How To Grow Stunning Agapanthus In Your Container Garden

When a beloved neighbor sold her home and left with little warning I was the one who swooped in to rescue and care for a rather large number of plants in containers and in built in planters, as the new owners, who are not yet the owners may not be moving in for another year or so. I just knew that otherwise the plants would end up being tossed, yikes! And with the house empty and no one around to actually water or care for the plants, I undertook a serious rescue and rehabilitation project that is still underway! One pot that I immediately took to care for in my container garden is a very large pot of agapanthus, that brings back childhood memories, as we had some growing on the side of the house. Though the pot and its tubers had been very neglected, Agapanthus is apparantly quite hardy and not so particular, and the fact that despite it all three flower stalks were produced, and they are just so very lovely. I didn’t want to disturb the plant right before bloom time, so will try to do the serious rehab in the fall, which I’m really looking forward to, as I LOVE this plant! Okay, lets read about how to care for agapanthus in a container garden, highly recommended.

Growing agapanthus in containers is highly rewarding, as these plants thrive when their roots are slightly restricted. Choose a pot with excellent drainage and use a gritty, loam-based compost. Place the container in full sun, feed regularly during the growing season, and protect deciduous and evergreen varieties from harsh winter frost.

Choosing the Right Pot and Soil

• Pot Size: Avoid choosing an overly large pot right away. Agapanthus flower best when they are slightly root-bound. Choose a sturdy container that fits your plant snugly, usually about 2 to 3 inches wider than the root ball.
• Material: Frost-proof terracotta pots with straight sides are ideal. If using plastic or ceramic pots, ensure you have multiple half-inch drainage holes at the bottom, as pooling water causes the roots to rot.
• Soil Mix: Use a free-draining mix. A general multi-purpose compost mixed with 20% to 30% horticultural grit or perlite is perfect for container growing.

Planting Process

1. Prep the Drainage: Add a layer of broken crocks (pieces of terracotta) or gravel at the very bottom of the container to keep drainage holes unblocked.
2. Planting Depth: When planting bare-root rhizomes, place them with the roots pointing down and the crown or growing point resting about 2 inches (5 cm) below the soil surface.
3. Firm the Soil: Gently press the compost around the roots to secure the plant, ensuring there are no large air pockets left.

Care and Maintenance

• Watering: Agapanthus are drought-tolerant once established but need regular watering while growing. Water them a couple of times a week during the hot summer months so the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
• Feeding: They are heavy feeders. Apply an organic, high-potassium liquid feed (like tomato fertilizer) every week or two from spring until mid-September to encourage strong blooming.

Pruning and Overwintering

• Deadheading: Once the spectacular summer flowers fade, snip away the old stems at their base. This stops the plant from wasting energy producing seeds.
• Winter Protection: Agapanthus vary in hardiness. Deciduous types are hardier, but all container-grown agapanthus need protection from hard, freezing winter weather. In late autumn, move your pots to a frost-free, sheltered spot like an unheated greenhouse, garage, or a sheltered wall. Evergreen varieties are more tender and require frost-free conditions and should be brought indoors.

Repotting and Dividing

• When to Repot: Repot or divide congested, pot-bound clumps every 3 to 4 years in early spring.
• Division: When the plant begins to burst out of its container or blooming drops, remove it from the pot and divide the clump using two garden forks back-to-back, or a sharp, serrated knife.

Interested in giving Agapanthus a try? Especially recommended if you live somewhere without freezing winters! This pot has been outdoors in our winter here, but if temps get to freezing I will certainly bring it indoors or move to a more sheltered location, as I just would not want forfeit these beautiful flowers (and hopefully more) next summer.

And just by the way, I have basically not done any of the recommended things in the instructions above, except keeping the plant nicely watered and in full sun, and it seems to be doing just fine, though only three blooms for a huge pot isn’t exactly a raving success. So yes, I will be following the advice above come Fall, as the rhisomes are really overgrown, and I really can not figure out why they were in such a large pot to begin with. So yes, I’ll be separating the rhisomes, and replanting in a possibly smaller pot with the recommended soil type, fertilizing come spring, and we’ll see how that goes as far as encouraging more blooms.

Honestly, I love the plant without the blooms as well, and it is a lovely lush addition to my container garden.