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Agapanthus

Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
I have some agapanthus that I bought last year and planned into pots. They did not flower last year, though put out plenty of healthy leaves. The same again this year.
My question is, do they need a few years to establish before they flower, or is it more likely that my bulbs are duds, throwing up ‘blind’ leaves rather like daffodils can? I followed the planting instructions to the letter. I’m going to leave them alone again this year, to see if they flower next year (though I have my doubts), but just wondered if any of you with more knowledge about agapanthus can advise me.
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  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @Red maple,

    It's important to feed them.
    I've got some in pots and feed them every week with either homemade comfrey liquid or seaweed liquid feed. Tomato food would also do the job.

    Worth you doing this and giving them another couple of years.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I believe they can take a few years to flower, if you grow them from seed. If you bought a mature plant, then I would have expected it to flower every year. They should ideally have full sun, so if you have yours in a shady position, I would move it.

    For really reliable flowering, especially if they are in pots, it's best to give them a liquid feed from Spring through to Autumn. This will help the plant to build up strong, healthy roots and leaves and promote flowering. It's also better if you deadhead them after flowering, although many people like to leave the seed heads, as they are very attractive. It's also important to water them regularly, particularly ones in pots. With regular watering and feed, and sunshine, you should get flowers every year.  

    One final thing to consider is that if planted in pots, they will eventually become congested, and may stop flowering.  Every 3-4 years or so, you should remove them from the pot and divide them, and then repot. Ironically, they flower best when their roots are constricted, so after diving them, you shouldn't put them into a pot which is considerably bigger than the rootball. You want a pot where there is a little bit of room around the roots, for them to grow, but not more than a couple of inches.

    Hope this isn't all too confusing. Good luck for next year.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I feed my agapanthus every sunday! @KeenOnGreen has given you all you need to know when it comes to growing them. I grow A Navy Blue which flowers really well. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    They need several years from seed to flower and if they are divided they may pause for a year or two. I would imagine that yours are immature and just need time to get going.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Very nice Agapanthus @uff, and lovely setting too. We have similar stairs in our garden, with pots on either side. A killer for the knees though!
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Thank you to all of you for your replies. I didn’t get them as seeds but as tubers (?)/bulbs.
    They are in a sunny spot, but I think my mistake has been not to give them a weekly feed. I’ve watered regularly, but not fed them, so that’s what I’ll do. Fingers crossed that they perform better next year.
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138

    Yours look beautiful @Uff.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Thank you @KeenOnGreen and @Red maple. Bet yours will be lovely next year. Will you show them to us please?
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • I got mine as a tuber (or whatever it is!) early 2020 and it didn't flower until this year - I was being all impatient and threatening it with the bin and that seemed to work  :p Either that or it just needed some time to mature.
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