Content
Phlox Gzhel is considered one of the best crops for decorating summer cottages and garden plots. The variety has a delightful aroma, high resistance to cold and frost, is undemanding in care and has a long flowering period. Before planting a plant in the garden, it is important to carefully study all the features of its maintenance in order to provide the most comfortable conditions for growth and development.
Description of Phlox Gzhel
The Phlox Gzhel variety is characterized by a pleasant aroma that resembles the smell of oriental spices. The bush grows from 1 m in height and up to 70 cm in diameter. A plant with a branched root system located in the top layer of soil.
On thin, but quite strong stems there are dark green, oval-shaped leaves, slightly pointed at the end.
This variety of phlox is characterized by low susceptibility to disease and pests, and also has a high level of winter hardiness. The plant tolerates even the harshest winters with severe frosts. Gzhel can be grown in all regions.
Gzhel phloxes have an interesting feature: the color of the flowers directly depends on the weather.So, on a cloudy day, the color of the petals becomes more saturated, and in hot weather they will take on a purple hue. The time of day also affects the appearance of the plant: in the evening the flowers become a little brighter. The Gzhel phlox variety is excellent for creating bouquets due to its ability to maintain a fresh appearance and rich color for a long time.
Description of phlox Gzhel Maxi
In 2012, breeders managed to develop an analogue of the variety - Phlox Gzhel Maxi, which has several external differences.
The bush of the Gzhel Maxi variety is slightly lower and reaches 75 cm in height
Moreover, during the budding period, large flowers appear on round-shaped inflorescences, reaching 5 cm in diameter. The variety has the same high level of frost resistance and disease resistance as its predecessor.
Features of flowering
Phlox Gzhel is a perennial crop and has an average flowering period. The shrub begins to bloom in mid-summer, and this process lasts until the last days of September. In July, blue buds appear on the Gzhel phlox. When they bloom, they form dense, cone-shaped inflorescences.
Flowers with purple, white and blue petals reach 4-4.5 cm in diameter
The flowering of Gzhel phlox can be completely continuous from spring to autumn. To do this, they use different options for combining species, combining them not only by color, but also by duration and flowering period.
Application in design
Phloxes Gzhel are perfect for decorating a “village garden”. Next to the crop you can plant bells, carnations, daisies, and rudbeckias. When decorating a classic garden, Gzhel phlox can be combined with different types of perennials: peonies, daylilies, etc.Do not forget that the plant requires a spacious area for normal growth and development. Therefore, you should refrain from planting Gzhel phlox near growing species.
The plant looks unusual among other shrubs and trees, along the edges of fences
The flower is often used to decorate paths, alleys, and building facades. Some gardeners grow phlox specifically for cutting. For more lush and large flower caps, only 6-7 peduncles should be left on one specimen.
Reproduction methods
There are several ways to propagate Phlox Gzhel. These include dividing the bush in spring and autumn and cuttings. The seed method is possible, but it does not allow preserving the quality of the crop.
The most effective and popular method is propagation by dividing the bush, which is often carried out in spring or early autumn. Summer planting is also allowed, but then it is recommended to trim the flower stalks. The mother plant must be carefully dug up, the sprouts must be cleared of lumps of earth, but the root ball must be left intact. Then, carefully disassembling the roots, the bush is divided into several parts.
Landing rules
Phlox Gzhel grows and develops well on fertile loamy loose soil, slightly acidic or close to neutral. It is recommended to use rotted manure and ash as fertilizer. Fertilizing should be applied 20-30 cm deep, in the root area.
Phlox Gzhel should be planted in a bright area, but without direct sun. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, at the beginning of May or in the fall, until the end of September. It is important not to delay this procedure so that the plant can take root.The duration of growth in one area can be from 7 to 10 years.
Blooming phlox Gzhel can also be replanted. Then he should be provided with regular watering and the flowers should be cut off.
To replant, you need to dig a hole up to 20 cm deep (the size of the hole can vary depending on the size of the roots) and pour plenty of water. The bottom of the recess should be sprinkled with humus, ash, and superphosphate. Clay soil is also filled with sand to loosen it, and loam is added to sandy soil to prevent the plant from drying out.
To transplant a plant, its roots must be placed in a hole and straightened, and the space between them must be filled with earth. It is important to monitor the root collar so that it is located 3-5 cm above the soil level. If it is higher, the plant may die from hypothermia, and if lower, it may not bloom. After planting is completed, regular watering must be provided.
Aftercare
Phlox Gzhel loves fertilizers, which need to be applied about 6 times a season.
In the spring, when the snow has melted, to improve growth, it is recommended to use fertilizing with a high nitrogen content or water it with slurry from manure, mulching the soil around the phlox with humus.
During budding, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be reduced. During this period, it is better to use complex flower potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and ash. It is dissolved in irrigation water (1 tbsp per bucket) or poured at the base as mulch. Due to the high potassium content in fertilizers, the flowers will become brighter, and the budding time of the bush will increase slightly.
For the fourth time, phosphorus substances are used in liquid form or superphosphate granules (10-15 g) are placed in the soil.
When flowering is over, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are again used for feeding. Superphosphate has low solubility in water, so the best option would be a complex fertilizer in liquid form or granules in the soil.
Watering phloxes is best done in the evening or morning, with a consumption of 15 liters of water (about 2 buckets) per 1 m2 of planting area. Do not irrigate the leaves, especially in hot weather. It is enough to run water at the base of the plant or place a hose between the bushes.
After watering or heavy rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil (once every 2-3 weeks). This must be done carefully, taking into account the superficial type of phlox root system.
Preparing for winter
To prepare the plant for the onset of winter, small pruning should be done in mid-October: remove old stems 8-10 cm in height. The bush does not need them in winter; moreover, it is these parts that can become a breeding ground for pests and fungal diseases in the next year. If you carry out the autumn work in time, you can significantly save time in the spring on pruning dead wood.
Thanks to their winter hardiness, Gzhel phloxes tolerate low temperatures well, so they do not need shelter. However, at the end of flowering, it is important to cut off faded inflorescences so that they do not weaken the bush before wintering.
Pests and diseases
The main cause of Gzhel phlox diseases is improper maintenance conditions or planting of diseased specimens. Gardeners recommend organizing a “quarantine bed” on the territory. New specimens are planted in this area. And only after time has passed, the plant is placed in a permanent place.In addition, it is necessary to carefully treat the garden tools and containers used with such standard means as steam, alcohol and boiling water.
The most common diseases of Gzhel phlox include:
- Variegation, which often occurs during the flowering period. As a result, the plant takes on a weakened appearance and becomes dull. Affected specimens must be immediately dug up by the roots and burned, and the planting area must be thoroughly processed.
The disease can be recognized by the following signs: change in the color of the petals, the appearance of asymmetrical radial light stripes on them
- Jaundice. The disease leads to changes in the shape of leaves, buds and stems. The disease spreads throughout the plant quite slowly, however, if symptoms are detected, it is necessary to completely destroy the affected specimens.
The flowers begin to turn green, the growth of the bush stops
- Powdery mildew. If the problem is not detected in time, the bushes may die. To prevent the disease, you should use a solution of furatsilin or any fungicides. If powdery mildew begins to spread, phlox should be treated with preparations containing copper.
The disease is characterized by the appearance of a white coating and dull color of the leaves.
The most common crop pests are slugs, aphids, and spider mites, which attack already weak, fading bushes. To preserve the plant, phlox should be additionally treated with chemicals against pests, which can be found in any garden store.
Conclusion
Phlox Gzhel is one of the most popular varieties for decorating garden areas.The bush has unique decorative qualities, has a wonderful aroma and is able to change color depending on weather conditions. Phlox paniculata Gzhel is unpretentious in care, is characterized by a high level of winter hardiness and is able to grow in one place for 7 to 10 years. In addition to proper maintenance conditions, it is important for the plant to be regularly treated with special preparations to prevent damage by diseases or pests.
