Content
Phlox Star Rain is a plant that has spread throughout Europe. The flower looks great in decorative pots and on alpine slides. The riot of colors of fragrant inflorescences delights the eyes of summer residents from May to September. Culture has one important feature - it shows itself in all its glory only to those who carefully look after it.
Description of Phlox Star Rain
Phlox Drummond Star Rain is an annual plant of the Sinyukhov family, characterized by long flowering. The culture is a bush about 50 cm high with branching stems.
Phlox of this variety has oval, slightly pointed leaves, located oppositely.
Annual phloxes of the Star Rain variety are sun-loving plants that do not tolerate shade.
Flowers do not fade in the sun, so they can be planted in well-lit areas
The climate of the regions in which phlox Star Rain will grow comfortably should be moderate. The culture prefers light soils. It does not tolerate overheating of the root system, so watering must be regular.
Another advantage of the Star Rain variety is its resistance to adverse weather conditions. It tolerates frost and drought well.
Flowers of the Star Rain variety look like stars
Features of flowering
Flowering begins in June and continues until frost. At -5 °C, Star Rain dies, so it should be covered for the winter.
Racemose inflorescences collected in corymbs are pink, lilac or purple. Outwardly, they resemble stars. The size of the flowers does not exceed 2 cm in diameter, but thanks to the bright corymbose inflorescences, phlox Starry Rain gives the impression of blooming luxuriantly. In hot weather, flowering becomes abundant.
Phlox bushes tolerate drought well
Application in design
Phlox flowers of the Star Rain variety are often used in landscape design.
The plant looks good both individually and in group plantings.
Since Star Rain grows up to 50 cm in height, it is planted next to tall coniferous trees
The culture also looks harmonious with bells, petunias and cereals
When choosing neighbors for a crop, gardeners should pay attention to the fact that grayish wormwood and fescue will stand out beautifully against the background of pink phlox.
Phlox Star Rain look great on alpine slides in decorative flowerpots.
Reproduction methods
There are several ways to propagate phlox:
- By division. In early autumn or spring, a large bush is divided into several parts. This propagation method is only suitable for seedlings that are more than five years old. Divide the root with your hands or a shovel.Planting is carried out immediately so that the root system does not have time to dry out.
- Leaf cuttings. Summer time (end of June - July) is suitable for propagation using this method. A leaf with a bud is separated from the stem, and then planted in the ground. To root the plant, the container with the cuttings is kept in a room where the air temperature is about 20°C.
- Stem cuttings. The breeding procedure is carried out in May. The shoots of the bush are divided into parts so that each of them has 2 nodes.
The material is planted in the soil and transferred to a greenhouse. Within three weeks the cuttings take root
- By layering. The bush intended for propagation is covered with earth. After some time, the stems begin to grow. They are carefully trimmed and transplanted to a prepared place.
The Star Rain variety is propagated using seeds. The gardener needs to inspect the bush and find lush but yellowed caps. When the flower dries, it is cut off and placed in a bag. When the seeds are finally ripe, they will fall out into the same bag. The gardener will only have to sort them and plant them.
Growing Phlox Star Rain from Seeds
Annual phloxes are grown in almost the same way as perennials. The only difference is that the seeds are not sprinkled with earth, but pressed down. The plant will begin to develop independently and sink to the desired depth.
Recommended timing
Sowing of annual phlox Star Rain is carried out in March in order to replant them in May. It is allowed to plant the seeds a little earlier, but in this case the sprouts will have to be additionally illuminated. This is not always convenient.
Gardeners advise sowing after warm weather sets in. If frosts suddenly come, the plant will not withstand them and will die.
Selection of containers and soil preparation
The ideal planting container for phlox is a plastic seedling container. Small drainage holes are made in it using a mini-soldering iron.
To grow Star Rain phlox, a universal soil mixture for seedlings is suitable. It is advisable to supplement it with dolomite flour, sand or ash. To loosen the soil, add coconut briquettes in a 1:1 ratio. In order for seedlings to develop properly, the soil must be breathable.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Sowing seeds for seedlings begins in early spring (mid-March). Detailed instructions for sowing seeds:
- The bottom of the container is pierced in several places to prevent stagnation of water, which is detrimental to phlox.
- The planting pot is filled with soil mixture and slightly moistened with hot water.
- The seeds are spread over the entire surface of the ground and covered with film.
- The shelter is regularly checked for condensation. If it appears, then the film is periodically opened slightly.
The container is placed on the windowsill under diffused sunlight. The air temperature in the room should be +20…23 °C.
After a few weeks, the first shoots will appear
Growing seedlings
After planting the plant, wait for the first shoots to appear. This usually happens within 2-3 weeks. Phlox seedlings are unpretentious and tolerate diving well. The procedure is carried out after the appearance of three full leaves. The sprout is transplanted into a pot with substrate. In May, the seedlings are hardened off, leaving the shoots next to an open window.When the sprouts get a little stronger, they are fed with mineral fertilizers before transplanting into the ground.
Aftercare
Gardeners say that at the end of May you can safely plant seedlings in open ground. To do this, you need to choose a well-lit place on the site that does not receive direct sunlight at midday.
A handful of wood ash is placed in the prepared hole, and then a seedling is placed in it. The plant is lightly sprinkled with soil and compacted with your hands. After this, you need to water the soil with warm water.
Aftercare involves performing the following actions:
- Regular watering with cool water, especially on hot days.
- Two weeks after planting, the soil around the plant is loosened so that the roots can breathe.
- Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out at least 4 times during the summer.
- Mulching will help make caring for the crop easier. A layer of peat or sawdust will prevent the soil from drying out and will also prevent the growth of weeds.
Pests and diseases
Phloxes are practically not susceptible to infectious diseases. However, pests often damage the plant.
The most dangerous insects for flowering crops are:
- Nematode - a 1 mm worm that settles in the tissues of the plant and feeds on its sap. To get rid of pests, it is necessary to cut off the affected stems, and after the shoots grow, break them and plant them in the ground under a film. In this case, the roots are treated with Piperazine, and the soil with Fitoverm.
- Slugs – pests that spoil the plant at night. They eat leaves, buds and cuttings. You can fight mucus with the help of pine needles scattered around the area.
- Scoops - caterpillars that eat all parts of the plant.Over time, phlox stops growing and begins to fade. Having discovered the disease, it is necessary to collect all the caterpillars and treat the flowers with insecticides.
It is prohibited to spray phlox Star Rain during the flowering period.
This can be dangerous for pollinating insects.
Conclusion
Phlox Star Rain is an unpretentious plant that blooms from June to September. The culture is unpretentious in care and tolerates drought and frost well. Growing in a sunny area, phlox achieves maximum decorative value.
Reviews
Evgenia Petrova, 50 years old, Astrakhan
