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Phlox Amethyst is a beautiful perennial flower popular with gardeners. The plant is bright, lush, takes root well, combines with almost all flowers, easily tolerates winter. Phlox has earned the respect of gardeners primarily because of its decorative qualities and unpretentiousness. It is often planted in gardens, flower beds, in personal plots. Even an inexperienced gardener can handle the cultivation of Amethyst.
Phlox blooms once a year
Description of phlox Amethyst
Phlox bushes are moderately spreading, grow up to 1 m in height. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, up to 8 cm in size. The stems are dense, strong, can bend under the weight of the buds. Phlox petals are wavy, strongly open, bent at a right angle from the inflorescence. The plant loves partial shade and light, the Amethyst variety does not fade, but the sun's rays can burn its leaves. Bushes grow poorly in a draft, slopes, under trees and on the north side of the site. The variety grows neatly and quickly, has high frost resistance.
Phlox can be grown in all regions of Russia and other CIS countries. In the southern regions, it is advisable to set aside moist, windless areas for planting. In a continental climate, in the Urals, in the Altai Territory, Siberia, phlox must be planted in well-lit places where a lot of snow accumulates in winter.
Features of flowering Amethyst phlox
Amethysts belong to the paniculate group, have funnel-shaped flowers, collected at the top in large elongated inflorescences. The color is bright, blue-lilac with a shade of pink. The plant is slender, up to 100 cm in height. The flowers are small, fragrant. Phlox paniculata Amethyst always stands out in a flower bed due to its delicate range and long flowering (1.5-2 months), which begins in mid-summer and lasts until September. The splendor of the plant depends on the planting site. Amethyst seedling should be placed where moisture does not stagnate, on fertile and loose soil. It is noticed that phlox bushes are less lush and less expressive in the shade.
Any kind of phlox takes root well in a new place.
Application in design
Amethysts look great in combination with annual varieties of different colors. The plant is irreplaceable in country style and mixborder. Good neighbors for him are aquilegia, low shrubs, bells, rudbeckia and carnations. In summer, geraniums, alpine asters, mountaineers, lilies and oriental poppies will be a good addition. But the aggressor plants: ostrich, periwinkle, ryegrass and variegated, it is better not to plant next to amethysts.
Flowers are suitable for cutting, look good in bouquets, keep fresh for a long time in water.
Reproduction methods
It is not difficult to dilute phlox Amethyst, for this you need seeds, a flower with a root or a stalk. The easiest and most effective way of reproduction is considered to be the division of an adult bush. Such a plant will bloom the next year after planting. Phlox is planted by cuttings less often; for this, young shoots up to 10 cm in length are used. When propagated by seeds, the varietal qualities of the crop are not always preserved. Amethyst seeds do not last long, should be sown in the fall, almost immediately after harvest.
If cuttings are planted in cups, they will root better.
Landing rules
It is necessary to plant phlox Amethyst in the early morning or in cloudy weather, preferably in partial shade or on a sunny area. With light shading, the flowering period is significantly increased, and in the shade, the culture will bloom poorly and for a short time. The optimal soil for phlox is light, sandy loam. If the ground is heavy, then sand should be added to it. On dense and oily soil, the plant does not develop well.
The culture is planted by seed in the fall, the planting date is chosen depending on the climate. When planting seeds, leave a gap of up to 5 cm between them, sprinkle with a thin layer of earth on top. The seeding depth is about 1 cm. In May, when the phlox seedlings get stronger, they are seated in a permanent place.
Planting plants in seedlings is performed in the spring, in May. In sprouts with 3-4 independent leaves, the tops are pinched and planted in open ground when the threat of frost has passed. A place for a plant during spring planting is prepared in the fall. To do this, they dig up the earth and remove the remnants of weeds and debris from it. Humus is added to sandy soil, lime to acidic soil. Clay soil needs drainage.
Planting of amethysts by the method of division can be carried out both in spring and in autumn. For this, bushes that are already 5 years old are suitable. The process includes several stages:
- Digging up.
- Removal of rotten and dry roots.
- Division with a disinfected knife.
- Planting each part of the plant in fertilized and abundantly watered holes.
When propagating by cuttings, a part with several nodes is cut off from a healthy bush and planted in a permanent place. To root the sprouts, you can first plant them in containers, and after a couple of weeks in a flower bed.
Once every 5 years, in the fall, it is necessary to transplant or divide phlox
Follow-up care
Phloxes do not need special care, but by adhering to basic rules, you can preserve the beauty of the front garden for many years.
To prevent the plant from getting sick, it is enough:
- Fertilize the culture with minerals during the growing season.
- Provide abundant watering, avoiding waterlogging of the soil.
- Loosen the ground after watering.
- Regularly remove weeds from the flower garden.
- Plant amethyst bushes every 4-5 years.
- Mulch at the onset of late autumn.
- Cover the plant for the winter if there is little snow in the region.
Flowers grow well on any soil, but they are especially fond of light, with a small amount of clay.
Flowers grow well in any soil, but they especially like light soil with a small amount of clay
Preparing for winter
In order for the Amethyst phlox to have lush inflorescences every year, it must be properly prepared for the onset of cold weather. The procedure includes the following steps:
- summer pruning;
- pruning for the winter;
- top dressing;
- weeding;
- shelter or mulching in late fall.
During the summer pruning of amethysts, only the peduncles are removed, leaving most of the greenery. Before winter, the plant is cut to ground level. Fertilizing phlox is allowed to be done both after flowering and before winter. Superphosphate, potassium sulfate or wood ash are best suited for this. After fertilization, all weeds are removed near the bush.
Since phlox Amethyst is a frost-resistant culture, it is not necessary to cover it. But if such a desire arises, it is allowed to insulate the plants with compost, peat or humus, you can cover it with spruce branches on top. Phlox growing in a harsh climate should be dug up before winter and stored in the basement.
Pests and diseases
Of the diseases that can affect phlox Amethyst, two are distinguished:
- Powdery mildew. A fungal disease that looks like a layer of dust. It affects inflorescences and phlox leaves, leads to their drying and falling off. White bloom draws out nutrients, interferes with the process of photosynthesis. New leaves that appear in place of fallen leaves grow deformed.The disease can not always be noticed immediately, but after its detection, the affected parts of the amethyst should be pruned, the soil should be saturated with fungicide and the plant should be sprayed with it.
- Fomoz (button rot). Stains on stems and leaves that can cause death of the flower. To combat the disease, special drugs are used.
Among the pests affecting phlox Amethyst, there are:
- Slugs. Constant "guests" of gardens and orchards. They settle on moist soil, appear in plain sight only in the dark or cloudy days. The fight against parasites consists in treating the soil with saline or ash.
- Nematodes. Worms that penetrate and feed on plant tissues. Pests lay eggs under the skin of the stems, which is why the flowers on the inflorescences become smaller and the plant dies. It is impossible to get rid of parasites. When they appear, the phlox bush Amethyst should be dug up and burned, away from horticultural crops.
- Pennitsa. It sucks nutrients out of the flower by piercing the stems and leaves. Dies from chemicals.
Conclusion
Phlox Amethyst is an unpretentious plant that, with proper care, pleases gardeners with beautiful flowers for several years. With timely removal of weeds and moderate watering, it is very resistant to diseases, but with a lack of nutrition and moisture, phlox bushes can weaken. The plant looks great in flower beds, parks, flower beds and front gardens.
