How to Care for Phlox

Phlox David

Phlox David is native to the eastern part of North America and was chosen Perennial of the Year for 2002. This backbone of the summer garden has a long growing season and produces large fragrant blooms. These snowy topped plants are a little over 3 feet tall. To have a successful flower bed takes a little care; you need to know to prepare the soil and plant the plants to get beautiful flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Container with potting soil
• Potting soil
• Phlox David bedding plants
• Trowel
• Watering can, hose
• Vase
• Scissors or pruning shears

Instructions

1. 

   Chose a container. Containers may be as simple as a 5-gallon paint bucket or cat litter container made of plastic, a cedar or teak 20-inch cube for planting, an old wine barrel cut in half, a 24-inch diameter by 20-inch deep resin or terra-cotta pot, or a hand-crafted stone or concrete container. Costs for the planter can vary from $10 to $800, depending your budget and the look you want to create.

2. 

   Get a potting soil. Chose a potting soil that has been made for flowers and has lots of organic matter. Phlox like a loamy soil that has lots of organic matter. The potting soil will be fluffy at first in the pot, but as it is watered, it will pack down and need more added to the top to keep the pot full enough. Depending on the size container you get, you will need between 25 and 200 cubic quarts of soil.

3. 

   Choose where to place your plant. Phlox like full sun (at least six hours a day) or partial shade. Think about where the shadows fall during the day and make sure to choose a place where your plant will get the sun they need to help them thrive.

4. Purchase a healthy plant as your start. A local garden store will have the best variety in spring. Make sure your plant is not root bound, or it will take longer to grow.

5. 

   Place the phlox in a soil that is moist but drains well. Keep it moist, but avoid too much water, because root rot can be a problem with this plant.

6. 

   Avoid watering this plant with a sprinker or a nozzle from the top. It doesn't like overhead watering. Instead, water the soil, but not the leaves of the plant.

7. Place a two to three inches of mulch on top of the soil to keep the weeds down and the roots cool. Mulch can be compost, or bark dust or ground nut shells. After the plant is well established, thin the plant down to four to six stems, so it doesn't get too dense and invite mildew. It is good to let the air circulate.

8. Cut spent flowers from the plants before they drop seeds. This will both help the plant have energy to make more blooms until the end of the season, and prevent baby plants that will not grow true. To make additional plants from your plant, follow step 10 below.

9. Check for pests, spider mites and plant bugs every week or so. Spider mites and plant bugs can be controlled with beneficial insects that eat the mites or a natural spray such as hot pepper wax.

10. In two or three years, dig the roots up in late fall after they have gone dormant. Only use sections 2 inches thick and cut them into sections 2 to 4 inches long. Plant them horizontally in sand 2 inches deep. Keep them moist and cool. They grow best at about 50 to 60 degrees.

References

• David's White Garden Phlox