angelonia Serena Blue Another blizzard things have come to give us a SLOW start. Working inside is a pleasure when it is nasty outside. I am working on plants and getting things organized for this spring. Last year, and I am doing it again this year deciding now what size container, how many containers and marketing information for all the plants we are growing. I am still on "A". Have one new plant so new there isn't anything out about it. It is in the Angelonia alonia pink Romance. Found a picture but is surely looked purple. So as spring gets closer, hopefully there will be more about this plant. Angelonia or summer snapdragons are an easy plant to grow.
Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) gives the appearance of being a delicate, finicky plant, but growing Angelonia is actually quite easy. The plants are called summer snapdragons because they produce a profusion of flowers that resemble small snapdragons all summer, and in warm climates the flowering continues into fall. An Angelonia plant grows about 12 to 18 inches tall, and some people think the fragrant foliage smells like apples. The flowers bloom on upright spikes at the tips of the main stems. Species flowers are bluish-purple and cultivars are available in white, blue, light pink and bicolors. Angelonia flowers don’t need deadheading to produce a continuous display of blossoms. Use Angelonia as an annual bedding plant in borders or plant them in masses where they make a striking display. They also grow well in pots and window boxes. They make good cut flowers, and the foliage retains its fragrance indoors. Choose a site in full sun or light shade and set out bedding plants in spring two or three weeks after the last expected frost. Space them 12 inches apart in cool climates and 18 to 24 inches apart in warm regions. When the young plants are 6 inches tall, pinch out the tips of the main stems to encourage branching and bushiness. Angelonia plants prefer moist, well-drained soil but they can withstand brief dry spells, especially if the soil is enriched with compost before planting. Keep the soil around young seedlings moist. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings once the plants are well-established. Give the plants a light feeding with 10-5-10 fertilizer once a month, but don’t overdo it. If you give them too much fertilizer, they will produce more foliage and fewer flowers. Feed plants in containers with liquid fertilizer mixed according to the package instructions. If Angelonia plants begin to sprawl in midsummer, cut them back by about half their height. They will soon regrow and produce a fresh flush of flowers. Here a couple of pictures of some that I will be growing. So give it a try in your garden this season, and see what you think about them. So stay warm, stay safe and know spring is coming. Till next time, Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty
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AuthorHi! My name is Becky and I am a Master Gardener. I own Becky's Greenhouse in Dougherty, Iowa. Archives
September 2023
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