I have had my beautiful agapanthus in it's current pot for about the past 5 years - last year it didn't flower as well as usual - perhaps only 6 heads instead of the usual 8 or 9. I guess it's time to re-pot. However, my real concern is that I cut all the leaves back last autumn, and covered it to protect it from the frost. Having uncovered it a couple of weeks ago, I'm surprised that there is no re-growth happening at all yet. I pulled out one of the tubors as they seemed empty and dead - the really bad news was that it smelt of bad chesse. Do you think it sounds dead? I will be devastated if it is???? Jules - West Sussex.
Jules: It does sound as if the frost, cold and wet have got down into this agapanthus, and it is dead! My agapanthus are now in strong growth, with new green leaves developing.
Do give it time, and perhaps part of the root system is still alive, but from your description this sounds unlikely.
Looks like a shopping trip is needed to find a replacement.
Our agapanthus has been in the same half-barrel for 10 years flowering profusely the more pot-bound it became. Failure to protect them from frost this last winter seems to have killed off the centre. There is a fringe of green leaves, No way can it be re-potted, so I have sawed out the centre and am filling the hole with new compost - and await results !
I too am keen to know when I should split my agapanthus. It measures about 50-60cm in width and the pot is 40cm. I am not sure which one it is but I have had it four years and it's flowered beautifully each year with increasing flower heads but this year, despite looking v healthy, I see no signs of flowers coming. Perhaps I need more patience but having read all the wonderful advice from Adam and others (many thanks) I think it may need more food but I think it also may be too pot bound. It survived the cold winter in the garage this year having been badly affected the year before when left outside unprotected. Any advice on when to divide would be gratefully received. Thank you!
Results - 6 weeks later !!! I had sawn out the centre of the solid mass of roots with an old pruning saw, and replaced it with new home-made compost. This meant that the half-barrel absorbed the regular watering and feeding instead of it just pouring away. I am now looking forward to 42 buds opening up. Has anyone else tried this alternative to re-potting ?
My agapanthus have been brilliant this year despite a very cold last winter. I have kept the flowers until now do you think that cutting the flowers should be done now or should they be allowed to die back naturally before pruning and mulching?
I love Agapanthus and want to know how to over winter them ...I can only grow in pots and have put one big plant in a neighbours shed and one or two in my "plastic" greenhouse I lost 3 plants last year due to frost and wet no matter how hard I tried to shelter them... Any tips please...am only a novice gardner...if it grows it grows sort....many thanks x
I was given some agapanthus 4 years ago and in my ignorance planted them in a south east facing bed. A few flowered the first year but since then just leaves - and leaves. We are in a frost pocket but they have survived the winters. Should I dig them up and put in pots instead? I bought another pot last year and kept it on the south facing terrace but no flowers this year. I wonder if I over-watered it in my enthusiasm? I am very frustrated by them and would love some encouragement.
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Jules - West Sussex.
Do give it time, and perhaps part of the root system is still alive, but from your description this sounds unlikely.
Looks like a shopping trip is needed to find a replacement.
Has anyone else tried this alternative to re-potting ?
I have kept the flowers until now do you think that cutting the flowers should be done now or should they be allowed to die back naturally before pruning and mulching?
Has anyone any experience of this?
Regards, Frank
I lost 3 plants last year due to frost and wet no matter how hard I tried to shelter them...
Any tips please...am only a novice gardner...if it grows it grows sort....many thanks x
I bought another pot last year and kept it on the south facing terrace but no flowers this year. I wonder if I over-watered it in my enthusiasm?
I am very frustrated by them and would love some encouragement.