“Flame” in the garden, or 9 rules for caring for phlox in open ground

Beginning gardeners prefer to plant unpretentious plants on their plots that are able to grow “anywhere and everywhere”, not paying attention to the composition of the soil, lighting and humidity. These garden flowers also include perennial phlox. They are not only not capricious, but also beautiful, and are also able to stand for a long time when cut, maintaining their splendor, brightness and freshness.

Caring for phlox is easy, they bloom for a long time and are not afraid of frost. Let's talk about this in more detail, and you will see for yourself and perhaps want to plant these wonderful flowers in your garden.

Perennial phlox - botanical description

The homeland of phlox is Canada, and it was from there that they spread throughout the world. This is a beautiful flowering plant, very bright and showy. Depending on the variety, it blooms starting in mid-spring. The flowering time is very long - 30-35 days. If you choose the right varieties, you can enjoy lush color all season long.

The root system of phlox is superficial. From the main rhizome grows many adventitious, highly branching thin roots; they barely penetrate twenty centimeters deep.

The stems are slender and erect, but can also be creeping in groundcover species. The short ones reach a height of ten to fifteen centimeters, the tall ones can grow up to one and a half meters.

The flowers are small, funnel-shaped, with five petals. They are bent almost at right angles to the flower-bearing tube and form a flat, wide corolla. The core contains one pistil and five stamens. The colors are varied - from white to dark purple.

The flowers are collected in candle inflorescences. Thanks to the large number (up to ninety pieces in one inflorescence), the flowers look like a flaming, lush torch.

The leaves are sessile, located opposite each other. Their shape is oval or lanceolate.

Interesting features

Phlox translates as “flame,” which is why phlox is often called a fire flower. The homeland of these plants is North America, but they have also taken root in Europe a long time ago - since the seventeenth century. Today, more than seventy species and about one and a half thousand varieties of perennial phlox are known - the gardener really has plenty to choose from.

The fire flower is actively used by landscape designers, as it is suitable for decorating a garden and local area in any style. True connoisseurs of ornamental plants love phlox for its diversity: there are inflorescences of absolutely any shade, varieties with different flowering periods and different heights of the bush.

Attention! There are so many varieties of phlox that it is quite possible to create a flower garden from these plants alone: ​​a well-designed flower bed will bloom from early summer until late autumn. Such flower beds are called floxariums.

Perennial phloxes have taken root in Russia due to their unique winter hardiness - they are one of the few flowers that can withstand severe frosts without shelter.

Types and varieties of plants

Phlox has about 85 varieties, half of which are cultural and decorative. Under natural conditions, most species grow in North America, and in our country only Siberian phlox can be found in the wild.

The most popular annual plant is Drummond's phlox, named after the Scottish botanist who brought the flower to England. It is well cultivated and has many varieties with varied corolla colors.

Now let's look at the most popular perennial varieties of phlox among flower growers with photos and names.

Phlox paniculata

The most common type of phlox, which is found in almost every garden. It begins to bloom at the beginning of summer and pleases with flowers all season long. It has very large inflorescences of a wide variety of colors, including “spotted” multicolors. But this species does not have yellow colors.

The shrub is quite large, reaching a height of half a meter to a meter and even higher. At the ends of the densely leafy shoots, of which there are more than twenty, lush “candles” of inflorescences bloom. They are very fragrant and bright, do not fade in the bright sun and are not afraid of shading.

This species prefers well-drained soil, moderate watering and good air circulation. They are not recommended to be planted close to buildings that protect them from drafts, and in no case should they be mulched in the summer.

Varieties and hybrids:

• "Amethyst" - has bluish-purple petals, blooms in July-August;
• "Blue Paradise" - lavender flowers with a blue center, smells very pleasant, blooms at the end of summer, reaches a height of 1 m 20 cm;
• "Bright Eyes" - soft pink flowers with a bright core, a very unpretentious variety, resistant to fungal infections;
• “David” - a titled variety with an award from English flower growers, has very lush snow-white inflorescences, is absolutely unpretentious and never gets sick;
• "Delilah" - bright pink, almost purple flowers form neat inflorescences, bloom in July-September;
• "Candy Twist" - two-color striped flowers of white and pink shades, smells good, does not fade in the sun and is resistant to disease;
• “Sandro Botticelli” - bred by a Russian breeder and worthy of the brush of a famous artist, has purple and pink petals.

Phlox subulate

A dwarf species with low ten to fifteen centimeter shoots. Its second name is turf phlox. Each stem produces many side branches, the plant grows well and covers the entire garden bed with a flowering carpet.

The inflorescences are small, consist of several flowers - no more than four, but are located very densely, the leaves are practically invisible behind them. True, the leaves are small, like needles. They are leathery and dense to the touch.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/phlox-plant-pink-polemoniaceae-3398370/

The colors are delicate, pastel - light lilac or mauve. Flowering begins early, in late spring.

This type is widely used in landscape design. The plant tolerates being pruned well and can be used to form compositions with various geometric shapes.

Varieties and hybrids:

• "Bonita" - bright pink flowers with a purple eye. This hybrid is not afraid of either heat or frost;
• “Candy Stripes” – very variegated, with a wide bright pink stripe on a white background, and the middle is dark purple;
• "Early Spring Blue" - lavender-blue flowers bloom in April and cover the ground with a dense carpet.

Phlox splayed

Its second name is Canadian. The shrub is medium-sized, reaching a height of forty to fifty centimeters. It has very large flowers of white or bluish-purple hue. The inflorescences are umbrella-shaped, their diameter can exceed ten centimeters. Flowering begins in late spring or early summer.

This species does not like peaty and deciduous soil; it prefers light soil with the addition of humus. In order for it to feel good, it does not need to be fed with manure or peat.

Varieties and hybrids:

• 'Clouds of Perfume' is a low-growing, turfy shrub that forms a mat of lavender flowers. Blooms in April or May. If not properly cared for, it may suffer from powdery mildew and nematodes;
• "London Grove" - ​​from a distance it resembles a scattering of forget-me-nots. Unpretentious, resistant to diseases, grows well;
• "Fuller's White" - has white petals with a slightly lilac tint. It is very frost-resistant, it is not afraid of frosts down to -40 ° C.
• "Eco Texas Purple" - dark purple corollas with a pink eye. They bloom relatively late - in June.

Planting and care in open ground

These flowers are much easier to grow than any other plants. A minimum of labor, practically no care, and in the spring - lush flowering bushes. Tempting?

In order for phlox, which is really very easy to care for, to grow and bloom well, some conditions will still have to be met. First of all, let us remember that the plants come from North America, which means they need to create conditions that are as close to natural as possible.

Choosing a landing time

Depending on the variety, phlox is planted either in early spring, as soon as the soil thaws, or in early autumn. This applies to seedlings with an open root system. It is worth knowing that these flowers prefer a “cold start”, that is, the roots begin to develop and actively grow during the cold period. Therefore, in the spring they are planted at a temperature of +3-5 °C, but care must be taken that the soil is not too wet.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/no-filter-moss-phlox-flowers-3678552/

You can replant flowers from pots and flowerpots at any time, using the transfer method, that is, the root system is not freed from the old earthen ball, but is planted in a hole dug in advance.

Selection of location and soil

Phlox are unpretentious and can grow on any soil, but it is better if the soil is well-drained and loamy. Adding lime will have a beneficial effect on plant growth.

Flowers do not like stagnant moisture and insufficient oxygen supply. They will feel great on hills, rocky alpine hills, and high beds. But the lowlands, where melt water accumulates in the spring and puddles form during rains, are not the best place for planting.

Try not to plant phlox under trees that have a shallow root system, otherwise there will be constant competition between plants for moisture and nutrition. The victory will definitely go to the strongest, and it is unlikely to be a flower.

Phloxes are recommended to be planted in sunny, well-lit areas. It is advisable not to plant flowers close to walls to ensure air circulation. If the variety has flowers that are prone to fading, then it is recommended to plant it in a shaded area.

In the sun, flowers will have more lush inflorescences than in the shade, but they will also bloom five to ten days earlier.

Landing rules

The soil must be prepared in advance. If you are planting spring varieties, then in the fall you need to dig up the soil well, at least to the size of a shovel, and fertilize it with a large amount of organic matter - humus. For one square meter of bed you need to add at least two buckets of rotted compost.

If the soil is too heavy, mix it with coarse river sand to improve its permeability.

The prepared bed is watered abundantly and given at least two weeks for shrinkage, otherwise the plant may go deeper, which is undesirable, since the root system is superficial.

The plant is not buried deeply; renewal buds should be buried three to five centimeters in the ground.

If you bought phlox, it is recommended to plant them for at least a year or two not in a general flower garden, but in a quarantine bed to prevent infection of other plants. And only when you are sure that the flowers are completely healthy and have no unpleasant “surprises”, they can be planted along with other crops.

Dwarf and low-growing species are very difficult to tolerate weeds in the first year after planting; be sure to remove them by the roots and thoroughly clean the soil of rhizomes until the plants get stronger.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/tufted-phlox-phlox-columbia-flowers-762651/

Air humidity

Phlox tolerate dry air very well, especially if they are well watered. On especially hot days, they need to be sprayed with a spray bottle, avoiding water getting on the inflorescences. This procedure should be done only in the evening, after sunset, so that the sun's rays combined with water do not burn the tender leaves.

Temperature

The most favorable temperature regime for growing phlox is +18-23 °C, but they can easily withstand temperature changes, drought and frost.

Currently, many varieties have been developed that are adapted to our climatic conditions. Flowers can be planted even in northern regions, where the climate is quite harsh - wet, cold winters and dry summers. But if there is little snow in winter, then the plant needs to be protected from frost.

Watering

Phloxes are watered after sunset quite abundantly, but rarely - no more than once or twice a week. On hot, dry days, watering is increased.

Water is poured directly under the roots, avoiding contact with flowering inflorescences. You need to pour at least two buckets of water under each bush.

Fertilizer

For active growth, phlox must be fed, carefully loosened the soil after moistening and weeded.

Even in early spring, when the snow just begins to melt, the bushes can be sprinkled with wood ash. Together with melt water, it will penetrate into all the “pores” of the flower, promote good growth and at the same time serve as a preventative against diseases.

The first fertilizing is applied during shoot growth. Organic fertilizers are best suited for this. For several bushes you need to take a bucket of compost and mix it with two tablespoons of urea, then sprinkle the mixture around the bushes.

The next feeding is carried out during the formation of buds. For more luxuriant flowering, phloxes are fed with liquid mineral fertilizers for beautifully flowering plants.

After the phlox has flowered, it needs feeding with superphosphate or a solution of potassium sulfate - a tablespoon per bucket of water.

Pruning and crown formation

There is no need to prune phloxes during the season, except that you should regularly cut off faded inflorescences so as not to interfere with the formation of new flowers. Sanitary pruning is also carried out periodically, weak, dry and diseased shoots are removed.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/phlox-flame-flower-flower-1525589/

Ground cover varieties are sometimes pruned to create decorative shapes.

In October-November, before the first frost, phloxes are prepared for wintering by cutting off the stems at the root or leaving shoots of ten to twelve centimeters.

To prevent infection with fungal diseases, after pruning, the soil around the bushes is sprayed with fungicides.

Care after flowering

In mid-autumn, flowers need to be prepared for winter. Phlox should go into winter well watered and fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Be sure to trim the stems, preferably to the very root. Cut branches should be burned, since small insect pests often spend the winter there.

To prevent phlox from becoming infected with fungal diseases, preventive spraying with fungicides is carried out in October.

Then the bushes are hilled up and covered with seven to ten centimeters of humus to protect the delicate underground buds from frost. This is especially true for young seedlings planted this year.

If winters have little snow, the plant may die. Growth buds freeze out at a temperature of -10 °C in just two weeks. But flowers covered for the winter, and even under a good layer of snow, can withstand frost down to -35-40 ° C. Therefore, be guided by your climatic conditions and cover the phloxes if necessary.

How to sow phlox seeds

We plant it straight into the garden. You can sow the achenes directly into the ground, spreading them every 5 cm in rows 1 cm deep. Having distributed the achenes among the rows, sprinkle them with soil.

We plant in seedlings. We grow planting material in a container in advance, keeping the container with the sown seeds for a couple of weeks in a cold place. We provide the seedlings with a warm place, good lighting, and timely watering. We plant the plants in the garden when 4 leaves appear.

Planting with seeds is good because the bushes become more powerful and healthy, but, unfortunately, they may lose some of the characteristics inherent in the variety.

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If you want to divide the bushes in the fall, plant the separated bushes in early September, cutting the stems by a third: rooting will happen faster and easier. For the winter, we insulate the plantings with mulch. The first shoots will appear in the spring, as soon as the snow melts.

Planting of separated bushes is carried out as follows:

We dig up the bush to be divided, remove it from the ground and cut off the stems, leaving cuttings 15 cm long.

We separate the roots using a sharp knife: each separated bush should have 2-5 buds.

We make large holes, fill them with ash (a large handful) and compost (half a bucket), and mix the additives with the soil.

Pour water into the holes, place a bush, sprinkle with soil, covering the growth points by 4-5 cm.

We tamp the soil around the bushes, add a layer of compost and tamp again.

At the end of planting, cover the soil around the plants with a ten-centimeter layer of mulch, using peat or straw.

Phlox propagation

There can never be too many of these beautiful flowers! Moreover, friends and acquaintances often ask to give them a “sprout” so that they can plant such beauty in their garden.

Perennial phlox can grow in one place for more than fifteen years, but over time, the central part of the bush ages and requires rejuvenation or replanting. It is advisable to do this every five to seven years by dividing the bush. This procedure is quite a serious test for the plant, so to propagate your favorite varieties, you can use the cutting method, layering, or even planting seeds.

Cuttings

Cuttings are a simple and uncomplicated way to propagate plants. Cuttings cut at the end of May or in August-September are guaranteed to take root. It is advisable to take the middle part of the shoot with two internodes.

Young shoots six to ten centimeters long are cut off and completely dipped in water - this allows them to be saturated with moisture and adapt faster in the first days after planting. “Bathing” cuttings should not exceed one hour.

The lower leaves are removed from the shoots, and the upper ones are cut in half so that they do not draw extra strength and nutrition for their life support. The seedling should devote its main energy to the development of roots.

Planting is done in a shaded place to a depth of no more than one or two centimeters. Autumn cuttings are covered with a greenhouse - a glass jar. Rooting will occur in two to three weeks, you will immediately notice it, as young shoots will appear on the stem.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/28872797/

When transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings are well deepened into the ground so that the buds do not freeze and active growth of young shoots begins in the spring. Phlox will bloom in the spring after wintering.

Dividing the bush

Every few years, a heavily overgrown bush is replanted by division. This allows you to rejuvenate it by removing old branches and achieve more luxuriant flowering. The date of planting does not matter, but it is desirable that the flower has already bloomed, so planting phlox in the fall is more preferable - you will have time to enjoy the flowering plant.

The bush is dug up, and all its branches are cut off - no more than ten to fifteen centimeters should be left. Old, weak and dry shoots are completely removed. Next, the bush is divided into several parts, but make sure that each part has at least two renewal buds left.

The holes are prepared in advance so that the soil has time to settle. They need to be dug up at least two weeks before planting. For active growth, pour half a bucket of humus (compost), a glass of wood ash and mineral fertilizers into them. If planting is carried out in the fall, then fertilizers containing nitrogen are not applied.

Next, you need to pour a sufficient amount of water into the holes, wait until it is absorbed into the ground, and plant the divisions. Renewal buds should be covered with soil by at least three to five centimeters.

Bends

This is the easiest way to propagate phlox. A young, healthy shoot is bent to the ground, secured with pins and buried in the middle. In this place, after a couple of weeks, new roots will form and young shoots will appear - layering, which are then separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a separate place.

Seeds

Planting seeds also gives good germination. They are sown in late autumn directly into open ground. Dig up the bed and prepare it in advance. Plant the seeds at a distance of five to seven centimeters from each other and cover with a centimeter layer of pre-sifted soil. In the spring, young seedlings will need to be pricked at a distance of twenty centimeters, but only after two pairs of leaves appear.

If you didn’t manage to plant it on time, then this can be done at home, but after planting, the containers need to be taken outside so that the seeds overwinter in natural conditions and not in the heat.

Transfer

Basically, only perennial species are replanted and only after 4-5 years of growing in one place. In this case, replanting will rejuvenate the plants.

Bushes are replanted in several cases:

• if after rapid growth you need to thin out the flower bed,
• if the transplant is due to design ideas,
• if the perennial has been growing in the same place for about 3-5 years.

In other cases, it is recommended to avoid transplantation - phloxes tolerate it quite painfully.

Transplantation in case of illness

If the phloxes are sick, replanting may be necessary to improve the health of the bushes.

Transplantation is carried out in the fall, after flowering.

1. The stems are carefully dug out along with a lump of earth on the roots and transferred to a new place.
2. It is best to cover the transplanted bushes with something - for some time after transplantation the plants get sick, they have reduced immunity and resistance to cold.

Otherwise, transplantation is easy, and death is usually not observed.

Diseases and pests

Like any garden plants, phlox flowers can be attacked by parasites that feed on sap.

These include:

• wire beetle;
• stem nematodes;
• spider mite;
• earwig;
• thrips;
• slugs;
• aphid.

If you notice that the flowers look sick, they have spots on the leaves, and the buds are drooping, then carefully inspect the plants for insect pests.

Spider mites and aphids can be easily destroyed by spraying with a strong soapy solution made from hot water and brown laundry soap. For the rest of the “living creatures” it is necessary to use more aggressive methods - insecticides.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/cushion-phlox-blossom-bloom-plant-123151/

But you can avoid the use of harmful chemicals if you plant antagonistic plants between the phloxes, which serve both as bait for insects and as a trap. These include marigolds, calendula, garlic, dill, and white mustard.

Some varieties of phlox are susceptible to the following diseases.

• Powdery mildew is a fungal infection. You can get rid of it by spraying with ordinary skim milk with the addition of a few drops of iodine or a solution of soda ash and laundry soap.
• Septoria, or white spot. Light spots with dark edges appear on the leaves. Treatment is carried out first with traditional methods, and if it does not help, then with the help of fungicides.
• Phomasis is a fungal disease caused by Foma fungi. They first penetrate the root system and then completely infect the entire plant. A very dangerous disease, sometimes reaching epidemic proportions. There is no cure for it. For prevention in the spring, leaves and stems are sprinkled with colloidal sulfur.

Wintering

Preparing for winter will not take you much time. The stems are cut so that no more than 15 cm remain. All leaves and other plant remains must be carefully collected - they can become a breeding ground for pathogenic fungi. The remaining part of the stem is wrapped in agrofibre or burlap - several small holes are made in the fabric for ventilation. The ground around the stems is covered with straw or sawdust.

Like if you liked the article and write your additions for other gardeners in the comments.

Problems with flowers

Improper care can lead to some growing difficulties.

Choosing a place

Planting phlox should be thought out. Active growth and lush flowering are possible only in an area with good lighting. No wind, draft, heat-loving flowers.

The best option is a sunny bed on the north side near the fence. They take root well under trees and shrubs.

Phlox flowers do not like lowlands and other areas where stagnation may occur in the soil. Groundwater must flow as deep as possible. It is best if the plant is planted on a hill.