How to plant and care for creeping phlox?
Learning how to plant and care for creeping phlox is quite simple. The plant has an easy going nature and thrives in a variety of conditions. Almost any soil is suitable for growing creeping phlox as long as it is in full sun to partial shade.
How do you replant a phlox plant?
Replant one-half of the phlox in the original hole and plant the other anywhere you want more of the colorful ground cover. The process can be done every few years to create healthier plants. You can also take stem cuttings for rooting in summer or fall.
What to do if your phlox is yellowing?
Creeping phlox and tall garden phlox grow best in full sun; in densely shaded areas phlox plants may yellow and not grow properly. Preventative insect control may protect phlox plants from viral diseases. However, when a phlox plant is infected with a viral disease, there is usually no cure. Infected plants should be dug up and destroyed.
How to get rid of weeds around Phlox?
Hand-pulling is the most effective method for removing weeds. If you let the weeds get out of control, it might be easiest to dig up the phlox (keeping its roots intact), clear the area of grass and weeds, and then replant the phlox. This plant grows best in full sun to partial shade. Too much shade can impede flower production.
How do I bring my phlox back to life?
Most fungal diseases are soil borne and infect phlox plants when water from rain or manual watering splashes back up from infected soil onto plant tissues. Watering plants with a slow, light trickle of water directly at the root zone can help prevent the spread of many fungal diseases.
How do you rejuvenate old creeping phlox?
The leggy stems of Phlox subulata should be pruned in late spring after the blooms have faded. After flowering, remove dead stems from your creeping moss phlox, according to Mississippi State University Extension. Carefully prune any stems sticking out above the plant to even out the plant.
What is the best fertilizer for creeping phlox?
When planting phlox add a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer blend or compost to the backfill soil. Fertilize annually with compost or a balanced slow-release granular formulated fertilizer when flower buds begin forming.
Is Miracle Grow good for creeping phlox?
We suggest you use Miracle-Gro, a water-soluble fertilizer, or Milorganite, a granular fertilizer.
Are you supposed to cut back creeping phlox?
Care of Creeping Phlox The stems can be cut back after flowering to promote a second bloom. Care of creeping phlox may also include cutting the plant back in late winter to allow for rejuvenation and to produce young, more compact stems.
Why does my phlox look dead?
Improper watering is often the cause of wilting in garden phlox. When the soil is dry for extended periods of time, plants cannot receive adequate moisture or the nutrients they receive through an uptake of water. On the other side of the coin, plants left in standing water may drown.
When should you fertilize creeping phlox?
Fertilize creeping phlox once per year. Fertilize your plants in the late winter or early spring, which should lead to phlox blooms by late spring or early summer. The bloom time will extend well into the summer. 6.
Does phlox like Epsom salt?
0:282:51How to Use Epsom Salts in the Garden | At Home With P. Allen SmithYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI like providing epsom salts out in the garden to new plants that I've planted.MoreI like providing epsom salts out in the garden to new plants that I've planted.
Why is my creeping phlox not blooming?
Creeping phlox typically bloom in late spring or early summer. Tall phlox flowering mid to late summer. If your phlox aren't blooming, they may not be planted in the right growing environment, need nutrients, or have become overcrowded.
Can you overwater phlox?
As with so many other plants, they do not like constantly soggy or wet soil, which can lead to root rot and other plant diseases. So be careful not to overwater! In Containers: Creeping Phlox plants growing in pots or other containers will appreciate a consistently damp to moist soil.
How do I make my creeping phlox bloom?
Fertilizing in the late winter or early spring will promote growth and support a more robust bloom for your creeping phlox. Feed it with a general slow-release fertilizer suitable for flowering plants, following label instructions.
Does creeping phlox need a lot of water?
Watering: Although you'll need to water young plants regularly until they become established, in general, phlox does not require much water. During seasons with regular rainfall, your phlox should not need any extra water from the gardener.
What causes creeping phlox to turn brown?
Powdery mildew is a common disease of garden phlox (Phlox paniculata). The fungal disease produces a grayish white coating on the leaves. Infected leaves eventually turn yellow and then brown. Initial symptoms appear on the lower leaves with the disease progressing upward.
What do I do with dead phlox?
Remember to remove the dead/faded flowers so that your plants can rebloom. If you have tall phlox, cut the stems back to about 1 to 2 inches above the soil after the first killing frost in the fall. (See local frost dates.) Divide tall garden phlox every 2 to 3 years to ensure healthy and disease-free plants.
Why is my creeping phlox not blooming?
Creeping phlox typically bloom in late spring or early summer. Tall phlox flowering mid to late summer. If your phlox aren't blooming, they may not be planted in the right growing environment, need nutrients, or have become overcrowded.
Does creeping phlox come back every year?
Phlox are easy-to-grow perennials that come back reliably every season. Phlox comes in two forms: Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata). Both Garden Phlox and Creeping Phlox produce fragrant blooms that attract a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.
How to propagate creeping phlox?
Simply dig the plant up, preserving the root ball. Cut through the center of the plant and through the roots with a sharp soil knife or even a spade. Re plant one-half of the phlox in the original hole and plant the other anywhere you want more ...
What is creeping phlox?
About Creeping Phlox. A perennial nature and semi-evergreen habit are important facts about creeping phlox. These plants have needle-like foliage with small starry, five-pointed flowers in red, lavender, pink, white or bluish-purple. Creeping phlox blooms in spring and produces long, spreading stems, which become woody with age.
How to make a plant grow faster?
Dig in some organic soil amendments to enrich the soil and water the plant until it is established.
When to take stem cuttings for rooting?
You can also take stem cuttings for rooting in summer or fall. Dip these in a plant hormone and plant in a soil-less medium to take root.
Can creeping phlox grow in full sun?
The plant has an easy going nature and thrives in a variety of conditions. Almost any soil is suitable for growing creeping phlox as long as it is in full sun to partial shade. For best results, however, plant it in a sunny location where soils are moist but well drained.
How to propagate creeping phlox?
To propagate creeping phlox plants, simply divide your plants in the spring immediately after they are finished blooming. Dig up the entire plant, including the root ball. Cut through the roots to divide the plant roughly in half, and then replant each half wherever you wish.
How much sun does a creeping phlox need?
Creeping phlox prefers full sun or partial shade, meaning at least roughly four hours of direct sunlight on most days.
Why is my phlox yellow?
Yellowing foliage can be a sign of multiple issues, including diseases. But often it's an environmental issue, especially too little light and overwatering. Watch your phlox throughout the day to make sure it's not being shaded for too long. And make sure it has adequate soil drainage. The plant might need to be moved if it's not in suitable conditions.
Why is my phlox flowering so slow?
Environmental issues also can result in poor blooming on a creeping phlox plant, especially too little light. Also, the soil might be too high in nitrogen, which promotes foliage growth at the expense of flower buds. In addition, if flowering has diminished on a mature plant, that's often a sign it needs to be divided to become rejuvenated and bloom profusely again.
What is the color of the phlox stolonifera?
Phlox stolonifera ‘Pink Ridge’: This variety has flowers that are similar in color to ‘Home Fires’.
When does creeping phlox bloom?
It blooms in the late spring to early summer with clusters of fragrant, five-petal flowers that stretch almost an inch across.
Do phlox need pruning?
Plus, mature plants might need a bit of pruning maintenance to keep them looking tidy unless you'd like for your phlox to naturally spread and blanket a large area. As with many ground covers, grass and weeds growing up through the phlox can be a nuisance.
When do creeping phlox bloom?
Creeping phlox, Phlox subulata, is a stunning low-growing perennial that creates a striking carpet full of 5-petaled blooms in radiant hues of reds, purples, blues, pinks and whites in late April and May.
Do creeping phlox need pruning?
However, this eccentric plant can require some specific pruning. These perennials should be pruned back some time after they stop blooming, to help maintain the form you prefer, encourage lush growth and also to reduce the chances of pest problems. Here are 3 tips to properly shear your creeping phlox:
How much rain does a phlox need?
Of course, even when well established, phlox benefits from an extra watering during especially hot summers, or if you live somewhere that gets an average of less than 1 inch of rain per week.
How to ensure a pholox influx?
How to Ensure an Influx of Phlox. It’s easy to grow P. stolonifera and P. subulata from seed, cuttings, and transplants. From seed, the main thing to remember is to use a potting medium with good drainage, preferably comprised of perlite and coarse sand granules.
How to grow P. subulata?
It’s easy to grow P. stolonifera and P. subulata from seed, cuttings, and transplants. From seed, the main thing to remember is to use a potting medium with good drainage, preferably comprised of perlite and coarse sand granules. It’s best to seed them about 2 months before the last frost date.
What does phlox mean?
The vibrancy of this plant is even reflected in its name – the genus name phlox is derived from the Greek word meaning “flame, ” referring to the intense color of its flowers.
Is phlox a creeping phlox?
I found that, technically speaking, P. stolonifera is a “creeping phlox” and P. subulata is a “moss phlox.” But that thanks to the fact that both species are remarkably similar, both in appearance and in biology, the two common names are often used interchangeably.
Why cut back a flower stem?
Cutting the stems back like this also encourages their naturally long growth to become shorter and woodier, creating more dense flowering.
Can a P. subulata grow without sun?
Growing Tips. P. stolonifera and P. subulata are adaptable and versatile plants which, when situated in the right place with the right amount of sun exposure, will thrive without any special care. There are, however, a few things you can do to help these flowers along.
What is a creeping phlox?
Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera and Phlox subulata) are masses of spring flowering ground covers that offer carpets of lavender, pink, red or white in the spring and emerald green in summer. Phlox stolonifera is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9, while Phlox subulata, or moss phlox, is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
When should I trim a phlox plant?
Start to cut back flowering stems once half the blooms are spent. The leggy stems of Phlox subulata should be pruned in late spring after the blooms have faded. After flowering, remove dead stems from your creeping moss phlox, according to Mississippi State University Extension. Carefully prune any stems sticking out above the plant to even out ...
How tall does a phlox grow?
Phlox stolonifera is the taller version of creeping phlox, growing up to 1 foot tall, while moss phlox typically tops out at about 6 inches of height. Phlox stolonifera benefits from deadheading to permit air circulation and to reduce development of powdery mildew, one of the few phlox problems, according to North Carolina State University Extension. This phlox flowers from late spring to early summer. Start to cut back flowering stems once half the blooms are spent.
What type of soil does a phox subulata plant prefer?
Phlox stolonifera prefers a more acidic soil, while Phlox subulata grows well in moderately acidic to slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0, according to Wilson Bros Gardens.
Where does phlox grow?
Phlox stolonifera is native to stream banks and the wooded areas of the Appalachian Mountains, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. It can grow well not only in woodland or shade gardens but can also coexist well with spring bulbs. This type of creeping phlox also provides good erosion control when it is planted along stream banks.
Can creeping phlox withstand foot traffic?
Both types of creeping phlox can withstand some foot traffic. These ground cover flowering plants also have good wildlife value, as both hummingbirds and butterflies will enjoy their nectar.
Does phlox need sun?
Moss phlox does well in full sun, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Phlox stolonifera, which has oval-shaped leaves, does well in part shade. Both plants prefer well-drained soil, but they will also grow well in soils with lots of sand or gravel. Phlox stolonifera prefers a more acidic soil, while Phlox subulata grows well in moderately acidic to slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0, according to Wilson Bros Gardens.
