Agapanthus, the African lily with the magical blue or white spherical flowers, can be seen more and more often in gardens and on terraces. How is she surviving the winter? What helps with frost damage?
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The love flower
The African lily ( Agapanthus ) is popularly known as the love flower. The plant, which originates from Africa, is always a favorite flower. The blue and white flower balls are extremely decorative. The question of how much frost the container plant can tolerate depends on the variety.
African lilies are divided into deciduous and evergreen species.
1. Deciduous or deciduous Agapanthus species
- are considered conditionally hardy
- can spend the winter outdoors
- withstand temperatures down to minus 5 degrees Celsius
- Winter protection from brushwood, leaves or fleece is recommended
2. Evergreen species of agapanthus
- commercially available species are predominantly evergreen
- keep their leaves even in winter and need light
- Overwinter at 2 to 7 degrees Celsius in a sheltered, bright room
detect frost damage
As long as it is cold, frost damage to plants is hardly noticeable. However, when it gets warmer, the damage first becomes visible on the leaves and above-ground shoots. Leaves that are frozen turn yellow and droop lifeless. Often frozen leaves and shoots also become mushy.
You don’t see the damage immediately, but the roots and offshoots of agapanthus and other potted plants are also at risk when there is frost. Muddy roots are a clear sign of frost damage.
Nature has arranged it in such a way that the above-ground parts of the deciduous Agapanthus species are quite robust. The leaves of the evergreen varieties are sensitive to cold.
First aid for damage caused by frost:
- Bring the damaged plant indoors.
- Place the African lily in a bright place at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.
- Check the roots. Be sure to remove any mushy, dead rhizomes to prevent the entire root from rotting. As long as part of the roots are undamaged, there is hope for the plant to recover.
- Completely cut off frozen shoots that will not straighten up on their own.
- Leave the frozen leaves on the plant for now.
- Remove the leaves when they have dried up.
- Bring the agapanthus outside again after the ice saints when there is no longer any threat of frost.
Distinguish frostbite from frostbite
Drooping leaves are not always the result of frost damage. Potted plants like the African lilies not only need moisture in summer. They also need water in winter quarters to keep their metabolism going. Water the plants on frost-free days.
The so-called frost drought occurs when plants lose moisture to the environment but cannot absorb new water from the frozen soil.
