Content
Reproduction of phlox is a great method to independently get your favorite plants for planting. They amaze with a variety of colors, so they are able to decorate even the most unsightly part of the garden. Overflows of red, white, purple or pink hues and a pleasant aroma make phlox indispensable for composing bright summer compositions.
Delicate shades of phlox will enliven any area
How phlox reproduce
There are several vegetative reproduction methods of perennial phlox and one sexual reproduction by sowing seeds. Each option has its own nuances and features. Perennial phloxes reproduce easily. Gardeners choose the most convenient option:
- Division of the bush. The most popular breeding option. The advantages of this method are the ease of implementation and the ability to multiply phlox throughout the growing season. Plants bloom later than with other types of division. After breeding, planting requires careful maintenance.Important! When dividing, the characteristics of the variety are fully transferred.
You can quickly get new plants from full-fledged divisions.
- Stem, leaf, root cuttings. Reproduction is performed at a certain time. Rooting is going well, varietal characteristics are preserved. A variety of grafting options makes it possible to obtain a large amount of planting material. The disadvantage of the type of reproduction is the longer period during which the seedling grows to a full-fledged plant. It is also required to carry out cuttings very quickly, which is difficult during the busy period of garden work. There is a difficulty in propagation by root cuttings due to poor rooting and laboriousness of the method. Transplants and the construction of a greenhouse are required.
There are several ways to cut phlox.
- Layers. A simple and affordable method of phlox breeding, even for beginners. Varietal characteristics are fully transmitted. There are several design options that allow gardeners to choose the most suitable one. Cons - full-fledged plants will be available only by the fall of next year, the difficulty of maintaining the humidity regime in the summer.
- Seeds. The only sexual breeding method for perennial phlox. The disadvantage of this method is the 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 a lot of effort when growing seedlings.
To choose the appropriate breeding option, you need to read the detailed description of each one.
Reproduction terms of perennial phlox
Experienced phlox growers claim that perennials can be bred throughout the growing season. Reproduction of phlox 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. For each season, certain breeding techniques are better suited - this is due to the biological rhythms of the plant.
In the spring
The beginning of the growing season allows the new plant to have time to take root and adequately meet the winter cold. According to gardeners, even accidentally broken off shoots or pieces of roots take root in the spring. At this time, apply:
- Division of the bush. Period - late April or early May.The final breeding time depends on the weather conditions and the region where the phlox is grown.
- Stem cuttings. The best time is May and early June.Important! You need to finish the harvesting of cuttings before the beginning of budding phlox.
- Root cuttings. It is rarely used, mainly when the bush is affected by stem nematodes. The breeding method is carried out in early spring in April.
Experience is needed for root cuttings, so it is rarely used.
- Sowing seeds. Perennial phloxes reproduce by seeds after preliminary stratification, therefore, sowing immediately after thawing of the soil is recommended.
Spring breeding activities for phlox 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. Reproduction of phloxes in summer requires more attention from the gardener. Plants need regular watering for rooting, shading, spraying. The most successful in the summer months can be considered:
- dividing the bush in exceptional cases;
- reproduction by layering;
- rooting of the axillary eyes;
- stem and leaf cuttings.
The optimal breeding time is early summer (June). If the layers were sprinkled in June, then in August they need to be transplanted to a permanent place.
In autumn
Phlox can be propagated in the fall, if at other times of the year it was not planned.
The best option is to divide the bush. The best time for an event is late August or early September. If you start dividing phlox later, then with the onset of early winter, the plants will not have time to take root and may die. Unpretentious perennial varieties can be sown with seeds before winter. This is done in October after preliminary preparation of the beds and subsequent cover of crops with dry foliage.
How to propagate perennial phlox by dividing a bush
The most productive and popular way. Phloxes reproduce by division in the spring or early fall. For the autumn procedure, it is important that the phlox have already had time to lay the buds of renewal. If there is an urgent need, then a summer event with proper care will also be successful. You need to divide plants at least 5-6 years old.
The algorithm for performing this method:
- Determine in advance a new location for phlox.
- Dig planting holes.
- Choose a suitable bush for propagation, dig it out.
- Shorten the stems 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 leading 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 rudiments (at least 5-6 pieces). You should not divide the bush into small parts, such delenki do not winter 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.
The division of the bush is done carefully, trying not to damage the roots.
Phlox growers often use a simplified version of phlox reproduction 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. The hole, which was formed when half of the bush was removed, should be covered with fertile soil. By autumn, the rest of the bush will grow well. The next spring, you can repeat the division, but on the other side of the bush.
Perennial phloxes are best divided in the spring. The breeding technique 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 that have been 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, additional transfers. It is best used in early summer. You will need to choose a healthy, sturdy shoot. There are two options for obtaining a new plant:
- Bend the stem to the ground. Cover with soil, tamp a little. Some phlox growers recommend digging a small groove for laying the shoot. Water regularly. After the roots appear, separate the new bush from the mother plant and transplant to a permanent place.
Reproduction by layering does not require additional knowledge and adaptations
- Choose a mother bush for reproduction. Using a pitchfork, sprinkle the stems with loose soil. Keep the ground moist at all times. Roots are formed on the branches. Carefully separate the root with processes and transplant.
The breeding procedure should be started from the end of May or the beginning of June, the transplant 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 bloom occurs later than with other breeding methods. The second minus - the plant loses varietal characteristics, changes color. This is due to the fact that during sexual reproduction, a plant can display not only parental qualities, but also more distant ancestors. But the advantage of seed reproduction is the excellent adaptability of the resulting plants to the conditions of the region. For annual varieties, this method is considered the only one for reproduction. For perennials - secondary. Vegetative propagation methods take 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 garden with humus and sand, sow seeds in shallow grooves, 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 the spring, when the sun warms up, the first sprouts appear
This option is less reliable. Small seedlings can die in adverse spring weather conditions. Seedling propagation is considered more reliable. Sowing is done in early December.
To grow seedlings you need:
- Prepare a substrate for seedlings. You can purchase it from your garden store or make your own. You will need to mix humus, turf soil and river sand in equal parts.
- Prepare sowing containers. 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, sprinkle with substrate on top.
- Transfer to an open greenhouse, cover with snow.
- In the second half of March, transfer the containers to the greenhouse.
- Provide a temperature regime of + 12 ° C during the day and + 5 ° C at night.
- When the first pair of leaves appears, pick the seedlings.
- In phase 4, transplant real leaves into a greenhouse. Planting scheme - 1 plant per 8 sq. see The optimal date is the end of April.
- Cover the greenhouse with foil or glass.
- In the second decade of May, transplant phloxes to a permanent place.
Plants will bloom in the same year.
Collection and preparation of seed
To collect seeds, phlox with a rich color of flowers should be selected. In many varieties, the seeds ripen on the root. So that they do not crumble, 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 shedding of petals from the bush ends, cut the plant at the root and put it for ripening in a warm room (+ 23-25 ° C) without direct sunlight. The operation should be carried out on a sunny afternoon, when the dew on the leaves dries up. Lay each variety separately. By periodically turning the phlox over, it is easy to achieve uniform drying of the plant.The green mass dries up in 3 weeks. Then the boxes need to be rubbed with your hands over the paper so that the seeds spill out. Separate debris with a hair dryer. Then arrange the seeds in paper bags, signing the name of the variety. Store in a dry, dark place.
Phlox seeds must 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 a few plants, transplant them into flower pots and put them to ripen under room conditions.
Conclusion
Reproduction of phlox is possible in different ways. You need to choose the right one based on climatic conditions, practical experience and skill. In any case, it will turn out to collect a bright flower garden from phlox on the site with a minimum investment of time and effort.
