Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia)

There are many herbs that have decorative flowers: one of them is the Angelonia angustifolia. This is a beautiful plant that we can plant wherever we want: in a pot or window box, or in the garden together with others, such as the snapdragon (Antirrhinus major) or carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) for instance.

It doesn't take up much room, but when it blooms it's very, very showy. Also, not delicate at all, so it will not be difficult for you to maintain it.

What is the origin and characteristics of the Angelonia angustifolia?

La Angelonia angustifolia it is a perennial herb called angelon, angelonia, or old woman's mouth. It grows from Mexico to Panama. Reaches a height of between 10 and 120 centimeters, and has lanceolate leaves up to 6 centimeters long by up to 10 millimeters wide. The margin of these is serrulate, and they are dark green.

As for the flowers, they can appear in groups or alone, and measure about 2 centimeters wide.. The corolla is yellow, pink, lilac or blue. The fruit is a capsule about 4 millimeters wide, which contains several small seeds.

What uses does it have?

It is an herb that is cultivated for its high ornamental value, but it must also be said that in its country of origin it is used as a medicinal plant for its stimulating properties.

What are their cares?

If you dare to have one Angelonia angustifoliaApart from knowing how much it can grow, it is important that we explain how to care for it. In this way, you will be able to have it healthy and beautiful:

Location

It is a plant that we will put in a sunny place, and therefore outside. It is very, very important that the sun gives it, otherwise it will not bloom; it couldn't even grow like it has to.

For this reason, it is why it should not be kept indoors, since the light that enters the home is not of sufficient quality for the angelonia to be healthy.

Earth

• Flower pot: it is an herb that adapts very well to pots. We will put universal culture substrate as this, and ready. Of course, the container must have holes in its base; Otherwise, every time we water, water would accumulate in its roots and in the end the plant would drown.
• Garden: you can plant it in the ground in spring, when there will no longer be frost. Do it in an area where you know it will get the sun throughout the day; In this way you will see that it will be very good.

Irrigation

La Angelonia angustifolia needs to be watered fairly often, but preventing the soil from remaining wet for a long time. Thus, in winter and while the cold lasts, it will be watered once or twice a week more or less, since the soil takes longer to dry completely. But in summer, we will have to do it more often.

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We can pay it all year round except in winter, since during this season it does not grow and, therefore, does not need any extra supply of nutrients. Thus, if we want it to flourish, it will be a good idea to fertilize it with a fertilizer that contains especially phosphorus and potassium, such as algae fertilizer (for sale here) or guano. These, as they are organic, can be used in organic farming, since not only do they not harm the environment, but in a certain way they take care of it, since they respect the life of pollinating insects, they are not toxic, and apart from nourishing the I usually.

Of course, it can also be fertilized (or better said, fertilized) with fertilizers for flowering plants such as this, following the directions on the package. These products are also known as "chemical fertilizers", but a fertilizer must be clearly differentiated from a fertilizer, because while the former originates from nature itself, the fertilizer is made in a laboratory or company. Put another way: compost is a natural product, and fertilizer is man-made.

Multiplication

La Angelonia angustifolia it is an herb you can multiply by seeds in spring. You just have to fill a pot with universal substrate for example, water it, and then place the seeds so that they are separated from each other and a little buried. It is important that you do not put too many; in fact, ideally, no more than 3 should be placed in a container about 8 centimeters in diameter so that they can all germinate without problems.

If everything goes well, you will see that they will germinate after 5 or 10 days, but do not take them out of the seedbed until the roots come out of the holes.

Rusticity

It can be grown outdoors without problems, since resists cold and even frost down to -7ºC.

What is your opinion of the Angelonia angustifolia? Sounds like an interesting garden plant?