Phlox » Planting, care, pruning and more

Plant phlox properly

The phlox has the potential to cover the summer garden with a fragrant sea of ​​blossoms for more than 10 years. With professional planting, you lay the foundation for this respectable feat of strength. How to do it right:

• Soak the potted flower in water until no more air bubbles appear
• Weed the bed soil meticulously and rake deeply
• Dig small pits at an airy distance of 50-80 cm to optimize the excavation with compost
• Now unpot the phlox and plant it exactly as deep as before in the breeding pot

After you have watered the flower extensively, a nutritious layer of mulch promotes growth and flowering. In the pot and window box add between potting soil and water drain a drainage made of broken pottery or pebbles, so that no waterlogging can form.
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care tips

If you cherish and care for a phlox, it will thank you for your attention with a long flowering period of up to 8 weeks and lush second flowering in early summer species. The following brief overview shows what the opulent flower really values:

• Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist without causing waterlogging
• When budding begins, organic every 2 weeks fertilize, until the end of the flowering period
• Cut off early-flowering varieties after the main bloom for a second bloom
• Cut off wilted flower spikes to prevent seed formation
• Complete pruning of the leaves only in early spring

As winter approaches, wrap planters in bubble wrap and place them on a block of wood in front of the south wall of the house. If the bed is in a winter-harsh region, we recommend regardless of the frost hardiness of phlox shelter in the form of leaves, straw or pine fronds.

Which location is suitable?

The flower is generally characterized by a moderate character. This focus is particularly evident in the choice of the ideal location. This is how the flame flower unfolds its beauty to perfection in sunny to semi-shady locations without blazing sun. It prefers to spread its roots in slightly moist and nutrient-rich soil, as long as the soil is loose and well-drained.
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The right planting distance

Phlox requires enough space to spread unhindered over the years. Therefore, choose a planting distance of 50 to 80 cm for the sublime summer phlox and arrange no more than 3 to 5 specimens per square meter. For more graceful species such as forest phlox, meadow phlox or cushion phlox, adjust the distance to approx. 25 to 30 cm.

What soil does the plant need?

Contributing to the popularity of the phlox is its ability to thrive in any good garden soil. It should be fresh and moist, rich in nutrients and well drained. Gladly slightly calcareous and preferably not too acidic. The sunnier the light conditions, the more moisture should be contained in the soil, whereas waterlogging is absolutely deadly for the summer flower. In the pot and window box, the phlox sets eye-catching accents if a high-quality compost-based potting soil is chosen as the substrate.

What is the best planting time?

Planting time for a phlox in a container is throughout the gardening season. As long as it is not freezing or sweltering summer heat, you can put the flower in the ground. In order to create the best starting conditions for this lush perennial, we recommend planting from mid-May, when the danger of delayed ground frosts has passed.
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When is flowering time?

With more than 70 species, the large phlox family offers countless varieties. With the right combination, the beguilingly fragrant splendor of the phlox extends from early summer to the beginning of autumn. The most beautiful species and their central flowering period at a glance:

• Forest Phlox: flowering period from April to May
• Cushion Phlox: flowering period from May to June
• Meadow Phlox: flowering period from late June to early August
• Summer Phlox: flowering period from July to September

Clean faded flowers regularly, have a prolonging effect on the duration of the flowering period. Simply break off the faded panicles to make room for a lush rebloom. This effect is intensified if you partially shorten summer phlox by a third in June.
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Prune phlox properly

A targeted cut at the right time is very important when caring for a phlox. The scissors are used on these occasions:

• Cut out or break off wilted flower spikes regularly
• In early summer, cut back half of the flower stalks by a third for an extra long flowering period
• Cutting back a flower close to the ground after the main bloom will induce fall blooms in early varieties
• Long-stemmed varieties of the phlox cut as a decorative vase decoration

In the fall, cut off any wilted flower spikes, but leave the foliage on the plant for extra winter protection until the following spring. Only before the new shoots cut off the drawn-in leaves of a phlox close to the ground.
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Water phlox

The phlox favors a regularly moist substrate with intermittent drying phases. This claim implies that you always water when the soil surface has dried. Due to the rainfall, this is less necessary in the bed than in the pot or flower box. If you avoid watering in the blazing sun and do not sprinkle the flowers and leaves with water, the perennial will thank you for this care with a tireless abundance of flowers.

Fertilize phlox properly

Fertilize the phlox every 14 days with an organic fertilizer such as compost, guano, bark humus or horn shavings. Mineral long-term and complete fertilizer carry the risk that the nitrogen they contain will force leaf growth while the flower lags behind. For a flower in a planter, specialist shops have organic liquid fertilizers that are easy to administer.
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Diseases

Although breeders keep producing new, particularly resistant varieties, the phlox in the hobby garden often suffers mildew. This fungal infection can be recognized by a mealy, grey-white patina on the upper and lower sides of the leaves. Fresh milk has proven to be an effective home remedy in the early stages of infestation. Mix 100 ml of fresh milk (no UHT milk) in 900 ml of water and spray the infected flower repeatedly.
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hibernate

With a few exceptions, all species and varieties of phlox are completely hardy. Only in particularly harsh regions do gardeners provide the perennial with the following winter protection:

• The foliage remains on the phlox until early spring
• Before the first frost, cover the perennial in the bed with straw, needle brushwood or leaves
• When there is a frost, water on mild days and do not fertilize

In the pot and flower box there is a risk that the root ball will freeze. Small pots therefore move to frost-free, not too dark winter quarters. Voluminous vessels with a diameter of more than 30 centimeters are wrapped in foil and placed on wood. Cover the substrate with fir fronds, wood shavings or a layer of leaves.
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propagate phlox

Once you have been captivated by the enchanting flame flower, you cannot get enough of this magnificent flower. How good that propagation is possible in different ways:

• Division of the root ball in spring or autumn
• Pruning non-flowering cuttings to root them in the pot

the sowing In contrast, the use of seeds is not recommended, since it is comparatively complex and only rarely promising. Since these are cold germs, stratification is essential. In addition, the result usually leaves a lot to be desired, especially with seeds collected by hand.
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Is phlox poisonous?

The phlox contains no toxic ingredients. Therefore, the Perennial of the Year 2006 is an ideal candidate for the family garden. The colorful petals are even suitable as a tasty and decorative ingredient for salads and cold dishes.
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Phlox does not bloom

It is so devastating when the hoped-for flowering of a phlox is delayed or fails completely. Do not throw in the towel right away, because some of the most common causes of this problem can be corrected, as the following overview shows:

• Planted too deep: dig up the flower and put it back in the ground up to the root neck
• Drought stress: Always water phlox as soon as the substrate surface has dried
• Nutrient deficiency: From the beginning of budding until July, fertilize organically every 14 days
• Nitrogen excess: Do not give a nitrogen-rich complete fertilizer that only allows the foliage to grow

In addition, if you plant too early in the spring, there is a risk that the buds will freeze. If in doubt, cover the young plants overnight garden fleece. If the ice saints have already struck, cut back the frozen shoots by a third in June so that the flower can sprout and bloom again.
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How to care for phlox after flowering?

When this year's phlox blossom festival is over, cut off the withered panicles of flowers. In this way, the flower saves its energy for next year's flowering and does not invest its energy in seed production. On the other hand, leave the foliage as long as it does not affect the visual appearance of the garden. The retracted leaves act as a natural winter protection and are preferably cut off close to the ground before the next shoot.

In the case of species and varieties that bloom in early summer, such as the forest phlox or the meadow phlox, cut the flower back to the ground after the main bloom and fertilize with compost. If the weather is suitable, you can look forward to an autumn rebloom.
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Beautiful varieties

• Clouds of Perfume: Light blue flowering woodland phlox with an early bloom from April; Growth height 40 cm
• David: White phlox with a majestic silhouette; Growth height 100-120 cm
• Crackerjack: Delicate cushion phlox for a crimson carpet of flowers in the bed; Growth height 5-10 cm
• Natasha; Bicolored Phlox with white and pink striped flowers in July and August; Growth height 80 cm
• Argus: Late blooming summer flower whose pink flowers are a red Eye surround; Growth height 80-100 cm
• Blue Boy: Mid-late phlox, whose lilac-blue flowers are decorated with white stars; Growth height 100 cm
• Capri: Very healthy summer beauty with deep red flowers from July to August; Growth height 100 cm