How to root phlox with cuttings: terms, rules, methods

Propagation of phlox by cuttings is the most effective way to increase the population of ornamental crops on the site. Perennials respond very well to vegetative division, and at the same time, cuttings can be planted throughout the season.

Advantages of propagating phlox by cuttings

Cuttings are one of the easiest and most convenient methods for propagating phlox. The method has several advantages:

1. No need to buy new planting material. Cuttings are taken from bushes already growing on the site, while varietal characteristics are fully preserved.
2. The uterine bush does not suffer during reproduction. The procedure does not carry any risks.
3. It is possible to carry out the preparation of material throughout the year – from the beginning of spring to late autumn.

Propagation by cuttings is one of the best vegetative methods.

What phlox can be propagated by cuttings

For propagation by cuttings, any variety of phlox is suitable. Regardless of individual characteristics, all species can be propagated by root, leaf or stem processes.

It must be remembered that such reproduction is carried out for adult bushes that have already reached 3 years.

What cuttings can propagate phlox

Traditionally, plant stems are used for propagation by cuttings. But in the case of phlox, leaf plates and pieces of the root can also serve as planting material.

Stalk

It is easiest to root phlox using the stem method. It is enough to take a whole strong young shoot from a healthy plant if the reproduction is in spring, or only the top if the procedure is carried out in August.

Cultivation stems are well rooted

With the help of a stem, in some cases it is possible to propagate even phloxes from a bouquet, cut from a bush some time ago.

Root

Perennial phloxes are able to produce new stems from root pieces in the absence of a ground part. The method is less efficient than stem propagation, but is often used to keep a cultivar infested with pests or diseases at the top.

Phlox roots are able to produce new growth buds

Leafy

Rooting leaf plates is not as easy as stems. But the method of reproduction is the most productive. From just one mother bush, you can get several dozen cuttings.

Reproduction can be carried out by the leaf and part of the stem of the plant

Optimal timing of phlox cuttings

Since phloxes are cut in different parts, the timing for reproduction is different. Planting material is harvested both in spring and in autumn.

Features of phlox cuttings in spring

In the spring, it is customary to harvest phlox stems; they do this from late May to mid-June. The plant is actively developing and therefore lends itself better to reproduction, and the bush recovers faster.

It is also possible to propagate phloxes by cuttings in the summer, in July and August. But if in the spring a young and strong stem is harvested as a whole, then at the end of summer only its upper part, since the shoot in the lower part has time to become woody.

In the spring it is customary to harvest cuttings

Also in the spring, reproduction is carried out by cuttings of the roots – this should be done in the early stages, immediately after the snow melts in March or early April. While the roots are at rest, harvesting planting material will not harm the phlox.

When can I cut phlox in the summer

In summer, phlox leaves are cut into cuttings. The procedure is carried out in June or until mid-July. At this point, the bush is fully formed, its leaves are well developed.

In summer, they take mainly leaves for reproduction.

Is it possible to cut phlox in autumn

In the autumn period, in mid-October, you can also prepare root cuttings for propagation. Phloxes stop growing and calmly endure the separation of part of the roots.

In autumn, you can carry out reproduction with pieces of root

How to propagate perennial phlox cuttings

Cuttings consist of several stages – from the preparation of material to the actual germination. When carrying out reproduction, you must adhere to the established rules.

Cutting and harvesting cuttings

Its survival depends on the quality of the planting material. In order for the workpieces to take root, in each case they must be cut correctly.

How to prepare stem cuttings

Stem cuttings for propagation are harvested as follows:

• in spring or in the middle of summer, the strongest and most developed green stems are chosen on phlox;
• cut the stem with a sharp knife and divide it into small pieces, each of them should have 2 knots;
• the lower incision is made directly below the node, and the upper one is 1 cm higher from the second node;
• the lower leaves are cut off, leaving the buds at the base intact, and the upper ones are shortened by half to reduce the evaporation of moisture.

When propagating by stems, you need to cut the leaves of the phlox

For propagation of perennial phloxes, cuttings are chosen for green stems or their sections that have not had time to lignify. You should first feel the stem and make sure that it has not become too hard yet.

How to cut root cuttings

To harvest root cuttings, it is necessary to remove the phlox from the ground in early spring or late autumn. The excavated bush is shaken off from the clods of soil, the roots are straightened and the strongest and thickest of them are chosen for reproduction.

For reproduction, strong roots with small feeding roots are needed.

After that, the roots are divided into pieces 6-7 cm long. Thin feeding roots should remain on each piece, otherwise it will be difficult for the cuttings to take root.

How to cut leaf cuttings

To harvest leaf material, you need to choose a strong and healthy phlox stem with whole green leaves. With a sharp knife, you need to cut a few leaves along with small sections of the stem and growth buds.

For foliar propagation, you need to cut healthy strong leaves.

How to save phlox cuttings in winter

Leaf and stem cuttings are carried out exclusively in the warm period, but pieces of roots are often harvested as early as October. When phloxes are propagated by cuttings in autumn, planting material can be stored for the winter for planting closer to spring.

To do this, the prepared pieces of the root must be planted in a box with fertile soil, and then covered with sand 5 cm on top. Boxes with cuttings are removed in a dark place with a temperature not higher than 3 ° C and regularly moisten the soil throughout the winter.

You can save root pieces until spring in soil and sand in a cold room.

In February or early March, cuttings preserved in this way are taken out to a heated room and covered from light. With a gradual increase in air temperature, the cuttings will begin to germinate, when this happens, they can be gradually accustomed to daylight.

How to root cuttings of perennial phlox

Rooting is carried out mainly immediately in the ground. But sometimes you can use for breeding and a container of water.

in the ground

The classic method suggests planting fresh cuttings directly into the ground. For this purpose, you will need a shallow pot or seedling box filled with a nutrient mixture from leafy soil with the addition of humus by about 6 cm. 2-5 cm of sand must be poured on top of the soil.

The cuttings are buried in the prepared soil, gently watered and covered with film material on top. Rooting, with proper care, takes about a month.

Traditionally, propagation material is planted immediately in pots with soil.

In water

Fresh sections of the stem with an angular cut at the bottom are placed in a glass of water and a solution of Kornevin or heteroauxin is added to it. Experienced gardeners recommend taking cold water, there is more oxygen in it, but the stems are guaranteed to rot in water at room temperature.

Phlox stems can also be rooted in water

Cutting phlox in water takes about 3-4 weeks. Water needs to be changed every few days, it is better to keep the container on a cool windowsill.

Planting cuttings in the ground

Phlox propagation is carried out not only in a pot, but also in a greenhouse and even in open ground. In all cases, you must follow the rules of planting for different parts of the plant.

How to plant stem cuttings in the ground

May and June harvests are often planted directly into the ground. At the same time, the survival rate is quite high – up to 90%. Reproduction is performed according to the following algorithm:

• for planting, choose a place with afternoon shading and dig the soil to a depth of 18 cm;
• form a bed of leafy soil, humus and sand, taken in equal proportions;
• the bed is properly watered and another 2 cm of sand is poured on top;
• cuttings are buried in the garden, leaving 6 cm between individual seedlings.

May stems of culture can be planted immediately in open ground

In the future, the cuttings are moistened weekly until rooting in about a month. At the end of summer, such seedlings can be transplanted to the “school” garden for growing.

If it is decided to cut phloxes in August, then the stems are often planted in a pot or in an unheated greenhouse, they will not have time to take root in open ground.

The landing algorithm in this case is similar:

• a few centimeters of nutrient soil and 2 cm of sand are poured into a spacious but shallow box;
• deepen the cuttings;
• put them in a box in a cold greenhouse or on a shaded windowsill in the house.

Cuttings are planted in the ground after winter, when they have time to get stronger.

Stems taken in late summer are grown indoors

How to plant cuttings from a leaf

Leaf rooting is usually carried out in a closed container. Since planting material is taken in the middle of summer, it most likely will not have time to take root in an open garden.

For leaf propagation by cuttings, a container is prepared with a standard mixture – 6 cm of nutrient soil and 2 cm of sand. The leaves are placed in the ground at a distance of about 5 cm between each other. At the same time, the stem section and the growth bud are left underground, and the leaf itself is above its surface with a slight slope.

When leaf propagation in pots, new shoots appear quickly

After planting, the cuttings are moistened, covered with glass or film and placed in a greenhouse or closed room with a temperature of about 19 ° C. It is important to ensure not only regular hydration, but also shading. For the winter, seedlings should be transferred to a cold greenhouse and covered with dry leaves and spruce paws on top.

How to plant pieces of phlox root

Root propagation of phlox is a simple procedure. Planting root pieces in early spring looks like this:

• the landing box is filled 6-8 cm with a mixture of humus, leafy soil and sand;
• the roots are slightly buried in the soil with a thick end up and sprinkled with 4 cm of sand;
• the landing is well moistened and the box is placed in a darkened room with a temperature of about 14 ° C;
• after 2 weeks, the temperature is slightly raised – up to 18 ° C, to stimulate the growth of shoots.

Pieces of phlox root easily give new shoots

After the roots give the first sprouts, it will be possible to gradually accustom the seedlings to the light, and at the end of May to land in the ground.

Cuttings of phloxes in the fall in the ground are usually not carried out. If the roots were harvested before winter, then until spring they are kept in moistened soil and sand in a cold basement, and with the onset of heat they begin standard cultivation.

How to grow perennial phlox from cuttings

From the moment the shoots appear to landing in the ground, some time passes. Caring for seedlings during this breeding season is easy:

1. Young sprouts of phlox must be protected from sunlight. Keep them in a shady place where diffused daylight is maintained.
2. The temperature for phlox should be moderate – in the region of 17-19 ° C.
3. An important step in the care of growing phlox is constant hydration. The soil is regularly watered, and green shoots are sprayed from above with a spray bottle.

For young seedlings, you need to provide warmth, diffused light and humidity.

To successfully grow phloxes from cuttings, when using glass or film, the covering material must be removed and ventilated daily. Otherwise, the risk of development of fungi and microorganisms in the soil increases.

How to transplant rooted phlox cuttings

Shortly before planting in the soil, watering should be reduced to prepare the plant for natural growing conditions in the ground.

The timing of planting cuttings in open ground depends on when the planting material was harvested:

1. Stem cuttings prepared in May or early June can be transferred to a temporary bed as early as August. The same applies to sheet material harvested in the first half of summer.
2. Root cuttings are traditionally germinated in the spring immediately after harvesting or winter storage. They are transferred to the ground in late May or early June.
3. Leaf and stem cuttings of late harvesting periods are germinated in a pot or greenhouse until autumn, and left in a cold greenhouse for the winter. Transplantation into the ground is carried out in the spring, also at the end of May.

Transplantation into the ground is carried out in May or August

According to the rules, young phloxes are planted first on a special bed for growing. The composition of the soil in this case should be standard – leafy earth, diluted with humus and sand. Holes for sprouts are made shallow, 2 times larger than the root system. When transplanting, they try to keep an earthen room.

During the growing season, the sprouts are actively watered and fed twice with nitrogen-containing fertilizers – mineral or organic. For the winter, phloxes are carefully covered with mulch, and grown perennials are planted on a flower bed only the next year.

Conclusion

Propagation of phloxes by cuttings is an effective procedure that allows you to preserve varietal characteristics. But in order for it to be successful, when carrying out cuttings, all the rules of reproduction for stems, leaf plates and pieces of the root must be observed.