What’s worth knowing about Phlox
This type of plant originally from Texas and neighboring states, which prefer to settle in sandy soils in rare oak forests. In Europe, rising from the middle of the 19th century.
Botanical name from the Greek “phlox” means “flame” or “burning fire”. There are 40 kinds of fiery colors in the culture. Due to their popularity has appeared countless varieties for summer flower gardens that bloom from spring to late autumn. They grow as annuals or perennials. Increasing it to its compact form dense carpets flowers in flowerbeds. Rarer plants like shrubs. Low and creeping species suitable for rock garden.
Perennial phlox grow to 70-80 cm, and some reach a height of 130 cm. Well suited for cutting in bunches. Bright colors make a radiant summer garden year after year without any special care.
Vertical shoots are located opposite lanceolate leaves are green or reddish color. Fruit, less polsantimetra contain from three to five seeds. Some types of smell intensive, others not enough floral scent.
How To Treat Phlox?
Hardy flowers do not require special care and are thriving in many places. Most species prefer full sun, but some also allow partial shade or indirect sunlight. Phlox will thrive in full sun with nutritious, slightly acidic and slightly moist soil.
Note!The plant is suffering in the shadows and almost does not give flowers. It is important that the soil is able to hold the water, and in this case there was no waterlogging. Prerequisite is permeable, fertile and evenly moist soil. On sandy soil leaves turn yellow, wilt and the stems flowers.
High perennial phlox are in need of more space. If they are planted too closely, often with mold contamination. It is necessary to calculate a distance of 40 to 60 cm depending on the variety.
Additional information!Do not put the plant too deeply, because it will slow down both growth and flowering.
Watering
Natural habitat of perennial phlox are areas with moist soil. Dryness should resist regular watering. Water the plants in the morning or in the evening, right to the roots. In the first year after planting, it is important to water according to the needs. This is the most important measure of care.
Depending on the location, temperature, precipitation, and size of the plant, in the summer you may need watering every 3-4 days. Once a perennial root, watering is reduced.
When watering, be careful to impregnate only the surface of the soil, and to not wet the leaves. The plants need a lot of moisture to thrive, but they should never sit in water as mold quickly cover the bushes and spoil their appearance. Mulch prevent too rapid drying of the soil, and will inhibit the germination of wild shoots that aggravate air circulation in the middle of the bush.
Feeding
fertilize summer phlox desirable. Plants like rich soil, so it is important to add enough of compost into it, so that they grow up healthy. Fertilizer them suitable for perennials.
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Fertilize plants correctly after planting. Use balanced fertilizer, preferably in a ratio of 10-10-10, which contains 10% phosphate, 10% nitrogen and 10% potassium. When the plants begin to bloom, repeat feeding again. In subsequent years, add compost every spring.
It is necessary to make fertilizer after August because the stems must be well ripen before the cold weather, and excess nutrients do not allow it.
Trim the stems
At high species leave about 5-7 stems on each plant. This will improve the flow of air between the branches, support the formation of flowers and minimizes the risk of the disease. On the remaining stems trimmed top to slow the growth of, and the plant will be filled with flowers.
Umbrellas removed immediately faded. In good conditions, the fiery flowers bloom a second time with a weaker flowering. In the autumn after flowering, cut the stems at 5-10 cm, but not completely. Thus, perennial is some protection during the winter. Woody shoots are removed in spring.
What is the best plant fire flower?
The best time for planting -c March to June. Flowering perennials can be transplanted in the summer right in your own garden.
Remove all weeds and dig the planting hole twice the size of the root system. For soils that are prone to water logging in the planting hole should enter drainage 5-10 cm. For this purpose, suitable gravel or expanded clay. It is usually recommended to add a high-quality planting soil and organic garden fertilizer in the planting hole, which will contribute to the rapid growth of the flower and the soil to stimulate activity.
Fire flower can be planted individually or in small groups. A particularly attractive group of various flowers or other summer flowering plants.
That is suitable for combination with a summer Phlox? Combination with other kinds of summer flower garden is ideal. Particularly suitable, garden sage, thistle, echinacea, and a variety of herbs,
Dig planting pit at a distance of 15 to 60 cm, depending on the species, which are going to be grown. Low species phlox placed at a distance of 15 – 30 cm high – 30 – 60 cm. Phlox roots gently placed into the wells and lightly compacted soil around them. Then water the plants.
What are pests and diseases?
Cherish plants from disease because they can be a problem. Fresh air, sunlight and watering can protect against common plant diseases such as rot and mildew. Remove affected leaves quickly.
By pests are sucking insects that feed on the nectar of flowers. You can protect phlox special spray insecticide pyrethrin based. Remove infected leaves and flowers.
Infection with nematodes leads to stunting of the leaves and stems. Fight hard. Cut off the affected parts of the plant and reinforce the organic treatment.
Powdery mildew forms on the leaves of perennial phlox white spots, which leads to their extinction. Infection occurs especially when dry. Cut off the infected part and disposed of in order to avoid further infections in the garden.
How to propagate summer phlox?
The best way to propagate perennial – this division of the bush. Plants dug up, broken down into smaller pieces and transplanted to other places.
Propagation by cuttings may also occur. It’s easy to get new plants from root cuttings. In the garden, they are often spread by self-seeding under ideal conditions.
Propagated by cuttings and phlox. Cut 7 – 10 cm of the stem, which have flowers, leaves at the bottom is terminated at a height of 2 – 5 cm, and placed in water. Put in a sunny place, while not develop roots and then planted in the ground.
Summer flower rarely sown seeds. The seeds that fall from wilted inflorescences are likely fruitless. If we manage to grow from seed phlox, it can differ from the parent plant, most of the seedlings will be light pink flowers.
Types phlox. Grade
Some varieties, such as creeping, forest or moss phlox grows low to the ground, and are often used as ground cover plants. Other species, such as garden and meadow phlox produce tall plants, which are often grown in flower beds and fences.
The genus Phlox offers a wide range of plants. Alone High Long Phlox (Phlox paniculata) has several hundred different varieties. It is theoretically possible to provide perennial plants bloom from spring to autumn all year round.
Annual phlox
Besides classical perennials, annuals, there are also varieties. They are not hardy, but with a wide choice of colors and shapes of flowers. Phlox drummondii sown in March in boxes and sowing can be moved outdoors in May. Colorful plant ideal for borders, bowls, rock gardens.
Why not phlox blooms?
The absence of color is mainly due to the location of the plant. Perennial feels good in a partially shaded place. If it is completely in the shade and in the dry earth, the flowers will not. Besides trimming the stems in summer or lack of fertilizers may be the cause of the low abundance of flowers. Providing a more sunny location with moist soil can then enjoy a large panicles perennial.
Fragrant summer flowers, suitable for any garden. One of the most beautiful flowering plants and high is Phlox paniculata, which will decorate a flower bed the whole summer. Select the type that is most suitable for your garden and enjoy the beautiful star-shaped flowers throughout the summer.
