Can phlox be grown at home?

Phlox are incredibly beautiful bright flowers that have a strong pleasant aroma. Plants are perennial, therefore, for abundant flowering, you need to take care of favorable growing conditions. In the article we will tell you about the cultivation of perennial phlox from seeds, we will give recommendations for planting and care.

How to propagate perennial phlox in the garden

Unlike annual phlox, which are propagated only by seed, perennials are propagated in three ways:

1. Seeds. Phlox is sown in spring, autumn or early winter.
2. By dividing the rhizome. In the spring, the bush is dug up, the rhizome is divided into several parts and young bushes are planted. Most often, this vegetative method is used to rejuvenate a flower when it grows in one place for a long time.
3. Cuttings. In early summer, cuttings are prepared, strong young shoots are selected. They are planted in open ground under a jar, watered abundantly and await rooting. When sowing podzimnem phlox bloom next year in the fall.

If the bush has lost its decorative effect, then it is propagated by dividing the bush even in autumn (late August-mid-September). To update the phlox, the oldest rhizomes are thrown away, and only the side parts are planted.

Summer and spring reproduction is more successful than winter.

How to plant phlox seeds

There are two ways to grow a flower from seed.

Sowing seeds directly to the flower garden

Seeds are sown at the end of May or in November-December:

• Winter sowing. If snow has already fallen during winter sowing, then it is removed, the seeds are sown over the frozen soil at a distance of 5 cm from each other, sprinkled with earth with a layer of 2 cm and covered with snow. The germination rate when sowing in winter is 70%. Springs appear in the spring, and when two leaves bloom, the seedlings are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other.
• Sowing in spring. Phlox seeds are sown in fertilized moist soil. 4 seeds are placed in the hole. They are covered with earth, watered and covered with a film until shoots appear. Two weeks after the seeds come off, the flowers are already fed with slurry or nitrophos.

Sowing phlox seeds for seedlings

For seedlings, seeds are sown in boxes or peat tablets. The seeds are not buried deep in the ground, but placed on the surface. Cover with a film on top. The optimum temperature for seed germination is + 10-18 ˚С. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.Stronger seedlings can be grown in peat tablets on the windowsill. With a high content of peat in the soil, the decorative effect of phlox increases.Read also the article: → "Features of growing annual phlox in the garden."

Favorable conditions for growing phlox

The main requirements are put forward to the quality of the soil. The decorativeness and development of phlox depend on the fertility of the soil. Soil requirements in the table.

Characteristic	Description
Acidity	pH = 5.5-7.0
Soil structure	Loose, fertile soil with a high humus content, medium moist
Unsuitable soils	Heavy clayey, swampy, light sandy loam, poorly drained soils

The acidity of the soil is determined using a litmus test. Phlox suits the climate of the middle zone, where it is not very hot and moderate rainfall. For landing, choose an area with a flat relief, protected from the wind. Phlox is not planted in open sunny places, but shaded areas where the flower is shaded from 11 to 14 o'clock are ideal.

When growing seedlings, the following conditions are favorable:

• humidity above 70%;
• the temperature after the descent of seeds is up to 21 ˚С, within two weeks the temperature is lowered to 15 С;
• a container with seedlings is placed on sunny windowsills, and the film is removed.

Preparing the soil for planting phlox

If the soil is not suitable for planting phlox, it is improved:

• sand and manure are applied to clay soils;
• clay and lime are added to sandy loam, peat is also added to sandy ones;
• poor soils are filled with peat, manure or compost.

Prepare the soil in the fall. Contribute up to 8 kg / m. sq. peat or manure, up to 300 g / m is added to acidic soil. sq. lime. The soil is plowed to a depth of 30 cm. In the spring, the soil is plowed again, harrowed, and nitrophosphate and potassium salt are added. A week before sowing seeds, the soil is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Phlox planting and care plan

Phlox seeds are sown in spring, summer, autumn or winter. It all depends on the growing method. Consider an action plan for growing and caring for seedlings.

Action	Timing
Sowing seeds in pots	February
Picking	When 2-3 true leaves appear
Hardening (seedlings are taken outside for a day)	April-early May
Transplanting seedlings into open ground	May June
Pinching over the fifth pair of leaves	July
They are fed 5 times:	May-September
1. Liquid manure (for 10 liters of water 100 g of manure).	The end of May
2. Slurry with potassium salt or superphosphate.	The beginning of June
3. Slurry or chicken manure solution.	Early July
4. Superphosphate and potassium salt.	Early august
5. Use ash, nitrophosphate,	Beginning of September
Pruning phlox and mulching the soil with peat	October November

Phlox bloom from July to the end of September, prefer potash-phosphorus fertilizers

How to care for phlox in the garden

While phlox sprouts have not yet grown stronger after transplanting into open ground, the soil is regularly loosened, and the flowers are watered. Freshly planted phloxes are watered every three days for two weeks. The aisles are mulched with cut grass so that weeds do not germinate and moisture does not leave the soil.

If the summer is dry, up to 2 liters of water is poured under each bush every 2-3 days. In hot weather, the soil is mulched with peat or humus with a layer of 4 cm.

Tip # 1. In order for phlox to bloom profusely, faded inflorescences are always removed.

For abundant flowering, perennials are fed up to 5 times per season. Fertilizers for phlox are given in the table.

Fertilizer name	Description	Application
"Ekorost" for garden flowers	Fertilizer based on humic acids. Increases seed germination, seedling survival, increases disease resistance.	Root and foliar feeding: 2 caps per 10 liters of water, watered every two weeks.
"Grow" fertilizer for flowers	A complex product that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Accelerates growth, increases flowering duration and vividness of flowers	1 tbsp. l. for 1 sq. m.
"Windsor" for garden and indoor	Comprehensive product that provides abundant and long-lasting flowering	50-80 g / m2. sq., water the flowers 1-3 times for the entire growing season
"Bud-2" for garden flowers	Provides long-lasting and abundant flowering	10-20 g / 10 l of water
Buysk Fertilizers "Flower Paradise" for flowering plants	A complex liquid that stimulates growth, blooms and increases disease resistance	10 ml / 1 l of water
Universal fertilizer for garden flowers "Pokon"	Improves soil composition, nourishes flowers and accelerates their growth	1 measuring spoon per 1 sq. M. They are fed once a season in the spring.

Every 3-4 years in May, the bush is dug up and the rhizomes are divided... When grown in southern regions, the division of the bush can be postponed until September, the main thing is that the plant has time to take root before winter. See also the article: → "Planting and caring for phlox in the spring."

In the fall, grown phloxes of spring sowing are planted

Regardless of the region of cultivation, perennial flowers are covered with peat or straw for the winter. In the South, fallen leaves are used instead of peat, but pests can grow in such mulch. Cover the bush when the stems turn yellow and dry. The dry tops are cut off, and the root zone is covered with a layer of mulch. In a snowy winter, if the layer of snowfall is more than 50 cm, phlox need not be covered. Flowers are afraid of snowless winters, even if the frost is -10-15 ˚С.

Tip # 2. Phlox is used in landscape design to create abundantly flowering flower beds. Flowers go well with monards, astilbe, marigolds and heliopsis.

With abundant watering in dry summers, flowers are affected by powdery mildew or septoria. For the prevention of diseases, flowers are treated with fungicides.

How to deal with pests and diseases of phlox

Among phlox diseases, spotting and powdery mildew are distinguished. Diseases are recognized by their characteristic features. Consider the symptoms of diseases and methods of dealing with them in the table.

Name of the disease	Signs	Prevention and control methods
Spotting	Dots on the leaves, with their further twisting	Sick leaves are removed, and the flower itself is treated with Bordeaux mixture
Powdery mildew	White bloom on leaves and stems	To prevent contamination of healthy flowers, the diseased plant is removed and burned.
Variegated	Peculiar patterns appear on the leaves
Fomoz	The leaves begin to dry out and the stems become thinner.	For prophylaxis in the spring, while the air temperature does not exceed 18 ° C, colloidal sulfur is sprayed on the stems and leaves
Septoria	Dark brown dots on the leaves	The bush and soil around is treated with Bordeaux liquid every two weeks

For the prevention of diseases, the treatment of phloxes with a solution of Bordeaux mixture should be included in the calendar of spring work in the garden.Pests include filamentous worms, nematodes, slugs and caterpillars. When the bushes are affected by nematodes or worms, the flower is dug up and burned. The land is treated with nematicides or lime every 20 days. Three treatments are needed.

Phlox that grow on acidic soils are less sick

For the prevention of pests, insecticides are used. In the spring they are sprayed with Fury, Karate or Kinmix preparations. Read also the article: → "A brief overview of preparations for the treatment of the garden with instructions for use."

Features of growing perennials and annuals

The cultivation of perennials is generally similar to the cultivation of annual phlox, but there are the following differences:

1. Perennials are more often sown in open ground, rather than growing seedlings.
2. Perennials bloom later, but bloom longer.
3. Before winter, perennials, unlike annual plants, are not sown, since they are not resistant to frost.
4. Perennials need five feedings per season, and not 3-4, as is the case with annual phlox.
5. Seedlings are not planted closer than 0.5 m from each other, because perennials grow strongly in one place.

Answers to common questions

Question number 1... When is the best time to sow seeds in a flower garden?

Phloxes belong to those garden flowers that reproduce year-round. They are planted in spring, summer and winter. But for seed reproduction, spring is more suitable. In the second half of April, phlox seedlings are planted in flower beds. Spring planting has its advantages. The flowers have time to take root, but they bloom two weeks later than planned.

Autumn planting with seeds is possible only in the southern regions and the middle lane, where frosts come later. Seeds are sown in early September. Before the first frost, the flowers take root, and bloom the next year in July.

Question number 2... How to dive phlox seedlings?

The sprouts dive 20 cm apart into a greenhouse or greenhouse. Also, each sprout is planted in a separate pot, and when it gets warmer, it is planted in open ground.

Question number 3... Is it possible to mulch the soil in summer in extreme heat?

Yes. To protect from the scorching sun, the soil is mulched with peat or humus with a layer of 5 cm. Watering can be done over the mulch.

Question number 4... When can you transplant phlox bushes?

The best period is April or September. Transplanted as needed in the summer, but without dividing the root system. Be sure to move the roots into a new hole along with an earthen lump.

Question number 5... What are the popular perennial varieties?

Popular varieties include the following perennials:

1. Subulate. The plant is completely covered with white to dark red flowers. Blooms in May.
2. Spread out. Blooms lilac-blue. The plant prefers shaded areas. Blooms in May.
3. Paniculate. Blooms in the middle of summer. Inflorescences and leaves are large. Bushes 70-100 cm high.

Gardeners' mistakes when growing perennials

Gardeners' mistakes are as follows:

1. In the heat, phlox should not be watered with cold water, otherwise the stems will crack.
2. Withered flowers should not be left on the plant, they interfere with new blooming and delay flowering.
3. Many gardeners do not cover phlox for the winter. If there is little snow in winter, then the flowers can die even at -10 ˚С, so it is imperative to mulch the soil in November.
4. Phloxes cannot be planted in the area where strawberries were previously grown. Otherwise, the invasion of pests cannot be avoided.

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Lush flower caps amaze with their beauty and variety of colors. Even if you plant the site exclusively with phloxes, it will look bright and festive. Annuals and perennials, creeping and bush, paniculate and spherical, grasses and shrubs - all these are amazing phloxes.

Features of growing phlox in the open field

These flowers are classified as trouble-free plants. They are resistant to winter frosts, undemanding to soil and living conditions.However, do not rush to rejoice - phloxes will bloom magnificently not always and not everywhere. To get really beautiful flowers and long lasting flowering, you need to fulfill some of the vagaries of the plant.

Planting phlox in the ground

When planting phlox, take into account the peculiarities of their root system. It is located mainly in the upper layer of the soil and consists of many thin processes. The root mass does not tolerate the competition of stronger plants (shrubs and trees) and stagnant water in the surface layer of the earth.

Planting methods

• Seating

Seedlings are planted in pre-prepared holes, removed from a temporary container.

IMPORTANT! If you dry out the rhizome during planting, the phlox will hurt, it will not acclimatize and develop well.

Before planting a bush, fill the planting hole with water and wait until it is absorbed. The base of the seedling is buried at a distance of at least 2.5 cm. Rooting occurs within 13-16 days.

The distance between plants is maintained from 35-45 cm, between rows from 50 cm.

• Growing phlox from seeds.

Planting material can be planted directly in open ground in spring or autumn. Some seeds require stratification, others can be sown without preparation. Usually these include annual varieties. Perennials are planted for seedlings or in the soil before winter. It is recommended to buy seeds of hybrids in the store in order to get exactly the plant that you want. Otherwise, independently harvested material will not receive the varietal characteristics of the flower.

Before sowing, the seeds are freed from the capsules to increase germination. Soaking in a container of water will help to select high-quality seeds - only those that have settled at the bottom can be planted. The ones that pop up are empty and useless.

Optimal planting time

Planting and replanting phlox is allowed all summer, including autumn September. You can start planting in April, after the soil has thawed and slightly warmed up. Before winter, seeds are sown until the November frosts.

Plant soil

Phloxes find fault with the composition of the soil a little, being content with any. However, loam is ideal - moderately loose and moist, containing useful elements and a neutral reaction.

ADVICE! Add organic matter (compost or rotted mullein) and wood ash to the planting soil. Grateful flowers will grow powerful and blooming magnificently.

Planting phlox in the fall

Saplings can be planted in the first month of autumn. For this, the flowering top must be cut off, and the leaves and stems must be left. Phlox planted in the fall will bloom next summer.

Planting material acquired later should not be planted. Usually, the sprouts are dropped in a quiet place 1-2 dm deep, covered with lutrasil or a layer of mulch on top.

Planting in spring

It is advisable to have time to plant phlox seedlings before mid-May so that they take root before the summer heat attacks.

Features of phlox care in the open field

When caring for flowers, special attention should be paid to the choice of location, irrigation regime and fertilization. On these three whales the health of phlox is kept.

Location and lighting for the plant

If phlox are planted in a permanently shaded area, they will, of course, grow due to their endurance. But you will definitely not see beautiful bright colors! But take a look at the overly elongated painful stems, thin and deformed.

Give the phlox as much light as possible to get healthy, beautiful plants with a sturdy, sturdy stem that holds the voluminous caps of dense inflorescences. In partial shade conditions, the flowers will appear later than the due date and will be pale and friable.

Air humidity

Phloxes tolerate heat and arid atmosphere well, especially with sufficient moisture in the soil. But in the absence of rain, they should be periodically sprayed from above from a spray bottle.The procedure can be carried out only in the evening, when the sun reduces its aggressiveness.

ATTENTION! When spraying, water should not fall on the flower petals so that ugly brown spots do not appear on them.

How to water properly?

The spreading root system quickly picks up available moisture from the topsoil and begins to suffer from its absence. At the same time, phloxes stop development, become smaller, throw out few flowers, and lose their decorative effect. To prevent such phenomena, watering should be done as often as possible, keeping the soil always wet. On hot, rainless days, the soil is moistened daily.

The approximate rate per square meter is 1.5-2 buckets. Pour under the root, but not into the bush, so as not to erode the soil and not harm the thin roots. After watering and rainfall, the land must be loosened.

If this is not possible, use mulching with humus, peat, tree bark or grass, which will keep moisture inside the roots and soil for a long time.

Top dressing and loosening of the flower

Phlox goes through several stages in its development, in which it requires fertilizers of different composition.

• At the first stage there is an intensive growth of stems and leaves, phlox actively consumes nitrogenous substances. At the beginning and at the end of May, phlox is fertilized with a mixture of nitroammofoska, wood ash and mullein infusion.
• Second stage - this is the budding of a plant followed by flowering. Phlox begins to reduce nitrogen intake and need potassium substances. Therefore, potassium sulfate (12-15 g per bucket of water) is added to the third feeding, held in the second half of June, reducing the amount of organic matter. After a week, phlox can be sprayed with low concentration urea.
• In the third stage the flower begins to prepare for winter, accumulating more nutrients in the roots. It needs phosphorus to form the proteins it needs. In the first decade of July, 12-16 g of superphosphate should be added to the already known components.

The next 2 dressings are carried out at the end of July and mid-August, bringing in a complete set of trace elements and minerals. The last "feeding" is done at the end of summer using a mixture of phosphorus (18-22 g) and potassium (9-12 g).

ATTENTION! Root dressing is applied only after abundant watering.

Pruning phlox

Throughout the growing season, sanitary or cleaning pruning is done, removing dried and diseased parts.

In the fall, a total operation is carried out, preparing the phlox root system for wintering.

Pruning methods

Cleaning of plants from unnecessary organs is done with a garden pruner, removing dry leaves, elongated and deformed shoots, and diseased parts.

Pruning phlox for the winter

In the fall, phloxes begin to gradually dry out and wither, completing the growing season. At this time, they are cut flush with the ground, leaving no stumps. The latter are a base for rest for various pests. The operation can be performed from October, after the cold temperature is established.

IMPORTANT! To prevent attacks of fungi and viruses, the ground around the cut phlox and the remaining base of the stem is treated with fungicides.

Phlox transplant

In general, it is a simple procedure that the flowers tolerate quite painlessly, especially if it is done correctly. A transplant is needed for phloxes that have been growing for a long time in one area, sick and damaged by pests.

Transplant methods

In mature phlox, it is necessary to chop off the lateral roots, thereby rejuvenating the flowers. It is recommended to open the main rhizome, shaking off the soil from it, only in diseased plants. Healthy specimens are transplanted by transshipment, thus moving even flowering ones.

Transplant in the fall

The beginning of autumn is the optimal time for transplanting phlox. A feature of their development is a "cold start" - the roots begin to develop very early, when the rest of the plants are still "sleeping" after winter.

Transplant in spring

Should be done very early - as soon as the frozen soil allows.This is again due to the early awakening of the plant. If you are late in moving, phlox will slow down its development, taking root in a new area.

Reproduction

I want to increase the beauty of phlox all the time by planting more and more of these beautiful plants. Fortunately, the flower reproduces well in a variety of ways.

Reproduction methods

Annual phlox is easiest to propagate by seed. It is recommended to purchase them in the store; only non-hybrid plants are harvested on their own.

Vegetative reproduction is carried out in perennial phlox. You can use the following methods:

• Separation of the bush. In autumn or early spring, a suitable bush is removed from the ground, the roots are freed and divided into several parts. Each specimen obtained must contain several root processes and shoot rudiments. Plants are immediately planted in the soil so that the roots do not dry out.
• Layers. Gently bend any healthy stem to the surface of the soil and bury it. For strong, durable shoots that can break, simply sprinkle with soil as high as possible. Soon, young roots will begin to form on the branches. Subsequently, you need to carefully separate them and plant them.
• Remains of roots. The method is used when transplanting phlox. Before removing the plant from the ground, the side roots must be chopped off and left in the old planting pit, covered with soil. New plants will grow from them during the summer.
• Growing from cuttings. Leaves and stems can be used as planting material. They are harvested during active growth before budding begins. Cuttings should be rooted in a very light substrate consisting of perlite, peat, vermiculite or sand. The mixture is poured into boxes and constantly moistened until young seedlings are transplanted into the ground.
• Root cuttings. A laborious method used only when rescuing plants from stem nematodes. Dig out the affected phlox, cut healthy large roots into pieces, 4-7 cm in size. Place these cuttings in a container with sand and keep in a cold, damp basement. They are transferred to a warm place to stimulate growth at the end of winter, gradually accustoming them to light.

Bloom

When phlox bloom, the garden is colored by a sea of ​​various shades - from snow-white to deep purple. You can choose varieties and species so that flowering can last about six months, starting in May and ending in September.

Flower shape and flowering period

In phlox, tubular flowers end in a wide funnel, diverging into petals. Flowers are collected in a lush spherical inflorescence, there can be about 60-95 of them in each.

The duration of flowering is different for different species and varieties, on average, the process lasts from 16 to 28 days.

Problems, diseases and pests in the flower

Phlox can be attacked by both fungi and viruses. Infections of a viral nature are manifested by deformations of the stems, spots on the leaves and a stop in development. Such diseases are not cured, it is only possible to prevent universal infection by the rapid disposal of the affected flower.

Fungi often cause powdery mildew, septoriasis and phomosis. These diseases can be cured by using fungicides - copper preparations, Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol, Rovral.

Of the harmful insects, various caterpillars, nematodes and slugs should be wary. The most dangerous are nematodes that inhabit the roots. The contaminated soil must be treated with nematicides at least 3 times a season. Actellic, phosphamide, mercaptophos, lindane can be used.

Popular species, varieties

Phloxes are divided into groups according to their appearance.

Groundcover phlox

They differ from others in creeping shoots, covering large areas when growing. The most famous species are phlox subulate, star-shaped, Douglas and snow.

This group blooms earlier than others - already in the month of May.

Loose phlox

A transitional form from carpet flowers to bush flowers, they have undersized woody branches and rather large leaves. Bloom begins 8-16 days after ground cover.

Typically grown hardy Canadian (splayed) phlox. Low lush bushes during flowering are covered with many flowers of lilac and blue shades.

Phlox Drummond

Wonderful annual phlox, actively multiplying by self-seeding. Very persistent and undemanding look. Blooms from June until frost.

Bush forms

Tall perennial phlox with erect stems. Among them, the most beloved are mountain and spotted species, which bloom from mid-summer.

Panicled phlox

The most spectacular and popular perennial, which decorates the garden with round or pyramidal inflorescences, emitting a wonderful aroma. Blooms later than other species.

Differs in a huge assortment of varieties. Among them are very popular "Aurora", "Alyonushka", "Bogatyr", "Snow White", "Viking", "Europe", "Coral" and many others.

Difficulties in growing a plant. Useful Tips

• If you water phlox with ice water in the very heat or overfeed with nitrogen, then you can cause the most common problem of flowers - cracking of their shoots.
• You can cover with mulch from the second half of October! If you mulch earlier, dormant buds will wake up and grow. This will weaken and freeze the plants.

Answers to readers' questions

What is the lifespan of a plant?

Perennial varieties can live for over 5 years, depending on the growing conditions and care.

Why doesn't the flower bloom?

Either the phlox is planted in a heavy, always damp substrate, or it lacks the sun.

Why do the leaves turn yellow and dry?

This problem occurs when the atmosphere is too hot and dry. It is recommended to spray the plant in the evenings.

Flower care in winter.

Preparation for wintering consists in proper feeding with phosphorus and sheltering the plants. Keep in mind that phlox should retire well watered and well fed. Dying stems need to be cut off, and the root system should be covered with mulch.

Phlox are beautiful bright flowers from the cyanotic family, which are very decorative, used in the formation of flower beds. Beautiful plants have advantages, for which gardeners are fond of - unpretentiousness in care, the ability to grow in conditions of different lighting conditions, survival on any soil. Cut phloxes stand for a long time - they can often be found when decorating the interiors of living rooms.

Phlox grows in flower beds for many years, surviving the winter, severe frosts. Breeders have bred many varieties that differ in shades, plant height, endurance, and other indicators. This genus of plants is one of the best in the flowerbed for the duration of flowering, the ability to survive frost.

You can get your own plant by taking out seeds or a stalk. In both ways, it quickly turns out to grow an adult plant, which begins to bloom in the shortest possible time.

Planting phlox in open ground and caring for them

Phlox can be grown on almost any soil - they are unpretentious. But the most ideal ones are loamy. It is recommended to add a little lime to the soil to improve the growing conditions of the plant.

They begin to prepare the site in the fall: they arrange a thorough digging of the earth on it, during which the rhizomes of weeds and pebbles are removed, since in the early years the bushes are weakly opposed to wild vegetation.

They choose the most illuminated areas of the flower beds, since phloxes love the sun. The exception is hybrids, the petals of which can quickly burn out in the sun.

If phlox has dark petal colors, it is better to plant them interspersed with light ones, so that both in the evening and in the afternoon the flowerbed looks as profitable as possible.

How to plant phlox in the ground, we look at the video:

Taking care of phlox is easy. It is necessary to regularly keep the soil loose, remove weeds in time.In order for the flower bed to please with exuberant flowering, fertilizers must be applied periodically.

For paniculate phlox, it does not matter where to grow - in the shade or in the sun. But undersized varieties need more sun. Those and other forms of plants need to be fertilized in time so that they grow quickly and in a timely manner to the desired forms.

Watering should be sufficient, but sparse. The exception is the weeks when it is very hot outside and the air humidity is minimal. Then the soil very quickly loses water, so you need to water the plant more often. This procedure is performed in the afternoon, in the late afternoon.

Some phlox varieties naturally form seeds. But this is not a 100% guarantee. In order for the plant to give seed, the required optimal air temperature, proper growing conditions, and proper care. Therefore, do not worry if there are no seeds - this is quite a frequent occurrence.

Phlox care in autumn

Before winter, all phloxes must be protected from frost by covering them with earth or humus, manure. The recommended layer thickness is 8-12 cm, which is sufficient to protect the underground buds from frost. A mandatory procedure is for young plants 1 year old.

Phloxes that have suffered from fungal diseases need fungicide treatment, which is carried out in October, when most of the shoots have faded.

Often, plants increase the seed, but do not have time to do this before the frost. To obtain seeds, the bushes are removed from the flower bed along with the soil and planted in pots, which are kept in the building until the seeds are fully ripe.

Autumn is a great time for phlox rejuvenation and transplantation, which will be discussed later.

When to transplant phlox

Panicled phlox is a plant that does not require frequent transplanting. It feels comfortable up to 15 years old in one place. But due to the growth of lateral shoots and aging of the center of the plant, it is recommended to do rejuvenation and transplantation at least every 5-7 years.

Than when and how to feed phlox

Phloxes are fed several times per season:

• In the spring, in May, before flowering - with nitrogen and potassium. Potassium nitrate is great.
• In early June, feeding is repeated by adding superphosphate to potassium nitrate, which will stimulate budding and flowering.
• In early July, they feed the third time, reducing the dose of nitrogen.
• At the end of July, they are fed only with phosphorus and potassium salt.
• The last time phloxes are fed in August, and then if they are still in bloom. They use phosphorus and potash fertilizers.

The consumption of each fertilizer is calculated as follows: a matchbox of loose or granular fertilizer (or a mixture thereof) for 10 liters of water. This solution is consumed per square meter.

An excellent fertilizer for phlox is fermented bird droppings, which are applied before the phlox begins to bloom. Introduce 0.5 liters. thick turbulence on a bucket of water and pour 1-2 liters of solution under the bush.

Reproduction of phlox by dividing the bush

Any phlox should be divided into separate bushes so that they develop normally and have a neat appearance. The procedure is carried out at least once every 5-7 years, but it can be done more often - once every 3-4 years. They do not choose a special season for this, the division is carried out at any warm time.

In a circle, the bush is dug in, it is taken out of the soil and the shoots are shortened up to 10-15 cm long. Then, with an ax, a shovel, a knife, they divide the bush into parts with 2-5 renewal buds in each. There is no need to worry about the roots: they are long and developed.

The pits where the plant will sit must be prepared in advance, that is, in the fall they are prepared for spring, and in the spring for summer. The distance between the pits is 60 cm for tall phlox and less for the rest.

The pit is filled with compost (0.5 buckets), mineral fertilizer, ash as a source of potassium. If the pH of the soil is acidic (that is, less than 5-7), you need to pour a glass of lime into each hole.Before planting phlox, all the ingredients in the pit are thoroughly mixed in order to prevent root burns.

Water is poured abundantly into the pit and a seedling is placed. They cover it with a substrate, making sure that the renewal buds are covered with earth only by 5 cm. Then they tamp the earth, adding compost if necessary.

The final planting layer is a mulch made of peat, leaf litter or humus, the thickness of which is 10 cm.This layer is needed to create optimal conditions in the ground and accelerate the rooting of new plants, because they must have time to do this before frost.

Phlox rejuvenation method

There are other ways to rejuvenate plants. They take a narrow pointed shovel, with which they cut out the center of the bush, process the cut site with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and pour humus on top. The resulting section of the plant can be planted in another place or divided.

Reproduction of phlox by cuttings

Reproduction of phlox cuttings photo

Cuttings for propagation are used green, which are harvested when the plant reaches a height of 15 cm. This is the ideal time when the cuttings take root best, and then their vitality decreases throughout the year.

Cutting off young shoots, make sure that the mother plant remains with at least two developed buds. Young cuttings are kept in water for an hour to protect them from wilting during planting and to speed up the rooting process. It is not worth keeping greens in water longer, so as not to cause the opposite process.

• Before setting the stalk in the ground, cut off the peduncle, pinch off the lower leaves, and partially cut off the rest to reduce evaporation.
• The length of an ideal planting stalk is 6-10 cm.

Cutting phlox photos

A mature stalk can be planted in the shade on a flower bed or held on a windowsill. The survival rate of phlox increases when they are covered with wet paper. The stalk is inserted only 2-3 cm deep into the ground, lightly tamping the soil around. Be sure to monitor the moisture content of the soil, you can cover the stalk with a cut plastic bottle and remove the cap from the neck for airing. Rooting occurs 6-14 days after this operation.

Using autumn cuttings for phlox propagation

Autumn cuttings are ideal planting material for phlox propagation. August-September is suitable for harvesting, although before that you can also harvest shoots by rooting them in shady places in the garden. When the plant overwinters on its own, it will bloom profusely in the spring.

It is important to plant the cuttings deeply, placing a large number of buds underground, which will provoke excellent wintering and vigorous growth in the spring.

Growing phlox from seeds

Phlox seeds photo Grow phlox from seeds

Phlox seeds have excellent germination, so they are sown directly into the ground in spring. Many people prefer to sow phlox seeds before winter using seedling boxes. They leave them for the winter in the garden and, at the first warmth, bring them indoors to get early seedlings.

Seeds sprout amicably, so you need to sow them as little as possible to avoid picking. However, for dense crops, it is better to plant the plants in separate cups in order to get powerful seedlings. They are planted in the ground in May, after hardening the plants.

The video will tell you about growing phlox from seeds:

Phlox and powdery mildew What to do if phlox turn yellow

Phloxes are not very susceptible to disease, but powdery mildew is a frequent guest of this plant. It is unpleasant in that the green foliage and flowers are covered with a white unpleasant bloom, which is difficult to get rid of. The peak of the development of the disease occurs in July-August. When damaged, the leaves curl - the plant loses them. It is necessary to immediately begin to fight the disease.

Preventive measures consist in processing flowers in late autumn with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid at a concentration of 1%, and in summer fungicides are also added to the complex, with which the entire flower bed is treated twice a year (foundation, topaz, green soap, fast).

If the disease is actively manifested again, you need to change the therapy and treat the foliage with soda ash at a concentration of: 2 tbsp. l. soda is mixed with 50 g of soap and a bucket of water. Bordeaux liquid (1%), a solution of copper with soap (20-30 g of vitriol and 200-300 g of soap) also work well. But when the plant stops blooming, the diseased and dried residues are removed, after which the phlox is again treated with fungicides.

Phloxes have a pleasant external, noble flowering, therefore they will become a pleasant addition to any garden, without requiring special cares and growing conditions.

Types of phlox with photos and names

Consider the most popular varieties and types of phlox, which are especially in demand in ornamental gardening.

Phlox paniculata or Phlox paniculata

Phlox paniculata or paniculata Phlox paniculata planting and care Variety Apple color photo

The most popular type of plant. Blooms in the last month of summer - early autumn. Differs in large inflorescences, collected from multi-colored fragrant flowers - white, pink, various shades, lilac, purple. The yellow color of the petals is absent. Breeders have bred varieties that have multi-colored stripes on the petals.

The height of the bushes is 0.4-1 m. They are filled with leaves and lush greenery. The bushes themselves can consist of more than 20 shoots, growing as widely as possible.

The flowering time of paniculate phlox is the entire season. The number of varieties, their diversity is so great that you can choose summer and autumn varieties, increasing the total flowering period of the flower bed by several months.

Phlox subulate or subulum Phlox subulata

Phlox subulate or subulata Phlox subulata photo

The herbaceous plant is very short (no more than 15 centimeters), with pale lilac or lilac-pink flowers in the amount of 2-4 pieces per inflorescence. Each stem contains a lot of branches that end in inflorescences. Thus, the phlox of the subulate forms a whole carpet covered with delicate flowers, under which there is a dense soddy bush. Therefore, it is also called sod phlox. Flowering time is May-June.

Phlox subulate White Delight White Delight photo of flowers

The species is distinguished by interesting leathery leaves, which, due to their small width and pointed end, resemble needles.

A subulate phlox is grown as a border flowering plant, used for rabatki, perennial clumps, planted in flower baskets, flowerpots. It can be cut, trying to form an interesting flower arrangement.

Douglas phlox Phlox douglasii

Phlox Douglas Phlox douglasii planting and care photo

The plant is even smaller in height (5 cm), which spreads like a carpet over the surface of the flower bed. It blooms twice a year, which makes it especially popular. The first falls on May-June, and the second falls on the fall. The leaves are gray-green, small in width. It blooms in white, pink, pale lilac and blue.

Creeping ground cover phlox

Phlox ground cover planting and care photo in the garden

Also a small plant that blooms very early. The height is only 15-20 cm. It is characterized by no less strong branching than other similar plants. Flowers are united in umbrellas, of which some individuals may have up to 10. Flowering time - May-June. Possible colors of the petals are pink, purple, red.

Phlox canadensis or splayed Phlox divaricata

Phlox Canadian or splayed Phlox divaricata in the photo, cultivar May Breeze

The plant is already taller, the height of the stem of which is in the range of 15-40 cm. With the increase in size, the plants became larger and the size of the flowers - they are larger than the rest, have a white, lilac color, shades of gray. The diameter of the main inflorescence - the umbrella - is 10 cm. Seeds after flowering, the time of which is May-June, are not formed.

This species is more sensitive to soil composition than others. On peat, acidic forest soils, it will wither, but soils based on humus and various light components will be ideal. You should not add peat, leaves, fresh manure to them.

As already mentioned, paniculata phlox is the most popular species, but this does not mean that other options should not be considered. If you plant low-growing phlox, which bloom early in May-June, it will be an excellent flower bed decoration in spring. The taller species will continue to bloom in late summer and fall.Thus, there will be a blooming carpet on the site all the time, which can be used to decorate an alpine slide and rockery.

The genus of phlox is quite diverse and includes both annual and perennial plant species, as well as creeping and ampelous forms. Varieties of various types of phlox differ in the size and shape of the inflorescences. Also, phlox species have different periods and flowering periods.

Despite the fact that many growers consider phlox to be unpretentious plants, nevertheless, in order for the plants to please with lush flowering throughout the summer, it is necessary to take into account some of the nuances associated with proper care for them.

Growing phlox

Seat selection

The right place for planting and the "right" soil is one of the main ingredients for successful growth and long-lasting flowering. Phlox are light-loving plants, so choose well-lit areas of your garden for planting. In shady areas, plants can also be planted, but in such conditions the inflorescences will not be so lush, and flowering can come much later.

Soil preparation

Phlox are not very demanding plants for the quality of the soil, but it is nevertheless noted that plants develop well on nutritious, loose, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction.

Before planting, in about two weeks, you can cultivate and improve the composition of the soil by applying mineral or organic fertilizers.

Planting phlox in open ground

Plants are planted in pre-prepared planting pits, about 25-30 centimeters deep. The bottom of the pit is covered with a small layer of sand and drainage is laid, after which the root system of the plants is carefully spread over the entire surface of the pit. Phlox can be planted throughout the growing season, but when planted in early spring, flowering may occur two to three weeks later.

It should also be remembered that in the spring a very short planting term is only the first half of May. In autumn, plants are planted in early September, so that young seedlings can adapt to new conditions and have time to take root before the onset of the first frost. In autumn we plant phloxes with stems and leaves, cutting off only the faded top. Phlox planted during this period will definitely bloom next summer.

Phlox can be planted throughout the summer. To do this, the plants are carefully dug out with an earthen clod and, after planting in a new place, are watered very abundantly. It is also necessary to remove all the inflorescences, so that all the forces of the plant are directed to rooting. The distance between plants should be within 50-60 centimeters from each other, while taking into account the size of the planting material and the plant variety.

Phlox paniculata (Phlox paniculata)

Phlox can also be transplanted even in a flowering state, but this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant. Drying of the plant roots should not be allowed, since the plant will take root less well in the new planting site, and in the future its development will slow down significantly. Until the plant takes root, which will take about two to three weeks of time, it is necessary to constantly maintain soil moisture.

Phlox care

Plant care is reduced to regular watering, pest control, timely watering and the introduction of complex fertilizers. Plants need feeding throughout the growing season, 5-7 feeding is carried out per season. Since in the second half of May begins a period of intensive growth and the formation of flower stalks of plants, it is best to use nitrogen-containing fertilizers as top dressing.

The first feeding of phlox with mineral fertilizers can be carried out as soon as the snow melts. Fertilizers can be applied both dry, in the form of granules or powder, and dissolved.

When the formation of buds begins, the plants are fed with potash and phosphorus fertilizers. The sufficient content of potassium in the soil contributes to the bright, rich and lush flowering of phlox.

The last fertilization is carried out after the plant has bloomed and the period of seed boll formation begins. During this period, phosphorus-potassium complex fertilizers are used as fertilizers. It is advisable to apply fertilizers in the evening, after abundant watering or rain.

Phlox are moisture-loving plants and are very sensitive to lack of moisture, so do not forget about regular watering, especially during hot and dry periods. The soil must be shed to the full depth of the root system. Watering is best done early in the morning or late in the evening.

In no case should you water phlox with too cold water on a hot day, this can lead to burns of the plant and cracking of the stem. It is also undesirable for water to fall on the lower leaves when watering.

Mulching is the most reliable and proven way to retain moisture in the soil. For mulching, you can use cut grass, tree bark, neutral peat or humus.

Before the onset of frost, around the second half of October, phlox should be pruned. The base of the bush and the soil around it must be treated with fungicidal preparations.