Nile Flower Of Love

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Many florists and gardeners have come to love the unpretentious Greek-named flower for its versatility and romantic charm. Agapanthus perfectly takes root both on window sills and on a flower bed, delighting with the aroma of sky-blue spherical flowers

There is a legend about the beautiful Agapa from Abyssinia, who was killed by her fellow tribesmen for daring to convert to Christianity. Later, a beautiful Agapanthus flower grew on her grave, becoming a symbol of the girl's purity and purity.

In our latitudes, the agapanthus emerged from the rocky Cape of Good Hope. Its name is based on the Greek words love ("agape") and flower ("anthos"). He also has other, no less romantic names: "Abyssinian beauty", "Nile lily", "African lily". The flower smells quite nice, unlike such close relatives as garlic and onions. For the garden, they mainly choose bell, umbrella and African agapanthus. Bell-shaped agapanthus tolerates an unfavorable climate better than others. And on the windowsills, African agapanthus feels more comfortable.

Beautiful and without flowers

The ability of agapanthus to look spectacular even before flowering, due to the dark green ribbon-like leaves collected in beautiful rosettes, was highly appreciated by florists. Therefore, even a non-flowering plant is successfully used for all kinds of bouquets and flower arrangements. Leaves are formed on a thick rhizome, reaching 5 cm in width and 70 cm in length. The funnel-shaped flowers are found in large, umbrella-shaped inflorescences and add a special charm and tenderness to an evergreen perennial plant. The main colors of agapanthus are blue-purple, blue, cream, white.

Flowering begins in July and lasts until late autumn. If conditions are favorable, the peduncle can reach 1.5 m, and about 150 flowers up to 5 cm long can form on each inflorescence. The cut of the Nile beauty is beautiful and durable: it will calmly stand in a vase for up to two weeks. Its seeds - flat, brown or black - are located in a capsule. They are ready in 1, 5 months after flowering.

Afraid of frost, but resistant to heat

Agapanthus feels more confident in the open field, the rosettes of the leaves are then more powerful, and there are more flowers on strong and long peduncles. The plant prefers shaded areas with neutral or slightly alkaline soil, while being quite unpretentious in care. It does not need additional spraying and abundant watering. The African lily tolerates drought and heat well, and in one place it can grow up to 7 years.

For the winter, in southern Russia, agapanthus is usually covered with sawdust, spruce branches, and sand. In cold regions, it is better to store the plant until spring with a moist clod of earth in the cellar. Indoor agapanthus does not need watering in winter. Both species are fed in summer - mullein or chicken droppings, which improves and accelerates flowering.

Doesn't sleep in the room

Agapanthus is no less comfortable indoors. He practically does not have a rest period. It is worth paying attention to the nutrient mixture: 2 parts of humus, 2 parts of clay-sod land, leafy earth and sand, one part at a time, are suitable. The container must be sufficiently spacious. African lily is not afraid of drafts, tolerates dry air well, does not require spraying.

For the winter, the temperature around the flower is lowered, sometimes the soil is moistened so that the roots do not dry out. With the beginning of spring, the plant is moved to the balcony or to the sunny side. Good lighting and regular watering are essential in the summer. Fertilizing is carried out alternately (from April to October) with mineral and organic fertilizers. Young Nile lilies require an annual transplant. Five-year-old plants are relocated to new dwellings after 3 years, and older ones - after 5 years.

Seeds and rhizomes

Reproduction is possible by seeds and division of the rhizome. Sowing is carried out in March. A young plant begins to bloom in 5-6 years. Agapanthuses mature faster when using the second breeding method. Root division is carried out during transplantation or after flowering. They are cut evenly, for fear of touching the fleshy main roots. The cut surface should be treated with charcoal powder.

Separated sprouts should not be planted right away. It is advisable to keep them in a slightly damp substrate for three days, while leaving the cut in the air. Between plants, when planted in open ground, the distance between plants should be 50cm. The soil around the young is mulched, and they need moderate watering.