Planting seeds and caring for phlox

Advantages and disadvantages of growing phlox seeds

Phlox are unpretentious flowers that are easy and simple to germinate from seeds. Experienced flower growers, taking into account the peculiarities of the culture, are engaged in sowing immediately in open ground.

To do this, they calculate the successful days for landing according to the lunar calendar, clarify the weather forecast, follow folk signs. On the one hand, it adds to the hassle. After all, seedlings, which were prepared in advance at home, quickly take root not only on the growing moon.

The positive aspects of the seedling method include:

1. Exact result. The number of seedlings will be known a few weeks after the seed is sown;
2. If necessary, you can purchase material for planting;
3. You can combine several types and arrange them according to the created pattern;
4. Seedlings are planted in the ground already processed and fed.

Of the minuses, there is only one point: for a long time it is necessary to observe the growing seedling in order not to miss the moments of care and germination.

Place for phlox

In the wild, phloxes grow on organic-rich and well-hydrated soils: forest edges, floodplain meadows. Varietal plants do not differ in soil selectivity. For them, in a garden or flower garden, places with fertile loose soil are prepared, mixing peat and sand into it. To reduce the time for watering, and phloxes need to be watered often, places with close groundwater are chosen for flower beds. Phlox is also planted in a shaded place.

Advice! Choosing a shaded part of the site for planting phlox, you do not need to stop choosing places under fruit trees or next to shrubs. Flowers don't like this neighborhood.

Growing perennial phlox from seeds. Growing perennial phlox from seeds

Perennial phloxes are planted with seeds, usually for the purpose of obtaining a large number of plants, for example, to create borders, dividing lines in the garden.

You can buy seeds in the store or collect seed boxes in the garden yourself in the fall.

Note! Phlox from seeds, with proper care, bloom in the second year. Just be sure to cover them for the winter !. Phlox seeds can be sown before winter in open ground or in late winter-early spring for seedlings

Phlox seeds can be sown before winter in open ground or in late winter and early spring for seedlings.

Sowing in autumn in open ground

If you are going to sow phlox seeds directly to the beds in late autumn (October-November), then it is very convenient to do this in plastic rings that can be cut out of plastic 5 liter bottles. According to the sowing rules before winter, it is necessary to sow only on frozen soil and cover it with dry soil without watering.

Advice! It is advisable to increase the sowing rate in winter compared to sowing seeds in containers.

Sowing in spring for seedlings

It is convenient to sow phlox at home in disposable containers with a lid, in which drainage holes must be made.

You can take the most common universal soil for growing seedlings, preferably with vermicompost. The soil should be fertile and loose.

Step-by-step instructions for sowing perennial phlox seeds:

1. Place about half of the soil in containers. Level well.
2. Spill the soil before planting with a solution to decontaminate it.
3. Spread the seeds neatly and evenly over the surface. Seedlings of perennial phlox are not small, they are convenient to sow.
4. Sprinkle some soil on top.
5. Cover the container with a lid or spunbond.
6. Now you will need to put the container with crops in fresh air under the snow, as close to the ground as possible (it is best to put it on a board or plywood so that there is a flat surface). In such conditions, the most acceptable temperature for the germination of phlox seeds is kept. Thus, they will undergo natural stratification.

If you do not have the opportunity to bring containers with crops to the garden (for example, you live in an apartment, and you cannot get to the dacha in winter), then you can use another method of growing phlox from seeds.

Pre-soaked seeds are kept for 2 weeks at a temperature of + 18-22 C degrees. Then it is mixed with sand and removed for stratification in the refrigerator for 6 or more weeks before the seeds are hatched. After that, they are planted in containers to a depth of 1 cm and grown at home at a temperature of + 17-25 C degrees.

Planting in open ground and further care for perennial phlox

When phlox seedlings have 5-6 true leaves, they should be planted in open ground. Usually this period comes around in May, the frost will just pass, and the seedlings will no longer be threatened.

It is advisable to choose a place that is sunny or with light partial shade.

The soil for the normal development of a flower requires loose and fertile, rich in organic matter. If your soil is too heavy, add sand, peat, or any other soil loosener to it.

Further care for phlox consists in regular watering as the soil dries up, loosening and weeding from weeds, as well as timely feeding.

Advice! If you want to achieve better tillering (branching), then pinch over 4-5 pairs of leaves.

It is especially important to water it frequently on hot and dry summer days, otherwise the flowering will not be so plentiful and intense. It is important not to overflow the flower, since the plant does not tolerate stagnant water, it can simply rot

It is important not to overflow the flower, since the plant does not tolerate stagnant water well, it can simply rot. Worth knowing! It is advisable to replant phloxes every 4-6 years to a new place.

Worth knowing! It is advisable to replant phloxes every 4-6 years to a new place.

Ways to propagate phlox

Reproduction of ornamental bushes is carried out in several ways: by dividing, by seeds, shoots, layering and cuttings. It can be cut with stems and flowers, roots in the spring, summer and autumn. Each summer resident chooses the option that is most convenient for himself. Knowledge of the reproduction of phlox allows you to make a bright flower bed on your personal plot without much effort.

Reproduction of phlox by division

The reproduction process of phlox by dividing a bush involves digging up an adult plant, and disassembling its roots into parts. This can be done in early spring or after flowering in the fall. To successfully complete the procedure, you must:

Remove the bush from the soil.
Clear its roots from the ground.
Carefully untangle the roots so that each fragment has a shoot or a growth bud.
Plant the received "delenki" in the pre-prepared landing holes.

You can do differently when dividing an old bush. Cut it in two directly in the ground. Leave one, get the other. Fill the vacated space with soil, and divide the excavated part and plant in new places.

Attention! If there is no bud on the separated root, the plant will die.

When multiplying in summer, phloxes take root worse.

How phloxes reproduce by seeds

Perennial phlox seeds can ripen on the roots. Therefore, in order to prevent self-seeding, they must be removed in time. Seeds are harvested in the fall, when the capsule turns brown. Sowing in the beds is carried out from the end of September to November, and the transplant to a permanent place is carried out in mid-May.

Comment! Seed-propagated phlox plants grow better and adapt to local conditions.

Cuttings

When grafting with flowers and stems, twigs are cut from the center and planted in a nutrient soil in a greenhouse to form roots.

When propagated by cuttings in the spring, the stems with leaves are cut off before buds appear. They are placed in a nutrient substrate consisting of perlite, sand, peat and vermiculite. Before planting seedlings in the ground, abundant watering is carried out.

During summer cuttings, stepchildren are planted in the soil. They are formed in July in the depressions of the leaves of the plant.

When propagating in the fall, only the tops of the stems are suitable for cuttings. They are cut so that each has two knots. In this case, the first cut should be immediately under one, and the second - 1 cm higher than the other. Such cuttings are planted in a row at a distance of 6-8 cm from each other. The roots of the shoots appear in about 4 weeks.

Root cuttings are carried out when phloxes are infected with nematodes. In this case, the plant is dug up, large roots are cut into pieces of 5 cm and placed in moistened sand. Store in a cold room until spring.

Advice! In order for the stepchildren of phlox to root better, it is advisable to water them with growth stimulants.

How can phlox be propagated by shoots

When propagating by shoots, the regrowth of long stems can not wait, but perform the procedure with the arrival of spring according to the following scheme:

1. Break off the growth shoots with a "heel" at the base of the stem.
2. Plant in a greenhouse so that the shoot is well pressed down with earth, but the top is not covered.
3. Water as needed with warm, settled water.
4. Plant in open ground in May or June.

Comment! This method is laborious and not widely used.

No more than 50% of shoots can be broken from one bush

How to propagate perennial phlox by layering

In order to propagate phlox by layering, gardeners perform the following actions:

1. Choose a sturdy stem and bend it to the surface of the ground.
2. Sprinkle with soil on top, tamp.
3. Pour over with heated water.
4. After some time, when young roots appear on the branch, they are carefully separated and planted in a prepared place.

Seed reproduction

Self-obtaining seeds from a flowering plant for its further reproduction will not bring great results. As a result, most of the seeds will simply disappear in the ground, and when they sprout, I will be different from the original. The color will change, the foliage will become nondescript. Or it will die altogether, without even blooming. Seeds are the result of the work of breeders, professionals in their field, who have experience and education in this activity. In addition, special technologies and equipment are needed here.

Thus, astilba seeds are best purchased at retail outlets.

It is worth paying attention to the quality of the goods, since the result directly depends on this. It is not recommended to buy seeds from dubious sellers, advertisers

It is imperative to study the description, find out about the manufacturer. Before you start planting, you need to understand what stratification is, which plays a big role in seed ripening.

Using your own seeds

Of course, if the gardener nevertheless decides to propagate astilbe on his own and grow his own seeds, then this is not critical and possible. The result will not be as bright as when dividing by buds or a bush. The seed collection procedure takes place in September. Collecting seeds on a bush is problematic due to their small grain size. Therefore, it is recommended to cut the inflorescences and spread them in a warm place on paper. After 2 weeks, when the plant dries up, just shake them and the seeds will be on paper. It remains to collect the seeds and store them until spring.

What is stratification?

Many have seen, or have done themselves, such a procedure as wrapping the seeds before planting in a damp cloth and placing them in the refrigerator. This is called stratification, i.e. the process of preparing seeds for germination.To obtain the best result, it is recommended to re-layer the seeds with sand, peat or cotton wool, and then create the required temperature regime. By the way, the concept of stratification literally translates as interlayering. Cold or warm stratification is carried out depending on the climatic zone. Most of Russia is located at latitudes where winter sets in. In this case, before planting, the seeds must be awakened, because they are dormant. To do this, the seeds are soaked and placed in a place with a low temperature, from about 0 to +5 ᵒС. An ordinary household refrigerator would be ideal for keeping a product in such an environment. It should be remembered that before placing the seeds in the refrigerator, you should read the instructions so as not to freeze, since there may be different temperatures on different shelves. The seeds are placed for stratification for up to 6 months.

Planting seeds

During stratification, it is necessary to observe the seeds, as they can hatch ahead of time. Next, there is a planting in pots, which must be kept at a temperature not exceeding 18 - 20 ᵒС. Within 2 to 3 weeks, seedlings will begin to appear in the form of hairy shoots. Depending on the astilba variety, germination times may be different.

When leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in the ground. A piece of land where shade prevails will be optimal. Before freezing, the seedlings are covered with a special material or transplanted into containers that are stored in an unheated room in winter. Seed germination depends not only on knowledge of the process of planting them, but also on proper care and watering. Astilba is capable of blooming more than 2 times a year, but the first color appears only 2 - 3 years after planting. Seeds are the longest way to obtain the long-awaited result, which will delight the eye of a summer resident.

Diseases, pests methods of prevention and control

If powdery mildew appeared on phloxes, it can be treated with a copper-containing preparation.

Diseases that spread on phlox can be of two types: viral and fungal. All viral diseases are somehow characterized by the presence of spotting on the leaves, twisting of the leaf plate or severe deformation. It is impossible to fight viral diseases, but you can prevent their strong spread.

For this you need:

• regularly inspect the landings;
• if infected leaves are found, they should be immediately removed and burned;
• always have a clean tool for working the soil;
• check the soil for the presence of nematodes in it and, if detected, take the necessary measures to destroy them.

Of the fungal diseases, there are such as:

1. Phimosis. Phlox leaves sharply turn yellow, and then they begin to curl. This happens most often during the period of bud formation. Bordeaux liquid will help get rid of this disease, with which the plant should be treated, and when autumn comes, the plants should be cut as much as possible.
2. Powdery mildew. In early August, phlox has a white coating on the leaves, similar to a cobweb. Any copper-containing drug (copper oxychloride or Bordeaux liquid) will help in this case. The disease can be provoked by high humidity, high planting density and proximity to asters, forget-me-nots, acacia and other plants that can transmit this disease.
3. Rust. Rusty brown spots appear in June. If the disease is not eliminated in time, it can cover the entire surface of the leaf plate. The main way to eliminate the disease is to remove the affected plant parts and then burn them. It is advisable to treat the ground around the flower with a copper-containing preparation.
4. Septoria. This disease begins with the appearance of spots on the leaves, and then the phloxes begin to dry. White phloxes are less susceptible to this disease. Control measures for this disease are the same as for rust.

Of the pests on phlox, you can find:

• nematode;
• slobbering penny;
• naked slugs;
• caterpillars of various butterflies.

The drug Inta vir, well destroys the larvae of the slobbering penny.

Nematodes from the ground fall into the roots of phlox, then gradually come to the stems, which greatly affects the growth and development of the plant. The plant can easily die if it is affected by a nematode. This pest should be dealt with radically, completely digging out phlox bushes and burning them. The land should be treated with special preparations against nematodes.

The slobbery pennychid larvae suck the juices from the leaves of the plant, which subsequently threatens them with wrinkling and curling. The drug Inta vir will help to cope with this pest. If the plant was not very badly affected, it is possible to do without chemicals by cutting off the affected leaves by hand.

Slugs feed on plant pulp. In order to prevent harm from slugs, it is necessary to remove weeds in time and sprinkle metaldehyde granules at the rate of 30 g per 10 square meters.

Caterpillars of butterflies eat the leaves of flowers. to eliminate any caterpillars, it is better to use a drug that is designed to combat leaf-eating pests. It is very difficult to assemble caterpillars by hand, as they are barely visible on the plant.

Division of phlox bushes in spring

The division of phlox bushes is the simplest and most affordable way for every amateur grower to reproduce a perennial flower. It has been successfully used for centuries. Reproduction of phlox by division in spring allows you to preserve all the properties of the parent specimen.

They try to carry out the spring division of phlox as early as possible, without waiting for the outgrowth of the shoots (April - early May). At this time, you can get the maximum number of landing units. Small parcels planted in spring will delight you with lush inflorescences by autumn.

With the autumn division of phlox, the parts should be larger, consisting of at least two to three faded shoots, on which there will be at least five formed buds of renewal (vegetative eyes). The plant intended for division is dug out by the end of flowering (late August - early September), when the buds are clearly visible. Do not forget that it is impossible to delay planting phlox in the fall. Planting late in the fall often results in waste. It is better to divide the bush in cloudy weather.

It is necessary to dig out the plant carefully, trying not to damage the organs of renewal (buds or growing shoots)

A lot of soil remains on the dug rhizome, which is carefully shaken off or washed off by dipping into a bucket (you can use a directed stream of water). After that, parts of the bush usually separate themselves or give in to division with light pressure.

It is more convenient to first divide old or very large rhizomes into two or three parts, then finally divide into smaller ones. It is recommended to sprinkle the cuts with crushed coal.

If the division of the bush is carried out at the end of summer, the vegetative shoots are shortened so that some of the green leaves remain on them, and they must be watered. You should not completely cut off the shoots right away, as this will cause the germination of the renewal organs, which may have a bad effect on the plant as a whole, that is, on its preparation for winter and flowering next season.

The sooner the split phlox is planted, the faster it takes root. Planted phloxes must be watered well. If the planting material is not supposed to be planted immediately, it can be stored for some time in a cool place by wrapping the roots with slightly damp sphagnum and placing in a plastic bag.

In the spring, after dividing the bush, broken off growth shoots very often remain. They can be planted on a separate bed, slightly shading for a while. They take root easily and, as a rule, bloom by the end of summer.

Phlox transplant in spring

During the spring transplant, there is a high probability of harming the dug out plant. After winter, it begins to develop even before the snow melts; by the time of transplantation, there are tender young shoots of the root system on it, which are easily injured. Nevertheless, spring is the most popular time for transplanting among residents of central Russia. As many years of experience show, the most suitable time for a spring transplant of phlox is late April-early May.

Important! With a spring transplant, phlox bloom 2 weeks later than usual. The technology of spring transplanting flowers does not differ from the autumn one

Unless only the fact that the land at the planting site can be fertilized with nitrogen-containing fertilizers - they stimulate growth

The technology of spring transplanting flowers does not differ from the autumn one. Unless only by the fact that the soil at the planting site can be fertilized with nitrogen-containing fertilizers - they stimulate growth.

Phlox transplant in spring

Growing perennial phlox from seeds

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To grow phlox, you need to acquire planting material, but before collecting the seeds of perennial phlox, you should make sure that they are ready for assembly. It is very simple to do this - you need to see how open the so-called box is. If it opens slightly, this is a sure signal that you can start collecting seedlings.

It is important to do this on time, otherwise the seeds may fall out and get lost in the ground. When they reach maturity, they acquire a brownish-greenish tint.

If it is not possible to independently collect planting material, you can always buy it.

With prolonged storage, especially under unacceptable conditions, the seeds lose their ability to germinate. In order not to plant them empty, it is advisable to pre-stratify the seedlings. In other words, germinate them. How to grow perennial phlox from seeds? The planting material is immersed in moist sand-based soil, not deep, literally 0.5-1 cm. All the time the seeds are in such conditions, they must be watered abundantly, but only by spraying water, and not letting it in a jet. After two to three weeks, the seeds, already in a germinated form, are planted directly into the ground. They are there until they acquire full-fledged sprouts. It is advisable to cover the container with seedlings with a film or glass surface.

Further, young plants can either be transplanted into open ground, or wait until they turn into seedlings. The first option is fraught with the fact that the sprouts may die after changing the place and habitat, but at the same time, some growers agree that in this way the plant is tempered on the contrary. The truth is somewhere in between. Experts recommend planting material taken from their own plants to be planted in the ground, and purchased material for seedlings. In the second case, young phloxes will sooner bloom (if phloxes do not bloom, read our article). How to grow phlox from seeds at home for seedlings?

The algorithm is as follows:

• the plants are kept under the film, which is periodically removed, and the condensate is removed;
• the soil is often wetted;
• after half a month, a picking of seedlings occurs;
• seemingly fragile sprouts are protected from direct sunlight;
• after a dive, a dim, diffused light is provided;
• in May, the seedlings move to a permanent place.

Phlox breeding methods

Reproduction of phlox can occur in several ways:

• dividing the bush;
• stem cuttings;
• leaf cuttings;
• layering;
• seed.

The division of the bush is carried out in autumn or early spring. The bush that has been selected for propagation is dug up and the root system is neatly divided. This must be done in such a way that in each part of the divided bush there is at least one sand and the rudiment of a shoot. Drying of the root system should be avoided during the process.It is best to propagate bushes that have reached the age of five.

Stem cuttings are detached from the plant before bud formation. The stalk must carry two internodes. the lower cut should be done near the node, and the upper cut 2 centimeters from the second internode. Then they should be planted in special boxes, in which the upper part of the soil is sandy (3 cm layer). the distance is 5 cm, and the rows are 10 cm. The boxes are placed in the greenhouse, watering should be organized three times a day. After three weeks, they need to be transplanted into the ground, observing a distance of 20 cm.

Phlox cuttings can be propagated in two ways

Leaf cuttings are prepared in June in such a way that there is a leaf and a bud on it. Further, the planting of cuttings is similar to the previous method, only the bud and part of the leaf, which should be located diagonally to the surface, is sprinkled with sand. Instead of watering, spraying is applied several times a day. Further transplantation into open ground is possible after the cuttings take root.

It is easiest to propagate by layering, since it requires a minimum amount of effort and time. To do this, you just need to cover the flower with earth, as high as possible. After some time, it will be noticeable that the stems have taken root and they can be separated and transplanted to a new place.

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Seed propagation does not preserve the morphological characteristics of the parent plant. In order to get flowers from seeds, you should adhere to the following system of actions:

• clear ripe seeds from bolls;
• select seeds and leave those with the darkest color;
• in the fall, they need to be sown in the open ground or in boxes, which must be left on the site for the winter;
• shoots appear in spring;
• after the young plants are 10 cm high, they can be replanted.