- Is it worth wintering the liver balm?
- Where should I overwinter my ageratum?
- How do I care for my Ageratum in winter?
The tropical liver balm (bot. Ageratum) cannot be described as hardy, it does not like frost. In the trade you will usually find it as an annual plant, although in nature it can become quite a few years old.
Liver Balm dies in Frost
In principle, the Ageratum houstonianum belongs to the perennial plants, botanically it is referred to as a perennial herbaceous plant. Its long flowering period, which ideally lasts from May to November, makes it a popular ornamental plant.
Is it worth wintering the liver balm?
Overwintering the liver balm is rarely recommended. It's just more practical to simply buy a new plant in the spring. Buying a new one may also be “cheaper” than storing it over the winter. If you want to avoid the throw-away habit, you should definitely consider hibernating, especially if you have suitable winter quarters. You can also cut cuttings for propagation in spring.
Where should I overwinter my ageratum?
The liver balsam likes it sunny and warm, so its location should not only be bright in summer, but also in the winter quarters. Make sure that the temperatures there do not drop below about 5 °C. A conservatory that is at least slightly heated or a warm greenhouse is very suitable for overwintering your liver balm.
How do I care for my Ageratum in winter?
If you want your liver balm to get through the winter well, then bring it to its winter quarters in good time before the first night frosts. This is easiest if you have cultivated it in a bucket, a small variety possibly also in the balcony box. The plant is probably still flowering at this point, but don't let that stop you.
During the winter, the liver balm needs no fertilizer and only little water. However, it should not dry out completely. Its maintenance is therefore not too complex. Only when the ice saints are over in May can the Ageratum houstonianum be brought outside again in its entirety.
The essentials in brief:
- not frost hardy
- It is commercially available as an annual plant
- Hibernation is rarely recommended
tips
If you have enough space in a suitable winter quarters, then feel free to try overwintering your Ageratum.