Phlox ( Phlox) – herbaceous plant family cyanaceae. It owes its name to Carl Linnaeus, who was simply delighted with the flowering plant and gave it the name phlox, which is translated from Greek as flame. Native to North America, this plant has become so established in our flowerbeds and gardens that we are accustomed to seeing it growing in the same place year after year.
Yes, phlox is a perennial. However, among its diversity there is one species that is annual, and that is Drummond's phlox ( Phlox drummondii).
Reproduction of annual phlox
Cuttings
This species can be propagated in two ways - cuttings and seeds. As for the first method, cuttings, it must be carried out in the period May-June. To do this, carefully cut a cutting from a part of the plant that has not yet been lignified, which should contain at least two pairs of leaves and one internode.
The resulting material is planted directly in open, moist soil and provided with regular watering. For better rooting of the cuttings, it must be shaded from direct sunlight, and in particularly hot weather it must also be sprayed.
After about a month, the phlox has already formed a developed root system and by autumn it is already able to produce young shoots and have time to bloom.
How to sow seeds for seedlings?
As for the second method - propagation by seeds, it must be carried out in the period March-April and first the seeds themselves are sown to obtain seedlings. In this case, the composition of the earth is not so important as its temperature, which should not fall below 23 degrees. Only then can we expect successful seed germination and friendly shoots that appear in about 10 days.
After the seedlings have formed a pair of true leaves, they need to be planted into separate containers, ensuring regular watering and sufficient lighting.
At the end of April - beginning of May, ready-made seedlings are planted in open ground, at a distance of approximately 20 cm from each other. During this period, they need to be shaded from direct sunlight, which will significantly improve rooting.
What if we go straight to the garden?
You can also sow seeds directly into open ground and best time for this purpose, mid-May, when the soil is already sufficiently warmed up. In this case, the area with crops must be watered regularly and also shaded from direct sun.
You can sow the seeds for the winter, in October-November. As a rule, they tolerate frosts well, but for this, the planting site must be additionally insulated with dry grass or leaves.
Regardless of the chosen method of phlox propagation, as the bush forms, young shoots must be pinched. In this case, flowering will be more abundant, and the bush itself will form more magnificently.
Phlox Drummond in the garden (varietal mixture "Grandiflora
Annual phlox planting and care
Phlox Drummond grows up to 60 cm in height and is characterized by lush flowering from June to autumn. Therefore, when choosing a place for planting, it is necessary to take into account the possible height of the plant, so that it does not interfere with the growth and development of neighboring plants.
As for the soil, it should be noted that the plant can grow anywhere, but it is better to give preference to light, fertile areas where the flowering of phlox only improves.
Phlox Drummond is thermophilic, but can easily tolerate light frosts and tolerates prolonged rains well. The only thing that needs to be avoided when growing it is shade and dampness. Therefore, if you want the plant to be beautiful and healthy, then it is better to plant it in open areas of the garden or flower bed, with sufficient quantity Sveta.
In general, phlox is an unpretentious plant and does not require any special care. However, there are several recommendations that you should follow when growing it on your site.
— Regular watering, especially in dry times.
— Regular loosening of the soil around the bush for better soil breathability.
— After every 5th pair of leaves, the shoots need to be pinched to make the bush more luxuriant, which in turn stimulates flowering.
— Faded inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner. But if you plan to collect seeds, they are left until they are completely ripe.
— Regular feeding mineral fertilizers.
— Carry out prevention against powdery mildew, the most likely disease of phlox.
All varieties of annual phlox Drummond are suitable for growing in our latitudes and simply amaze with their variety of shapes and shades of colors. The gardener can only make his choice and follow all the recommendations for growing it, so that this unpretentious plant will delight with its flowering all summer long.
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Difficult to find personal plot without bright colors. Most flower lovers every summer season They are trying to replenish their flower collections with new specimens. Information about phlox annual cultivation from seeds when to plant will help everyone who wants to plant these wonderful annuals in their garden.
Annual phlox flowers description, photo
Phloxes are herbaceous, unpretentious plants of the cyanaceae family. The genus of phlox includes almost 85 species, approximately 40 are cultivated. They bloom very beautifully and have pleasant aroma. Almost all phlox are perennials. Only one species is annual - Drummond's phlox.
It grows up to 60 cm tall and has a branched, erect stem. Leaves are oval-lanceolate, rich Green colour, are located opposite on the stem.
The flowers are not too large, 2–4 cm in diameter, five-petaled, the petals are arranged funnel-shaped. Very fragrant, brightly colored, collected in inflorescences of up to several dozen each. Blooms from June until frost. A ripe plant produces a fruit-box full of seeds. Thanks to selective breeding, today there is a wide variety of Drummond varieties.
On a note! Despite the diversity color range, plants of salmon or pastel color are more common.
Types, varieties of plants
The main characteristics that significantly distinguish Drummond varieties:
- Flower shape. It can be star-shaped, wheel-shaped, terry.
- Plant size. There are tall ones - 50 cm and dwarf ones - less than 20 cm.
There are star varieties of plants different heights 12 cm – 40 cm, them hallmark- dissected petals resembling an asterisk. Popular representatives:
- “Star Rain” - the bush grows 50 cm high, is drought-resistant, blooms for a long time;
- “Twinkling Star” is a low-growing plant, less than 25 cm, very miniature, can be grown in an apartment;
Very popular terry varieties, growing up to 30 cm tall. Dense inflorescences consist of double flowers of various shades. The most popular variety is “Promise Pink”.
There are tetraploid forms, the flowers of which are much larger than usual (more than 4 cm in diameter). Large-flowered representatives grow up to 30 centimeters. The inflorescences in red shades are especially attractive. Some representatives of large-flowered forms: “Tall bright red”, “Tall white”.
Popular low-growing varieties: "Defiance", " Snowball", "Salmona", "Leukantenum".
Notice! All Drummond varieties, except large-flowered ones, give good self-sowing, germinating the following summer.
Features of growing annual phlox from seeds
Annual phloxes are grown by sowing seeds directly into the ground or through seedlings.
The seedless sowing method is used in spring (late April - early May). Planting material is laid out on the ground, maintaining a distance of 4 centimeters. Then, carefully moisten and cover with film. The crops are ventilated daily, monitor the condensation on the film, and shake off the excess. After emergence of shoots, the film is removed.
The seedling method is used in early spring(beginning of March, you can grab the end of February), given the difficulty of germination of Drummond seeds. After sowing, seedlings appear within 10-15 days, the main condition for their appearance is warmth (+22C). The appearance of the first two leaves on the sprouts is a signal for picking. They are planted outside at the end of May.
Attention! When sown directly in open ground, phlox will bloom in August.
Necessary conditions for growing seeds
Annual phlox seeds are difficult to germinate. They are covered with a dense shell. Therefore, they are not buried in the ground, they are laid out on top of the ground, moistened well, then covered with film or glass. Periodically remove the cover, ventilate the seed material, and carefully monitor the moisture content of the soil mixture. From time to time, the contents of the seedling container are moistened with a spray bottle. In about two weeks, shoots will begin to appear.
Timing of sowing seeds
Phlox Drummond seeds are frost-resistant, which makes it possible to sow it before winter. Crops can germinate during thaw periods. Therefore, they are either covered for the winter or sown in early December in the snow, sprinkled with dry soil and a thick layer of snow. This method is not very reliable.
Sowing seedlings in early spring will help avoid the risk of losing planting material. If this is not possible, then the seed material is planted directly in the flowerbed in April, three seeds per hole. Plants planted in this way bloom late, but bloom until frost.
On a note! If you use both planting methods, you can achieve phlox flowering all summer until late autumn.
Preparing seeds for sowing
For the seedling method of germination, the seeds are specially prepared. They are soaked for a day in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or soft water. Then they dry it and warm it in the sun. After a couple of hours, the seed can be used. The seeds are laid out on the moistened surface of the soil mixture and covered with film.
What containers are needed for sowing?
You can germinate Drummond in a bowl at least 10 centimeters high, since the root system of the plant is well developed. Wooden boxes, peat cups, special greenhouses or plastic containers are suitable. The latter are covered with lids, so it is more convenient. Containers must have drainage holes. It is better to use small containers so that they can fit freely on the windowsill.
Important! Annual phlox seeds germinate only when they are on the soil surface. They should not be buried.
Soil (composition, characteristics)
Land for seedlings can be purchased at a garden store. It’s called “Soil for seedlings of garden and garden crops" Requirements for the composition of the substrate - loose, fertile, light, with neutral acidity.
You can prepare the soil mixture yourself. Take equal parts of garden soil, humus, compost and mix. The mixture is heated in the oven to disinfect it. On the eve of sowing, the soil mixture is spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, further disinfecting it.
Seed sowing technology
Seedlings can be sown throughout March; by the beginning of summer, the seedlings will begin to bloom. A specially prepared nutrient soil mixture is poured into a container (box) in a layer of 6–8 centimeters. Three days before sowing, the soil begins to be watered so that it is moderately moist. On the eve of planting the seeds, watering is stopped.
The seeds prepared in the above manner are laid out on the surface of the ground, maintaining a distance of 3 centimeters. If picking is not provided, the distance is increased to 8 cm. The container is covered with a lid and placed in a warm place.
Lighting is not needed yet, the main thing is warmth. While the seeds are germinating, the room temperature should be 22 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the process may slow down. The seedling material is ventilated daily to prevent the formation of rot, and soil moisture is monitored.
On a note! Drummond seeds sprout in the dark.
Seedling care
When the first shoots appear, this is in about 10-15 days, the film or other covering is removed, and the container is exposed to the light. Carefully monitor soil moisture. At this stage, crops can be ruined by root rot if the soil is waterlogged. The soil should also not be allowed to dry out. While the sprouts are small, it is better to water them with a spray bottle.
Small seedlings begin to reach for the sun. To prevent them from stretching, the container with sprouts is periodically turned different sides To bright light. Constantly monitor the uniform lighting of the plantings.
Young seedlings can begin to be hardened off. The air temperature in the room where it is located is reduced to 19 degrees. Carefully monitor soil moisture. Water as the top layer dries.
Caring for seedlings (hardening, picking)
Hardening of seedlings continues until the temperature conditions for its development approach those outside. Plantings will do well on a balcony or loggia if they are grown in an apartment. At first, while the weather is cold, the sprouts are brought out onto the balcony only during the day. It is preferable that the balcony be south-facing, otherwise it must be glazed. Plantings should not be placed in a draft.
Too bright sun is dangerous for young sprouts; they need light partial shade. Gradually the seedlings are accustomed to fresh air. While they are not peaked, the temperature on the balcony is maintained at about 18 degrees Celsius. Watering the seedlings is done as the soil dries.
After two true leaves appear, the sprouts are ready for transplanting (picking). There is no point in delaying the procedure; large seedlings are less resistant to picking. They dive into separate containers filled with fertile soil mixture, trying to keep the roots intact. Newly picked seedlings are shaded for two to three days. The rooted sprouts continue to be hardened off, leaving them on the balcony at night.
After a week, the picked seedlings begin to be fed with complex flower fertilizer diluted with water. The frequency of fertilizing is once every two weeks before planting in the flowerbed.
Advice! Densely sown seedlings need picking. If the sprouts in the planting container are located at a sufficient distance from each other (about 10 cm), then picking can be omitted.
Choosing a site for planting, soil
The flower prefers sunny areas with fertile soil. It will grow in a shaded place, but the quality of the inflorescences will become worse. But the flowering period will increase. Wet planting sites should be avoided. High groundwater and lack of drainage will destroy the seedling.
Although it seems undemanding to the soil, Drummond will not be able to grow on acidic or heavy, soaking soils. Light loam works well. Sand, compost, leaf soil are added to heavy loams, organic fertilizers. The flowerbed is prepared in the fall. Digging is carried out to achieve a crumbly soil structure. All necessary additives are added.
Remember! All annuals bloom much more brightly in the sun than under trees, and feel better in partial shade.
When and how to plant seedlings in the ground
With the appearance of buds, towards the end of May, the seedlings are planted in a flower bed. First, the seedlings are well watered so that they can be easily removed from the container. They dig holes. The distance between them is 15 or more centimeters, depending on the seedling. 
The size of the planting hole should be comfortable for the root system of the sprout. The hole is being filled nutritious soil mixture and place the seedling there along with a lump of earth. If necessary, add more soil mixture, compact it gently with your palms, and water it with water. Then mulch with dry soil. For the next two weeks, the seedlings are watered moderately every two days. warm water, avoiding waterlogging of the soil.
On a note! If you pinch the main shoot of the seedling, the phlox bush will be lush.
Caring for annual phloxes (watering, fertilizing, tying)
After the “moving” landings on permanent place residence, the most time-consuming part of the work of growing Drummond ends. Further care not much different from caring for any flower crop. Necessary actions:
- Regularly, moderately water the bush in the morning or evening, a bucket of water per 1 m2 of planting.
- Loosen the soil around the bush 8 times per season.
- In July, they hill up to form the root system, and pinch the shoots to create a bushy bush and speed up the start of flowering.
- Regular feeding is carried out, three times during the summer. The end of May - with manure and superphosphate, the end of June - with fertilizer for flowering plants, liquid manure, end of July - ammonium nitrate.
- Constantly mulch the ground around the bushes. Mulch prevents the soil from drying out.
- They tie it up. Tall varieties They need a garter to protect them from being damaged by the wind. Tied to a peg or fence.
Important! Cannot be used under phlox fresh manure, various rots may occur.
Possible problems during cultivation
Drummond is considered an unpretentious flower crop, but it also has difficulties in growing:
- prefers well-lit places;
- the roots should not be allowed to overheat;
- stops blooming with insufficient or excessive watering;
- high air humidity inhibits growth;
- Without fertilizing it blooms poorly.
Solving these problems is not difficult if you want to decorate your garden with a bright specimen.
Diseases and pests (treatment)
All plants are susceptible to disease and are affected by various pests. Annual phlox is no exception.
Diseases
Fungal diseases: phomosis - leaves dry out, stems become brittle. For prevention, bushes are sprayed with colloidal sulfur in warm weather; Septoria - dark spots appear on the leaves, gradually growing. Treat by spraying the plantings and soil with Bordeaux mixture, repeat the treatment after 15 days; powdery mildew– a coating similar to flour appears on the bushes. Such a plant is dug up and burned; it is impossible to cure it.
Variegation. Petals and stems are covered with an ugly pattern. Cannot be treated. Sick specimens are dug up and burned to prevent infection of other plantings.
Verticillium wilt. The disease destroys the root system. The disease is typical for specimens growing in acidic soils.
Pests
Nematode. A thread-like, very small worm that sucks sap from stems and leaves. Diseased seedlings have thinner stems and smaller inflorescences. Such a bush is burned. The soil is treated with nematicides three times with an interval of twenty days.
Naked slugs. In the dark, they eat the lower part of the stem, inflorescences, and leaves. Dusting the soil with ash, tobacco dust, and fluff lime serves as a preventive measure and fights slugs. Systematic loosening of the soil and weeding will also help in the fight against them.
Butterfly caterpillars. Caterpillars are disposed of by collecting them manually, and the plantings are treated special drugs from leaf-eating pests.
Important! Many diseases are acquired along with planting material. Seedlings purchased at the market may be infected with the virus.
Flower care during and after flowering
The main care for Drummond during the flowering period is timely feeding. The abundance and varietal color of the grown specimen depend on them. This period can be divided into three phases:
- Budding. Starts from the first days of June. Buds are actively appearing on the bushes. The use of fertilizers containing nitrogen is stopped. They can cause the stems to crack. Potash fertilizers with wood ash are used. Dilute a glass of ash and 10 grams of potassium sulfate in 10 liters of water. This cocktail brightens the color of the inflorescences and prolongs the flowering period. After ten days, feed with superphosphate at the rate of 15 grams per 10 liters of water. Both feedings are done at the root.
- Bloom. It occurs at the end of June - July, depending on the sowing method. If planting was done in open ground, then everything shifts by about a month. Fertilizing is carried out in order to improve the quality of inflorescences, increase the duration of flowering and prevent fungal diseases. It is carried out with special fertilizers with microelements, purchased in garden stores. To preserve the beauty of the bush, faded inflorescences are removed.
- The post-flowering phase is the time for the formation of seed pods. On this life cycle annual phlox ends. The bushes can be left to overwinter under cover. They can overwinter and bloom. But these will no longer be the same beauties that were planted in the flowerbed the previous spring. Therefore, it is better to collect the seeds, remove the dried flowers and dig up the bed.
Remember! Any feeding is carried out in the evening hours. Liquid - after abundant watering. Dry (granulated) - before watering or before rain.
How to collect seeds
Preparations for harvesting begin when the plants are still blooming profusely. Select and mark the ones you like best by tying a string to the stem. Hybrid varieties, marked F1, are not accepted. They do not retain varietal characteristics.
At the time of ripening, the seed pods begin to turn yellow; then, in dry and windless weather, in the afternoon, they are cut off along with the stem. For ripening, they are laid out in paper bags, on which the variety and color of the plant are indicated. They are stored in the same bags until the next season, placed in a dry, dark place.
Conclusion
By following all the instructions for growing annual phlox from seeds, and knowing when to plant them, gardeners will receive a wonderful decoration for their plot, as well as admiring glances and remarks from everyone who sees this miracle.
Video tips: rules for growing annual phlox from seeds
I have always been puzzled by the division of plants into annuals and perennials. If you understand, then the question immediately arose: which ones are better to plant at home? Perhaps, now I myself can act as an auditor and appraiser of these two types of plants in order to convey to everyone the information on when to plant annual phlox in open ground and the better it will be for you to choose them.
Annual plants are called so because they live for one season on your site, and in winter, when perennials fall under reliable protection, annuals are dug up and stored until next spring, or they simply outlive their usefulness and become a fertilizer. Annual phloxes are very convenient to grow, because you don’t have to worry about how to restore and revive them after winter - you plant them, they will grow, bloom, pamper you with their beauty, and when spring comes, everything will happen again, or you choose those flowers for planting what you would like to see on your site no less than annual phlox.
Annual phloxes are planted in open ground at the beginning of summer - the first days of June are very suitable for this. The main thing is to have time to plant before the hot and sweltering weather comes into force, because in such an atmosphere even the most persistent and strongest crops can die.
Annual phloxes require certain conditions that will ensure their normal development. Let's get acquainted with how to grow them, so to speak, according to GOST or what the basic rules are. Since phloxes belong to light-loving plants, then the sun is the most important component of their life and development. You need to plant these flowers in an area where the sun constantly pampers them with light. The soil mixture for annual phlox should preferably be loose, but do not exclude a nutritious component. It is important not to forget to feed the soil mixture directly before planting phlox in it, as well as after you plant them, so that the plants do not feel exhausted, and then you do not hastily decide how to restore them. For basic fertilizing, complex mineral fertilizers, which already contain required amount basic useful substances, which are aimed specifically at the normal development of plants, including annual phloxes. 
The flowering of annual phloxes is no worse than that of perennial ones - they (phloxes) bloom in the most variegated shades, the brightest and juicy flowers, which you can only wish for in the summer. You can find such variations as white, yellow, pink, burgundy, red, rich purple, to some extent even turning into blue shades, and the best part is that you can mix different colors different seeds of annual phlox and every summer arrange amazing, almost design solutions, in decorating your site with annual phloxes, caring for the flowers in their proper form, to which they will respond to you only with the most vivid memories of summer flowering.
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Among summer residents and amateur flower growers, phlox flowers enjoy well-deserved fame. A plant whose homeland is North America, has become widespread throughout Europe. Annuals have the greatest variety of varieties, shapes and shades, compared to perennial phloxes. Terry, star-shaped, cream, white, blue, different shades of red - here is a small list of flower diversity. By the way, the flowering period of perennials is longer - from June to October. Flowers can withstand light night frosts in autumn, pleasing the eye with lush blooms and a unique aroma.
Phlox annual refers to unpretentious plants, not picky about soil and watering. But he prefers to grow on fertile soil, in a well-lit area. In the sun, the color becomes brighter, the green mass becomes denser. You can notice how the flowers fade in cloudy weather.
Growing seedlings
Phlox annual is grown seedlings to achieve longer flowering. Plants grown from seedlings bloom from June to September, and those sown in the ground in May take a long time to germinate and bloom in late August - September. Phlox seeds can be sown in the ground in October, but the bed must be covered with straw and leaves for the winter to protect the seeds from frost.
Sowing seeds for seedlings held in March. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, slightly pressed into the ground, and covered with film. The main thing is that the air temperature in the room with seedlings does not fall below 23 °C. Water the seeds by spraying from a spray bottle, ventilate daily, shaking off moisture condensation from the film. After about ten days, shoots appear.
When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, perform picking seedlings and replanting into separate pots. After picking, the sprouts must be protected from direct sunlight for two to three days. The sprouts easily tolerate picking. Seedlings need to be fertilized with mineral fertilizers two to three times before planting in open ground.
Transplanting
In May, with the onset of stable warmth, annual phlox seedlings are planted in a permanent place. The plant loves space and grows, so the interval between sprouts should be at least 15 cm. Phloxes look good in flower beds, along borders, their height ranges from 15 to 50 cm. When combined with other flowers, phloxes are combined with snapdragons, bells and others.
Caring for a flower garden with phlox
To provide abundant flowering, the plant needs regular loosening of the soil, watering and fertilizing. For fertilizers Phlox is diluted with nitrophoska - 20 g per bucket of water. Plants are watered with this solution two to three times per season. You just have to remember that these flowers do not like waterlogged soil.
To develop side shoots, pinch the tops of young plants. It is recommended to remove faded flowers to maintain the attractive appearance of the flower garden.
Annual phloxes look good as an addition to flower beds, alpine roller coaster. They can be planted in containers (old buckets, boxes) and placed near the house. Thanks to the large green mass and the development of side shoots, you will get a flowering ball that decorates the yard or porch.
Seed collection
Ripe seeds fall out of the boxes onto the ground, so in order to select the flowers you like for propagation, you must follow these steps.
The homeland of phlox is North America. The harsh climate of this country endowed them with strength and vitality. They are very popular in European countries, and in Russia they have earned the love of flower growers due to their unpretentiousness and pleasant appearance. According to the flowering time, phloxes are spring, summer and summer-autumn. There are about 70 species of phlox, but only a little more than half of them are grown.
Phlox belongs to herbaceous crops from the Sinyukhov family and is similar in description to hydrangea. The appearance of representatives of this genus differs even within the same species. Characteristics vary depending on climatic conditions. For example, at an altitude of 4 km, mainly low-growing and bryophyte crops grow. They have branched stems and evergreen leaves. The height of the crop reaches 5-25 cm. In more favorable conditions You can find upright bushes 30-180 cm high.
Phlox generally have an erect stem shape. The foliage is located opposite, its edges are solid. The shape of the leaves is oval-lanceolate or oblong ovoid. The flowers are approximately 2.5-4 cm in diameter. They are collected in complex inflorescences of 90 pieces. The fruit looks like an oval box.
All phlox that can be grown in the garden are perennial crops, but there are exceptions. Phlox Drummond and many of its varieties are annual.
The following plant varieties are distinguished:
- 1. Star rain. The variety is resistant to drought and frost. Its representatives bloom for a long time. The plant looks like a shrub up to 0.5 m in height with a straight stem that branches heavily. Inflorescences are in the form of racemes, have nice smell. The flowers look like stars in shape. For this variety you need to choose a bright place.
- 2. Twinkling star. The culture is a small shrub up to 25 cm in height. The difference is the pointed petals. Due to its small size, the plant is grown not only in open ground, but also at home. For example, you can plant it in a flower pot and leave it on the balcony or windowsill. The flowering period lasts from the beginning of summer until the end of September.
- 3. Terry phlox. The variety appeared relatively recently. It is named so because of the unusual structure of the petals. The shrub itself is 20-30 cm high. It is covered with large inflorescences that have the shape of scutes. Their shades are very different: white, pink, cherry. This crop is also great for growing in pots.
- 4. Constellation. The variety has light and bright shades. The inflorescences are no more than 3 cm in size. They have a pleasant fragrant smell. The plant branches heavily. The inflorescences are shaped like corymbs. Typically, this variety is used to create bouquets, as well as for growing in groups in the garden.
There are also low-growing annual phloxes. They grow to a height of only 20 cm. They look like branched shrubs, their foliage is pubescent. These varieties are great for growing on window sills and balconies. An example is Promise Pink: the inflorescences are double and have pink tint. This variety is usually used for flower beds in gardens and rock gardens.
Growing phlox from seeds
When growing from seeds, it is better to use the seedling method: this will help avoid freezing of the seedlings. In addition, in this case the flowering time will be longer.
Preparing seeds for planting must be done from the end of February to mid-March. Thanks to this, fruit will appear within 2 months - in May. And if at the same time you sow the seeds in open ground, the buds will bloom only by the end of September.
Growing seedlings involves the following steps:
- 1. Prepare the pots. These can be containers, boxes, cells, peat pots. There must be holes at the bottom for draining water.
- 2. Pour drainage into the bottom of the pot. You can make a 2 cm layer of pebbles, gravel, expanded clay, small stones, broken slate or brick.
- 3. Prepare the substrate. The soil should be loose and include rotted pus, peat, sand, lime, and mineral additives. The substrate should be poured into the pot and moistened before sowing the seeds.
- 4. Prepare seeds for sowing. It is recommended to first keep them in water for several hours or a whole day.
- 5. Plant the seeds in the ground. The material should be planted shallow. It is enough to scatter them on the surface and press a little with your palm. Spray the top with water from a spray bottle.
- 6. Cover the container with transparent plastic film or glass and place in a warm place with good lighting. The temperature must be at least 23 0 C.
- 7. Ventilate the container every day: remove the top cover for a while, for example half an hour. Spray the soil periodically. It is necessary to shake off the condensation that forms from the film.
When the seeds begin to open, the film should be removed. After about 1-1.5 weeks, the first shoots will appear.
After the first true leaves have formed on the seedlings, after 2 weeks you need to pick, that is, plant the sprouts so that there is a distance of 15 cm between them. The temperature should be 20 0 C. When upper layer When the soil dries out, it is moistened with a spray bottle. For hardening, the temperature must be reduced to 15 0 C. Gradually, the frequency of watering should be increased. When 4 true leaves appear, you need to pinch them so that the bushes become more luxuriant in the future.
In May, plants are planted in open ground. It is necessary to ensure that the soil on the site is saturated with humus. If the soil is too heavy, then it is necessary to add peat, sand, and organic fertilizers. The best option The soil is non-clayey, sandy with an average level of acidity.
It is best to choose a place in partial shade, where there is no direct sunlight, otherwise they will leave burns on the plant. A distance of 20 cm is required between the bushes. Planting should be done in small holes. It is recommended to add up to 150 g of wood ash to them first. Place the root system there, straighten it and cover it with soil. In the end, all that remains is to compact it and water it.
Rules of care
Caring for annual phlox involves the following activities:
- 1. Watering. It should be moderate but regular. Usually per 1 sq. m, 1.5-2 buckets of water are enough. It should be at room temperature, settled. You can use rainwater. In dry weather, watering is recommended in the morning and evening time. Water should be poured directly under the root. It should not be too cold, otherwise the roots will crack.
- 2. Loosening the soil. This only needs to be done 2 times a month. In the second half of the growing season, it is additionally necessary to hill up the crop: thanks to this, the root system will form much faster.
- 3. Feeding. It should be done several times a season. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable for this. At the end of May it is necessary to use liquid manure. You will need 25 g per bucket of water. At the beginning of summer, it is necessary to add the same amount of potassium salt and superphosphate to this product. In July it is necessary to use liquid manure again. In August, it is necessary to fertilize the crop with phosphorus and potassium salt - 1 tbsp. l. for 2 liters of water.
- 4. Mulching. It makes the soil breathable and prevents drying out. Leaves, dry peat, compost, and humus are suitable as mulch.
- 5. Pinching. Young shrubs should be treated in such a way that they later branch better.
- 6. Trimming. When the inflorescences fade, it is necessary to trim them so that the plant retains decorative properties and attractive appearance. Thanks to this, flowering will last longer. In addition, this will prevent self-seeding in the future. Around mid-autumn, the stems are cut at ground level. There is no need to leave stumps.
If you liked the planted varieties of phlox, then after the fruits have formed, you can collect seeds for further cultivation of such a crop. To do this, when the branches, along with large boxes, begin to turn yellow, they need to be cut off. In the future, the seeds will ripen in a fabric bag or paper envelope. But it is not recommended to use plastic bags. When the box cracks, all that remains is to sort out the largest and ripest seeds. The material should be stored in a dry, dark and cool place until the next season.
Annual phloxes can be damaged by certain insect pests:
- slobbering pennies;
- slugs;
- nematodes;
- black flea beetle;
- caterpillars.
Annual phloxes can suffer from the following viral diseases:
- leaf curl;
- ring spot;
- necrotic spotting;
- threadlike leaves;
- variegation.
It is possible to cope with fungal diseases to which phloxes are susceptible:
- white spotting;
- verticillium wilt;
- powdery mildew;
- rust;
- fomoz.
They are called high humidity soil and low temperatures air. They will help save plants from them special means with fungicidal properties. For example, you can use Bordeaux mixture, Fundazol. The treatment will have to be repeated in a week. In more advanced cases, plants are destroyed to fungal infection did not move to other plantings.
