Phlox is an annual low-growing plant. Annual phloxes - planting and care

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, which ones 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 basic rules. Since phloxes are light-loving plants, 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 perennials - they (phloxes) bloom in the most variegated shades, the brightest and most luscious colors that one could 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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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. Specifications 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 90 pieces each. 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. 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. The inflorescences are in the form of brushes and have a pleasant smell. The flowers look like stars in shape. For this variety you need to choose a bright place.
2. 2. Twinkling star. The culture is a small shrub up to 25 cm in height. The difference is the pointed petals. Thanks to small sizes 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. 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. 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 a 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. 1. Prepare the pots. These can be containers, boxes, cells, peat pots. There must be holes at the bottom for draining water.
2. 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. 3. Prepare the substrate. The soil should be loose and include rotted pus, peat, sand, lime, mineral supplements. The substrate should be poured into the pot and moistened before sowing the seeds.
4. 4. Prepare seeds for sowing. It is recommended to first keep them in water for several hours or a whole day.
5. 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. 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. 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 you need to add peat, sand, 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. 1. Watering. It should be moderate but regular. Usually per 1 sq. m, 1.5-2 buckets of water are enough. She must be room temperature, settled. You can use rainwater. In dry weather, watering is recommended in the morning and evening. Water should be poured directly under the root. It should not be too cold, otherwise the roots will crack.
2. 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 root system will form much faster.
3. 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. 4. Mulching. It makes the soil breathable and prevents drying out. Leaves, dry peat, compost, and humus are suitable as mulch.
5. 5. Pinching. Young shrubs should be treated in such a way that they later branch better.
6. 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.

Among summer residents and amateur flower growers, phlox flowers enjoy well-deserved fame. The plant, which is native to North America, has spread throughout Europe. Annuals have the greatest variety of varieties, shapes and shades, compared to perennial phloxes. Terry, star-shaped, cream, white, blue, different shades 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.

Annual phlox is an unpretentious plant that is not picky about soil and watering. But it 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 more long 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 feeding 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 on 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. Withered flowers It is recommended to remove 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.

Phlox ( Phlox) – herbaceous plant family cyanaceae. It owes its name to Carl Linnaeus, who was simply delighted flowering plant and gave it the name phlox, which is translated from Greek as flame. Being from North America, this plant has become so firmly established in our flower beds and in our 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 on open areas garden or flower bed, with sufficient light.

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 from powdery mildew- the most likely phlox disease.

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 it unpretentious plant pleased with its flowering all summer.

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The only species of annual Phlox is Drummonda, named after the English botanist who brought this flower from America to Europe. This is how the history of the development and breeding of new varieties in Russia and Europe began. It is amazing beautiful flower no less popular than perennial phlox. It has many different varieties, shapes and shades of color. Phlox Care Guide.

Annual phlox: varieties, description and photo

The main and only one annual species Phlox is Phlox Drummond, of which several varieties have been bred:

Annual Phlox Drummond

Phlox Drummond "Constellation" - the flowers of this variety have different bright and light shades colors, about three centimeters in diameter, have fragrant aroma. The plant is highly branched. Inflorescences in the form of small corymbs. This variety of annual Phlox is used for cutting, and it is also planted in groups in flower beds.

Phlox "Constellation" pink-red

Phlox Drummond Promise Pink - this variety is a low-growing phlox, growing up to 20 cm in height. The flowers are unusual, double pink in color. They like to use this variety to decorate rocky hills and flower beds in gardens.

Annual phloxes - planting and care

Annual phloxes are unpretentious when growing and caring for them. They are not particularly demanding on the soil, however, they grow better in fertile soil. All annual phlox bloom from June to September and can withstand frosts down to -2 degrees. Sites for planting annual phlox should be chosen in the sun. Read what they exist and what they look like.

On sunny days, annual phloxes acquire a brighter color than on rainy and cloudy weather.

To care for this plant, you need to regularly loosen the soil around the flower and water it moderately. You can fertilize the flowers with a mineral complex a couple of times. For more lush and long-lasting flowering, it is better to pick off faded branches and inflorescences.

• Annual phloxes are grown from seeds in early spring.
• The best time to sow seeds is the beginning or end of March. The thing is that the seeds germinate very slowly, it takes at least three weeks.
• Sowing should be kept at a positive temperature of approximately 12 - 15 degrees and watered evenly.
• When the first leaves appear, the seedlings must be planted in pots to strengthen the root system.
• Then, at the end of May, the strengthened plants are planted in the ground.