Perennial phlox from seeds: cultivation. How to grow perennial phlox from seeds? Phlox from seeds

• 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.” The homeland of phlox is 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 growing conditions. 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. This stimulates growth and more abundant flowering the following 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. Best time for planting ground cover phlox - 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. Wild species blooms luxuriantly 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 requirements. 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 highest among low-growing varieties(up to 110 cm). Petals white. In Russia, these varieties take root well because they develop normally in acidic soils.

From tall 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– “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 phloxes look luxurious on alpine roller coaster. They are used to plant flower beds and frame lawns to give a more colorful look. Paniculate phlox – perfect decor for unsightly items. 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 a 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 is to plant 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'll cover bottom part higher “fiery colors”, 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 background“eats” even very beautiful white flowers. But dark ones against a white background are a completely acceptable option. Groups of the same color look aesthetically pleasing, but different shades, planted sequentially.

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 a well-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 autumn, cuttings cannot be planted immediately 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 undeniable advantage– high adaptability. Phlox grown from seeds are better adapted to climate and soil conditions. Significant disadvantage This type of propagation means a possible loss of varietal characteristics. Planting seeds only makes sense if there are no other options or if the quantity planting material more important than preserving the 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. Soil will do 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. When planting in spring, 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 suffer 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:

Growing phlox from seeds is a popular and successful way of propagating them. But annual phlox, or Drummond, is mainly grown through seedlings. This is understandable, because such plants live only for one season, and you really want to see them bloom. The seedling method allows you to delay the appearance of inflorescences by a couple of weeks. After all, by the time it’s time to sow phlox in open ground, you will already have young, fully formed bushes. In addition, Drummond phlox seeds are quite expensive - there are usually no more than a dozen seeds in one bag.

When sowing annual phlox directly into open ground, often most of the crops do not germinate. To avoid such disappointment, experienced gardeners It is recommended to grow these phloxes from seeds using the seedling method. Today we will briefly tell you how to do this correctly.

When to sow

You can start sowing phlox seeds for seedlings in April. If you have the opportunity to provide additional lighting to the seedlings, sow the seeds another 2 weeks earlier.

It is not difficult to calculate the approximate sowing date: on average, from planting seeds to planting seedlings on permanent place 3 months pass. This is why you “dance”, taking into account the local climate.

What soil is needed to grow phlox seedlings?

Phlox has small seeds, so the substrate should be light but nutritious. You can use a universal soil mixture from the store. If desired, prepare a similar soil yourself by mixing:

• peat;
• sand;
• turf ground.

How to grow phlox from seeds

After purchase suitable soil and seeds, you can proceed directly to sowing them:

1. Fill a shallow container (such as a plastic tray with a lid) with soil.
2. Spread the seeds over the surface of the soil, but do not cover them.
3. Spray well with a spray bottle.
4. Close the lid.

Place the container with the sown phlox on a bright and warm windowsill. When the seeds germinate, remove the lid. After each seedling has formed 3-4 leaves, plant the phloxes in separate containers for growing. You can also use a common pot, but plant no more than 5-6 bushes there so that they have enough space.

When picking, you must not bury the growing point, otherwise the seedlings may die.

For phlox seedlings, choose a well-lit place, otherwise they will stretch out. Remember to water the plants regularly, but try not to overwater. If there is an excess of moisture, there is every chance of the appearance of such a scourge as black leg. You can feed the seedlings once, but not earlier than a week after picking. Do complex exercises once every two weeks mineral supplements- this will help to grow lush and strong phloxes.

Annual phloxes lend themselves well to shaping. To get a round bush, from the second month of the seedlings’ life, start pinching the tops.

Having grown phlox from seeds, when the weather warms up in May, calmly send them to the flowerbed. By this time, you will have already strong plants, and some may even show their first flowers.

How to grow phlox from seeds through seedlings - video

Phlox is an unpretentious crop of the Blueflower 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... landscape designer, creating unique compositions on your 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 to get a multi-colored flower bed when planting seed from one bag. 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 is neutral or slightly acidic soil. 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. Optimal temperature for seed germination - +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 indoors – 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 required quantity 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 the 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 moisture, use a spray bottle for this purpose and water only when the top layer of soil dries 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 in 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 from minimum distance between plants 15 - 20 cm for annual phlox and 0.5 m for perennials. For getting beautiful flowering It is very important to correctly determine the landing site.

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 cups of ash) before planting 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 growing season add also hilling during loosening so that the flowers form 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 perennial ones - 5.

With proper care perennial phlox They grow up to seven years in one place without losing their 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 appears, which manifests itself 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 leaf blades, which gradually increase in size. Plants and the soil around them must be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, and after two weeks do this 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 lost decorative qualities, which means it needs to be seated. The best time for this is 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 pruning time is selected depending on the flower variety and region. Early varieties of phlox, whose flowering ends earlier, are pruned at the end of September, and late varieties - 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 must be mulched 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 your flower beds.

Phlox (lat. Phlox)- genus herbaceous plants from the family Polemoniaceae, which includes about seventy species, of which about forty are cultivated. Phlox appeared in Europe in the middle of the 18th century; since then, breeders have developed about 1,500 varieties of beautiful and fragrant flowers. In Greek, "phlox" means "flame." This name was given to the plant by Carl Linnaeus in 1737 for its very bright flowers some types. The homeland of phlox is North America, whose harsh climate has made the plants unpretentious and tenacious. In addition, phlox is very fragrant and blooms for a long time.

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Planting and caring for phlox (in brief)

• Landing: sowing seeds in spring or November-December in open ground or sowing seeds in March for seedlings.
• Bloom: from June to autumn.
• Lighting: penumbra.
• The soil: medium loamy, rich in humus, moist, light and loose, neutral reaction.
• Watering: moderate (1.5-2 buckets of water per m²), regular.
• Hilling: in the second half of the growing season.
• Feeding: organic and mineral solutions: 1st - at the end of May, 2nd - at the beginning of June, 3rd - at the beginning of July, 4th - at the end of July. Perennial varieties are fed for the fifth time during the formation of ovaries.
• Reproduction: annuals only by seeds, perennials mainly vegetatively - by dividing the bush, rhizomatous and leaf cuttings, but it is also possible by seed method.
• Pests: nematodes, slugs, caterpillars.
• Diseases: variegation, powdery mildew, Phoma, Septoria, Verticillium wilt.

Read more about growing phlox below.

Phlox flowers - description

Phlox are diverse even within the same species: their “appearance” changes depending on the climate in which they grow. For example, at an altitude of 4000 meters they are bryophytes and low-growing, their stems are branched and covered with evergreen leaves, and the plant height is from 5 cm to 25 cm. In more favorable conditions phloxes are upright bushes with a height of 30 cm to 180 cm. And there are also subshrubs. According to the flowering time, they are spring (early), summer (middle) and summer-autumn (late). The culture is dominated by species and varieties of erect phlox. Their leaves are sessile, opposite, entire, oval-lanceolate or elongated-ovate.

Phlox flowers are from 2.5 cm to 4 cm in diameter, have a tubular-funnel shape and are collected in complex inflorescences of up to 90 pieces each. The flowers have five reflexed petals, five stamens and one pistil. The phlox fruit is an oval capsule. All phloxes grown in cultivation are perennials, but only Phlox drummondii and its many varieties are annuals.

Growing phlox from seeds

Having blooming phlox in the garden from spring to the end of September is real, you just need to know how to grow phlox. Phloxes reproduce most often by vegetative means – cuttings, layering or dividing the bush, but some gardeners prefer growing phlox with seeds. The seeds of perennial phlox, collected the day before in the fall, need to be sown in the ground before winter - in November-December. Choose a site where your phlox will grow for several years. If there is already snow, remove it from the garden bed and scatter the seeds at a distance of 4-5 cm on the frozen ground. Sprinkle them with a 1-1.5 cm layer of sifted soil, and cover with snow on top. The soil can be prepared in advance so that it is not cold and frozen, or you can buy soil in the store.

The germination rate of seeds that fall into the ground in winter is 70%; by spring, their germination rate sharply decreases.

In early spring, seedlings will hatch, which will need to be picked after the appearance of two pairs of true leaves at a distance of 20 cm from each other. You will plant these seedlings at the right time.

Most often, annual phloxes reproduce by seeds. In the spring, prepare the bed, scatter the seeds over it at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other, water them with a sprayer, and cover with polyethylene. Do not cover with soil, but lift the film briefly every day, shaking off condensation from it, so that the seeds can breathe. As soon as the seeds sprout, the polyethylene can be removed.

In the photo: Growing phlox in open ground

Annual phloxes - planting and care

Planting annual phlox

We have already talked about how to plant phlox from seeds. But some gardeners do not want to put the seeds at risk, fearing strong spring frosts, so phlox is planted as seedlings in the spring. Annual phlox seeds are sown for seedlings in March, seedlings appear within a week. Emerging sprouts need light, watering and moderate temperature. After two to three weeks the seedlings sprout.

In the first days after picking, try to protect the seedlings from direct sun rays to avoid burns. Cover them with newspaper or opaque film.

Before planting phlox in open ground, you can feed the seedlings two or three times with mineral fertilizers. The concentration of fertilizing should be two times less than for an adult plant. To achieve the splendor of the bush, shoots in the phase of 4-5 leaves are pinched.

In the photo: Phlox seedlings grown in cassettes

In May, grown phlox seedlings are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. It is very important to choose the right place for planting. Annual phloxes are cold-resistant, drought-resistant, love light, but do not tolerate overheating of the root system. The most beautiful phlox grow in partial shade, and the thicker the shade, the less abundant, but longer, the phlox will bloom. In the sun, phlox flowers quickly fade, but in partial shade they retain their color saturation for a long time, and if you planted the so-called “blueing” varieties, the flowers of which are twilight lighting become almost blue, you are guaranteed an incomparable aesthetic pleasure from the flowering of phlox grown in partial shade. It is best to plant phlox on raised beds, away from trees and shrubs with a highly branched root system.

In the photo: Growing phlox in a flower bed

Garden soil for phlox should contain a large amount of humus. Heavy soils with poor drainage are destructive for phlox. They also do not like acidified areas; in this case, lime will need to be added to the soil. Best cast soil for phlox - fertile sand without clay impurities - with good watering will allow you to grow powerful flowering bushes. In heavy loams you will have to add sand, organic fertilizers and peat. The seedlings are planted in a shallow hole, into which vermicompost or compost (or two handfuls of ash) are added before planting; the roots are straightened horizontally.

Caring for annual phlox

Growing annual phlox is a pleasant and easy task. The main thing is not to interfere with their growth. All other care is traditional for flowers: careful loosening of the soil (6-8 times), hilling during loosening in the second half of the growing season so that the phloxes quickly form a root system, fertilizing with organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

• The first feeding with liquid manure (25 g per bucket of water) is carried out at the end of May.
• The second is in early June, but potassium salt or superphosphate is added to the manure solution.
• The third (liquid manure without additives) - in early July.
• The fourth feeding, at the end of July, should contain phosphorus and potassium salt.

In the photo: How phlox blooms in the garden

Watering phlox you need regular, but moderate, morning or evening. You need to pour water at the root at the rate of 1.5-2 buckets per 1 m² of planting. It is harmful to water phloxes with cold water during the heat of the day, because the stems may crack. It is advisable to delete wilted flowers, preventing the growth of new ones that have not yet blossomed. As for diseases and pests, phlox has plenty of them.

For example, a disease such as variegation covers the petals of the phlox with a pattern unusual for the species, disfiguring appearance plants. There is no cure for this disease, so the bush is dug up and destroyed to avoid infecting other plants. The same sentence will have to be carried out if it is discovered that the plant is infected with a fungal disease, powdery mildew, which manifests itself as a whitish matte coating on the leaves and stems.

Phlox suffers from another fungal disease - Phomasis, making the shoots brittle and the leaves dry. As a preventative measure, it is suggested to spray colloidal sulfur on the leaves and stems of phlox (not on the inflorescences), but the air temperature should not be lower than 18 ºC.

Septoria disease appears as dark brown spots on plant leaves, which increase in size as the disease progresses. At the first signs, spray the bush and the soil around it with Bordeaux mixture, and repeat the treatment two weeks later.

Another disease verticillium wilt, destroys the root system of phlox, but only phlox growing on acidic soils suffer from it.

Phlox pests

Of the pests, phlox is most often attacked by nematode, a tiny thread-like worm that feeds on the sap of plant tissue. As a result, the inflorescences become disfigured, the flowers become smaller, and the stems become thinner. The affected bush will have to be dug up and burned, and the contaminated soil will have to be treated three times with an interval of 20 days with nematicides.

They harm phloxes naked slugs, eating the bottom of stems, leaves and even flowers at night. They live in the upper layers of the soil, so preventative loosening of the soil and removal of weeds will be quite effective means fight against slugs, but if they do appear on the site, dust the soil with fluff lime, ash or a mixture of ash and tobacco dust.

If phloxes damage butterfly caterpillars, it would be best to collect them by hand, but if there are too many of them, then treat the phlox with preparations against leaf-eating pests.

Perennial phlox - planting and care

Planting phlox

Growing perennial phlox is not much different from growing annual phlox, but there are still some peculiarities. For example: spring planting perennial varieties carried out in the same way as annual ones, but after this the area must be mulched with dry peat or humus. In addition, the distance between plants should not be 15-20 cm, but at least half a meter, because phlox will grow in this area for many years, and they need a place where they will grow.

If you bought phlox in the fall, then do not plant them, but dig them to a depth of 20-25 cm in a place protected from the wind, where snow lingers in winter. As soon as the soil freezes, cover the buried phlox with peat or dry leaves.

In the photo: White phlox in open ground

Besides, In some cases, perennial phlox is planted in the fall. For example, in the case when the bush has grown greatly and has lost its decorative appearance, it is dug up in the fall (from mid-August to the first ten days of September), the rhizome is divided, the middle of the bush is removed, which ages earlier than other parts, and the side parts are planted. Also in the fall, grown phlox from spring cuttings should be planted in a permanent place. Before autumn planting, compost is added to the soil; if the soil is clayey, then also sand, and if sandy, then peat. The divisions are placed in holes located at a distance of half a meter from each other, their roots are straightened horizontally and they are buried shallowly (no deeper than 4-5 cm). If there is no rain, planted phloxes are watered abundantly at the rate of 2 liters of water per bush every 2-3 days for two weeks, the dried soil is loosened and mulched with peat or humus with a 4 cm layer.

Phlox care

Perennial phloxes need to be cared for in the same way as annual ones. But if annuals need to be fertilized four times during the growth period, then perennial species fertilized five times - the last one occurs during the period when seeds are formed in boxes. Feed the phloxes with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (10 g of potassium sulfate and 20 g of superphosphate per bucket of water). Do this in the evening after watering, being careful not to get the solution on the leaves.

With proper care and good feeding, phlox grow in one place without losing its decorative appearance for up to seven years.

In the photo: Not yet opened inflorescence of garden phlox

Perennial phlox is one of the rare crops that can be take cuttings throughout the growing season. You can start from the moment the shoot reaches 5 cm, but the last cuttings are removed at the end of September. It is worth remembering, however, that spring and summer rooting is more successful than later rooting.

In addition to cuttings, phloxes reproduce layering, and this method is much less labor-intensive than cuttings. Before flowering, the stem is bent to the ground, fixed along its entire length and covered with humus and peat. In the fall, a new plant is formed from this shoot, which is separated from the main bush and transplanted to where it will grow permanently.

Phlox after flowering

Annual phlox may bloom next year, but the quality of the inflorescences is unlikely to be high. Therefore, collect the seeds if you want, cut off the tops that have dried in the fall, and dig up the soil on the site, removing the phlox rhizomes from it. In the spring, you can sow the collected seeds, and the flowers you like will bloom again.

In the photo: Phlox blooming in the garden

Wintering phlox

Perennial phloxes, or rather, their growth buds, can freeze out in a snowless winter if the temperature drops to -10-15 ºC, and if the frost reaches -20-25 ºC, the rhizome of the phlox will die. Therefore, in the fall, after the phlox tops have turned yellow and dried out, cut them off and sprinkle the root collars with a layer of soil with peat. Cover them with straw, fallen leaves or spruce branches to keep the rhizomes in the ground until spring. If snow falls 50-60 cm thick, then you don’t have to be afraid of thirty-degree frosts.

Varieties and varieties of phlox

Phlox annuals

Phlox Drummond- one of the best annuals among garden flowers. It was discovered in Texas and brought to England in 1835 by the English traveler, naturalist and theologian Henry Drummond. The flower has taken root in England. Drummond phlox blooms from June until frost. Its leaves are oval-lanceolate, opposite. Thin branched stem from 12 cm to 30 cm tall. Fragrant flowers purple, dark red, white, yellow, salmon colors.

In the photo: Drummond Phlox

Phlox Drummond comes in two varieties: star-shaped and large-flowered. Phlox drummondii cuspidata usually reaches 30-40 cm in height, although low-growing forms are also known - up to 12 cm. The petals of its bright flowers are beautifully dissected, and the flowers look like a star with an eye. Large-flowered Phlox drummondii mixed grows up to 30cm in height. Him large flowers a variety of colors, but red shades are especially attractive.

In the photo: Drummond Phlox

Some gardeners divide annual phloxes according to their size into large-flowered and dwarf (15-20 cm tall). Large-flowered varieties include such varieties as Tall White, Tall Fiery Red and Tall Bright Red. Compact low grades(dwarf) represent Snowball(white), Shamoa (pink), Isabella (yellow), Salmona (salmon), Defiance (fiery red). Both large-flowered species, and star-shaped, and dwarf species have double and semi-double varieties. Promise terry phlox varieties of different shades are popular.

Phlox perennial

Among the perennial varieties of phlox, it blooms earliest (in May). phlox subulate. Its densely branching stems are so abundantly covered with flowers of different shades from snow-white to dark red that the leaves, narrow, awl-shaped, for which it got its name, are not visible. This variety of phlox is planted in rockeries and alpine hills. Phlox splayed also blooms in May, one to two weeks later. Its small bushes with delicate lilac-blue flowers look very elegant.

This species is not as light-loving as the subulate phlox; it has lignified stems and larger but less dense leaves. Perennial phlox is also represented by such a species as paniculata phlox, which blooms in mid-summer. This is exactly the phlox that we are all familiar with: huge fragrant caps of flowers, beautiful green leaves.

In the photo: Phlox awl-shaped

In the photo: Phlox splayed

Phlox paniculata

The ancestor of many exquisite varieties, including terry phlox Pure Feelings (large inflorescences of white flowers with a green stripe in the center, purple below; petals are elongated, twisted, plant height - 70-80 cm) and terry phlox Natural Feelings (very small white -green-pink flowers, inflorescences resemble a branch of lilac). The result of selection has also resulted in such winter-hardy varieties as phlox Orange (Orange Perfection, Orange Spat) of orange-red shades that do not fade in the sun. They are easy to breed, easy to care for, and incredibly beautiful. But oddly enough, the most popular among gardeners is Phlox King, up to 1 m high with flowers up to 4 cm in diameter in crimson, pink, lilac, white and other colors.

Phlox is a bright and unpretentious perennial crop that will fit perfectly into any garden design. Not only the colors of phlox flowers are varied, but also the height of these plants. There are tall crops, as well as ground covers. Thus, they can be combined and successfully combined in flower beds and flower beds.

This unpretentious crop is not demanding in terms of soil composition, light, weather conditions, and also overwinters excellently even in the coldest winter.

Small star-shaped or wheel-shaped flowers form corymbose large inflorescences. The colors are varied: white, pink, purple, blue, and multi-colored.

Cultivation height depends on the variety. Thus, paniculata grows up to 100 cm, and awl-shaped - only up to 15 cm. Flowering varies in duration, the timing depends on the type and variety of the crop. They usually bloom throughout the summer season, and some until October.

Planting and growing does not require special skills and knowledge. In addition, phlox grows on almost any soil.
It is better to plant them from mid-spring until the end of May. Planting at the end of August is also allowed.

Site selection and soil preparation

At the place where the phloxes are to be planted, it should be low level groundwater , since plants do not welcome stagnant moisture. Accordingly, it is advisable to choose hills and elevated areas.
Phlox loves light, but the best option would be to plant in light partial shade.

Bright sun and strong shade are contraindicated for phlox. At the same time, it is not recommended to grow phlox in the shade of bushes and large trees, since their horses will take nutrients from the soil.

The ideal place for planting phlox is in partial shade.

You should not choose northern areas or areas that are too windy. Winds are especially unfavorable in winter time of the year.

The soil must be neutral or slightly acidic. If on site increased acidity soil, it is recommended to add lime to the soil to neutralize it.

IN heavy soil sand is added, and peat is added to the sandy one. If the soil is fertile, this does not mean that phlox will grow better and bloom profusely. On the contrary, on poor soil, phlox bloom much more intensely.

Planting process

The process of planting perennial crops is slightly different from planting annuals. The distance between seedlings should be somewhat greater, as the plants grow greatly.

1. Seeds are sown at a distance from each other 40-70 cm depending on the height of the crop. You can sow the seeds often, but then plant them at a specified distance from each other;
2. Soil is necessary mulch after planting using sawdust, peat, humus;
3. The planting depth should be less than 15 cm at spring planting and about 25 cm during autumn planting;
4. If the seeds are sown in the fall, then the crops must be covered for the winter.

Seedlings before planting in the ground

Some gardeners believe that sowing seeds is best done in late autumn - early winter.

If the seedlings were grown at home, then plant the seedlings in the ground after the formation of at least 4 leaves. The distance between seedlings should be more than 20 cm.

Care

Phlox is considered unpretentious culture. The process of caring for a plant is not complicated and even a beginner in floriculture can cope with it.

Autumn care basics

Before winter comes Hilling up of plants will be required soil, manure or humus. The thickness of the layer should be within 10 cm. This will prevent the buds from freezing in winter period. This is especially important for recently planted cuttings.

After flowering has ended, it is advisable to treat the plants with fungicides as preventive measure fungal diseases.

If the seeds on the flowers have ripened, but have not yet ripened before the beginning of winter, then the phlox can be dug up and moved indoors, planted in a pot.

At the end of flowering remove faded flower stalks. In addition, you can divide the bush in order to rejuvenate the crop and replant the plants.

The following basic rules are also observed:

• Watering is necessary only in early autumn in dry weather. It is better to water in the evening. Then the plant does not need watering. It is important to use warm water for irrigation;
• Phlox can grow equally well in the sun and in partial shade;
• Fertilizers are applied after planting phlox, as well as during the formation of buds. Mineral fertilizers and ash are used as fertilizers.

Phloxes respond very well to feeding from mullein infusion and bird droppings.

Transfer

Phlox can grow in one place for up to 15 years, but it is advisable to replant them at least once every 7 years. You can replant at any time of the year, but it is best in the fall after flowering has completed.

How to transplant:

1. Phlox is dug out of the ground;
2. The root system is cleared of soil;
3. The bush is divided into parts, with two stems remaining in each part;
4. Planted in a new area at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other.

It is better to transplant in the evening.

Reproduction methods

They reproduce using the following methods:

• Seed;
• Dividing the bush;
• Green cuttings;
• Autumn cuttings.

Seeds

1. Sowing of seeds is carried out before winter;
2. Seeds can be sown directly in open ground;
3. If seeds are sown in winter, then monthly stratification is necessary. To do this, the crops are kept in the cold;
4. The seedlings are thinned out and planted after the appearance of 4 or more leaves.

Dividing the bush

1. The plant is removed from the soil;
2. The bush is cut into pieces. Each division must have at least 2 kidneys;
3. The resulting plants are planted in previously prepared soil.

Green cuttings

1. At the end of spring, cut off the tops of shoots with 2 or more buds;
2. Immerse the cuttings in a container of water for an hour;
3. Cut off the lower leaves and shorten the upper ones by ½;
4. The stalk should be about 10 cm long;
5. Plant the cuttings in open ground where there is no excess sunlight. You can cover the seedlings with damp paper.

Reproduction autumn cuttings carried out in the same way as in summer. Only cuttings are harvested at the end of summer or early autumn.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease is powdery mildew. It appears as a white coating on leaves and stems.

Main reasons - keeping in the shade, planting too densely and improper care. To combat the disease, it will be necessary to treat the crop with a solution of soda ash and laundry soap or a solution copper sulfate and soap.

Prevention is carried out before winter using Bordeaux mixture and in summer using fungicides.

Kinds

Douglas

This is a low-growing variety whose height is does not exceed 5 cm. The Douglas variety is grown as a ground cover. It blooms twice per season - in early summer for a month and in September. The colors of the flowers are varied: white, pink, purple and blue.

Ice Mountain

subulate

These are ground-blooded plants no more than 15 cm. The flowers form small, bright inflorescences.

Colors: pink and lilac. Flowering is early - from May to June. When flowering, it forms a floral carpet. The species is also called carpet lights.

creeping

Another low-growing variety. Plant height no more than 20 cm. Up to 10 inflorescences, which are shaped like umbrellas, can form on one bush.

The shoots are distinguished by strong branching. Blooms from late spring for a month. Colors: purple, pink and red.

Thus, perennial phlox are elegant and unpretentious crops that can become a wonderful decoration for the garden. Caring for them is not difficult, they are not demanding on the soil. Perennial phlox amazes with its variety of species and varieties.