Agapanthus

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Jack Snakes, Jun 20, 2017.

  1. Jack Snakes

    Jack Snakes Gardener

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    This has been here longer than we have - lovely sprays of blue flowers for an albeit limited time... however, the million dollar question is, can I pull some out and replant? The pot they are in seems to get fuller by the year. I am unsure how many were in the original pot, and I am unsure if it is only my perception that they seem to be multiplying every year, but there really is not an inch of space inside this pot, which is 50cm across. Can this clump be broken up? I have seen them for sale at £12 a stem... god only knows how many are in there... Agapanthus.jpg
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    Jack there is a misconception about agapanthus I think, viz., the more congested they are the better they flower. They do well with some restraint but eventually they need dividing so that is what I would do. :)
    When they have finished flowering is when I would do it....gives the plants time to grow and settle; water well of course. I would prob divide into 3 or 4 clumps
    Here in Cornwall we all grow agapanthus, as they do on nearby St. Michael's Mount, and they thrive in the open ground. In fact they grew so well here they took over a large part of the garden. I divided and sold them.
    I now have just a few clumps, about to flower.
    (Tempted and fell for agapanthus Golden Drop last week......supposed to flower for many weeks on top of dwarf variegated foliage :rasp:)
     
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    • Mowerman

      Mowerman Gardener

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      Agreed with @Verdun. They can be split into several clumps but best done after finishing the display for the year.

      They just keep expanding and if your pot is earthenware, you may find one day that they've divided the pot into several pieces as the tough root mass expands :doh:
      Getting them out may also render the pot divided into several sections too :gaah::spinning:
       
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      • Jack Snakes

        Jack Snakes Gardener

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        I'll dig a few out of the middle first maybe - to be honest I haven't seen any dirt or soil in there for a while - it is just a thick mat of vegetation. The pot is rather lovely and I wouldn't want to lose it but thank you for the tip - I will definitely be taking it apart after the flowers die down :)
         
      • Ned

        Ned Evaporated

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        They are not easy to divide - I usually use a saw :ouch1:
         
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        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

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          Yes, saw or serrated knife but straightforward enough
          Used to sell them :)
           
        • David E Peacock

          David E Peacock Gardener

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          I have had no luck whatsoever with my agapanthus planted in thew open garden about four years ago. It always makes plenty of green but never flowered!
          Last backend, I saw a programme in which Monty Don was potting up three aggy plants in a large pot. He said congestion encourages flowering.
          We had a pot about 500mm across doing nothing, so lashed out on three plants and planted them up in my own mix of John Innes 3.
          At the moment i have what must be about 40 flower buds!
          I will post a photo when they open.

          Are you saying then, that in winter I could split my plants into 6 and make two pots of them?
          Or would my pot go another year?
          By the way, I over wintered it in the cold greenhouse.
           
        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

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          Not in winter David.....You could remove one plant and reposition the remaining 2. Plant a smaller pot with the remaining agapanthus. However a photo will help determine how "congested" it is now.
          I think it is true that a certain amount of congestion helps flowering.....otherwise the plants just want to grow.
          Good you are using a soil based compost too :)
           
        • CarolineL

          CarolineL Total Gardener

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          Hi @David E Peacock - I get plenty of flower from agapanthus in open ground here in Nottinghamshire. But the plant is in a raised bed, and I think that means soil is a bit warmer in summer. It is all mixed up with a purple eucomis - that doesn't flower so well, perhaps needs even more warmth.
           
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          • NCFCcrazy

            NCFCcrazy Super Gardener

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            Just be prepared to break the pot to get it out!
             
          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

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            CarolineL, I find eucomis needs more moisture than generally supposed. Yes, warmth and sun but doesnt like to get too dry so maybe why yours....Sparkling Burgundy?.... .is shy of flowering! :)
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

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            I must admit that my Sparkling Burgundy is often left without water until the foliage goes limp yet it's a reliable bloomer nonetheless. The very similar Oakhurst on the other hand seems to be very shy to bloom.
             
          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

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            :)When you think about it, eucomis holds a lot of water in its foliage. Warm free draining soil here, over winters too. If left to get too dry I find it loses vigour. Already mine are 40cm tall or more.....without the flowers :)
            Never grown Oakhurst longk....must look it up :)
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

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            • Verdun

              Verdun Passionate gardener

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              See what you mean longk :thud: will pass on that one
               
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