Content
Propagating phlox is a great way to independently obtain your favorite plants for planting. They amaze with their variety of colors, so they can decorate even the most unsightly area of the garden. The shimmer of red, white, purple or pink shades and pleasant aroma make phlox indispensable when composing bright summer compositions.
Delicate shades of phlox will enliven any area
How do phlox reproduce?
Several vegetative methods of propagation of perennial phlox are known, and one sexual method is by sowing seeds. Each option has its own nuances and features. Perennial phlox reproduce easily. Gardeners choose the most convenient option:
- Dividing the bush. The most popular breeding option. The advantages of this method are ease of implementation and the ability to propagate phlox throughout the growing season. Plants bloom later than with other types of division. After propagation, plantings require careful care.Important! When dividing, the characteristics of the variety are fully transmitted.
From full-fledged cuttings you can quickly get new plants
- Stem, leaf, root cuttings. Reproduction is carried out at certain times. Rooting occurs well, varietal characteristics are preserved. A variety of cutting options makes it possible to obtain a large amount of planting material. The disadvantage of this type of propagation is the longer period during which the seedling grows into a full-fledged plant. It is also necessary to carry out cuttings very quickly, which is difficult during the busy period of gardening. It is difficult to propagate by root cuttings due to poor rooting and the labor-intensive method. Replanting and greenhouse construction are required.
There are several ways to take phlox cuttings
- By layering. A simple and accessible method of propagating phlox even for beginners. Varietal characteristics are fully transmitted. There are several design options, allowing gardeners to choose the most suitable one. Disadvantages - full-fledged plants will only be available in the fall of next year; it is difficult to maintain humidity levels in the summer.
- Seeds. The only sexual method of reproduction of perennial phlox. The disadvantage of the method is considered to be splitting in the offspring, so the seedlings may not retain the characteristics of the mother plant. The resulting phlox seedlings will give a different color of flowers and will differ in quality characteristics. Also, seed propagation requires quite a lot of effort when growing seedlings.
To choose the appropriate reproduction option, you need to read the detailed description of each.
Reproduction times for perennial phlox
Experienced phlox growers claim that perennials can be grown throughout the entire growing season. Phlox propagation is available in autumn, spring and summer. Each period has its own characteristics.To get a guaranteed result, you still need to take into account the optimal timing. Certain propagation methods are better suited for each season of the year - this is due to the biological rhythms of the plant.
in spring
The beginning of the growing season allows the new plant to take root and face the winter cold with dignity. According to gardeners, even accidentally broken shoots or pieces of roots take root in the spring. At this time apply:
- Dividing the bush. Period: end of April or beginning of May. The final period of propagation depends on weather conditions and the region where phlox is grown.
- Stem cuttings. The best time is May and early June.Important! You need to finish preparing the cuttings before the phlox begins to budding.
- Root cuttings. It is rarely used, mainly when the bush is damaged by stem nematodes. The method of propagation is carried out in early spring in April.
Root cuttings require experience, so they are used quite rarely.
- Sowing seeds. Perennial phloxes reproduce by seeds after preliminary stratification, so it is recommended to sow immediately after the soil thaws.
Spring phlox propagation activities are always successful, especially after a successful wintering. The plant has a lot of energy and time to develop.
In summer
The summer period is considered less favorable due to the specific weather conditions. Propagation of phlox in summer requires more attention from the gardener. Plants require regular watering for rooting, shading, and spraying. The most successful in the summer months can be considered:
- dividing the bush in exceptional cases;
- propagation by layering;
- rooting of axillary ocelli;
- stem and leaf cuttings.
The optimal breeding season is early summer (June).If the cuttings were sprinkled in June, then in August they need to be transplanted to a permanent place.
in autumn
You can propagate phlox in the fall, if this was not planned at another time of the year.
The best option is to divide the bush. The best time for the event is the end of August or the beginning of September. If you start dividing phlox later, then when early winter sets in, the plants will not have time to take root and may die. Unpretentious varieties of perennials can be sown with seeds before winter. This is done in October after preliminary preparation of the beds and subsequent covering of the crops with dry leaves.
How to propagate perennial phlox by dividing the bush
The most productive and popular way. Phlox reproduce by division in spring or early autumn. For the autumn procedure, it is important that the phloxes have already had time to form renewal buds. If an urgent need arises, then a summer event with proper care will also be successful. Plants that are at least 5-6 years old need to be divided.
Algorithm for performing this method:
- Determine in advance a new place for phlox.
- Dig planting holes.
- Choose a suitable bush for propagation and dig it up.
- Shorten the stems by 1/3 of the length.
- Carefully shake off the soil from the roots, clean the root collars from the soil.
- Separate the root collars from each other.
- Disassemble the roots going to the stems.
- It is best to do this with your hands, but if the bush is very old, you will have to use a shovel or knife.
- Each division should have a small number of roots, eyes or stem buds (at least 5-6 pieces). The bush should not be divided into small parts; such divisions do not overwinter well.
- Immediately plant the plants in a new place or school.If this is not possible, then dip the roots in a clay mash or dig in.
Dividing the bush is done carefully, trying not to damage the roots.
Phlox growers often use a simplified version of phlox propagation by dividing the bush. To do this, you do not need to dig up the entire bush. It is enough to separate half of it and disassemble it into parts. Fill the hole that was formed when half the bush was removed with fertile soil. By autumn, the remaining part of the bush will grow well. Next spring you can repeat the division, but on the other side of the bush.
Perennial phlox are best divided in the spring. The reproduction method has its advantages over other methods. You can divide the bush into a large number of divisions. They will take root much better than in summer or autumn. They contain enough nutrients deposited in the fall and not consumed by the plant.
How to propagate phlox flowers by layering
An economical way for gardeners. Does not require the construction of greenhouses or additional transplants. It is best to use it in early summer. You will need to choose a healthy, strong shoot. There are two options for getting a new plant:
- Bend the stem to the ground. Cover with soil and tamp down a little. Some phlox growers recommend digging a small furrow to lay the shoot. Water regularly. After the roots appear, separate the new bush from the mother plant and replant it in a permanent place.
Reproduction by layering does not require additional knowledge or equipment
- Select a mother bush for propagation. Use a fork to mound the stems with loose soil. Keep the soil moist at all times.Roots form on the branches. Carefully separate the root with the shoots and replant.
The propagation procedure should begin in late May or early June, and transplantation should be carried out in August.
How can phlox be propagated by seeds?
Seed propagation differs from vegetative methods and is performed:
- direct sowing into the ground;
- by growing seedlings.
Gardeners need to remember that with this method, phlox blooms later than with other propagation methods. The second disadvantage is that the plant loses its varietal characteristics and changes color. This is due to the fact that during sexual reproduction, a plant can exhibit not only parental qualities, but also more distant ancestors. But the advantage of seed propagation is the excellent adaptability of the resulting plants to the conditions of a given region. For annual varieties, this method is considered the only method for propagation. For perennials - secondary. Vegetative methods of propagation have priority.
Unpretentious varieties of phlox are propagated by winter crops. Seeds must undergo stratification, so being in the ground in winter has a positive effect on the germination of planting material. Fertilize the bed with humus and sand, sow the seeds in shallow grooves, and cover with dry leaves. The event is held in October-November. The distance between the rows is 15 cm, the planting depth is 3 cm. In early spring, the foliage must be removed so that sprouts appear under the rays of the sun.
In spring, when the sun warms up, the first shoots appear
This option is less reliable. Small seedlings may die in unfavorable spring weather conditions. The seedling propagation method is considered more reliable. Sowing is done in early December.
To grow seedlings you need:
- Prepare a substrate for seedlings. You can purchase it at a garden store or prepare it yourself. You will need to mix humus, turf soil and river sand in equal parts.
- Prepare containers for sowing. For 250 seeds you need a box 35 cm wide and 50 cm long.
- Fill the container with soil, moisten it, compact it a little.
- Spread the seeds without deepening them, sprinkle with substrate on top.
- Transfer to an open greenhouse and cover with snow.
- In the second half of March, transfer the containers to the greenhouse.
- Provide a temperature of + 12 °C during the day and + 5 °C at night.
- When the first pair of leaves appears, pick the seedlings.
- At the stage of 4 true leaves, transplant into a greenhouse. Planting scheme – 1 plant per 8 square meters. see The optimal period is the end of April.
- Cover the greenhouse with film or glass.
- In the second ten days of May, transplant the phloxes to a permanent place.
The plants will bloom this same year.
Collection and preparation of seed material
To collect seeds, you should select phloxes with richly colored flowers. In many varieties, the seeds ripen on the vine. To prevent them from falling apart, they need to be collected in time. The signal will be the brown color of the box. Self-seeding can be prevented. As soon as the petals stop falling from the bush, cut the plant at the root and put it in a warm room (+ 23-25 °C) for ripening without direct sunlight. Carry out the operation on a sunny afternoon, when the dew on the leaves has dried. Place each variety separately. By periodically turning the phlox, it is easy to achieve uniform drying of the plant. The green mass dries in 3 weeks. Then you need to rub the boxes with your hands over the paper so that the seeds fall out. Remove debris using a hair dryer. Then place the seeds in paper bags, labeling them with the name of the variety.Store in a dry, dark place.
Phlox seeds need to be cleaned of dust impurities before sowing.
When the summer is wet and cool, the seeds may not ripen. Therefore, at the end of the season, you need to dig up several plants, transplant them into flower pots and leave them to ripen at room conditions.
Conclusion
Phlox propagation is possible in different ways. You need to choose the right one based on climatic conditions, practical experience and skills. In any case, you will be able to assemble a bright flower garden from phlox on your site with minimal time and effort.
