Do Angelonia Need Full Sun?

During the day, make sure your angelonia plants get a lot of sun so that they can keep blooming all year long. Sunlight is very important for plants. If they don’t get at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, they’ll grow leggy and have few blooms. Despite their ability to tolerate a little afternoon or morning shade, these plants gain more energy and produce more flowers when the sun is brighter.

Angelonia (Angelonia chinensis) is a bulbous perennial that typically grows to around 18 inches but can reach up to 3 feet. While it does best in full sun, Angelonia can tolerate light shade.

Angelonia is a member of the amaryllis family and is known for its beautiful white flowers that bloom from May to September. These flowers are used in floral arrangements and can be used fresh or dry. Angelonia is also used in many culinary preparations, including soup, congee, and stir-fry. While Angelonia is not typically considered a medicinal plant, it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various issues, including fatigue, indigestion, poor circulation, and poor vision.

Angelonia angustifolia or summer snapdragon white flowers in garden

Growing Requirements for Angelonia to Thrive

  • Allow room for the plants to grow by leaving a gap between them. In addition, this promotes proper airflow. Plants in colder climates should have a 10- to the 12-inch gap. These plants should be spaced 18 to 20 inches apart in warm regions.
  • Till the soil and add plenty of compost before you plant Angelonias. In addition, a small amount of fertilizer can be sprayed on. A pH of 5.6 to 6.5 is considered ideal.
  • Seedlings need to be watered until they are established in the soil. Only water them when the plants are established, and the soil is completely dry. On the other hand, Plants in containers need to be watered frequently. The same holds true for those who live in areas where the summers are particularly sweltering.
  • Water seedlings until they are established in the soil. After planting, only water when the soil is completely dry. Container plants, on the other hand, need frequent watering. The same goes for those who live in hotter climates.
  • Seedlings should be watered until they are firmly established in the ground. Immediately after planting, wait until the soil is parched before watering. In contrast, watering container plants is a necessity. For those who live in hotter climates, the same holds true.
  • Plants need regular watering until they become established. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering your plants. Container plants, on the other hand, necessitate regular watering. The same is true for people who live in hotter climates.
panorama of blooming Angelonia flower field in soft focus, Thai forget me not

How to Sow Angelonia Seeds Indoors

  • A seed starting kit can be used to sow seeds indoors as early as 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date.
  • Plant the seeds 1/8 of an inch deep using a seed starting formula.
  • Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • The emergence of the seedlings occurs in 10-14 days.
  • If you want to see your seedlings grow quickly, place them on a sunny windowsill or under a grow light that is on for 16 hours a day and is off for 8 hours at night. Elevate the lights to a higher wattage as the plants develop their full stature. Lighting with incandescent bulbs is not an option because of the risk of overheating. Don’t leave the lights on for 24 hours if you want your plants to grow.
  • Remove all but one seedling from each cell with two sets of leaves.
  • As per the manufacturer’s instructions, a starter solution (half the strength of an indoor houseplant food) should be fed to angelonia seedlings 3-4 weeks old.
  • Angelonia seedlings must be “hardened off” before planting in the garden. For a week, young plants can be exposed to the elements in a sheltered area outside to help them adapt to the outdoors. You’ll want to protect them from the elements at first. If the seedlings are at risk of frost at night, cover or bring the containers indoors and then bring them outside in the morning. Plant cell structure is strengthened, and transplant shock and scalding are minimized due to this hardening-off procedure.