Agapanthus : what do we do now?

[StepawayfromtheLindors]

This was our first summer where our agapanthus bloomed brilliantly. I’ve never had them before so don’t know what to do with the faded heads - do I snip the stems at the base or just the heads?

There seems to be some seeds inside the heads, can I remove them and plant in the soil to establish some new plants for next summer?

Really appreciate any advice as we’re not a very green fingered household but want to learn. TIA!

Agapanthus are bulbs. The seeds will take forever (years) to turn into bulbs. if at all in the UK climate.
You can cut the stems down so all nutrients focus into the current bulb. They hate being moved, btw.

Thank you so much. You can see how ignorant I am! Really glad for your advice.

Mine aren't flowering. They are in a bed and presumably congested. But if they don't like being moved, what to do? I read they like being confined. Am currently just ignoring them.

The weather has been tough on them, mine haven’t done well the past couple of years. They come from South Africa, I believe, so much drier conditions. If your ground is good and damp, it may not be ideal for them.

it depends how long they’ve been in your garden, I think. If a long time, then perhaps you could move them and hope they’ll flower again in a year or two.

I’m torn between giving them a good feed, and hoping that’s what they need, while understanding they’re the kind of plant that prefers rough, weak ground. Dilemma!

I’ve got 3 in a rough, south facing bed and they’re doing OK. Not great, not very tall this year. And 3 in a narrow pot where they must be so, so squashed! Only one flowered this year.

So, I’ll be moving those into a bed when I get a moment this month, and recognise they probably won’t flower next year.

Agapanthus thrive on neglect imo.

But I am in SA where they are a bit like weeds. They definitely can be moved and also split up and replanted.

I'd say make sure the soil drains well as they don't need much watering. Mine have not been watered for our entire winter (it doesn't rain here in winter) and it's still going strong.

I just cut the flower stem off once it's browned.

@PlatinumBrunette @StrawberrySquash

The secret with Agapanthus is confinement and Tomorite.

I grow all of mine in pots because they like to be tightly confined. If you put them into the ground they will just focus on creating roots and flowering will be limited.

That is tricky once they are totally root bound with no soil left in the pots, but I have never been really successful potting on. They might survive, but never really thrive. I just have to water my pot bound ones twice a day.

Tomorite is the key to good flowering. Feed late spring / early summer and then more regularly as the flower stems start to show. By the time the flower heads are developing I will be feeding once a week.

The other trick is to use fleece bags over the pots in winter. Jan / February frosts can be very damaging, particularly here in the north.

I grow different varieties and have flowers from early June till October. They are a real passion !!

@Whenautumnleavesstarttofall Thanks! I'll stick some tomato food on them and see what happens