Ageratum is an ornamental plant with tropical roots, numbering about 30 species. It is usually planted in flowerbeds on the plot of land. The plant looks great in a vase, by the way, for a long time it does not wilt. The ageratum is a small bush with heart-shaped leaves and with fluffy inflorescences of bright colors: pale pink, blue, lavender, blue. Depending on the variety, the height of the aperatum varies from 10 to 60 cm. In horticulture, it is preferable to deal with such a variety as the Houston aheratum, or the Mexican aheratum, which comes from plants from Peru and Mexico.
How to plant an ageratum?
Since the fuss with the seedlings is quite difficult for inexperienced garden lovers, it is easiest to engage in an acratum with seed-growing. The sowing is carried out by the end of March or the beginning of April and not in the open ground, because the plant is very thermophilic, and in greenhouses, in greenhouses into a pre-prepared container (box, large pots) with a substrate of sand, peat and humus in the same ratio. The seeds of the plant are rather small, so they are lightly sprinkled with earth, and then covered with glass or a piece of tissue.
In order for the seedlings to rise, it is necessary to monitor the moistening of the soil. Water is sprayed onto its surface and then covered again with glass. Along with this, excessive watering should not be. Since the frost does not tolerate the aheeratum, the optimum temperature for seedlings should not be below + 15 ° C.
When the seeds are ascending (after 7-10 days), you need to wait for the appearance of two leaves and immediately engage in the pickering of the ageratum. Planting of each seedlings can be carried out in peat pots or in greenhouses. Do not forget to water the plants moderately, feed fertilizers weekly, and loosen the soil.
After the end of spring frosts, you can plant an ageratum on the open ground. Seedlings should be planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other. By the way, the best for plant growth will be an open sunny place.
Care for an aheeratum
In care, the ageratum is quite unpretentious. He only needs a lot of light, abundant watering and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. Concerning, whether it is necessary to pinch the ageratum, then there is an unequivocal answer. When the sprouts will stretch upwards, cut off the tips of the shoots in order for the plant to become better to bush. Please note that there must be at least 4 pairs of leaves on the shoots. This procedure will be an excellent stimulator of lush growth and intense flowering. If we talk about the ageratum, when the child of the tropics blossoms, then usually this plant is covered with its beautiful inflorescences 2-2.5 months after seedlings (from July to October). Widely used aheeratum on the flowerbed, flower beds, lawns, creating with its help ornaments and original curbs, because he is perfectly cut. However, this flower can be planted not only in household plots. It is often used on the balcony balcony, for landscaping terraces, planting seedlings in containers. To create an exquisite floral pattern, you can
Diseases and wreckers of the ageratum
In general, the plant suffers from horse rot (due to excessive moisture), as well as bacterial wilt. In this case, the removal of all affected green leaves. If the ageratum has been attacked by pests (nematodes, mites , whiteflies ), the use of insecticides is necessary.
We hope that the above recommendations on the cultivation of an ageratum, planting and caring for it will help to create in your flower garden a beautiful carpet from its inflorescences.