Phlox flowers growing from seed. Growing perennial phlox from seed. Phlox care in autumn
Growing phlox from seeds is a process that is accessible even to a novice gardener. Subject to all the recommendations, these plants will surely delight the owners with lush flowering, which lasts a long time.
General information
Phloxes are flowering perennial or annual herbaceous plants that form the eponymous genus of the Sinyukhov family. It includes only about 85 species. Of these, about 40 species are grown in gardens and on household plots some of which are over two hundred years old.
A beautiful sonorous name for the genus (Greek phlox - flame) was given by none other than Carl Linnaeus. Known even exact date the name of this taxon is 1737. It is assumed that the botanist was inspired by the bright colors of these truly wonderful flowers.
On the territory of our country, only one wild-growing species is known - Phlox sibirica (Siberian phlox), which is common in the mountainous areas of Western and Eastern Siberia, on Far East. In the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Chelyabinsk region, it is listed in the Red Book. This is a perennial, beautifully flowering creeping plant that produces straight shoots on which flowers open. It is traditionally used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases of the skin, nervous and respiratory systems. Most species of phlox originate from North America.
Description
Different kinds cultural phloxes can have erect, creeping or ascending stems, reaching a height, depending on the shape of the plant, from 10-20 cm to half a meter. Narrow lanceolate, ovate-elongated or oval-lanceolate phlox leaves are arranged oppositely.
Bright fragrant flowers are the main advantage of these plants, because of which flower growers grow them. They are medium-sized, tubular-funnel-shaped, up to 3-4 centimeters in diameter, but form lush inflorescences (up to 90 pieces) and in general look very picturesque. Five-petalled flowers can range in color from white, white with spots, streaks, shadows, etc. to deep purple and raspberry-purple. Phloxes have a rather gentle, unobtrusive aroma. Because of their decorative properties they are willingly cultivated by flower growers, especially since the process of growing perennial and annual phlox from seeds at home is not particularly difficult.
External differences between annual phlox and perennial
Annuals differ from perennials in color options. They are also peach, beige, chocolate, while perennials do not have such color options - they most often have various shades pink, raspberry, purple. Another difference is the star-shaped flower shape, similar to a snowflake, which is not found in perennial phloxes.
Fruits and seeds
After the end of flowering, fruits in the form of dry boxes with seeds are formed in place of the flowers. Photos of phlox seeds can be seen below. Seeds of annual species are quite small. So, in one gram they can contain more than 500 pieces. Perennial - much less, about 70.
Like annuals, perennial phloxes can be grown from seeds if you follow all the recommendations. experienced flower growers.
The choice of plant propagation method
Annual phloxes are usually grown from seed. perennial phlox well propagated by roots and cuttings. When is the choice made in favor of their propagation by seeds? Most often this happens in cases where it is necessary to get a lot of plants at once - for example, to create a dividing strip or border on a site, to decorate a large area at once. Then it makes sense to mess with the seeds.
This method is also used by breeders or just amateur gardeners to obtain plants with new properties - for example, when two varieties were planted side by side and could be pollinated. For reproduction, for example, of a rare variety, its improvement, obtaining planting material in large quantities, preparing for participation in the future in plant exhibitions, the method of dividing plants or cuttings will be preferable.
Self-harvesting of seeds
Seeds should be collected from the bushes after the leaves have begun to dry out, and the boxes have turned brown, but have not yet dried. The stems are cut together with the boxes, they are made into bunches and hung in a cool, dry room (on a glazed balcony, veranda, in a closet, in the attic) for further ripening. So that the seeds, after cracking the boxes, which usually “shoot”, do not fly apart and are not lost, the bundles are placed in fabric (gauze) bags. The boxes need to be monitored, and as they dry, collect them and bring them into a warm room. However, this advice is only valid if you are going to plant them right away, since the seeds of styloid phlox and others popular varieties cannot boast of long-term germination. In a warm room, they very quickly lose their properties. To prevent this from happening, you should keep them cool until landing, you can mix them with sand.
Growing seeds for seedlings
Annual and perennial phloxes, which are quite common, germinate well if they are not deeply buried in the soil. This should definitely be borne in mind, because otherwise the seeds may not sprout, or the seedlings will have to wait long enough, two to three weeks, and they will be unfriendly (with surface sowing seeds usually germinate in 7 days). The easiest way is this: the seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil in plastic containers, watered from a sprayer and covered with a transparent film on top. This is usually done in March. Holes must be made at the bottom of the containers to prevent stagnation of water that is detrimental to seeds. It is better to use special soil for seedlings. Its layer should not be too deep. It is advisable to shed it five days in advance with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and the day before planting, pre-pour it with a solution of phytosporin. Seeds should be aired daily by opening them and shaking off condensation from the film.
Sprouts dive after the appearance of two leaves. Seedlings, as a rule, tolerate picking normally. It is only recommended to protect them from direct sun rays in the first two or three days to avoid burns of tender leaves. Flower growers recommend covering seedlings from above with newspapers or an opaque film. Phloxes grown by seeds for seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May, best of all - at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. It will be useful to mulch the soil between young plants to better retain moisture. Periodically, once a month, they should be fed with a complex mineral fertilizer. Besides, further care, as in the case of other garden flowers, provides for loosening, weeding and regular watering.
Annual phloxes can be sown with seeds in spring and directly into the ground, but with this method their germination will be low. In addition, it should be borne in mind that they bloom only two months after planting. Therefore, growing from seeds for seedlings in this case preferred.
Sowing phlox in the ground
When sowing seeds of perennial phloxes directly into the ground, there are two more options: sow them before winter, at the end of November, or at the height of winter (January - February). Of the annuals, only Drummond's phlox can be planted in this way - it is more resistant to cold. In which case is it easier to grow phlox from seeds? When is the best time to plant? The first method is preferable because in this case the seeds show the highest germination (80-90%), and in a few months it can be seriously affected. It should only be borne in mind that they need to be planted when frosts have already begun, because otherwise the seeds may germinate, and weak sprouts will not survive the winter.
The soil in the chosen place must be well leveled, put marks. Experienced flower growers recommend using self-made limiters, for example, cutting lengthwise into circles plastic cans or cans. Inside this circle, seeds are sown. This is a guarantee that they will not be washed away by melt water and crops after the snow melts can be easily detected. Seeds are sown before winter on frozen soil and lightly sprinkled with dry earth. You don't need to water them! If the seeds are fresh, usually shoots in the spring are friendly.
At winter sowing you can use the same disposable plastic containers as when germinating seeds in an apartment. It is only necessary to close them from above not with a film, but with a lid or spunbond, and do not water them. Experienced flower growers recommend taking containers with planted seeds into the garden and placing them on a flat surface, so that they are covered with a thick layer of snow (at least 30 centimeters) on top. So it will be possible to create acceptable conditions for their germination in the spring, and the seeds will undergo natural stratification. After the spring arrival in the garden, you need to remove the lid from the container so that the melting snow gets on the seeds and soaks the soil.
Perennial phlox grown from seed proper care usually bloom in the second year. Young plants in the first winter must be insulated using fallen leaves or needles. This will not be necessary in subsequent years. As a rule, phloxes planted with seeds before winter turn out to be more resistant to winter frosts than expensive planting material brought from European countries where winters are usually milder.
Details about planting phlox seeds (perennial) before winter are described in the video below.
During winter sowing, in January - February, the actions are the same: a flat place is chosen and the seeds are sprinkled with frozen ground, and on top - with a thick layer of snow.
Method for accelerated germination of seeds
Growers with extensive experience in growing different varieties, including styloid phlox, from seeds, it is recommended to keep in mind that phloxes, especially annuals, like to germinate in the light. Therefore, when germinating at home, some of them advise placing seeds on moistened with water with the addition of a growth stimulator. toilet paper or paper towel, under which is placed polyethylene film. The paper strips together with the film are folded into rolls and placed in a well-lit place (you can put the rolls in a regular plastic cup). After the appearance of sprouts (it usually takes 2-3 days to spit the seeds!) The ribbons are unfolded, sprinkled with earth on top and placed again in a bright place until sprouts suitable for planting are obtained.
Soil requirements, watering
Phloxes prefer light, medium loamy soils rich in humus, loose and moist. The reaction is neutral. They love water, and with its lack, when the soil dries up, they may not even bloom, dropping buds that are already ready to bloom. But excess moisture for these plants is also harmful. Optimal quantity- 1.5-2 buckets of water per square meter area.
Location selection
Plants love bright, but diffused light, partial shade. It would be ideal if during the hottest hours (11-14) the plants will be shaded by trees or shrubs. It is desirable that the site has a slight slope. It must also be protected from the winds. This will help to keep the snow cover that protects the plants in winter, and in the summer it will protect the soil from drying out.
According to flower growers, the most whimsical varieties often have to be transplanted from place to place, sometimes even up to five times, so that they sparkle with all colors. But this is not the case with all of them.
- The colors of phlox planted in a sunny place will be brighter, in the shade - more calm.
- Phloxes are plants very responsive to organic fertilizers. Experienced flower growers recommend using for this purpose horse dung, but definitely rotted. Fresh manure will kill plants instantly. Vegetable compost is also good, but care must be taken not to use the phlox itself in its preparation. This is due to the fact that pathogens and pests of phloxes can remain in the compost if the conditions for its preparation are not followed and infect plants as a result of feeding. During autumn harvesting, phloxes should be removed from the site, or better, burned.
- If phlox seeds are not sown in open ground, but indoors, they must be stratified - kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
- To make them bloom thicker, wilted flowers should be removed. For better tillering perennials it is advisable to pinch in the summer over the fourth - fifth pair of leaves.
Finally
The article briefly described existing methods planting phlox seeds, brief recommendations for their cultivation are given. Phloxes are not particularly whimsical plants, and with careful selection of varieties and proper care, you can provide them continuous flowering from May to October.
These scented beautiful flowers came to Europe from North America from the middle of the 18th century and became inhabitants of lawns, gardens, borders, borders, and often even balconies. It is possible that the harsh climate of the homeland endowed them with strength, unpretentiousness, vitality.
Phloxes (in the lane with Greek- "flame") belong to the genus herbaceous plants from the blue family. They number about 70 species, and only a little more than half of them are grown.
Among the many varieties, varieties, annual Drummond phloxes are in favor with professional and amateur flower growers. Compared with their long-term "relatives", they have long owned the palm. This is largely due to the large variety of varieties, flower shapes, their shades compared to perennials. They look great on Alpine rollercoaster, flower beds. They can decorate the space near the houses with the help of decorative containers.
In one complex phlox inflorescence, about 90 flowers can be collected. Each of them has 5 stamens and recurved petals, 1 pistil.
Their tubular-funnel shape resembles simple, semi-double and double stars, snowflakes with a rich palette of tones and halftones. These are beige, cream, red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, brown, black and other colors.
Phloxes have an amazing ability to change their appearance, reacting to the vagaries of "mother nature", the climate. So, for example, in the bright sun, their colors become brighter, and in cloudy times, they fade.
And the bushes themselves with a green mass of developed shoots resemble a colorful ball. Under more favorable conditions, they will be upright even up to 1.5 m high. There are also phloxes-semi-shrubs.
And growing on high altitude, will be bryophyte and undersized up to 25 cm with evergreen leaves. The most commonly grown phloxes are erect with entire, sessile, oval, lanceolate, oblong ovate leaves.
If you know and know how to grow such plants, then you can admire their delicate beauty from spring to early autumn. After all, according to the time of flowering, they are early, middle and late.
There are possibilities for propagating phloxes vegetatively:
- layering
- cuttings
- dividing the bush
However, many flower growers prefer the use of seeds for breeding seedlings. You can grow quite a lot out of them. strong seedlings suitable for disembarkation in due time.
After all, even seeds that crumble into the ground in autumn give up to 70% germination in spring. And yet, we offer you to get acquainted with some of the nuances of hand-planting seeds for the effective cultivation of seedlings.
When to plant seedlings
An important argument in favor seedling cultivation phlox - avoiding cases of freezing of seedlings from seeds that have fallen into the ground. Along with this, plants from seedlings have longer periods of flowering plants.
Preparation for planting seeds of annual flowers begins from late February to mid-March. Such terms allow you to see the fertility after 2 months in May. And the seeds sown directly on the site at the same time germinate and bloom only from the end of September.
This process consists of preparing the soil, containers, the seeds themselves, as well as creating optimal lighting, temperature regime. At the same time, in each of these stages there are nuances, ignoring which is undesirable.
Land and seed preparation
Loose soil is suitable for planting seedlings, consisting of peat, rotted humus, lime, sand, and mineral fertilizers. It is placed in various containers (boxes, containers, cells, peat pots and so on.). Then the earth is moderately moistened and the sowing of seeds begins.
Sowing seeds
Held in March. Despite the density of large seeds, they do not require a strong penetration into soil mixture, A good lighting. They simply crumble on the surface, lightly pressed with the palm of your hand and sprayed a little from the spray bottle.
After that, the container with the planted seeds is covered with transparent glass or film and is located in a warm and bright place, for example, on a windowsill. It should be at least +23 °C here.
Further, daily airing of future shoots, spraying, careful shaking of the resulting condensate from the film / glass is carried out. As soon as the small roots of the hatched seeds attach to the ground, the transparent "shelters" are removed. After 7-10 days, the first shoots already appear.
seedling care
It consists in picking 2-3 weeks after the appearance of the first true leaves at a distance of more than 15 cm, uniform illumination at a temperature of +20°C.
Moderate watering through a spray gun is done with dried top layer soil. For hardening on the eve of planting sprouts in the open, you need to lower the temperature to +15 ° C, increase the frequency of irrigation with the addition of mineral fertilizers.
When 4-5 leaves appear, the plant is pinched to form the splendor of the bushes.
After the onset of sustained heat in May, seedlings are transplanted in areas with mild, fertile soil saturated with biohumus, compost. "Heavy" land must be lightened with sand, organic matter, peat. The best option- sandy, non-clay soil with good drainage, medium acidity.
When planting seedlings on the site, a place is selected in partial shade, where direct sunlight does not penetrate. Taking into account the future height, spreading of adult phloxes, a distance of about 20 cm is observed between the "neighbors" ( Snapdragon, bells, etc.).
Landing is carried out in a small hole with the addition of ash (up to 150 g). A seedling with horizontally straightened roots is placed there and slightly covered with earth.
After "relocation" to open ground, growing phlox is quite easy and enjoyable.
Main principle caring for one-year-old phloxes in summer period- do not interfere with growth!
To comply with it will require:
- regular watering in hot weather, as the plant withers during drought due to overheating of the root system
- periodic careful loosening of the soil to ensure its breathability. In the 2nd half of the growing season of the plant, hilling is carried out to form the root system
- pinching shoots to create the splendor of the bush, accelerating the onset of flowering
- 4 times top dressing mineral fertilizers, organic:
- the first is carried out at the end of May with manure,
- the second - in early June with liquid manure with superphosphate / potassium salt,
- the third - in the first decade of July only with liquid manure, the 4th - at the end of July with phosphorus with potassium salt. For violent flowering, the plant can be fertilized with ammonium nitrate several times a season.
To increase the effect of these simple methods of agricultural technology, mulching the soil around the plants will help. Re-growing phlox next year is already possible using your own seeds.
It is necessary to select the chosen varieties of flowers for subsequent breeding on time. To do this, the branches, along with large boxes that have already begun to turn yellow, must be cut off after flowering is completed.
Further ripening of seeds will take place in a paper or linen, but not plastic, bag. After cracking the oval box, the seeds remain in the same bag.
It remains only to sort the most ripe, large planting material and store it in a dark, dry, cool place until the next sowing in the spring.
Drummond has 2 varieties:
- Large-flowered phlox which can grow to a height of about 30cm. Their rather large inflorescences are characterized by a variety of colors, but phloxes with red tones look especially attractive. These include varieties such as: Tall white, Tall bright red, Tall fiery red.
- stellate differ in greater height (up to 40 cm) and less often - lower ones up to 15 cm. Bright flowers outwardly resemble stars with an eye in the middle.
Individual gardeners classify annual phloxes not only according to these characteristics, but also by a low height of up to 20 cm. These are the so-called dwarf flowers.
Today, the most common varieties of Drummonda are:
Annuals phlox, we sow seeds Drummond Phlox video
We hope that with the help of these basic information, you will be able to realize your design ideas beautification of the garden and home.
These beautiful, fragrant flowers came to Europe from North America over three centuries ago. And then the outstanding Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus gave them the botanical name Phlox . And in the old days in Rus', lush multi-colored phloxes were called "sitchik".
Translated from Greek Phlox means "flame", "fire". It is also translated into the language of flowers as "the flame of your lips." Greek origin The name of the phlox flowers is explained by a beautiful legend. Allegedly, when Odysseus and the Argonauts left the dungeon of the god Hades, they threw their burning torches to the ground. Their flame did not go out, but turned into bright flowers sprouted, as if reminiscent of courageous travelers.
Today there are more than 50 species of phlox, and except for the annual Drummond, they are all perennial. For most of them, only the underground parts (roots, rhizomes) are such, and the above-ground stems and leaves die off at the end of the growing season. However, there are also evergreens with long-lived both parts.
Today, only up to 20 species of these flowers are used in ornamental gardening, floriculture, and landscape construction. You can admire the bright lush flowering of different varieties for almost half a year: from early spring, all summer until late autumn. Therefore, it is difficult to disagree with the German gardener, philosopher Karl Forster, that "a garden without phloxes is nonsense."
Depending on the habitat of wild phlox species, their appearance, ecological, morphological features may differ. All these plants with straight rigid stems, fragrant flowers of various colors, petal shapes are divided into 3 groups:
Among the tall ones, reaching a height of up to 180 cm, there are panicled, spotted, smooth and a number of others. They give flowers from early autumn and early summer. They are usually placed in the background of flower arrangements.
Undersized grow up to only 60 cm, bloom from late spring to early summer. Thick-haired (Caroline), hairy, lovely, oval Delilah, Candy Twist, etc. are popular in this subgroup. They add a special charm to any composition when placed in the foreground.
Along with this general classification, breeders continue to create interspecific hybrids, varieties. Some of them have already started organizing separate groups.
Varieties of perennial phlox with a photo
When choosing a plant, we advise you to focus both on its height and on the color of numerous varieties. There are more than 1,500 of them. It is not surprising that they are given very sonorous names that are associated with certain images and themes. Let's take a look at some of them:
Selection of planting material
When buying planting material, you need to pay attention to the presence of up to 5 correctly colored shoots, the length of which reaches about 6 cm. They should have a shiny surface and healthy roots shortened to 15 cm.
For planting perennial phlox are selected healthy plants with a greenish, rough skin and leaves undamaged by pests. Future seedlings should have 2-3 thickened stems, large buds formed at their bases.
Even before digging, the length of the stems of adult plants is cut in half. After carefully extracting the bush, cleaning it from the ground, the root system is divided into several parts.
Cutting off rhizomes for future seedlings can be done with your hands, a sharp shovel or knife. It is important not to damage the vegetative buds located at the base of the stem. Each young bush should have at least 8 buds, from which new shoots will grow. And the root without them can die.
Attention should be paid to good development root system, the length of the root is not more than 15 cm. If necessary, the rhizomes can only be shortened by one third with a pruner.
Procurement of planting material can be carried out even from the moment of germination. To do this, a young shoot is carefully broken out on a healthy bush, along with part of its rhizome. On a handle with two internodes, the cut is made under the lower one and 5-7 cm above the upper one.
You can grow perennial phlox using vegetative methods and, like annuals from seeds. Most often, for breeding perennial phloxes, they choose planting materials thanks to the first, namely:
- The division of the bush considered to be the most labor-intensive method. It allows the plant to be used for new landing, while helping to rejuvenate the old bush of your favorite variety. "Delenka" is used when the bush reaches the age of 3-4 years at any time of the year. This method consists in digging it, dividing it into parts, sprinkling the resulting hole with fertile soil. Plants divided in this way with straightened roots are planted in another place with a depth of 3 cm into the soil.
- layering are made by bending the stem to the ground until flowering. Then it is fixed along the entire length and covered with peat with humus. By autumn, this sprouted shoot is separated from the "native" bush, transplanted to the chosen place.
Many practice the use of spring growth shoots. They are carefully broken out with a “heel” from heavily thickened bushes at the very base of the stem. For better rooting shoots are first planted in a greenhouse or insulated greenhouse, because in open field this process is very slow. From the end of May - the beginning of June, after regular watering with warm, settled water, the shoots with the formed roots are planted at the selected site of the site.
cuttings carried out during the entire growing season of the plant. It begins when the shoot reaches 5 cm and ends before the end of September. Spring and summer cuttings take root most successfully.
So in May-June, you can cut off small pieces of young shoots with two pairs of leaves. These cuttings are placed in wet ground and close the jar until fully rooted.
The method of grafting is expedient if it is necessary to propagate a large number of phloxes.
Phlox breeding: video
When is the best time to plant phlox - in spring or autumn
According to experienced flower growers, the most auspicious time for transplantation - early spring (late April - early May).
Autumn planting is quite allowed during the period of budding on the basal collars from the end of August, but no later than the first days of September.
If, after school hours, “it’s impossible, but you really want to,” then it’s better not to plant, but to dig the chosen plant to a depth of loose soil up to 25 cm. On the eve of cold weather, this place is mulched or covered with dense material.
At autumn planting for better rooting, it is necessary to do a preliminary pruning of the upper part of the bushes. During flowering, phloxes can also be transplanted, provided they are carefully dug up with a clod of earth and further regularly watered.
It is important to remember that a plant can take root, fully develop and grow without disease only if the root system is not overdried. But summer transplants of these plants should be avoided. At this time, they grow very slowly, can be subjected to drying, pest attacks.
Perennial phlox can be planted in both autumn and spring. A guarantee of duration lush flowering phlox is right choice time and place of their planting, soil cover, methods of agricultural technology.
The main requirement for proper planting is soil fertility per 1 shovel bayonet. This is due to the shallow occurrence (up to 30 cm) of a powerful, branched root system and the location of the bulk of the substances that feed it up to 20 cm from the soil surface.
Where to plant
The landing site should be free of moisture stagnation. Therefore, it is better not to choose damp, low-lying areas of the plots. The best option is flower beds slightly raised in relation to the surface of the plot. Despite their light-loving nature, they are more like a slight penumbra than bright sunlight or a thick shadow.
The place should not be "open to all winds", especially during wintering. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant phloxes on north side. Planting flowers should also be avoided in the shade of large trees due to unequal forces in the struggle for light, moisture, and nutrients.
When determining the “place of residence” of plants during planting, it is important to take into account their growth, color scheme, and harmony in combination with other plants.
Soil preparation
The choice of location also implies attention to the composition of the soil. Light earth with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is suitable for planting phloxes. If the earth is too acidic in places suitable for it, then it will be neutralized quicklime(per 1 m² 200 g).
Clay soil is mixed with sand, and sandy with peat. Loamy soil can be “ennobled” by mixing it with mature humus, ash, bone meal in proportions of 100 g per 1 m². Such "intervention in nature" + regular moderate feeding will make the cultivation of phlox effective.
Planting perennial and annual phlox differs little, with the exception of some nuances. So, during spring planting, the distance between perennials should be somewhat larger than that of annuals, since the former will grow over the years.
So, for example, between undersized, ground cover phloxes, a distance between bushes of up to 40 cm is observed. For varieties with an average height, it should be up to 50 cm, and tall ones - at least 70 cm. Along with this, after planting, the soil around them will certainly be mulched (dry humus , peat, small shavings, chopped straw, etc.).
On the eve of the onset of winter, phloxes should not be planted, but only dug to a depth of up to 25 cm. At the same time, the place should be protected from the winter wind, and snow should cover them. And after the soil freezes, buried flowers must be covered with dry foliage or peat.
Phloxes that managed to grow up after spring cuttings are planted in autumn in open ground in a permanent place. In the absence of sufficient moisture, rains, seedlings are abundantly watered 2-3 times weekly for 14 days. The soil around them is loosened, mulched.
Cloudy daytime or evening weather is suitable for planting perennials.
This method of cultivation can be the result of "self-seeding" of seeds that have fallen off plants or planting pre-harvested. In the second case, the seeds are harvested in autumn before the opening of brown seed pods, withering of all foliage.
A sign of mature seeds is their dense structure of dark green color, characteristic crackling when pressed. Consideration should be given to the need for frequent collection due to uneven maturation. After collecting, cleaning from the husk, the remains of the leaves, the finished seed material is immediately laid in the prepared soil (September-early November).
As a result of winter natural selection, the strongest survive and begin to germinate already with the snow melting. In mid-May, seedlings can be planted in their designated places, taking into account the preferences of the soil composition.
Some gardeners think optimal timing sowing seeds from November to January (sowing before winter). To do this, a pre-prepared flower bed or garden bed is cleared of the first snow. Then seeds are laid out on their surface with a distance of up to 5 cm from each other, sprinkled on top with a layer of up to 1 cm of garden soil, snow. Experience this easy way planting in open ground shows up to 70% germination, previously lush flowering.
Growing phlox seedlings in these ways makes it possible to obtain fairly resistant plants by diving densely sprouted seeds in open ground. Such seedlings can be planted at the desired interval and admire the flowers in the first year of their life.
Sowing at home
When growing seedlings in room conditions perennial phloxes need seed preparation for germination (stratification). To do this, after planting in a container with a substrate, they are kept for 15-20 days at room temperature and in the cold no higher than +4 °C.
After staying at a low temperature, the container is placed in a bright place, separated from heating appliances screen. Here, the air should warm up to the optimum for seed germination no higher than +12 °C.
After they have germinated, the period of traditional care for phlox seedlings begins. This is the uniformity of lighting, regular watering-spraying, shelter, removal of condensate, ventilation, picking.
Landing in the ground
It begins when seedlings have 4-6 true leaves. They are seated at a distance of 20 cm in a pre-selected place. At the same time, the soil between still small phloxes must be mulched with at least mowed grass without seeds.
This will keep the soil moist, soft, and free of weeds. Indispensable types of care for growing phlox are careful loosening of the earth, weeding, watering, top dressing.
How to grow perennial phlox from seeds: video
Caring for perennial phlox in summer
It consists in regular watering (morning, evening) under the root. After the flowers get stronger, to increase the bushiness, they are pinched over 4-5 pairs of leaves. During the active flowering of phloxes from July to September, all fading inflorescences should be removed. This favors the emergence of new flower stalks in the axils of the leaves.
During the growth period, perennials need 5 times fertilizer, while annuals need 4 times. Thanks to the latter, top dressing helps the formation of full-fledged seeds in boxes.
With proper care, top dressing, the flowers will thank the growth of at least 7 years without loss of decorative effect.
Diseases and pests
They do not strongly overcome phloxes. However, with poor care, planting in the shade, thickened plantings, a disease is possible. powdery mildew. It attacks stems and leaves.
Another very unpleasant pest is the nematode (roundworms). Neighbors can help here: marigolds, nasturtium, calendula.
How to transplant phlox: video
How to master a neglected site Planting phloxes: video
Attentive attitude to flowers, compliance with the rules of agricultural technology will allow you to enjoy the colorful and fragrant phlox every year.
Growing perennial phlox from seeds: detailed plan action
Phlox from seeds - unpretentious and universal plants, they are used in landscape design. Flowers are different colors. Dominated perennial species living up to 60 years. Exists annual plant- Phlox Drumond. To grow a lush flower garden, learn about the features of care.
Reproduction and sowing
Source: Depositphotos
Growing perennial phlox from seeds
Annual plants reproduce only by seeds. And perennial phloxes - in 3 ways:
- with the help of seeds: sowing in spring, autumn and early winter;
- by dividing the root system: planted in the spring, used to rejuvenate the plant;
- with the help of cuttings: strong young shoots are selected, planted in the soil, covered with a jar, watered and waiting for development.
Sowing immediately on the site is carried out in late spring. If there is snow, the territory is cleared and sown on the surface of frozen soil every 5 cm, 2 cm of earth is covered and covered with a cover of snow. 70% of planted plants germinate in spring. The appearance of 2 leaves signals the need to transplant at a greater distance - 20 cm between crops.
In spring sowing, 4 seeds are immersed in each recess, covered with soil, watered and covered with a film until the first sprouts. After 2 weeks after germination, fertilize with nitrophoska.
For seedlings use boxes or peat pots. The seeds are laid on the surface. Cover with foil on top. Comfort temperature- from +10 to +18 °С. Refresh with a spray bottle. Peat gives strength to plants and increases decorativeness.
Planting from seeds and care
Sow seeds every season. Planting time sets the cultivation method. Standard phlox growing plan:
- In February, seeds are planted in containers.
- After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, seedlings are picked.
- In early May, seedlings are taken outside for hardening.
- In May-June, seedlings are transferred to open ground.
- In July, pinch the stem over 5 leaves.
- Fertilize from May to September.
- In October, phloxes are cut and the soil is enriched with peat.
After planting seedlings, the soil is constantly loosened and watered for 2 weeks every 3 days. Between the rows lay grass from weeds and to retain moisture. For regular and rich flowering, faded buds are removed.
In May, once every 3 years, the plant is taken out and divided root system. For the winter, perennials are covered with peat. In winter, with a layer of snow of more than 50 cm, the plants are not covered. Flowers suffer from his absence.
From pests for preventive purposes, insecticides are used.
With proper fit and proper care, phloxes will delight with rich colors.
