Cuttings of phlox in summer can be done from almost any part of the plant, from roots to inflorescences with several leaves. It all depends on your goals - from quickly propagating the variety you like to preparing regular cuttings.
Phlox is rightfully considered the best decoration for flower beds. All summer long they delight the eye with a variety of colors, are unpretentious and easy to reproduce. The only thing they need is a transplant to another place every three years. These flowers are propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds. Let us dwell in detail on phlox cuttings.
The soil for all types of cuttings should be loose and moist, consisting of garden soil, leaf humus and washed river sand, taken in equal parts.
How do phlox reproduce vegetatively?
Experienced gardeners say that the most convenient way is to propagate phlox from cuttings in the summer.
All types of vegetative reproduction have a number of advantages:
- full-fledged flowers grow from small parts;
- the appearance of the mother plant does not deteriorate;
- minimal risk of plant disease;
- A simple technique suitable for beginners.
Phlox Drummond is a wonderful representative of the genus
Therefore, cutting phlox in summer is the best method of propagation.
Hello, dear readers!
Let's continue the conversation about phlox
, about these most popular flowers in summer cottages. They have no equal in the variety of colors.
These flowers give us a wonderful aroma and a real feast of color: all shades of red, purple, lilac, white, the most delicate tints of pink.
Previously published articles talked about the variety of types and varieties of phlox and the secrets of their successful cultivation. Today we will talk about methods of reproduction
these flowers.
This can be done in several ways, which we will now consider.
How to propagate phlox from leaf cuttings
How to propagate clematis - propagation by cuttings in summer
It is necessary to cut the leaf to 10 cm in length. In this case, there should be an axillary bud on a small segment of the stem. The cuttings need to be planted in soil sprinkled with 10-15 cm of sand on top. You need to immerse the plant in the soil while the leaf remains above it.
Important! A prerequisite after planting cuttings is the greenhouse effect. To create it, the box is covered with polyethylene. When the plants take root, that is, after two weeks, the shelter can be removed.
You need to moisten the soil several times a day. A sprayer works best for this. It is important not to let the soil dry out - it should be slightly moist.
Phlox cuttings
How to fertilize after transplanting
If mineral fertilizers were not applied during planting, after 10-15 days it is recommended to feed the phlox with a phosphorus-potassium composition. These elements have a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and help the plant prepare for winter.
For feeding use any of the following compositions:
- ash infusion (3 cups of fresh wood ash are infused in a bucket of warm water for about 48 hours, watered at the root);
- superphosphate + potassium sulfate (40 g and 20 g of the drug per bucket of water, respectively);
- complex autumn fertilizer for perennial flowers, according to the instructions.
Nitrogen fertilizers, which stimulate the growth of green mass, are not applied in the fall.
How to propagate phlox from stem cuttings in summer
Propagation of geranium at home, when to plant so that it blooms in summer
Plants are propagated with full stems in early June. The stems chosen for cuttings must be strong and free from disease. They are wrapped in slightly damp newsprint and set aside in a cool place for a couple of days.
After this, the stems are divided into parts. There should be two knots on each segment. Next, the lower leaves are cut off completely, and the upper leaves are left in half.
Propagation of phlox by stem cuttings
The cuttings are placed in a summer seedling box or directly in the ground in rows.
How to grow phlox from stem cuttings
For a week and a half, the plants need to be watered with warm water a couple of times a day. Within three weeks, roots and first shoots will appear. To increase growth efficiency, phlox should be rooted in a bed prepared for seedlings.
Disease and pest control
One of the few diseases that threaten phlox is powdery mildew, which affects leaves and stems. To avoid it, you need to choose the right place for the plants and not allow the plantings to become too thick.
Powdery mildew
And phloxes will protect other ornamental plants planted nearby from the main pest - nematodes. These are nasturtium, marigolds and calendula.
Phloxes go well together and look great in a composition with other flowers
Also read:
- Crocuses in a greenhouse on March 8th are a great gift
- Lilies in the greenhouse - beauty and grace
Propagation by root cuttings
How to propagate gooseberries in spring, summer and autumn
This method is used in extreme cases, for example, if nematodes have settled on the plant, or it begins to rot. The plant must be at least three years old. Propagating phlox by root cuttings will preserve the variety and increase the number of flowers.
Important! The best period for root cuttings is autumn, because at this time there is a large amount of nutrients in the soil.
How to properly cut phlox roots
At the very beginning of autumn you need to remove the plant from the ground. The largest roots are suitable for division. They need to be divided into pieces of 6-7 cm and planted with the thin end down. Then the cuttings are covered with a layer of sand (about 5 cm) and slightly moistened. The box is removed into a room without access to sunlight. Recommended temperature is about 12-15 °C. To stimulate shoot growth, the temperature is raised to 20 °C after 3 weeks.
Phlox root system
When the first shoots appear, the plant is taken outside so that they get used to the warmth. It is important to avoid direct sunlight on the plants.
Towards the end of spring, you can transplant the phlox into the garden bed. You can replant the plant into a flowerbed after a year.
Site preparation
The site for perennial phlox is prepared a couple of weeks before planting.
Most plant varieties prefer to grow in well-lit areas, but the hot midday sun can burn the delicate petals.
It is better to place phloxes in light lace shade or in places that will be hidden from the sun's rays in the hottest days.
Suitable soils for perennials: fertile loam or sandy loam, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
Do not plant the plant in low-lying areas where melt water can accumulate. If groundwater is close to the groundwater level, raised beds are built for the flower garden and drainage ditches are dug.
Heavy chernozems and acidic clay soils are improved by adding sand (8-12 kg per 1 sq. m) and ash (300-400 g).
Lean substrates are enriched with fertilizers (per 1 sq. m):
- 5-10 kg of humus (completely rotted cattle or horse manure, vegetable compost);
- 60 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate or ready-made complex fertilizer, according to the instructions.
The phlox bed is dug up, carefully removing the roots of weeds.
Planting holes are prepared at a distance of 25-60 cm from each other, depending on the size of the variety being planted. The planting depth is 15-25 cm. The roots of the plant need to be straightened in the hole so that the tips do not bend upward, and the growth bud is buried 5 cm.
The planted phlox is watered generously. It is useful to sprinkle the surface of the ground with pieces of tree bark, hay or straw. Mulch will reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil and insulate the plant.
The best time for cuttings is at different times of the year
Phlox can be propagated at any time of the year, with the exception of winter:
- For propagation in spring, cuttings are harvested towards the end of May. The best stems should be selected. The cut cuttings are placed in boxes with wet sand. Then they are removed to a dark place. After the roots appear, the plant is transplanted into open ground. It is important to find a place where there is no direct sunlight.
- Propagating phlox in mid-July is the best option for cuttings, because the plant blooms best during this period. Cuttings are cut without inflorescences. The best time of day for cutting would be early morning. You can take cuttings every week. When propagated in summer, the plant takes root within 3 weeks.
- In autumn, the plant is cut from mid-September. During this time, phloxes produce a large amount of cutting material. For planting, choose clay soil. The cuttings are placed in a greenhouse to overwinter - this way they are more likely to take root and be ready for replanting next year.
Important! Thus, the best period for increasing the number of flowers is March-April. At this time, the soil is saturated with a large number of nutrients. September is also good due to the abundance of minerals.
Optimal transplant timing
Perennial flowers can be replanted in spring, autumn and summer (provided that the replanted plants are regularly watered). Phlox tolerate this procedure quite easily if it is not done during their flowering period. The autumn time for transplantation has its pros and cons.
| pros | Minuses |
| The weather is comfortable for the plant: warm, but not hot, the air and soil are moist | There is a risk that the cold will come early and the perennial will not have time to take root |
| Large selection of high-quality planting material at low prices | Not suitable for late varieties |
| More time to prepare the site for planting |
The main thing you need to focus on when planning a phlox transplant is the weather. For successful rooting, the flower will need at least 4-5 weeks of warm weather without freezing of the soil. Based on this, it is recommended to replant phloxes at the following times:
- in the middle zone - September;
- middle and southern Urals - from late August to early September;
- south of the country – October;
- Belarus – September.
In Siberia and the northern regions, autumn is short, so it is better to replant phlox in spring or summer, immediately after flowering (for early varieties).
Dates according to the lunar calendar for 2022
| Month | Better days |
| August | 2-6, 8-10, 12, 14, 22-24, 29-31 |
| September | 5-8, 13-15 |
| October | 2-4, -15, 20-22 |
| november | 3, 4, 9-12, 19-23 |
| December | 1, 2, 4-6 |
How to propagate phlox by dividing a bush
Only mature bushes, aged 3-4 years, can be divided.
Phlox root division
You need to finish planting phlox before the end of the first ten days of September, otherwise the plant may simply not grow.
The bush is carefully removed from the ground. After this, the stems must be shortened by half. If the roots of the plant are excessively long, then they are cut off to 15 cm. After clearing of excess soil, they are divided into 3-4 parts using a knife or shovel. Moreover, each piece must have at least 8 vegetative shoots, because next spring buds will grow from them.
Important! If the roots begin to dry out, they are placed in water for 7 hours and then planted in the garden.
Don't forget Fundazol.
We fill the hole and now the last thing: a very important additive - Fundazol. We just sprinkle it on top to prevent fungal infections, including fusarium wilt.
Fundazol prevents all root rots, not only fusarium, but also verticillium wilt and other types of fungal infections.
We water abundantly enough so that all the moisture penetrates to the roots, and with it the earth hugs the roots well. When the water is almost absorbed, we fill it with humus on top, which we talked about earlier.
Mulching phlox at such a late date greatly helps the survival and preservation of the buds. If you see that the phlox has been strongly pulled down along with watering, pull these sticks and it will come out to the desired depth. We don’t cover the buds too much, otherwise it may happen that they will either start to rot, or, if they are buried too deep, the sprouts will be very thin.
How to propagate phlox by layering
Mother bushes are covered with moist and loose soil and very often watered abundantly. The shoots that find themselves underground gradually take root and grow. Closer to August, the plant is transplanted to the main bed, where it continues to grow.
Plant propagation is a long and difficult process. You can choose any cutting option that you like best, be it propagation by root or stem cuttings. It is also worth remembering that if phlox is propagated by seeds or other methods, the plant may simply not take root. Therefore, vegetative propagation is the best option since the chances of plant survival are usually 90%.
Care, watering, fertilizing
Phloxes need to be weeded in time, dried shoots removed, and the soil loosened. If you want to grow a short and voluminous bush, you can periodically pinch it. The procedure is justified in the spring, in May; later formation of the plant will delay the beginning of the flowering process.
Drought and waterlogging of the soil are equally bad for phlox. In summer, plants need to be watered in the morning and evening, doing this carefully, without splashing the leaves. To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with peat or humus.
The plant is responsive to mineral fertilizers; they are applied to the soil weekly from the end of June until the end of the summer season. The dose of supplements changes to increase, then decreases. Phlox loves nitrogen and phosphorus; saltpeter can be added to the mixture. At the end of the heat, there is no need to fertilize the plants.
