Phlox "Niki": description, planting, care and reproduction

What flowers do gardeners decorate their plots with! To date, the tendency of planting paniculate phlox has become noticeable. They have gained great popularity due to the fact that they are quite unpretentious in care, get along well with other plants and tolerate the climate inherent in all regions of Russia. Moreover, these flowers have a delicate and very pleasant scent.

The plant itself is originally from Greece, its flowers are predominantly bright red. Thanks to the painstaking work of breeders, it was possible to breed many different varieties, which are divided into two main categories: undersized and tall. Each variety has a pleasant aroma that intensifies throughout the day and only fully unfolds in the evening.

As for the "Niki" variety, it is a perennial herb. The flowering period is June-September. Flowers live for one week. On each stem, they can grow up to several dozen. As soon as they wilt, seed ripening begins, and the process of gradual withering away of the ground part of the stem also occurs. However, at this moment, the process of laying buds takes place underground, from which in the future, with the arrival of spring, new stems will begin to sprout.

Among other features, it is worth highlighting such characteristics.

• Stem: straight and naked, can grow from 35 to 70 cm.
• Foliage: opposite arrangement.
• Flowers: The darkest shade of all varieties (deep purple-purple) with a velvety base. Their diameter is 3.5–3.8 cm.
• Inflorescence: round-conical, medium density.
• Duration of cultivation in one place: 5 years.
• Location: the plant is prone to fading and it is difficult to tolerate heat and too dark places, so it is better to plant in a sunny and at the same time as cool as possible. The soil should be loose and rich in nutrients.

The landing site should be with light partial shade. This will allow the flowers to take on more vibrant hues. The soil can be slightly acidic or sandy loam. But, phloxes feel great in open areas or near other shrubs and trees.

If you decide to start planting flowers in the fall, then the soil must first be fertilized with a phosphorus-potassium mixture. For spring planting, nitrogen-containing and complete complex fertilizers are suitable. The planting scheme should be as follows: from 35x35 cm to 50x50 cm. In one place the plant can "live" up to 6 years, then it is better to transplant it. As for the planting process itself, the hole must be larger than the root system so that it fits well. A mixture of fertilizers must be placed on the bottom, mixed with the soil and abundantly moistened. During planting, the rhizome should be lowered and straightened so that the processes look down and to the sides. TOThe neck should be located in the hole so that the top of the soil covers it by only 5 cm. After planting, it is necessary to compact the soil and moisten it well.

First of all, it is worth touching on the topic of plant care. Those who decide to acquire this flower must understand how to care for it, otherwise it will die almost immediately after planting. First of all, it is worth considering the fact that the flower loves an increased level of moisture. Due to the fact that the thin shoots of the root system, as a rule, are not located too deep in the soil (up to 15 cm), in no case should the soil completely dry out. In addition, a lack of moisture can negatively affect flowering. The flowers will become smaller and lethargic. It is considered optimal to water the plant every morning with 1.5-2 buckets.

It is important not to "run" the flowerbed where Nicky phlox grows, since along with the appearance of weeds, the chance of developing various diseases and the appearance of pests also increases. With the arrival of the first frost, it is necessary to cut the bush to the very root, and treat the remaining root well with copper sulfate. The cut stems must be disposed of. Horticultural experts do not recommend thickening the bushes to avoid powdery mildew damage to the plant.

As for the methods of its reproduction, here the situation is a little more complicated. The easiest way to reproduce is by separating part of the roots from the mother plant. This should be done only in early autumn or spring, because it is at this time that young shoots begin to look out of the soil. As a rule, a delenka has several well-formed stems, which should be planted to a depth of no more than 4 cm.

You can also propagate this plant variety by cuttings. Dig up breeding material in early summer. Cuttings take root quite quickly (no longer than 30 days).

Less commonly, the method of rooting layers is used. This means that the stems must be bent straight to the ground and anchored to the ground. Then the hilling procedure is carried out with a mixture of humus and peat, and in the fall a full-fledged bush will grow from the resulting blank.

It is worth mentioning the propagation of the plant by planting Niki phlox seeds. This requires mandatory stratification. Exactly one month before planting plants in an open area, the seeds must be planted in seedling boxes. The last weeks of May are considered the best time for this procedure. Also, the soil must be prepared in advance: dug up, cleared of weeds, treated with fertilizers and moistened.

For more information on this phlox, see the next video.