I have four agapantheus - two in large pots and two in the ground. They were blooming when I bought them last year and I have waited patiently for them to bloom again this year but so far haven't even had a bud. I have a pretty good record with plants but can't seem to befriend these. Any ideas?
Agapantheus (Lily of the Nile)
Are they getting lots of sun?
bmattingly38,
I also found that they don't flower if they don't get enough sun. The ones giving the best show, are the ones growing on the side walk without any shade. They are also rather drought tolerant.
Hope it helps,
Elsa
Thanks for replying. Unfortunately sun is not the answer. I live in North Carolina where we have plenty of sun - this year, with temperatures in the 90's and 100's - too much sun. We are experiencing drought conditions, but I do keep these plants watered - not over-watered.
What about fertilizer or a certain type of soil? Any special needs in these areas. I love northern California and each time we go there I return to Charlotte resolved to grow a garden of agapantheus. Could my soil be too acidic? Am I using the wrong type of fertilizer? HELP? What's your soil like in the Willamette Valley and Pretoria? (It breaks my heart to hear that you have them growing on the sidewalk.)
We have loam soil, and as far as I know it is on the neutral side. Never had it tested, but know that Azaleas need some extra attention to get them to flower like they should. I know it is very frustrating to try to grow plants that seems to grow without any difficulty in another part of the world. Maybe you can try giving them a bit less water? Maybe some and the others as you are doing at the moment? I came to the conclusion - and I may be wrong - that they must not get over feeded. The ones growing on the other side of my fence usually starts flowering earlier than mine, even though they hardly ever get watered apart from rain, and we haven't had that much the last year, and they definitely don't get any fertilizer, as they are growing alongside a road leading to some properties up the mountain. From time to time when it is really hot, I feel sorry for them, and give them a little drink, but somehow the ones that are out of reach, flowers just a nicely - as if they want to reproduce before they die from thirst!
Will see if I can get hold of some of the seeds that will form this season if you are interested. A lovely, large flowering Agapanthus. It has bigger flowers and longer stems than the ones I have growing in my garden...
Elsa
Thanks Elsa, you are very sweet to offer me both advice and seeds. I'm taking the advice to heart because it maybe that I am overwatering. I'll try cutting back and see what happens. My soil is acidic - we grow azaleas like weeds here in our garden and only lose them when we forget to water.
I also accept your offer of seeds. I'll read up about how to plant them so that they'll germinate. I wonder if there are any seeds that you might like from me? I have some Japanese iris seeds that I collected earlier in the summer, some day lily seeds (didn't label them as to color, however) some bog iris (dark purple) and some from a most unusual iris that I can't identify - it's quite lovely. I don't know where it came from - just popped up in my garden a few summers ago. I've never tried to plant any of these seeds, but I'll send some to you if you want to try. I should tell you that what I've called the bog iris are not growing in a bog but rather along the side of a little pond that I have in my garden.
Thanks again,
Barbara
During the OJ chase etc etc some years ago, I wasin awe of the agapanthus growing on both sides of the walkway to his house. Don't remember much else but those flowers were .... def. TDF.
inanda akaGinny