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Agaphansus

andreamoretonandreamoreton Posts: 46
in Plants
Hello can anyone tell.me if I should repot my Agaphansus?
The roots are starting to come out the bottom of the pot I usually  get about 8 flowering  stalks. So.im a bit wary.
Also when can I do this in the spring?

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    can you add a photo?
    Devon.
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    Is your agapanthus an evergreen variety or do the leaves completely die away in winter. I have both in pots, the evergreen ones are more tender.
    Id tip them out of the pot to see if they are pot bound i.e. full of roots. If they are I'd split and repot but wait until weather is more Spring like and they're starting into growth. The crown and upper roots can be as tough as wood, I've used bread knives and a saw on mine in the past. When repotting use a John Innes no 2 or 3. Keep them well watered, they sometimes go in the huff for a season and don't flower as they apparently prefer to have confined roots. Hope this helps, I've got mine to do later in the Spring. 
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    Hello Bilje. I was thinking of planting some deciduous agapanthus (a. spinosum) because I like its looks and because it is not so fussy about watering. So it is better to keep in pots rather than in the ground?  :)

    Luxembourg
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    @coccinella I think perhaps you mean Acanthus spinosus? I don't think there's a spiny agapanthus :smile: but no doubt someone will be along to tell me if I've got that wrong.
    In my experience Acanthus spinosus is a big hefty perennial so it would need a very big pot, and while you're right that it tolerates dry soil (I have it in my sandy soil), that's because it has thick bulky fleshy roots that go down deep, so it would need regular watering in a pot.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    I am so sorry. Senior moment. I did mean Acanthus he he he. If I buy it I will plant it in the ground, will it tolerate semishade? 

    Luxembourg
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I don't know agapanthus spinous at all, I can only find Acanthus Spinosis on line which is a completely different plant. It's commonly called Bears Breeches, dramatic leaves and tall spires of flowers, very spiny hence the name ....I don't think that's suitable for a pot, it grows in my garden but is a thug, survives anywhere and if I try to dig it out any bit of root left regrow. 
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    Thank you Bilje  :)

    Luxembourg
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    coccinella said:
    I am so sorry. Senior moment. I did mean Acanthus he he he. If I buy it I will plant it in the ground, will it tolerate semishade? 
    Mine is in the shade of the house from early afternoon and it's fine. And I agree , it does regrow from the tiniest bit of root if you try to move it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I tried, and it wasn’t easy, to dig out our acanthus prior to turfing over that bed. Since then it has been mown weekly through the growing season and yet still the wretched thing pokes through the grass. Tread warily @coccinella.
    Rutland, England
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