Ageratum

The genus Ageratum, or Long-flowed (Ageratum), has up to 30 species of annual and biennial relatively resistant plants, which are characterized by long flowering - from early summer to late autumn. The flowers are narrow-tube, fragrant, in baskets, collected in loose or dense corymbose inflorescences. Ageratum conyzoides (Ageratum conyzoides) is an annual densely branching species up to 60 cm tall with ovate or heart-shaped finely toothed leaves, and white or blue baskets are collected in corymbs that bloom from July to October. The species is most suitable for growing for cutting. Mexican ageratum, or Houston (A. mexicanum or A. houstonianum) is a perennial herbaceous evergreen plant, pubescent with short hairs, 10-60 cm high. The leaves are triangular and rhombic, toothed and scalloped along the edge. Suitable for decorating borders and mixborders. The flowers are most often blue, white or pink, the inflorescences almost completely hide the heart-shaped leaves. Blooms from early summer to frost. The most valuable are low-growing forms and varieties. There are known varieties with pink flowers, for example 'Elegant pink' with a height of 15 cm; in the variety 'Florist with Blue' flowers are lavender-blue, in the variety 'Violet cloud' the flowers have a lilac-blue color. 'Blue Chip ' is an early flowering hybrid, and 'Blue Mink' is the most stable form.

The genus Ageratum, or Long-flowed (Ageratum), has up to 30 species of annual and biennial relatively resistant plants, which are characterized by long flowering - from early summer to late autumn. The flowers are narrow-tube, fragrant, in baskets, collected in loose or dense corymbose inflorescences.

Ageratum conyzoides (Ageratum conyzoides) is an annual densely branching species up to 60 cm tall with ovate or heart-shaped finely toothed leaves, and white or blue baskets are collected in corymbs that bloom from July to October. The species is most suitable for growing for cutting.

Mexican ageratum, or Houston (A. mexicanum or A. houstonianum) is a perennial herbaceous evergreen plant, pubescent with short hairs, 10-60 cm high. The leaves are triangular and rhombic, toothed and scalloped along the edge. Suitable for decorating borders and mixborders. The flowers are most often blue, white or pink, the inflorescences almost completely hide the heart-shaped leaves. Blooms from early summer to frost. The most valuable are low-growing forms and varieties. There are known varieties with pink flowers, for example 'Elegant pink' with a height of 15 cm; in the variety 'Florist with Blue' flowers are lavender-blue, in the variety 'Violet cloud' the flowers have a lilac-blue color. 'Blue Chip ' is an early flowering hybrid, and 'Blue Mink' is the most stable form.

Cultivation

Ageratums are grown in decorative floriculture as annuals because of the unusually beautiful blue and azure-blue color of flowers; they are used for decorating flower beds, vases, balconies; tall varieties - for cutting. In the ground planted after spring frosts at a distance of 30 cm from each other. The soil should be fertile loamy or sandy loam, non-acidic and well-treated. Does not tolerate the introduction of fresh manure. To ensure a long flowering period, regular watering is necessary. In summer, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 1.5 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 30-40 days.

Location

To make the plants strong, they are planted in the open sun.

Temperature

The optimum temperature is 16-20 °C. These are plants that usually bloom until the end of autumn, but they are afraid of early frosts, because of which flowering ends or the plants immediately die.

Watering

Water frequently and abundantly throughout the summer.

Reproduction

Propagate by seeds and cuttings. Seeds are sown at the end of winter, spreading on the surface of the soil in a box for growing seedlings or in cups that are filled with peaty soil mixed with sand and enriched with the addition of a complete mineral fertilizer. Then the seedlings are transplanted into cellular containers. To obtain homogeneous plants, they are propagated by cuttings, and Queen cells are stored in a greenhouse or other similar room in winter. Cuttings take root quickly at 20-22 °C. You can plant purchased seedlings with a lump of earth on flower beds and balconies.

Diseases

Long-flowed is often affected by aphids, greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), against which treatment with chemical means of protection is effective. Another common pest is the pale mite (Tarsonemus pallidus), which causes deformation of the leaves on which it settles. They get rid of it with the help of endosulfan. Spider mite is also an undesirable guest for plants, so treatment with acaricides is necessary.

Acquisition

Seeds and seedlings are easily obtained in horticultural centers and flower nurseries. When buying, evaluate the color and its combination with other crops in the flower bed and other plantings.