Angelonia angustifolia is still relatively unknown to local gardeners and plant lovers. The angel face inspires within the Angelonia genus with the flowers, which are reminiscent of a lion's mouth. The distribution area of the plantain family extends in South America from Argentina to Mexico and more rarely in South Africa. In Central Europe, the plant is kept in a tub, which raises the question: is the "Summer Snapdragon" a hardy plant?
hardiness
Is Angelonia angustifolia hardy?
Angelonia is a perennial plant that, because of its frost sensitivity comes in winter. This is especially the case for specimens that have to overwinter outdoors, as the plant cannot withstand temperatures below 5 °C. Below this limit, the above-ground parts of the plant die off and the roots freeze, which means the end for the angel face. For this reason, a suitable winter quarters important in which the plantain plant can survive the cold season.
tip: Due to the unproblematic propagation via seed, in addition to using a winter quarters, sowing in spring is also a good idea if you want to keep blooming Angelonia in the garden. Since she collected the seeds directly from the plant, new specimens are available to you every year.
Overwinter Angelonia angustifolia
preparation
Proper preparation is important for wintering the angel face. In addition to the appropriate site selection you absolutely have to have specimens that you have planted outside from spring to autumn pot, as they would not stand the cool German winters. The best time for this is from night-time temperatures below 5 °C, but this differs from region to region in Germany. Therefore, follow the weather forecast in order to put the plant in the tub in good time and transport it to the provided location. Angelonia angustifolia is planted out in the following way:
substrate
First prepare the substrate for the pot. Since the angel face has to stay in the winter quarters for the entire winter until the ice saints, this should meet the requirements of the plant and have the following properties:
- relaxed
- humorous
- well drained
- pH value: 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic)
- loamy
- fresh
- wet
To enable these properties in the pot, you have to use special soil. Either substrates for rhododendrons or high-quality potting soil that has the properties mentioned above are particularly good for Angelonia. Moor plant soil is also recommended. Enrich the substrate with the following additives to improve drainage:
- sand
- grit (fine)
- lava granules
pot
Prepare a pot that over drainage holes has. Fill it halfway with the fresh substrate and make sure that no air bubbles form. Counteract this by gently tapping the pot with the palm of your hand. No special drainage layer is applied as the drainage material is mixed directly into the substrate.
plant out
Next comes the planting out of the Angelonia. Use a planting shovel for this and be particularly careful not to damage the roots.
Clear the dense root system of as much soil as possible before planting in the planter. This reduces the possible migration of insect larvae and eggs into the fresh substrate. This will make it much easier for you to care for Angelonia angustifolia over the winter.
repot
Place the plant in the pot and fill it with sufficient substrate. Tap here as well to distribute the soil better and thus avoid accumulation of air.
Repot potted plants in the same way. Fresh substrate is important to provide the Angelonia angustifolia with sufficient nutrients to supply over the winter. This step is important for newly potted and potted specimens.
winter quarters
In order to get the Angelonia safely through the winter, the right winter quarters are necessary. This must correspond to the winter times at home and should be neither too warm nor too cold. The following properties are important for the place to hibernate:
- Temperature: 5°C - 12°C
- bright
- Frost free
- should be able to ventilate
- no direct sunlight
- protected from direct drafts
Rooms such as the conservatory, unused guest rooms and, in some cases, attics are particularly suitable for this purpose. Well-insulated garages and tool sheds that have windows and where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C are also suitable. A very popular location for the plant over the winter is the stairwell, as it offers a lot of light but is not directly heated. Winter quarters should not be exposed to sudden temperature drops, since Angelonia is not hardy. Even short periods below 5 °C can cause major damage, especially to the root system.
tip: If you live in a winter-warm region of Germany, for example in the southwestern wine-growing regions or along the Rhine, you could try a location on a wind-protected balcony or terrace. However, you have to wrap the entire pot in a winter protection fleece so that it does not cool down too much and with luck the plant will remain "hardy".
Hibernation: Instructions
Once the angel face has moved into its winter quarters, you will have to take care of the plant for the following months. A lot can go wrong, especially with regard to the water additions, since it is significantly cooler than in summer. Follow this guide to safely overwinter your Angelonia
To cut
As soon as the plant moves into winter quarters, you have to cut it back to ground level. Use clean, sharp pruning shears for this. Thoroughly remove the parts of the plant and then dispose of them. The cut allows the Angelonia to sprout again quickly in the spring. Since it is not hardy in Germany and Central Europe, this preserves the vitality of the plantain plant and stimulates flowering. The advantage: Since you hibernate the angel face, it is not dependent on the above-ground parts of the plant and can save energy over the cold season. This is exactly what allows the plant to sprout quickly next year and form numerous flowers.
watering & fertilizing
Watering over the winter should be significant reduced will. Because the angel face quickly under waterlogging suffers, you must pay particular attention to excessive wetness. Water only when the substrate has dried. Use the finger test to check. 15 minutes after watering, pour away any standing water in the planter or saucer. This effectively prevents waterlogging.
You adjust the fertilizer additions throughout the winter. As described above, the plant receives the necessary nutrients from the fresh substrate and nothing more is needed.
The Angelonia will continue to grow over the winter, but only extremely slowly, and from March it will form new shoots quite quickly. However, you should still water and not fertilize here in the same way.
air
As soon as the temperatures in the winter quarters are right, you have to pay attention to the humidity. This should not be too high, but not too dry either. Therefore, spray fresh water at regular intervals in the immediate vicinity of the plant so as not to keep the humidity too low. Since the plant is still a species from the tropics, it prefers one higher humidity. Alternatively, use an automatic humidifier. However, the plant should never be sprayed directly to avoid excessive watering.
Ventilate at regular intervals, because stale air is not good for the plant. You don't need to worry here. Yes, the Angelonia is not hardy, but airing it out for a few minutes will not affect it. Fresh air helps against possible diseases or pests, which are quite rare on the plant over the cold season. Just make sure that the plant does not stand directly in the draft when airing. She doesn't really like that.
winter out
The plant can only move into a place in the garden again in late spring. The typical dates are:
- after the ice saints in mid-May
- end of May
- first week of June
The reason for this are possible, emerging late frosts, which could severely affect the plant. Since Angelonia begins to sprout again in March and presents its first flowers from the beginning of May, it should only be transported back onto the balcony, terrace or bed when there is no longer any risk of frost. Especially in the very cold regions of Germany like the Ore Mountains, even the first week in June is recommended, just to be on the safe side.
prepare ground
If you want to plant the Angelonia again in the bed, you should prepare the soil accordingly. In doing so, use the properties described under “Preparation” as a guide. However, make sure that the spot in the bed is protected from the wind, as the picturesque flowers of the summer snapdragon are easily damaged by the wind.
From the flowering period, give fertilizer again so that the plantain plant has enough nutrients available for flowering until October.
tip: Angelonia angustifolia only rarely suffers from diseases and pests over the winter, which are mainly caused by mistakes in care. A well-known problem is an infestation with gray mold, which is counteracted with sufficient ventilation and removal of the infested leaves or parts of the plant.