agapanthus growing very slowly

I bought some agapanthus bulbs from the garden centre in March and planted the three of them in a plastic container. The growing media is multipurpose compost with added grit for drainage. The bulbs were planted middle of March, Two have grown and are a few inches high. Is it necessary to feed them once a week now or twice a month. they have beed kept in an unheated greenhouse. I have fed them with miracle grow diluted down last week.

 

I think Agapanthus are just slow growing to start with Flowerpotty but do well if you can get them established. The link might help you.

I've never had any real success with them myself, maybe just didn't look after them properly, but I had a neighbour who grew them in a big stone raised bed running up the outside of their boundary wall - maybe for about 50 yards - and they were just spectacular. So it can be done.

Hope they come good for you but I think patience is required.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/pots-containers/agapanthus/

 

Thanks for the advice i don't think they will flower for another 12 months or more, when they become potbound then i think they will throw up some flowering stalks hopefully!!!

 

Agapanthus are known to be an irregular grower, some flower every year, some intermitently. I have had some flower in 18 months from seed and then not flower for a couple of years. Just let them grow their own way. I have had them flower just as well in the ground as in pots so I am not sure the 'flower better when potbound' rule is true.

 

I basically agree with all the comments here as to their care. I'm sure they don't need to be potbound as they are in borders and roundabouts here ... unless they are buried in pots, but I think not.

The only thing I can add is they are not frost tolerant .... I actually lost a large clump I brought from the UK years ago this past winter with only two days hitting zero.

A beautiful flower and they are blooming here at the moment (not unfortunately with me) .... they seem to like the white as well as the two blues here.

Good luck with yours.

 

On one of the Chelsea programmes last week an agapanthus grower recommended planting them in the ground in their pots, as you need to try and re-create their natural growing conditions. In Madeira they grow on the sides of the roads in very well drained conditions and they flower profusely. I think too much rich soil and feed will probably just produce lush leaves and no flowers. Hope that helps. GF.

 

I would agree with Strongy and others about not needing to be pot bound. I bought a single bulb and planted it in the border. It has flowered the last two years and I am pleased to see it growing again this year. Being outside mine experienced -7C last winter and -8C the year before, but the bulb itself may have never gone below zero, as it is insulated by the thickness of earth.

I suspect one problem is that many people like me buy a bulb and all the packet says is Agapanthus. I imagine that there are a lot of different varieties and cultivars with some being more hardy than others.

I am currently growing more from seed - but I understand that it will be 4 years or more before they flower.

 

I have had plants in all my gardens that flower just fine.

But everything I has read says "Keep any in pots crowded" and "Don't disturb the roots" - i.e. avoid moving / potting on if at all possible.

 

There are so many Agapanthus hybrids now, dwarf, variegated , silver blue, purple, all sorts so there will definitely be a difference in growth, flowering habit and hardiness.

My three young A. Purple Cloud ony just made it through the winter.

My parents were given a couple of tubers by a gardener at the Botanical Gardens in Madeira 25 plus years ago and one still produces white flowers the size of a football but not every year, fickle things!!

 

They need the correct drainage it's not the frost that sees them off if they are wet at root level when frost hits it will harm them mine both in the ground and in pots have survived no problem this winter,one trick I use is to plant some of my tropicals near to shrubs in the garden the soil stays dry even in wet weather but it ensures you don't get frost damage.My Cestrums (thanks my lady)Echium,Boliviana Fuchsia,Iochroma (australis)have all come through.

 

I like that idea Walnut. I think you are quite right about wet being as much or more of a problem than cold. I think it happens with a lot of things. Penstemon growers use the word "persistant" rather than "hardy" to signify that winter wet is the main cause of death.