How to propagate phloxes in summer, autumn

Propagation of phlox is a great way 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 bright summer compositions.

Delicate shades of phlox will enliven any area

How phlox reproduce

There are several vegetative methods of reproduction of perennial phloxes and one sexual – by sowing seeds. Each option has its own nuances and features. Perennial phloxes reproduce easily. Gardeners choose the most convenient option:

1. Division of the bush. The most popular breeding option. The advantages of this method are ease of implementation and the ability to propagate phlox throughout the growing season. Plants bloom later than with other types of division. After breeding, plantings require careful care.
   Important! When dividing, the characteristics of the variety are fully transferred.
   

   From full-fledged divisions, you can quickly get new plants

2. Cuttings stem, leaf, root. Reproduction is carried out at a certain time. Rooting is good, varietal characteristics are preserved. A variety of cutting options makes it possible to obtain a large amount of planting material. The minus of the type of reproduction is a longer period for 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 propagating by root cuttings due to weak rooting and the laboriousness of the method. Transplants and the construction of a greenhouse are needed.
   
   

   There are several ways of cutting phlox

3. Layers. A simple and affordable method of breeding phlox even for beginners. Varietal characteristics are transmitted completely. There are several design options, allowing gardeners to choose the most suitable. Cons – full-fledged plants will be only by the fall of next year, the difficulty of maintaining the humidity regime in the summer.
4. Seeds. The only sexual way of reproduction of perennial phloxes. The disadvantage of the method is 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 enough effort when growing seedlings.

To choose the appropriate breeding option, you need to read the detailed description of each.

Terms of reproduction of perennial phloxes

Experienced flox growers claim that perennials can be bred throughout the growing season. Phlox breeding 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 methods 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 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:

1. Division of the bush. The period is the end of April or the beginning of May. The final breeding period depends on weather conditions and the region where phloxes are grown.
2. Stem cuttings. The best time is May and early June.
   Important! You need to finish harvesting the cuttings before the budding of the phlox begins.
3. 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.
   
   

   For root cuttings, experience is needed, so it is used quite rarely.

4. Sowing seeds. Perennial phloxes are propagated by seeds after preliminary stratification, so it is recommended to sow immediately after the soil has thawed.

Spring breeding events for phlox are always successful, especially after a successful winter. The plant has a lot of energy and time to develop.

Lettom

The summer period is considered less favorable due to the specific weather conditions. Reproduction of phloxes in the 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:

• division of the bush in exceptional cases;
• reproduction by layering;
• rooting of axillary eyes;
• stem and leaf cuttings.

The optimal breeding season is early summer (June). If the layers were sprinkled in June, then in August they need to be transplanted to a permanent place.

In the autumn

You can propagate phloxes in the fall if this was not planned at other times of the year.

The best option is the division of the bush. The best time for the event is the end of August or the beginning of September. If you start dividing phloxes later, then when early winter sets in, 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 the preliminary preparation of the beds and the subsequent shelter of the crops with dry foliage.

How to propagate perennial phlox by dividing a bush

The most productive and popular way. Phloxes reproduce by division in spring or early autumn. For the autumn procedure, it is important that the phloxes have already managed to lay the renewal buds. If there is an urgent need, then a summer event with proper care will also be successful. Plants should be divided at least 5-6 years old.

The algorithm for performing this method:

1. Determine in advance a new place for phlox.
2. Dig planting holes.
3. Choose a suitable bush for propagation, dig it out.
4. Shorten the stems by 1/3 of the length.
5. Gently shake off the ground from the roots, clean the root collars from the soil.
6. Separate the root necks from each other.
7. Disassemble the roots going to the stems.
8. 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.
9. Each delenka 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 divisions do not winter well.
10. 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 propagation by dividing a bush. To do this, the entire bush does not need to be dug up. It is enough to separate it in half and disassemble it into parts. The hole that 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 method 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 have enough nutrients deposited since autumn and not used up by the plant.

How to propagate phlox flowers by layering

An economical way for gardeners. Does not require the construction of greenhouses, additional transplants. It is best to use it at the beginning of summer. You will need to choose a healthy strong escape. There are two options for obtaining a new plant:

1. Bend the stem to the ground. Cover with soil, compact 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 devices

2. Choose a mother bush for reproduction. Use a fork to cover the stems with loose soil. Constantly keep the earth moist. Roots form on the branches. Carefully separate the root with processes and transplant.

You need to start the breeding procedure from the end of May or the beginning of June, the transplant should be carried out in August.

How to propagate phlox seeds

Seed propagation differs from vegetative methods and is performed:

• direct sowing in the ground;
• by growing seedlings.

Gardeners need to remember that with this method, phlox blooms later than with other propagation methods. The second minus – the plant loses varietal characteristics, changes color. This is due to the fact that during sexual reproduction, a plant can show not only parental qualities, but also more distant ancestors. But the advantage of seed propagation 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 propagation. For perennials – secondary. Vegetative propagation methods take precedence.

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 bed with humus and sand, sow the seeds in shallow grooves, cover with dry leaves. The event is held in October-November. The distance between the rows is 15 cm, the depth of placement 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, the first sprouts appear

This option is less reliable. Small seedlings may die under adverse spring weather conditions. The seedling method of reproduction is considered more reliable. Sowing is done in early December.

To grow seedlings you need:

1. Prepare the substrate for seedlings. You can buy it at a garden store or make your own. You will need to mix humus, soddy soil and river sand in equal parts.
2. Prepare containers for sowing. For 250 seeds, you need a box 35 cm wide and 50 cm long.
3. Fill the container with soil, moisten it, compact it a little.
4. Spread the seeds without deepening, sprinkle with a substrate on top.
5. Transfer to an open greenhouse, cover with snow.
6. In the second half of March, transfer the containers to the greenhouse.
7. Provide a temperature regime of + 12 °C during the day and + 5 °C at night.
8. When the first pair of leaves appears, pick the seedlings.
9. In phase 4 of true leaves, transplant into a greenhouse. Planting scheme – 1 plant per 8 square meters. see. The optimal time is the end of April.
10. Cover the greenhouse with film or glass.
11. In the second decade of May, transplant phloxes to a permanent place.

Plants will flower in the same year.

Collection and preparation of seed

To collect seeds, phloxes with a rich color of flowers should be selected. In many varieties, the seeds ripen on the vine. 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 the petals from the bush ends, cut the plant at the root and put it in a warm room (+ 23-25 ​​° C) for ripening without direct sunlight. The operation is carried out on a sunny day in the afternoon, when the dew dries on the leaves. Lay each variety separately. Periodically turning the phlox, 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 spread the seeds into 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 phloxes 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 of phloxes on the site with minimal time and effort.