How to grow Phlox drummondii? A complete guide to cultivation methods and precautions
Phlox drummondii, also known as little Tianlan xiushui, yanlaihong, Jinshan haitang, etc., is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Phlox in the family Polemoniaceae. It is cultivated in gardens across China. The plant is short, with rich flower colors, and can be used as plant material for flower beds, flower borders and rock gardens, and can also be potted for indoor decoration. Taller varieties can be used as cut flowers. Let's take a look at the cultivation methods and precautions for Phlox drummondii!
Growth habits of Phlox drummondii
Phlox drummondii is native to Mexico and is cultivated in gardens across China. It likes light and is cold-tolerant, prefers a mild and humid climate, and is not tolerant of intense heat or hot weather. It likes well-drained, light soil, is not drought-tolerant, and dislikes waterlogging and saline-alkali conditions. On barren yellow sandy land it can still survive and grow even without rain for many days, and in the North China area it can overwinter in cold frames.
Propagation methods of Phlox drummondii
Phlox drummondii is usually propagated by sowing. The prepared bed soil is first disinfected, using potassium permanganate, formalin, dexon, etc., mixed into an appropriate proportion of aqueous solution and sprayed on the seedbed. The bed soil is passed through a fine sieve, the bed is leveled, and enough bottom water is watered. After the water seeps down, the seeds are evenly broadcast on the seedbed. There are 750 seeds per gram. Before sowing, it is best to do a germination treatment. After the seeds are broadcast, the prepared sandy soil is evenly sifted onto the seedbed with a soil covering thickness of 0.3 cm, then covered with plastic film or an arched shed. After about 7 to 10 days, they will germinate and become seedlings.
Cultivation methods of Phlox drummondii
1. Watering: During the growth period of Phlox drummondii, sufficient water must be ensured, and the pot soil should be kept moist. However, because the leaves are relatively dense, do not water directly from the top when watering, so as to avoid water accumulating on the leaf surface. In the rainy season, it can be exposed to rain appropriately, but attention should be paid to timely drainage to avoid pests and diseases.
2. Fertilizing: During the growth period of Phlox drummondii, especially after pinching and pruning, thin liquid fertilizer should be applied in time to promote branch growth and flowering. Phlox drummondii is relatively sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer will burn the seedlings to death, so when fertilizing, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer.
3. Temperature: Phlox drummondii is not tolerant of high temperatures. When the summer temperature is above 35°C, obvious yellowing of leaves will occur, so appropriate shading is needed to avoid direct sunlight. However, Phlox drummondii is cold-tolerant and can overwinter outdoors in winter, but in some areas where the winter temperature is too low, it is recommended to move it indoors for overwintering.
4. Pruning: When Phlox drummondii grows to about 15 cm, pinch it once, removing the top to promote branching and also control plant height, ensuring a short, sturdy and full plant shape. After flowering, prune off the stems and spent flowers as soon as possible and appropriately thin the branches, ensuring that the new shoots that sprout can bloom a second time.
Precautions for Phlox drummondii
1. The seedlings of Phlox drummondii are not tolerant of transplanting. After seedlings are grown by sowing, do not move them around repeatedly. After 4 weeks of growth, when the root system is stable, they can be transplanted into pots. At the beginning, a small pot of about 10 cm can be chosen, and after the seedlings grow larger, they can be moved to a larger pot.
2. Phlox drummondii grows well in an environment with sufficient sunlight. As long as it is pruned in time, the plant shape is compact and beautiful. But if it lacks sunlight, it may become leggy, and it may even grow into a “towering tree.” Chlormequat can be sprayed appropriately to keep Phlox drummondii from growing too tall.