Caring for agapanthus: tips for fertilizing and watering

African lilies enchant with their beautiful flowers. We show what is important when planting and what you need to do when caring for the agapanthus with regard to fertilizing and watering.

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

Agapanthus: origin and properties

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 from that in Central Europe in many respects, the African lily is usually cultivated as a container plant in Germany.

The African lily grows as a perennial that is evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species it originates from. Rhizomes are formed as outlasting organs. The simple, parallel-veined leaves are basal, sessile and grow like clumps. The spherical flower umbels are composed of mostly blue, violet or white colored individual 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 planting rewards agapanthus us with its large umbelliferous flowers.

Agapanthus varieties

Three kinds of agapanthus can be found with us as ornamental plants: A. africanus, A. campanulatus and A. precox. In total, there are several hundred different strains bred from these 3 species. Depending on the species 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': violet-blue, funnel-shaped flowers; evergreen
• 'Blue Giant': bright blue flowers; evergreen
• 'Northern Star': strong, dark blue flowers; deciduous
• 'Sunfield': Small stature, funnel-shaped, light blue flowers; deciduous
• 'Twister': White flowers with a blue base; deciduous

agapanthus – hybrids:

• 'Black Buddhist': Large, purplish-blue flowers; deciduous
• 'Silver Baby': white flowers with only slightly blue petal tips, small cultivar only 60 cm high

Agapanthus campanulatus:

• 'Wendy': White flowers, 40 cm high, deciduous (drows in winter)

Agapanthus praecox:

• 'Albus': funnel-shaped, white flowers; deciduous

Planting agapanthus: location and procedure

All agapanthusspecies come from South Africa and are therefore by no means hardy here. Here in cool Central Europe, they are cultivated without exception as container plants that spend the summer outdoors and have to be overwintered frost-free in winter.

As a location for the pot of the African lily, a place that is as sunny as possible should be chosen, since, as a true South African, it loves light and warmth. Bright, semi-shady spots 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 tolerates transplanting poorly and punishes rough treatment with failure or a sharp reduction in flowering. It is therefore advisable to be careful when planting in order to delay transplanting as long as possible.

The right location for agapanthus at a glance:

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

Normally only one plant is planted per pot, because the large perennials require a lot of space. But if you want to plant very large tubs 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 for planting is March or April, just before agapanthus in a tub to a sunny place in the garden or on the balcony. Evergreen species of agapanthus are planted with foliage, while the herbaceous, deciduous species are just beginning to sprout at the time of planting. If you plant leafless onions in winter, you 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 transplanted, we recommend using compost soil instead of peat soil. Our Plantura organic potting soil is structurally stable due to the proportion of coconut fibers and offers favorable and long-lasting aeration 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 clay powder.

In order to secure the supply of nutrients in the long term and the African lily as rarely as possible by transplanting, an organic long-term fertilizer should be used directly during planting come. In a big bucket with a agapanthus For example, 250 to 300 grams of our Plantura organic flower fertilizer get mixed up.

The planter of the African lily should have a drainage hole so that the water can drain off easily. Optimally, a layer of expanded clay, gravel or at least 3 cm thick is placed on the bottom of the bucket Shards of pottery spread and covered with cloth or fleece so that the drainage layer does not get caught in 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 pot^² Surface.
3. At least 3 cm drainage layer in the planter, cover with fabric or fleece.
4. Structurally stable potting soil that stores moisture and nutrients well, can be mixed with 30% expanded clay for longer structural stability.
5. Use organic long-term fertilizer when planting, for example Plantura organic flower fertilizer.
6. onion of agapanthus set a maximum of 20 cm deep or set so that the green foliage is above the surface of the earth.
7. Water well.

Cultivate agapanthus

Basically, the African lily is a very easy-care plant that grows quickly and vigorously without much effort. During flowering, however, it reacts sensitively to changes and should not be moved then if possible - especially not to a location with less light. Otherwise, a change of location is not a problem. The plant should also be repotted as rarely as possible, but only when the substrate in the bucket is completely densely rooted. Pests are usually not a problem with African 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 have an evergreen or a deciduous agapanthusvariety at home, there are some peculiarities, especially during the winter. A detailed guide to Hibernation of African Lilies you can read here.

Fertilize agapanthus

It also proves here 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. Ours is suitable here Plantura organic flower fertilizer particularly good, as this long-term fertilizer supplies the plant with all the necessary nutrients for three months. For vigorous flowering, the African lily should be fertilized from April until it begins to bloom. That way, enough with that Plantura organic flower fertilizer one application in spring and one additional fertilization in summer before flowering.

Water agapanthus

agapanthus generally reacts much more sensitively to too much water than to too little. From April you should water it 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 in the bucket feels completely dry. There agapanthus However, since it can store water in its fleshy rhizome, it can survive for several weeks without water. It needs little to no watering over the winter months from November to March.

Summary: How to care agapanthus correct:

• Do not change location during flowering
• Pests and diseases spare the African lily as much as possible
• agapanthus fertilize properly: Basic fertilization with a fertilizer with organic long-term effects when planting
• First fertilization in April
• Second fertilization in summer before flowering
• Better to water too little than too much
• Avoid waterlogging
• agapanthus water very moderately in winter

Grow agapanthus

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

One more way, agapanthus self-propagating consists of allowing the fruit to ripen and harvesting the seeds. In both cases, however, it takes some time before the African lily blooms the next time.

Is agapanthus poisonous?

Basically is agapanthus non-toxic, but intensive contact with the plant sap can lead to skin irritation. However, the rhizome is poisonous to humans and animals when consumed. Therefore, gloves should be worn when propagating the plant.

So that you can enjoy your African lily for as long as possible, it is essential to overwinter it properly. All about that hibernate from agapanthus can be found in our special article on the subject.