The African lily only blooms for a short time in this country, but the magnificent flowers are still worth every effort. Caring for the plants in the pot is not particularly time-consuming, but there are still a few things that should be taken into account, especially when overwintering.
How do I properly care for my African lily?
The optimal care for the African lily includes regular watering from April, removing withered inflorescences, fertilization from April to August and a cool, dry winter at 0 to 7 degrees Celsius in a dark or light room depending on the variety.
How often should African lilies be watered?
From winter onwards in April, you should water African lilies thoroughly at least once a week. Due to its thick roots, the African lily can survive dry periods relatively unscathed. Drainage holes for excess water are important when planting in the pot, as the roots react sensitively to persistent waterlogging. In winter, the Agapanthus species should be kept as dry as possible, so do not water them in their winter quarters.
When should the African lily be repotted?
Repotting the African lily ideally takes place in spring, as soon as severe frosts are no longer expected and the plant can be wintered out. The time of repotting is also perfect for propagating the African lily by splitting the rootstock with a saw or axe.
When and how do you cut the African lily?
There is no pruning in the classic sense for the African lily. However, withered inflorescences are removed so that the seeds do not ripen and use up all of the plants' growth energy. In addition, the yellow and dead leaves of leaf-feeding species can be removed before moving to the dark winter quarters.
African lily deficiency symptoms
A problem that often occurs with the African lily is that the plant produces many leaves, but no inflorescences even when it is blooming in summer. This can sometimes be remedied by appropriate fertilization, but sometimes overwintering that is too warm is also responsible.
When and how are African lilies fertilized?
Between April and the beginning of August, you can fertilize your African lilies regularly with a foliar fertilizer (€25.00 on Amazon) or every few weeks with a handful of complete fertilizer over the substrate. You should no longer apply fertilizer in late summer and autumn, otherwise there may be problems with overwintering.
How are African lilies optimally overwintered?
While evergreen Agapanthus species like to be kept bright in their winter quarters, the roots of the leafless varieties that overwinter in the pot can also be overwintered in a dark place. However, all African lilies should be overwintered at around 0 to 7 degrees Celsius and as dry as possible. The following are usually suitable for this:
- Basement rooms
- well-insulated or slightly heated greenhouses
- Winter gardens that are not heated to room temperature.
Tips & Tricks
After division, it can often take a while until the African lily blooms again. Therefore, if you have several specimens, you should, if possible, divide and repot one specimen every year.
