How to grow perennial phlox from seeds. Proper cultivation of perennial phlox from seeds Phlox with seeds planting and care

Phloxes are unpretentious culture of the Sinyukhvy family, which is distinguished by its ease of care, lush flowering and a variety of shades. Moreover, the flowers also differ in height: there are varieties with long stems and low-growing groundcover species.

Thanks to such diversity, every gardener can feel like a landscape designer, creating unique compositions on their site.

Phlox flowers are small, collected in lush paniculate, pyramidal or cylindrical. Color – white, blue, lilac, purple, scarlet, plain or with inclusions in the form of dots, strokes, eyes. Flowering duration is about a month, early varieties begin to bloom in June, late varieties in August. We’ll look at how to grow phlox from seeds at home below in the article.

Phlox is grown in seedlings in middle lane Russia and more northern regions. It is recommended to sow them for seedlings after March 15th.

Seed preparation

Seeds can be collected with your own hands, or can be purchased at the store. Personal collection has one drawback: when growing plants from seeds collected from hybrids, the characteristics of a particular variety may be lost.

The second option is attractive because there are not only single-color phloxes on sale, but also mixed ones, which makes it possible when planting seed material from one bag get a multi-colored flower bed. To decide what color phlox you would like to plant, you should look at the numerous photos that gardeners post online.

To increase the germination of seeds, soak them in water 3 days before planting. room temperature and place in a warm place.

Selection of soil and container

For phlox the best soil The soil is neutral or slightly acidic. If the acidity of the soil is increased, then it is necessary to add lime to level the pH.

Heavy soil is diluted with sand, and if there is more sand in the soil than necessary, peat is added. To poor soils, not only peat is added, but also manure or compost. You can make the following mixture at home: turf, leaf soil, sand, peat (2: 2: 2: 1).

To disinfect the soil, keep it in the freezer for 1 day or calcinate it in the oven at 200 - 250 degrees.

To plant seeds, you can use regular store-bought plastic containers for seedlings or adapt another low, wide container.

Sowing

Despite the fact that the seeds are large and dense, they should not be deeply buried in the ground - just scatter them over the surface, lightly press them with your palm and spray them with a spray bottle.

After this, the container should be covered with film or glass and placed in a warm, bright place, the best option is a windowsill. The optimal temperature for seed germination is +23 °C, in no case lower.

Care consists of daily airing the container, spraying with water, and carefully removing accumulated condensation from the film/glass. The container should be located on the sunniest windowsill; the second option is supplementary illumination with phytolamps.

In order for the seeds to germinate faster, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Provide high humidity in the room - it is ideal to use a humidifier for this purpose.
2. As soon as the first seeds hatch, watering should be reduced to prevent rotting.
3. As small phloxes grow, the temperature must be gradually reduced and eventually brought to 15 degrees.

When you see that the seed roots are attached to the soil, the cover should be removed. Shoots will appear in 7-10 days.

Picking

When young plants have 2-3 true leaves, they need to be picked. To do this, prepare the required amount plastic cups, in which make holes for drainage.

When there is soil in each cup, it is recommended to spill it with Energen, and then make small holes. Before picking, phloxes need to be watered so that they can be easily removed from the container without the risk of injuring the roots.

Remove plants using any suitable tool and plant 1-2 pieces in cups, deepening to the level of the cotyledon leaves. Next, carefully water along the edge of the pots, without pouring water under the roots of the sprouts.

After transplanting, keep the cups in a shaded place and place them on the windowsill at the end of the day. This technique will help phloxes adapt more easily to their new environment.

After picking, watering should be moderate: phloxes do not like excessive soil moisture. In order not to overdo it with moisturizing, use a spray bottle for this purpose and water only when upper layer the soil will dry out.

To fertilize seedlings, you can use Fertika “Crystallon for garden flowers” ​​(liquid) and Fertika Lux (mineral). Plants need to be fertilized 2-3 times before planting. open ground.

Important! Fertilizing can be done no earlier than 7 days after picking.

When 5 leaves appear, the top of the plant must be pinched in order to subsequently grow lush bushes.

Planting in a flowerbed

Seedlings are planted in flower beds in May with a minimum distance between plants of 15–20 cm for annual phloxes and 0.5 m for perennials. To obtain beautiful flowering, it is very important to correctly determine the planting location.

Phloxes feel great in partial shade, but the shade should not be too strong, otherwise the flowering will be less lush and the stems will become elongated. In the open sun, phlox quickly turns pale and loses its aesthetic appearance. The best place- this is an area next to trees, which in the midday heat will shade the plants with their branches.

Phlox requires soil with a high percentage of humus; you should not plant plants in heavy soil with insufficient drainage, as this will negatively affect the seedlings. The best option is fertile sandy soil without clay, on which, provided there is sufficient watering, powerful, lush bushes grow. Peat, sand and organic fertilizer must be added to loamy soil.

You need to make a small depression in the soil and put compost or vermicompost there (as an alternative - two glasses of ash); before planting, the root system should be straightened in a horizontal plane.

How to care for phlox

At the adaptation stage, while the phloxes have not yet become stronger after transplantation, the soil around them must be periodically loosened, and the soil must be watered once every three days during the first two weeks. Between the rows, it is necessary to organize a layer of mulch from mowed grass to prevent loss of soil moisture and the germination of weeds.

After the first 14 days, when the plants adapt, the soil still needs to be loosened, but less often (about 8 times a season in total). In the 2nd half of the growing season, add hilling during loosening so that the flowers develop a strong root system.

Important! If there is little rain in the summer, you need to water the flowers once every 2-3 days at the rate of 2 liters of water for each plant. It is advisable to mulch the soil with a layer of peat or humus 4 cm thick.

Plants should be watered in the morning or evening, pouring water under the root. The water should be at temperature environment, do not use under any circumstances cold water in the heat - this can lead to cracking of the stems.

For lush flowering, plants should be fertilized regularly. The following compositions are used for this:

You can also use the following feeding scheme:

1. Fertilize the plants with liquid manure for the first time at the end of May, adding 25 g to a bucket of water.
2. The second time - early June. The same solution with the addition of superphosphate or potassium salt.
3. At the beginning of July - again liquid manure without additives.
4. At the end of July, add potassium salt and phosphorus to the solution.

Features of growing perennial phlox

Caring for perennial phlox is practically no different from caring for annuals, but there are still some differences.

1. After planting in a flowerbed, the soil must be mulched with humus or peat.
2. Perennial phloxes are often sown in open ground, bypassing the stage of growing seedlings.
3. Annual phloxes need 3-4 feedings per season, and perennials - 5.

With proper care, perennial phlox grows up to seven years in one place without losing its decorative qualities.

Diseases and pests of phlox

Some phlox diseases cannot be treated, and therefore the bush in such cases is dug up and destroyed. These diseases include variegation, in which the leaves of the plant are covered with an unnatural pattern. The same should be done when powdery mildew, which appears in the form white plaque on the stem and foliage.

Fomoz – fungal disease, which leads to drying of the leaves and brittleness of the stems. Prevention consists of spraying colloidal sulfur on plants - this procedure should be carried out at an air temperature of at least 18 degrees.

Septoria - is expressed in dark brown specks on the leaf blades, which gradually increase in size. Plants and the soil around them must be sprayed Bordeaux mixture, and after two weeks do it again.

Phloxes are susceptible to “attacks” by naked slugs, which eat all parts of the plant. If you regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds, then slugs will not be able to get to the flowers, but if this does happen, then the ground should be periodically sprinkled with ash or fluffy lime.

If affected by a nematode (a worm that feeds on plant juices), the bush should be dug up and burned, and the soil should be treated 3 times with nematicides with a break between treatments of 20 days.

Phlox transplantation

If a perennial bush has grown too much and has lost its decorative qualities, then it needs to be replanted. Better time for this – from mid-August to early December.

Dig up the plant and divide the root system into several parts, removing the central part, which ages faster than others. Plant the resulting divisions, spreading the roots horizontally and sprinkle with soil in a layer of no more than 5 cm and mulch the soil with humus (peat).

If autumn is not rainy, then the plants will need abundant watering - 3 liters of water every 3 days. After watering, lightly loosen the soil to allow air to reach the roots.

Pruning phlox

Experts say that pruning phlox for the winter protects them from pests and diseases. The cutting time depends on the flower variety and region. Early varieties phloxes whose flowering ends earlier are pruned at the end of September, and late ones - in October.

The best solution is to cut all stems low, leaving 1-2 cm above the soil level. Some gardeners leave “stumps” 8-10 cm long, but practice shows that in the spring weaker shoots appear from them, which bloom worse.

After pruning, the soil should be mulched with horse manure or peat (for 1 bush - 2/3 of a bucket).

Annual phloxes may bloom again in the spring, but the blooms will be poor. Therefore, the best option is to collect the seeds, cut off the dried stems and dig up the ground, removing the rhizomes from it. In spring, you can sow the seeds and again enjoy the gorgeous view of the flower beds.

• Type: blue
• Flowering period: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Height: 10-150cm
• Color: white, pink, red, blue, crimson, purple
• perennial
• Winters
• Sun-loving
• Moisture-loving

Phlox is a genus of flowers that includes more than 70 species, of which about 30 species are wild, 40 are cultivated. There are up to 400 varieties and hybrids. Certain types of phlox during the flowering period resemble tall tongues of bright scarlet flame. That is why Carl Linnaeus gave the plant genus a name, which translated from Greek means “fire.” Homeland of phlox - North America. Of all the plants of this genus, only one wild species grows in Russia. Phlox are moisture-loving and quite demanding on soil. They need special conditions growing. What are phloxes, planting and caring for them?

Almost all types of phlox are perennial. Of all the species diversity, only one is an annual. Plants of this genus have erect or creeping stems. Height can reach 10-150 cm.

Five-petalled flowers are collected in inflorescences at the ends of the shoots. The number reaches 90. The color of the petals is extremely varied: white, crimson, dark red, purple, with streaks and dots. The fruit is a capsule with seeds, the number of which varies from 70 to 550 depending on the type.

Except for the annual Phlox Drummond, all plants of this genus are perennial.

Phlox ground cover - flower garden decoration

These are creeping plants that are the first to bloom in the garden. Flowers appear on them in mid-May. Phlox awl-shaped is very popular. It is named so for its small oblong leaves, which look like an awl. The plant loves the sun. When planting it, it is important to choose a place that is not too waterlogged so that the root system does not rot. When the awl-shaped phlox fades, it should be cut back by a third. It stimulates growth and more abundant flowering next year. In winter, the subulate phlox needs to be covered. Dry foliage is good for this. Awl-shaped phlox is ideal for decorating rocky hills.

Gardeners also love other varieties of ground cover phlox - lovely, forked, Douglas, Rugelli. They bloom at the end of May and are perfect for decorating flower beds. The color of Rughelli phlox flowers is very interesting - purple-blue. The peculiarity of the lovely phlox is its undemandingness to soils. They can be used to decorate retaining walls and the foot of stairs. The best time to plant ground cover phlox is spring.

Awl-shaped phlox can have any flower color - from white with various shades to purple

Loose-grass varieties - beautiful and unpretentious

They bloom after ground cover. Among loose-grass varieties, the most popular is splayed (Canadian). Gardeners love it for its unpretentiousness. The wild species blooms luxuriantly with blue flowers with an intoxicating aroma similar to violet. Under favorable weather conditions, the spreading phlox becomes covered with flowers at the end of May and blooms for about a month. If the season is dry, then the plants fade much faster. The color of the flowers of cultivated varieties varies from white to violet and lilac. When planting splayed phlox, you need to constantly ensure that it is not overgrown with weeds.

Among the loose-grass varieties, stoloniferous phlox is also very beautiful. It is widely used in landscape design, since this species grows quickly and covers the area with a luxurious carpet. Blooms white, pink, blue flowers. Another pleasant property for gardeners is its low light requirement. Stoloniferous phlox feels great in shaded areas. It can be planted under trees. The plant tolerates dampness well.

The flowers of the stoloniferous phlox are extremely beautiful. The raspberry-pink color is especially interesting

Bush phlox - for moist shaded areas

Bush varieties can be low-growing (up to 1 m) and tall (more than 1 m). Among the low-growing ones, Carolina phlox is popular. Domestic gardeners prefer two varieties - “Bill Baker” and “Mrs. Lingard”. The first one is similar in appearance to Canadian phlox. The color of its petals is pink. The second is the tallest among low-growing varieties (up to 110 cm). Petals white. In Russia, these varieties take root well because they develop normally in acidic soils.

Of the tall ones bush varieties special attention Arends' phloxes deserve. They bloom early and delight the eye with fragrant flowers for a long time. They are planted densely, because The plant stems are weak and can be damaged by bad weather. The peculiarity of the variety is that after pruning they are able to bloom again. To do this, the shoots are pruned immediately after the first flowering.

Two more types of bush phlox are of interest to gardeners - spotted and paniculate. They are quite widespread. Phlox spotted got its name for the original color of its flowers. They are covered with purple streaks and spots. The variety can be planted in semi-shaded areas. Spotted phlox is often used to decorate the area around ponds and the base of trees. The most popular varieties are “Rosalind”, “Omega”, “Alpha”, “Delta”, “White Pyramid”, “Natasha”. The advantage of paniculate phlox over spotted phlox is stronger stems.

You can learn more about the variety of phlox from the video:

"Fire flower" in landscape design

Phloxes look great both in single plantings and as part of compositions. Subulate phlox look luxurious on the alpine slides. They are used to plant flower beds and frame lawns to give a more colorful look. Paniculate phloxes are an ideal decor for unsightly objects. For example, they can be used to disguise old borders. In lushly flowering bushes, water tanks or other unpresentable, but very necessary items on the site will be invisible.

Phlox compositions are used to model garden space. They are well suited for dividing it into zones. On the landscape terrace, these plants are placed on the second tier. Thanks to this solution it is possible to achieve beautiful view terraces, no matter what plants are placed on adjacent tiers. A good option– planting a bright lawn. If instead of grass the area is planted with phlox, it will resemble a chic colorful carpet. Medium-sized phlox decorate the edges of garden paths.

Phloxes are well suited for decorating the banks of reservoirs on the site

We are looking for “good neighbors in the garden”

Phloxes are beautiful on their own, so they can be planted separately. But many gardeners consider these flowers to be rustic and prefer to group them with other types of plants. Perhaps this opinion is not entirely fair, but it still wouldn’t hurt to “dilute” the phloxes.

One of the most advantageous options is planting phlox against a background of silvery conifers. Also good idea– plant low-growing plants next to the phloxes, for example. They will cover the lower part of the taller “fire flowers”, and the composition will look complete.

Some gardeners create compositions from phlox and roses. The idea is controversial, since both types look chic on their own, and in combination both can lose. But if you choose correctly color scheme, such an experiment can be very successful. Bright roses of rich colors will look good against a background of white or pink phlox.

Design option: a combination of phlox and roses of similar shades, “diluted” with cineraria

How to combine colors when decorating a garden?

When combined different types phlox in one composition, one should remember the golden rules of color harmony. You should not plant flowers of warm and cold colors together. It is also undesirable to combine two or more types of phlox with spotted and variegated petals. Compositions of white phloxes on the background dark colors most often they don’t look very good, because... dark backgrounds “eat up” even very beautiful white flowers. But dark ones against a white background are a completely acceptable option. Groups of the same color, but of different shades, planted sequentially, look aesthetically pleasing.

Multi-colored phlox, planted in groups along the border, zone and decorate the space

Vegetative and seed propagation of phlox

Like most garden plants, phloxes are propagated by seeds, cuttings and division of bushes. For division, choose an adult bush - from 3, and preferably 4-5 years. If you plan to plant phlox in the spring, then the bush can be divided into 15-20 parts, and in the fall it is better to play it safe and reduce the number of new plants to 4-7. This difference exists because in the spring phloxes take root and take root better.

Spring harvesting of cuttings

Phlox cuttings need to be done from May to mid-summer. Then the survival rate of bushes will be significantly higher. You can take cuttings from the entire stem of the plant. To do this, it is cut into pieces of 2 knots each. It is best to do this on a cloudy day. After harvesting, the cuttings are immediately planted in abundantly watered fertile soil so that they take root.

It is better to prepare the soil for planting cuttings yourself by mixing earth, sand and humus in equal proportions. The planted cuttings are watered regularly. Perfect option– cover them with film. The root system begins to form about a month after planting the plant.

To take cuttings, the stem is cut into several parts, the tops are removed

Features of autumn cuttings

If there is a need to cut phlox “out of season,” then all manipulations should be carried out in cool rooms with a constant temperature. Greenhouses and cellars are suitable for these purposes. In the fall, cuttings cannot be immediately planted in open ground, since they will not survive even the first signs of cold weather. For planting, choose a suitable container or flowerpot in which young plants take root and grow until spring. They can be planted on the site in May, when there is no longer a risk of morning frosts.

If the cuttings are prepared in the fall, they need to be planted in a container

Propagation of flowers by seeds

Growing phlox from seeds is a classic of the “gardening genre.” Seed propagation of plants takes more time than vegetative propagation, but it has an undeniable advantage - high adaptability. Phlox grown from seeds are better adapted to climate and soil conditions. A significant disadvantage of this type of propagation is the possible loss of varietal characteristics. Planting seeds only makes sense if there are no other options or if the amount of planting material more important than conservation characteristics of the variety.

Seeds can be purchased or grown yourself. They are collected during the period of foliage withering. Then the boxes already acquire a brown color, but do not yet have time to crumble. You can plant seeds immediately on the site, or preferably indoors. A mixture of humus, sand and soil is placed in containers, seeds are planted and covered with 1-1.5 cm of soil. In December, the containers are covered with snow, and in mid-March they are transferred to a greenhouse. Young plants are planted in the ground at the end of April. First - in a greenhouse, a month later - on the site.

After planting the seeds, you can place the container in the house on the windowsill

How to prepare the soil and plant phlox

Although plants tolerate semi-shaded areas well, it is better to plant them in well-lit areas: this way the flowering will be more abundant and the plants will take root better. Water should not stagnate. Suitable soil is sandy, loam with peat and humus. Humus from birch leaves and pine needles is very good. Fresh manure must not be introduced.

The soil is loosened, weeds are removed, fertilized with compost, and watered. At spring planting You can plant phlox immediately after the soil freezes. Then there is a high probability that they will bloom this season. In autumn they are planted until mid-October.

Plants are planted at a distance of 35-50 cm from each other. A closer location is only necessary if planting in the form of a bush is planned. Old plants need replanting. If the flowers have become smaller, it’s time to think about rejuvenating the phlox. It is dug up, divided and replanted.

The first signs of plant aging may appear at 3-5 years of age, then it’s time to divide and replant them

What do flowers need for normal development?

Caring for phlox is not much different from caring for others garden plants. They need to be weeded, the soil loosened, and dried shoots trimmed. If a gardener wants to grow a short and voluminous bush, you can periodically pinch it. It should be remembered that pinching delays the flowering period of the plant by about two weeks, or even a month. It is best done in May. The later the manipulation is carried out, the longer the bush does not bloom.

Phloxes equally do not tolerate both excessive soil moisture and drought. In summer they have to be watered. This can be done not only in the morning and evening, but also during the day. The main thing is to pour water under the roots and try not to splash it on the leaves. During hot, dry periods, phlox can be watered twice a day. To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with humus or peat. A layer of 5 cm is sufficient.

Mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil every week, starting from the end of June until the end of summer. The concentration of additives changes: it is gradually increased from 2 g per liter of water to 8 g, after which it is also reduced. Phlox prefer fertilizers with nitrogen and phosphorus. You can add saltpeter to the “diet” (2 g per liter of water). After mid-August, you should not fertilize the plant. It is advisable to cover phloxes for the winter, especially if they have recently been planted.

In order for plants to bloom well, they need to be fed and fertilized.

Caution, danger: powdery mildew and spotting

Phlox often suffers from powdery mildew and spotting. Signs of disease: dots and specks on the leaves, their wrinkling. Diseased leaves should be removed and the plant treated with Bordeaux mixture or analogues. Can be sprayed for prevention. In this case, you should not wait for symptoms of the disease, but treatment should be carried out in the spring.

Plants may be attacked by threadworms or nematodes. To avoid misfortune, you should not plant phlox in areas where strawberries grew. If the plant is already sick, there is only one treatment method - elimination along with a lump of earth and disinfection of the soil with lime.

For preventive and therapeutic spraying, we can recommend the insecticides “Sumi-Alpha”, “Karate”, “Fury”, “Kinmiks”. More details about pest control are described in the video:

Phloxes are wonderful bright flowers from the cyanotic family, which are very decorative, used in the formation of flower beds. Beautiful plants have advantages that make them popular with gardeners - ease of care, the ability to grow in different lighting conditions, and survival in any soil. When cut, phlox last a long time - they can often be found when decorating the interiors of living rooms.

Phlox grow in flower beds for many years, surviving winter and severe frosts. Breeders have developed many varieties that differ in shades, plant height, hardiness, and other indicators. This genus of plants is one of the best in the flowerbed in terms of flowering time and ability to survive frosts.

You can get your own plant by getting seeds or cuttings. Both methods allow you to quickly grow mature plant, which begins to bloom as soon as possible.

Planting phlox in open ground and caring for them

Phlox can be grown in almost any soil - they are unpretentious. But the most ideal ones are loamy ones. 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 carefully dig up the earth on it, during which weed rhizomes and pebbles are removed, since in the first years the bushes have little resistance to wild vegetation.

Choose the most illuminated areas of the flower beds, since phlox love the sun. The exception is hybrids, the petals of which can quickly fade in the sun.

If phloxes have dark petal colors, it is better to plant them mixed with light ones so that the flower bed looks as advantageous as possible both in the evening and during the day.

How to plant phlox in the ground, watch the video:

Caring for phlox is easy. It is necessary to regularly keep the soil loose and remove weeds on time. In order for the flowerbed to delight with lush flowering, it is necessary to periodically apply fertilizers.

For phlox, it does not matter where to grow - in the shade or in the sun. And here low-growing varieties need more sun. These and other forms of plants need to be fertilized in time so that they quickly and promptly grow to the desired forms.

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

Some varieties of phlox form seeds in natural conditions. But this is not a 100% guarantee. In order for a plant to produce seed, it needs optimal temperature air, proper growing conditions, proper care. Therefore, you should not worry if there are no seeds - this is a very common occurrence.

Caring for phlox in autumn

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

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

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

Autumn is an excellent time for rejuvenating phlox and replanting, which will be discussed later.

When to replant phloxes

Paniculate phlox - which does not require frequent transplantation. It feels comfortable in one place for up to 15 years. But due to the growth of side shoots and the aging of the center of the plant, it is recommended to rejuvenate and replant at least every 5-7 years.

What, when and how to feed phlox

Phloxes are fed several times per season:

• In spring, in May, before flowering begins - nitrogen and potassium. Potassium nitrate is perfect.
• In early June, fertilizing is repeated, adding superphosphate to potassium nitrate, which will stimulate budding and flowering.
• At the beginning of July, they are fed a 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 is in August, and only if they are still blooming. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are used.

The consumption of each fertilizer is calculated as follows: Matchbox bulk or granular fertilizer (or mixtures thereof) per 10 liters of water. Use this solution per square meter of area.

An excellent fertilizer for phlox is fermented bird droppings, which is introduced before the phlox begins to flower. Add 0.5 l. thick slush in a bucket of water and pour 1-2 liters of solution under the bush.

Reproduction of phlox by dividing the bush

Any phloxes need to 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. No special season is chosen for this; division is carried out at any warm time.

The bush is dug in a circle, it is taken out of the soil and the shoots are shortened to 10-15 cm long. Next, using an ax, shovel, or knife, 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 holes where the plant will be planted must be prepared in advance, that is, they are prepared in the fall for spring, and in the spring for summer. The distance between the pits is 60 cm for tall phloxes and less for the rest.

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

Water is poured generously into the hole and placed. Cover with substrate, making sure that the renewal buds are covered only 5 cm with soil. Then compact the soil, adding compost if necessary.

The final planting layer is mulch made from peat, leaf litter or humus, the thickness of which is 10 cm. This layer is needed to create optimal conditions in the ground and speed up 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. Take a narrow pointed shovel, use it to cut out the center of the bush, treat the cut area with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and pour humus on top. The resulting piece of plant can be planted in another place or divided.

Propagation of phlox by cuttings photo

Green cuttings are used for propagation, 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.

When cutting young shoots, make sure that mother plant left with at least two developed buds. Young cuttings are left to sit in water for an hour to protect them from withering during planting and to speed up the rooting process. It is not worth keeping the greens in water longer, so as not to cause the reverse process.

• Before planting the cuttings 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 cutting is 6-10 cm.

A mature cutting can be planted in the shade in a flowerbed or kept on a windowsill. The survival rate of phlox increases when covered with wet paper. The cutting is inserted only 2-3 cm deep into the ground, lightly compacting the soil around it. Be sure to monitor the soil moisture; you can cover the cuttings with cut plastic bottle and remove the cap from the neck for ventilation. Rooting occurs 6-14 days after this operation.

Using autumn cuttings to propagate phlox

Autumn - perfect planting material for propagation of phlox. 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 have excellent germination, so they are sown directly into the ground in the spring. Many people prefer to sow phlox seeds before winter using seedling boxes. They are left in the garden for the winter and at the first warm weather they are brought indoors to get early seedlings.

They sprout together, so they need to be sown as rarely as possible to avoid picking. However, with dense crops, it is better to plant the plants in separate cups to obtain powerful seedlings. They are planted in the ground in May, having previously hardened the plants.

This video will tell you about growing phlox from seeds:

Phlox and powdery mildew What to do if phlox turns yellow

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

Preventive measures consist of treatment late autumn flowers copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture at a concentration of 1%, and in the summer fungicides are also added to the complex, which are used to treat the entire flowerbed twice a year (foundazol, topaz, green soap, quick).

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

Phlox have a pleasant appearance, noble flowering, so they will be a pleasant addition to any garden, without requiring special care and growing conditions.

Types of phlox with photos and names

Let's consider the most popular varieties and types of phlox, which are especially in demand in ornamental gardening.

Phlox paniculata

The most popular type of plant. It blooms in the last month of summer - early autumn. It is distinguished by large inflorescences collected from multi-colored fragrant flowers - white, pink of various shades, lilac, purple. Yellow there are no petals. Breeders have developed varieties that have colorful 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 and their diversity are 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 Phlox subulata

The herbaceous plant is distinguished by its very low growth (no more than 15 centimeters), with soft lilac or lilac-pink flowers in the amount of 2-4 pieces per inflorescence. Each stem contains many branches that end in inflorescences. Thus, phlox subulata forms a whole carpet, covered delicate flowers, under which there is a dense turfy bush. Therefore, it is also called turf phlox. Flowering time is May-June.

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

Subulate phlox is grown as a border flowering plant, used for ridges, perennial clumps, planted in flower baskets, flowerpots. You can cut it, trying to shape it flower arrangement interesting shape.

Phlox douglasii

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 occurs in May-June, and the second in autumn. The leaves have a gray green color, small width. Blooms in white, pink, soft purple and blue.

Phlox creeping ground cover

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. The flowers are combined into umbrellas, of which individual individuals can have up to 10. Flowering time is May-June. Possible colors of petals are pink, purple, red.

Phlox divaricata

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

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

As already mentioned, paniculate phlox is the most popular type, but this does not mean that other options should not be considered. If you plant low-growing phloxes that bloom early in May-June, this will be an excellent flowerbed decoration in the spring. And taller species will continue to bloom in late summer and autumn. Thus, on the site there will always be blooming carpet which can be used for decoration alpine slide and rockery.

Bright phloxes are often found in city flower beds, as well as in areas near dachas. They are grown on balconies and placed in school flower beds. Such popularity is completely unsurprising. The name of this plant is translated from Greek as fire.

Phlox are able to bloom for a long time, they give owners a pleasant aroma and treat any weather vagaries with calm. These flowers are most often propagated vegetatively, by dividing bushes or by cuttings. However, it is possible to produce them from seeds. In most cases, seed division is used when growing annual varieties of this plant, however, perennials can also be grown in this way.

Seed preparation

Collect phlox seeds. Before this, it is necessary to determine the degree of their maturity. on their appearance This is not particularly reflected, because they are located inside the boxes. If you miss the moment of ripening, the seeds may scatter from the ripened boxes, and you won’t even notice it. If you collect seeds that are not ripe enough, they will not be able to ripen.

To determine the degree of ripeness, take an awl, carefully drill through one box and examine its contents. It should contain fairly large seeds, green in color and having a dense structure. Planting material can also be purchased at a flower shop.

Seeds of perennial phlox quickly lose their viability, which is why you should not wait until spring to plant them. Please note that full development of plants is possible only after the seeds are frozen, so planting should be done soon after collecting them.

Soil preparation and site selection

Determine a place on your site where the plant can grow quietly for several years. Remember that phlox loves sunny areas and semi-shaded areas. Do not plant them in swampy lowlands or under dense tree canopy.

Prepare the soil thoroughly for planting. It should be loose and nutritious, since on such soil phlox will grow well, and their flowering will not only be long-lasting, but also very lush. These plants do not do well in soils with high content sand, they do not like heavy soils with strong acidity. You are unlikely to be able to achieve seedlings in such places. Flowerbeds or beds should be prepared before the first frost.

Planting seeds

It is worth sowing seeds in late autumn-early spring. This process can also be carried out in January. You should not postpone this process to February, and even less so to March, since such crops most likely will not sprout. If there is snow on the beds, simply shovel it to the side.

Place the prepared seeds on the frozen area of ​​your flower garden, placing them four to five centimeters from each other. Sprinkle them with a small amount of ordinary garden soil on top. You can prepare it in advance and store it in a fairly warm room without letting it freeze. The optimal soil can be selected in gardening stores, where it is sold throughout the year.

The layer of soil does not need to be made continuous, just sprinkle some seeds. Place snow on top of the bed and leave it until spring. Thus, you will get almost one hundred percent spring germination, while half of the plants should also bloom.
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Home cultivation

If you plant seeds perennial phlox at home, it is worth subjecting them to artificial stratification. First, place the container with the sown seeds in a room with room temperature, then after fifteen to twenty days, move them to the cold (from minus two to plus four degrees) and leave for fifteen to twenty days.

Then place the container with the seeds near the window and put a screen away from the room and heating appliances, so that the temperature around it does not rise above twelve degrees. If phloxes were planted in February, then in April you can take the container with them out into the garden, covering it with agrospan or plastic film. Plants germinate best between five and twelve degrees.

After two or three pairs of true leaves appear on the flower, transfer them to the main place of growth, keeping an interval of twenty centimeters between them.

Care

The main care for phloxes is systematic weeding, loosening the soil, watering and fertilizing. Small plants can be mulched between them with mowed grass. Thanks to this, the soil remains soft longer and retains moisture, and weeds do not grow on it.

On hot and dry days, phlox should be watered, at the same time they may suffer from powdery mildew. For this reason, the plant must be sprayed with fungicides, otherwise it may die.

After the flower has grown stronger above the fifth pair of leaves, a clothespin is made. This procedure helps phlox tillering. The flowering of these plants lasts from mid-summer until the end of September. It is important to promptly remove faded inflorescences. Once every three to four years it is worth dividing the rhizomes, best time for this – early spring or September.

For the winter, the plant needs to be pruned, mulching the roots with dry peat or plant debris.

Phloxes are able to grow over a fairly significant area, forming a bright, beautiful carpet during the flowering period.

Bright phloxes are sown on summer cottages and city flower beds, in school flower beds and on balconies. Their name is translated from Greek as “fire”. Phlox bloom for a long time, smell pleasant and calmly tolerate any vagaries of weather. Perennial plants propagate mainly by cuttings or dividing the bush. But they can also be grown from seeds. Annual varieties They reproduce mainly by seeds.

You will need
- phlox seeds;
— garden tools;
- a plot of land;
- film;
- unfrozen ground;
- watering can.
Instructions
1. Before collecting phlox seeds, determine whether they are ripe. To do this, drill one of the seed boxes with an awl and evaluate their appearance. They should be large and dense, have different shades Green colour. The seeds of these flowers can also be purchased at flower shops.
2. Seeds of perennial phlox quickly lose their viability, and therefore you cannot wait until spring. In addition, for normal plant development, the planting material must freeze. Start preparing for planting immediately after harvest. Choose a site where the flowers can grow for several years. Keep in mind that phlox does not do well in shaded areas and in swampy lowlands. Therefore, they cannot be sown under dense tree crowns.
3. Prepare the soil. It should be nutritious and loose. This will ensure long and lush flowering. There shouldn't be any in the ground large quantity sand, phlox and heavy acidic soils do not like. On such lands, seedlings most likely will not appear. The bed or flower bed must be prepared before the first frost.
4. It is best to sow perennial phlox in November or December. The deadline is January, but not later. The closer the sowing is to spring, the less likely it is that the seeds will sprout. Snow shouldn't scare you, just clear the garden bed of it.
5. Place the seeds on the frozen surface of the flowerbed. The optimal distance is 5-6 cm from each other. Sprinkle a thin layer of regular garden soil on top. It can be prepared in advance or purchased at a gardening store. It is not necessary to make a continuous layer, just sprinkle the seeds. Cover the bed with snow and wait for spring. When using this method, almost all the seeds germinate in the spring and most of the plants bloom.
6. When growing annual phlox, prepare the bed in the same way as for perennial plants. You can do this both in spring and autumn. Scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil at a distance of 3-4 cm. Water them with a watering can and cover with plastic wrap. There is no need to sprinkle soil. Every day, remove the film for a short time to allow the plants to breathe a little, and shake off the condensation from it. After the seeds germinate, the film is completely removed.