Agapanthus

18 years ago

Hi. I recently purchased some agapanthus plants and have the following queries:-

* how do I care for them - do I have to fertilize - if so, how often and what with?

* where they like to grow

* how do I get them to flower brilliantly. The salesperson mentioned potash. Is this the best?

Any other advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

User
18 years ago
Up here they grow like weeds, I never water or fertilize and they flower brilliantly.
Which they are doing at present.I have the tall blue, tall white and dwarf blue.
They are a good no maintenance plant, but they do tend to get invasive....Cheers..MM.
User
18 years ago
They grow almost anywhere, but for good flowering full sun is best. I have never, ever fertilised any aggies and have good flowering. If you do really want to fertilise them, a little blood and bone with some potash will do the trick.
To stop seeding, cut off the flower stalks when the bloom is spent.
Remember that these plants are an absolute haven for snails. Check the foliage early morning when it is damp to catch the little blighters.
Cheers,
Dee.
Related Discussions
white powder on agapanthus
Q
Comments (6)
From much further south: on the nearby Agapanthus there are yellowing leaves and old flower stalks. Deep in the leaf clumps there are snail casts. However, there are no white deposits at all. We have had a couple of mild 1-2degree frosts and it's been hosing down for all of June. The plants in question are on a clay-loam that was pasture. They're competing with a variety of tree roots and are trapped by a fence. The clumps are very congested. They get half-day sun and flower reliably. They are the evergreen kind of Agapanthus, not deciduous. If you're in the NSW drought zone the plants may be feeling the pinch and have become host to something like mealy bugs. First shot at eradication - Lux flakes melted in water and poured on with a jug. Some cayenne pepper mixed in could be useful, too. If the edges of your clump are still healthy you might want to take some pieces and pot them up, as insurance. If you think they could be droughted and you're on water restriction, you could use the rinsing water from your washing machine to really soak the area. You should get about 60 litres from one wash load - enough to improve the water availability for the plants.
...See More
Does agapanthus grow in Knoxville?
Q
Comments (1)
Hi Patti. Yes, agapanthus are very drought tolerant, but the problem is that most varieties are not hardy here. There are some that will survive, but you would have to research it. They also are not easily found in nurseries here, and the ones at the big box stores are most likely not the hardiest. I've tried several varieties, and the only one to survive is an unknown, unmarked one I bought from a local farmer's market, lol. John
...See More
Agapanthus Slow to Come Back?
Q
Comments (10)
Cecily....whoops...I yanked it.:o I think the main issue is that I was tired of waiting for it to bloom. I put a nice great blue lobelia seedling in its place. :) Thanks for trying to warn me, though! Campanula and Want...glad I am not the only one who continuously changes what is in the garden! Sometimes I feel bad getting tired of some things after a few years...but changing out is part of the fun. :)
...See More
Agapanthus Gall Midge?
Q
Comments (0)
Hello all - for many years I have been growing potted Agapanthus and they have always been very healthy, bloom well, and are vigorous!! It has been brought to my attention that there is an insect that lays it's eggs in the flower buds and ruins the blossoms. It was first discovered in the UK not long ago, now there are reports of it affecting these plants less than an hour's drive from here. (Greater Lakes Region) Does anyone have first hand experience with this pest? So far there doesn't appear to be a way to control this and I would really be disappointed if there were no flowers this year. Thanks for ANY info!
...See More
Sparaxis
18 years ago
They DON'T grow in acidic, waterlogged clay. Apart from that, I haven't known anywhere they don't grow. They are the plants you always see along the driveway of old, untended farm houses in Vic - doing their own thing brilliantly. In some areas they have invasive weed potential so check if they are going to be a problem in your area before you plant them.
Jamus_S
18 years ago
Yeah I second what the others have said, they like fair drainage and appart from that seem to thrive on neglect. Mine are all flowering now, you tend to forget the old aggies until they bloom in the summer time. What Sparaxis said about the weed potential is very true and easily fixed. Just cut off the spent flower heads once they are finished, which serves the dual purpose of tidying up the plants and preventing the seed from dropping. Too Easy...
zeldahof
17 years ago
Would anyone know how to care for the Agapantha after brought into the house for the winter? The ones I have have started to turn yellow and the leaves are mushy to the touch. I have cut the yellow leaves off. Is this normal? Any suggestions would be great.
Many thanks,

Robin
gregaryb
17 years ago
Dianella tasmanica is an alternative if you don't wish to stress about your Agapanthus becoming weedy.
macbirch
17 years ago
Just found this thread. Robin, how cold does it get where you are? We get below 0, sometimes as low as -7. Using an online converter I believe in Fahrenheit that's 32 to about 20. Agapanthus look pretty bad here in winter but people just leave them alone until spring when the new growth appears and the yellow leaves can be cut off.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Plants That Snobs Love to Hate — and You'll Love to Grow

By Bill Marken

Don't dismiss these common annuals, perennials and shrubs — there are reasons they've been popular for so long

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Dependable Ground Covers for Warm Climates

By Steve Asbell

Swap some lawn for these drought-tolerant clumping plants — and watch your maintenance efforts diminish while they easily grow

Full Story

COASTAL STYLE How to Make Your Oceanfront Garden Thrive

By Steve Asbell

You may love the beach, but many plants don't. Learn which ones are best for your warm-weather oceanside garden getaway

Full Story

FALL GARDENING Reflecting on a Gardening Year

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Mistakes and successes, surprises and comforts. The garden helps us grow in new ways every year

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Lay of the Landscape: French Garden Style

By Marianne Lipanovich

Symmetry and geometry define this decorous landscape style, appropriate for both grand gardens and intimate spaces

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How Low Can Hedges Go? Discover Unusual Garden Borders

By Frank Organ

Short enough to step over, high enough to be a stretch ... check out these radically different hedge styles and tell us your opinion

Full Story

SAVING WATER Xeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles

Full Story

126

GARDENING GUIDES Don’t Let These Excuses Keep You From Gardening

By Steve Asbell

Stop blaming your lack of experience, space, time and funds, and get on with the joy of garden making

Full Story

DECORATING GUIDES Room of the Day: Going Moody in the Master Bedroom

By Becky Harris

Dark paint and antiques mix with newer pieces and light bedding for a sleeping space that appeals to him and her

Full Story

HOLIDAYS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Holiday Mantel

By Becky Harris

Do reindeer prance or lights dance above your fireplace during the holidays? Share your decorated mantel with us

Full Story

199

Agapanthus

Comments (7)

User

User

Related Discussions

Sparaxis

Jamus_S

zeldahof

gregaryb

macbirch

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US