end of June and stretches until mid-autumn.
- Balushternhen is a low-growing variety, the stems do not exceed 10-15 cm in height, forming a compact bush. Shoots are thin, densely pubescent, with a dark emerald color. The branches have a slight purple hue. A small number of flowers are collected in the inflorescences, so they are loose in shape. Baskets are small, not exceeding 1 cm in diameter. The color of the petals in them is bluish with a lilac tone, but in the buds the color is dark purple. This variety is considered early, since the plant is accepted to bloom from June and can last until mid-autumn. However, the watering requirements are very high.
- Blue Mink, the bush takes on a columnar shape, the density is very high. The height of the stems is no more than 25–30 cm. The shoots of the plant are thick and strong, with a small number of leaves growing on them. The size of the inflorescences is 15 cm in diameter, their density is high, since a large number of flowers are connected in them. The color of the latter includes azure blue or light purple tint. The variety is drought-resistant, flowering is average, begins in June and lasts until early October.
