Maintaining agapanthus: tips for fertilizing & watering

Decorative lilies enchant with their beautiful flowers. We show what is important when planting and what you need to do with the care of the Agapanthus must be observed with regard to fertilizing and watering.

The African Lily (Agapanthus) fits in any garden with space for a large flower pot. It forms large, impressive flowers and is still easy to care for. If the popular container plant is properly watered, fertilized and overwintered, it can live for many years and its impressive flowers will decorate our terraces, balconies and gardens for a long time. In this article, we will therefore tell you everything you need to know about caring for ornamental lilies: from the origin and recommended varieties to professional planting to care and propagation from Agapanthus.

Agapanthus: origin and characteristics

Agapanthus belongs to the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). They occur naturally only in southern Africa, where their range extends from the coast to the mountains. Since the South African climate differs in many ways from that in Central Europe, the African lily is usually cultivated as a container plant in Germany.

The African Lily grows as a perennial that is evergreen or summer green, depending on the type of origin. Rhizomes are formed by her as survival organs. The simple, parallel-veined leaves are basal, sessile and clump-like. The spherical flower umbels are composed of mostly blue, purple or white colored single flowers. Depending on the variety, the flower of the African Lily differs not only in color but also in shape, which can also be bell-shaped.

In midsummer between the end of June and September, the species-appropriate planted one rewards Agapanthus us with its large umbellate flowers.

Agapanthus varieties

Three types of Agapanthus can be found with us as ornamental plants: A.. africanus, A.. campanulatus and A.. praecox. In total there are several hundred different varieties that have been bred from these 3 species. Depending on the type of origin, the flowers are shaped and colored differently. There are also species hybrids of the African Lily, which are the result of crossing the species.

Agapanthus africanus:

• ‘Angela’: purple-blue, funnel-shaped flower; evergreen
• ‘Blue Giant’: Strong blue flowers; evergreen
• ‘Northern Star’: Strong, dark blue flowers; summer green
• ‘Sunfield’: Small growth, funnel-shaped, light blue flowers; summer green
• ‘Twister’: White flowers with a blue base; summer green

Agapanthus - hybrids:

• ‘Black Buddhist’: Large, purple-blue flowers; summer green
• ‘Silver Baby’: White flowers with only slightly blue petal tips, small variety only 60 cm high

Agapanthus campanulatus:

• ‘Wendy’: White flowers, 40 cm high, summer green (moves in in winter)

Agapanthus praecox:

• ‘Albus’: funnel-shaped, white flowers; summer green

Planting agapanthus: location and procedure

All Agapanthus-Species come from South Africa and are therefore by no means hardy with us. So here in cool Central Europe they are without exception cultivated as container plants that spend the summer outdoors and must be overwintered frost-free in winter.

The location for the flower lily's bucket should be as sunny as possible, because as a real South African she loves light and warmth. Light, partially shaded places are also possible, but there should be at least a few hours of sun a day. It is also advisable that the location is sheltered from the wind.

Tip: The African Lily does not tolerate transplanting well and punishes rough treatment with failure or a severe reduction in flowering. It is therefore advisable to be careful when planting in order to delay transplanting for as long as possible.

The right location for Agapanthus at a glance:

• Planting in pots without exception, frost-free overwintering
• Location as sunny and warm as possible
• Sheltered from the wind

Usually only one plant is planted per bucket, because the large perennials require a lot of space. But if you want to plant very large pots with a surface area of ​​one square meter, you can also put two plants in them. The planting distance should be 70 cm.

The best time to plant is March or April, just before the Agapanthus in the bucket to a sunny place in the garden or on the balcony. Evergreen species of Agapanthus are planted with leaves, while the migrating, deciduous species are just sprouting at the time of planting. Those who plant leafless onions in winter should make sure that they are quite deep: they can be placed up to 20 cm below the surface of the earth.

The African Lily needs a potting soil that retains moisture well, because it loves fresh soil. Because it has a comparatively high nutrient requirement and should only rarely be replanted, we recommend using compost instead of peat. Our Plantura organic potting soil is structurally stable due to the proportion of coconut fibers and offers cheap and long-lasting ventilation of the roots. In order to keep the soil structurally stable for a long time and to delay repotting even longer, the soil can be mixed with 30% expanded clay and enriched with powdered clay.

In order to secure the long-term supply of nutrients and the African lily as rarely as possible to disturb by transplanting, an organic slow release fertilizer should be used directly during planting come. In a big bucket with one Agapanthus can, for example, 250 to 300 grams of our Plantura Organic flower fertilizer be mixed in.

The flower lily's planter should have a drainage hole so that the water can drain off easily. Ideally, a 3 cm thick layer of expanded clay, gravel or Distributed pottery shards and covered with fabric or fleece so that the drainage layer does not get with the potting soil mixed.

Step-by-step instructions: how to plant Agapanthus?

1. Time: March / April
2. 1 to a maximum of 2 plants in a 1 m container^² Surface.
3. Cover at least 3 cm of the drainage layer in the planter with fabric or fleece.
4. Structurally stable potting soil, which stores moisture and nutrients well, mixture with 30% expanded clay possible for longer structural stability.
5. Use slow release organic fertilizer when planting, for example Plantura organic flower fertilizer.
6. Onion from Agapanthus set a maximum depth of 20 cm or Set so that the green foliage is above the surface of the earth.
7. Water well.

Maintaining agapanthus

Basically, the African Lily is a very easy to care for plant that grows quickly and vigorously without much effort. During flowering, however, it reacts sensitively to changes and should then not be moved - especially not to a location with less light. Otherwise a change of location is not a problem. The plant should also be repotted as seldom as possible, but only when the substrate in the tub is completely rooted through. Pests are usually not a problem with ornamental lilies in the home garden, since snails and caterpillars are not interested in the leaves. There is also hardly any fungal or bacterial infestation. Depending on whether you are an evergreen or a deciduous one Agapanthus-Have a variety of varieties at home, there are some peculiarities, especially when overwintering. A detailed guide to the Wintering of African lilies can be read here.

Fertilize agapanthus

Here too it turns out Agapanthus as an uncomplicated plant that makes no special demands on its fertilization. Complete fertilizers with a balanced NPK ratio and an adequate supply of minerals are ideal. Our is suitable here Plantura organic flower fertilizer especially good, as this, as a long-term fertilizer, provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients for three months. For a strong bloom you should fertilize the African Lily from April until it starts to bloom. That way with that is enough Plantura organic flower fertilizer one application in spring and one re-fertilization in summer before flowering completely.

Watering agapanthus

Agapanthus reacts much more sensitively to too much water than to too little. From April it should be watered regularly and sufficiently. The substrate in the pot should be moist, but never wet. It is only necessary to water the African Lily again when the upper third of the tub feels completely dry. There Agapanthus but can store water in its fleshy rhizome, it can cope with several weeks without water. During the winter months from November to March, it does not have to be watered much or not at all.

Summary: This is how you care Agapanthus correct:

• Do not change location during flowering
• The African Lily largely spares pests and diseases
• Agapanthus fertilize properly: basic fertilization with a fertilizer with organic long-term effect when planting
• First fertilization in April
• Second fertilization in summer before flowering
• It is better to water too little than too much
• Avoid waterlogging
• Agapanthus Water very moderately in winter

Propagate agapanthus

The African Lily can be propagated relatively easily using offshoots. This is useful, for example, if it has become too big for its previous plant pot and needs to be repotted. The root ball can then be cut into several parts with a sharp garden tool (depending on the size, a spade may also be necessary). The individual root pieces are each planted in their own new pot.

One more way, Agapanthus To multiply yourself consists of letting the fruit ripen and harvesting the seeds. In both cases, however, it takes some time for the African Lily to bloom the next time.

Agapanthus is poisonous?

Basically is Agapanthus not toxic, but intensive contact with the sap can irritate the skin. However, the rhizome is poisonous to humans and animals when consumed. Therefore gloves should be worn when propagating the plant.

To ensure that you get something from your African Lily for as long as possible, it is essential to overwinter it properly. All about that Overwinter from Agapanthus can be found in our special article on the subject.