Characteristics and care of plants of the genus Phlox

Purple flowers

Today we are going to talk about how to grow a genus of plants that grows in summer and that serves to perfectly complement the garden. It’s about the genre Phlox. They are plants with a quite pleasant aroma and that have some varieties as we will see in this post. There are some varieties that are climbers, others are mossy that are used to cover the ground, while others are used to grow it as a taller plant.

In this article we are going to teach you how to grow plants of the genus Phlox and we will talk about some of the main species.

Sowing the Phlox

Phlox

The first thing is to choose what type of species you want to grow. Each species will have special characteristics that you will have to know in order to know well how to plant it and take care of it later. More or less, all species of Phlox They produce flowers with many colors including white, pink, red, lavender and blue. The varieties serve the different needs of the garden. There are some that will be better for you to grow at ground level, others to fill the edges of the gardens, other climbers, etc.

Location is important. Although it is a plant that hardly requires much care, most species need sun exposure. Some of them tolerate partial or filtered shade, but tend to produce fewer flowers if they are in the shade. If you put it in the shade, they are also more vulnerable to suffering from some type of typical garden disease. If you see that you are going to plant it in the shade, look for a variety that has resistance to mold.

As for the soil, you have to look for a substrate that can maintain a certain degree of humidity, but has good drainage. Phlox needs moisture to thrive, but care must be taken not to over-saturate it with water. If the soil does not have good drainage, it will puddle and cause the roots to rot. To see if your garden has good drainage, see if it is capable of storing or forming puddles after a heavy rain. If puddles form, it is because there is poor drainage. Ideally, the area should be damp but not soggy..

Tillage tasks

Phlox varieties

Now we are going to describe step by step how you should plant the plants and what you should do as a tillage task. The first of all is to plow the land and add some compost. Plants of the genus Phlox need a soil with many nutrients. Thus, The compost is quite important so that it can develop in a strong and healthy way. You should plow the land more or less to a depth of about 30 cm. Once you have the proper depth, you add the organic compost.

It is important to wait until the winter frosts have completely ended to plant the plants in the garden. They are not good at resisting the cold, so it is advisable to sow in spring and enjoy them in summer. To place multiple copies, make holes with a separation between them of about 60 cm. Once you have introduced the specimens in the hole, cover it with the earth, pat it and water it.

Water these plants meticulously. That is, during the growing season they need more water. If you let the soil dry out, the plant will start to suffer. It is important to water from the base of the plant and not the stem. The same with the leaves, avoid wetting the leaves so that mold does not form on the plant.

Besides fertilizer, it would be a good idea to add mulch around the plants in early summer. When the days begin to increase their temperatures already summer, put the mulch to prevent the soil from drying out and to be able to stay wet for as long as possible. In addition, this mulch helps to control the rest of the growth of weeds. The fresh padding must be renewed once a year.

For the maintenance of the Phlox, it is interesting to prune the varieties that are taller. Cut down to 5-7 stems on each plant. This increases air circulation to the stems, improves flowering and reduces the risk of disease.

Main varieties

Phlox paniculata

Phlox paniculata

It is a perennial plant from North America. It begins to flower from early summer to mid-fall. It is one of the plants that gardeners prefer thanks to its resistance and long flowering period. It is perfect for beds and has a fairly fast growth.

It needs semi-shade to be healthy, although if it is watered regularly, it can withstand direct sun. Irrigation has to ensure that the soil is always moist and fresh. In times of drought, irrigation must be increased. It needs compost once a year.

The phlox was brought down

The phlox was brought down

Also known as Mossy Phlox. Also from North America, it is a turf-type perennial. It serves to form grass. On the stems we find flowers forming groups of 2 to 4 flowers of different colors. Flowering takes place in spring. It is often used for rockeries, clumps, formation of tapestries, borders, etc. There are also those who use it in pots.

Supports both full sun and semi-shade. As for the soil, light soils with little humidity are preferable. You have to maintain a certain degree of humidity in the soil that allows the plant to be healthy and, above all, increase watering in hot seasons.

Phlox bifida

Phlox bifida

This species is less well known. They can be planted in rock gardens or landscapes with foundations. It is a plant that has a growth coverage of between 6 and 12 inches. They produce small pink, white or purple flowers. The blooming season begins in spring. Ideally, plant them when the winter frosts have ended.

It needs an exposure to semi-shade, although if the irrigation is higher it can also be in direct sun. Regarding irrigation, it is important to leave the soil with some moisture and fertilize once a year.

I hope that with these tips you can learn more about the cultivation of plants of the genus Phlox.

Characteristics and care of plants of the genus Phlox

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