Spread blue phlox: planting and care
Content:
Phlox are flowers, the name of which is translated from Greek as "flame". Small flowers form a lush, but light flowering, filling the entire space of the flower bed with bright shades. Despite the name, the palette of this species is wide - you can find not only fiery or pink shades, but also cold ones. Florists especially fell in love with the spreading phlox with delicate blue flowers.
Description of the species
Phlox Spread (or Spread) is a herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the Phlox genus and the Sinyukhov family.
This species has creeping-type stems with a turf formed on them. It reaches a height of 20-30 cm. Its leaves are lacteate, juicy green. The inflorescences form a splayed shield, the petals are in the form of droplets, attached to the core with a narrow part. It is because of this structure of the inflorescences that these phloxes are called "spread". The flowers themselves are about 3 cm in diameter.
The flowers of this species are pale blue.
The flowering period lasts a little longer than a month, from the end of May. Its splendor can vary from year to year, but with proper care, the garden flower will bloom equally brightly every time.
In nature, this plant originally grew in North America, in areas with rocky, dry soil, as well as in moist forests. Now this plant can be found even in the garden plots of central Russia or in Siberia.
Phlox in garden design: possibilities of use
Most often phlox is used in landscape design as a background plant. A light blue carpet of small flowers will perfectly fill the space near a rocky alpine slide, around an artificial pond, next to a gazebo or a spreading tree.
This type should be combined with other flowers and green plants to give the site a decorative effect in other seasons. A flowerbed with "cold" phloxes of blue and white color (like the May Breeze variety) will look good.
Growing phlox: breeding methods
Phlox Spread - garden flowers. You can grow them on the site in several ways, each of which has certain features. The main breeding method is vegetative.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
The fastest way to get several from one plant is to divide the bush into several parts. This is done in the fall or early spring:
- The bush is carefully dug out, excess soil is shaken off the roots.
- Several shoots are separated from it, or the bush is divided into 2-3 parts.
- Each part is planted separately on the site.
Reproduction by layering
Layers can propagate the bush to the next flowering period. Since the stems of Phlox Spread practically creep along the ground, even novice gardeners will not have problems with this method.
Young shoots can simply be pressed to the ground with a stone or attached to the ground with a bracket, not forgetting to periodically moisten the soil under them. Often in this plant, some shoots take root on their own.
In early spring, shoots with roots are detached from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.
Seed propagation
Growing phlox from seeds is a long and energy-intensive process. But in this way, experienced growers can grow a healthier plant than one bought at a garden market or in a store.
Step by step you need:
- Prepare the soil mixture. For phlox, humus, deciduous soil, peat and sand in equal parts are suitable.
- Pour soil into containers.
- Seeds deepen 1.5-2 cm into the ground, at a distance from each other.
- Cover the container with a mini greenhouse.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings should be carried out in May, when the plant is gaining full strength. This is done like this:
- A young but strong shoot is cut at an angle; the cut shoot should have two internodes.
- The shoot is planted in moist soil.
- It is covered with a greenhouse (a plastic bottle will work well).
After a couple of months, the cut shoot will take root, and next year it will be possible to wait for flowering.
Place for planting a flower
The ideal place to plant the Away Phlox would be a semi-shaded area in the garden, or a lighted area that is obscured by shade at lunchtime. Therefore, this species is often planted under spreading trees, tall shrubs, or next to gazebos.
Excellent combination of phlox and low shrub
Soil for flowers
Loamy soils with low to medium acidity work well for phlox. In general, these flowers are unpretentious to different soil. To make the flowering more magnificent, experts advise planting phloxes in more fertile soils, loose, air and water permeable.
It is important that the place is not swampy, the groundwater level does not rise to the roots of the plant. Too wet soil will lead to the death of the flower.
Care Tips
These flowers do not require special care. The set of actions is practically no different from caring for other garden flowers, but it is important to observe some nuances.
Watering and weeding plants
Phloxes love moist soil. If the planting site is in the shade, and there is a pond or automatic sprayers nearby, you do not need to water the plant.
In hot weather, especially if the flower bed is in a sunny area, you need to water the plant a little every day. Water stagnation should not form. Watering is best done with settled cold water, in the evening hours.
Since the soil around phlox is usually rather loose, weeds often appear in it. They must be removed periodically so that nutrients and moisture are not taken from the flower.
Top dressing
Competent feeding will help to increase the splendor of flowering and extend its period. In the case of phlox, you can alternate mineral and organic fertilizers.
Fertilizers are applied in late spring and early June. For these purposes, the following are suitable:
- chicken droppings and superphosphate;
- a mixture of fluorine and potassium salt;
- chicken droppings and potassium salt.
Each product is diluted with water, then the plant is watered.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary for phlox after the flowering period. Firstly, wilted shoots will spoil the decorativeness of the flower garden, and secondly, it is easier to prepare the flowers for wintering and the next flowering.
You need to cut it so that about 10 cm above the ground remains from the shoots. The base of the bush is then sprayed with a fungicide.
Preparing phlox for winter
Before the period of cold weather under phlox, the land must be mulched. For this, horse manure, peat and humus are suitable. Half a bucket of manure or 3/4 buckets of peat will go under one bush.
From above, the trimmed bushes are closed with spruce branches or tops from various plants. In addition, it is not necessary to cover phlox with burlap or in other ways, they calmly endure frosts. In the spring, after the cold weather disappears, the spruce branches are removed.
Phlox pruning process
Diseases and pests of phlox, we combine a flower with other plants
Phloxes are often exposed to diseases and pests if the flower garden is not well looked after. Loose and moist soil, weed control and fungicide treatment are excellent prevention of any problems with these flowers.
How to deal with pests and diseases of phlox:
- Slugs, snails, pennies, spider mites, thrips and nematodes - the means "Aktara", "Sumi-alpha", "Kinmiks" will help.
- Floury rum, phomosis, septoria are cured with Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol, copper sulfate.
Any tool must be used according to the instructions.
Phlox Widespread is perfectly combined in flower beds with large daisies, yellow or bright red tulips, with openwork shrubs.
Folk omens and legends
Phloxes have been overgrown with legends and omens for a long time. Since the name of the flowers has a "fiery" meaning, the legend of their appearance on Earth is also associated with fire.
Phloxes can also decorate a home if you cut them and put them in a vase.
Along it, Odysseus, descending with his companions into the dark kingdom of Hades, lit torches. After their journey, the king and his soldiers threw torches on the ground, and phlox appeared in their place after a while.
Even for those who do not believe in omens, this flower will bring positive emotions. Its pleasant aroma and bright bloom will fill the garden with good mood.
