Flame flower, care, cutting and wintering

The phlox has its grand entrance in July. With the right variety planting, you can have a wonderful bloom well into autumn. Not only the scent of the phlox, but also the wonderfully strong colors and the pastel shades enchant every gardener's heart.

In many cottage gardens is to find the phlox. It is the image of the rural and should not be missing in any garden. In a climate with a lot of precipitation and cool weather, the phlox thrives particularly well. The phlox has its name from ancient Greek, it means "flame". Since it produces brightly colored flowers, the plant was given the German name Flammenblume, which is rarely used. The wild phlox is found in the rainy areas of North America, particularly in lowland areas that have mineral-rich soils, especially along rivers. The phlox is an eldorado for butterflies, bees and bumblebees. Since they offer a wide variety of colors, they can be arranged with various garden flowers. Asters, delphiniums or roses are perfect companions.

Location of the phlox

The phlox thrives particularly well in a partially shaded to sunny location. The perennial grows up to one and a half meters tall. The soil should be moist, well drained and rich in compost. The phlox is a flat-rooted plant, so regular watering is important, especially in hot weather. The phlox prefers a sunny location (but not in the blazing sun). The blossoms of the phlox really light up in a shady environment. fertilize with compost, horn meal and stinging nettle manure in spring and especially before flowering, the phlox particularly likes it. The phlox does not like to give away its location. It can stay in the same place for up to ten years. If the perennial is planted too deep, it will not flower.

The correct distance when planting should be about three to five plants per square meter. The plant spacing should be 50 - 80 cm. If the phlox doesn't get to the right spot, it can take three to four years for it to really get going. If you put the phlox in a different place because it is not blooming properly, it should be cooler and wetter than the previous one. The best planting time is early spring or autumn.

• moist soil, well drained and rich in compost
• doesn't like blazing sun
• cool and humid location
• Maintain plant spacing
• Planting time in spring or autumn

Care and propagation of the phlox

The phlox is robust and long-lived, as well as frost hardy, even in severe winters and late frosts. During the growth phase, especially in April and May, it should be watered regularly if it is dry. Nutrient-rich soil that needs to be kept moist is all the phlox needs. If no natural fertilizer is available, you can fertilize with a phosphorus-rich slow-release fertilizer. If you break off the withered umbels, the perennial begins to bloom a second time. Pruning should be done in late fall or early spring.

Propagation is best done by dividing the rhizomes in spring, or after flowering in autumn. The propagation of root cuttings has also proven to be very good and successful. Self-sowing is also possible if faded flowers are not cut off. Plants that germinate from the seeds are usually not true to the variety.

Diseases of Phlox

The flame flowers score with beautiful flowers and a breathtaking fragrance, but they are susceptible to diseases and pests. You can do something about it by opting for hardy strains. 'Düsterlohe', 'Pink Pastel', 'Elfe', 'Judy', 'Pünktchen' or 'Pallas Athene', to name just a few, are among the strong and less susceptible perennials. Mildew, which can spread from the leaves to the stems and flowers, is a common disease. Here you should tackle it with fungicides or mildew spray.

In addition, the leaf spotdisease attacked the phlox. This is a fungal disease that causes the leaves to yellow and die. If the leaves show red-violet spots, it is the leaf spot disease, against which there are no direct remedies. But with remedies against other fungal diseases you can also combat leaf spot.

Stem rot, which shows up at the base of the stalk, is also a viral disease. Leaf curling, greening of the flowers or swollen stems are signs of stem rot. Here you should remove the affected plants from the garden and destroy them. Then there is stick sickness. Here the plant is attacked by very small worms, the so-called stalk worms. Shortened shoots, overgrown leaves and malformed flowers are signs of stick disease. The diseased shoots should be removed.

Different flowering times

Depending on which flame flower you choose, you have different flowering times. The meadow phlox blooms from June to August with white, purple or pink flowers that are up to 1 m high. The early summer phlox shows its flowers from June to July and grows to a height of 60 cm. Crimson, white with red, light violet with pink are the wonderful flowers that thrive particularly well in partial shade. There are also phlox that can be planted in the rock garden. These have a cushion-like growth and proliferate over stones and walls. Planting in tubs or roof gardens is also ideal. The scented phlox is the diva among the flame flowers. White and pink, violet-blue are the colors im perennial bed set decorative accents.

Pruning of the phlox

The phlox needs a lot of care. Regular fertilizing increases growth and flowering power. The ideal time for this is in April/May and before flowering in July. Faded flowers should be cut back in autumn. A complete pruning down to 10 cm in the autumn should be done.

Worth knowing about the phlox in brief

• The phlox is a hardy but not so easy to care for plant. With its beguiling scent, it attracts butterflies, bumblebees and bees during the flowering period. The flowering period extends into autumn. The flame flower should not be missing in any garden.
• Phlox is one of the most popular perennials in German gardens. The variety of varieties makes every bed appear in a colorful sea of ​​flowers.
• Phlox is one of the heavy-duty perennials. It thrives best in nutrient-rich, well-drained, deep loamy soil. Always water sufficiently!
• The ideal location is sun to semi-shade, without blazing midday sun. Regular fertilization is mandatory. Nettle manure, bone or horn meal, or with mature compost are suitable for this.
• Unfortunately, phlox is very susceptible to powdery mildew, mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content further increase this susceptibility.
• The flowering begins in June and lasts well until October. Of course, the flowering time can also depend on the variety.

Phlox are now available in many different colors, including two-tone. Some new breeds are said to be less susceptible to disease: these varieties include 'Orange', or the 'Pastorale', with its beautiful salmon-colored flowers. The 'Pax' variety with its pure white flowers is also less susceptible. The scent of the phlox is most noticeable in the evening, but only when it's really hot. Her scent is very pleasant. Ideal plants in the vicinity of the phlox are asters, bluebells, chamois, but also larkspur, day lilies, sunflowers and summer daisies. Phlox is absolutely hardy, needs no protection at all.

Phlox tends to lift itself off the ground after a few years. Cover with compost-soil mixture. You can also take the sticks out of the ground, divide them and replant them, but don't put them too deep, otherwise they may not flower. Regular removal of faded flowers encourages the formation of more flowers. If you shorten half of the shoots by a third in early summer, the flowering period will be longer.

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