Phloxes are perhaps the best culture that you can plant in your garden. The popularity of these flowers is easily explained by resistance to cold, unpretentiousness in leaving, a delightful aroma and long bright blossoming. The best choice for creating an unusual garden is the Gzhel variety. We bring to your attention the description and reviews of Phlox Gzhel.
Variety Characteristics
Gardeners admit: it is difficult to imagine a more spectacular variety of phlox than Gzhel. He pleases others with his coloring, creating the impression that it was as if the artist had drawn a large brush on the petals. Some of the petals have a delightful lavender hue, and some are snow-white. Together with the deep blue color of the core and the light mother of pearl on the petals, this gives a truly magical effect. Even a simple description of phloxes Gzhel fascinates: lush cone-shaped inflorescences reach 25-30 centimeters wide! The aroma of flowers is also pleasing - you can catch spicy oriental notes in it.
Grade Advantages
Speaking about the advantages of Gzhel phloxes, the following should be noted:
- compactness - the height of the bush rarely exceeds 80 cm;
- long flowering - phlox of this variety blooms from July to October;
- undemanding to the conditions of detention - this phlox perfectly tolerates any weather;
- disease resistance - Gzhel has good immunity.
disadvantages
The Russian variety has several disadvantages. For example, experienced flower growers do not recommend planting it in direct sunlight - the petals will burn out and lose color. Partial color loss is also possible in hot, dry weather.
Phlox planting
Of course, phlox refers to photophilous colors. But still, they should choose places with diffused light. The direct rays of the sun literally burn out the petals, the flowers lose their charm and decorative appearance. A good defense for the Gzhel phlox bushes will be the crown of tall shrubs and trees. It is worth noting that this variety does not tolerate drafts, so you should choose a place protected from them and the winds.
The bushes do not differ in the presence of a developed root system, and therefore it is worth preparing the soil for them, digging it to a shallow depth - only 30-35 centimeters. In addition, it is important to create a fertile and permeable soil for the plant. If a sandy area was chosen for planting phlox, loamy soil and humus should be added to it. On acidic soils, Gzhel also feels uncomfortable, therefore, before planting, it is worth adding lime to the ground. Clay soil requires preliminary drainage - large crushed stone or broken brick must be laid out in the planting pit.
Planting and replanting phlox Gzhel is best in spring. However, the soil should be prepared in the fall!
Planting phlox: step by step instructions
In one place, these magnificent flowers can be around seven years old, so it is very important to prepare the soil for them - pour a mixture of soil and fertilizers into the prepared holes. Planting bushes - the procedure is quite simple, just follow the instructions:
- After fertilizer has been applied to the holes for the bush, it is necessary to properly water the soil.
- Once the soil has absorbed water, you need to deepen the roots of the phlox Gzhel by 4-6 cm and sprinkle them with earth.
- The soil around the bush needs to be crushed and watered.
- It is important to remember that phloxes of this variety need to be planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. Otherwise, the decorative colors will disappear.
Phlox Care
Phlox paniculata Gzhel needs frequent, but not plentiful watering. The lack of moisture affects the appearance of the bush - flowering weakens, the lower leaves turn yellow, dry and fall off. Another component that provides a magnificent appearance of phlox is top dressing. The best fertilizer is ordinary ash.
Phlox Reproduction
Phlox Gzhel can be propagated in a variety of ways. The best option is dividing the bush. It is best to implement this method in the spring. Planted phloxes bloom the same year. Another way is by grafting. This procedure does not take much time, you just need to cut off the young (still green) shoots. Please note: a flowering stem broken from a plant is not suitable for propagation. Phlox bushes can be propagated in June-July. A new plant will bloom next year.
Phlox gzhel
The photos used as illustrations for the article confirm that the main advantage of phloxes is their decorativeness. High stems, lush floral hats, a combination of white, lavender and dark blue shades - all this allows the plant to become a delightful decoration of any garden. Gzhel looks great in solitary landings. The best combination in this case is a neat green lawn. Do not mix this variety with others. The only exception is phloxes of the same hue, for example, Blue Paradise, Vasilievsky Island, Evening Song and Blue Joy.
Gardeners who prefer lush mixborders should plant Gzhel phloxes in the background, and in the foreground, 3-4 more rows of perennial and annual garden plants can be planted. It’s best to pick them in height - so that you get bright ledges.
For which garden are phloxes indispensable? This variety is great for the so-called village gardens. Companions for him will be bells, carnations, daisies, rudbeckia. In the lush classical garden, Gzhel phloxes can be combined with perennials such as peonies and daylilies. However, it must be borne in mind that these cultures need a large area for nutrition, and therefore it is necessary to leave free space between phlox and other flowers.
They look great between trees or shrubs. In addition, lush floral hats are suitable for the design of garden paths, building facades, alleys. You can drop Gzhel and along the edge of the fences. Often, gardeners grow a variety for cutting. To make flower caps luxurious, large and bright, experienced gardeners recommend leaving only 6-7 peduncles on the bush.
Gzhel Maxi
In 2012, domestic breeders bred another Gzhel variety, however, Gzhel Maxi differs from ordinary phloxes in the compactness of the bush: it does not exceed 75 centimeters. However, its main advantage is its huge floral hats: the diameter of one flower is usually about 5 centimeters!
Phlox Disease
Usually the cause of phlox damage by various diseases is improper care of them or the acquisition of unhealthy seedlings. Experts advise to make a quarantine bed on the site. It was on her that the “recruits” should be landed. Place Phlox Gzhel in a permanent place should only be after doubts about their health will remain. In addition, it is important to regularly process all garden tools, soil, and plant containers. Among the most popular treatments are steam, alcohol, and boiling water.
Diseases:
- One of the most common diseases affecting phlox is variegation. Usually it appears during flowering. The disease can be identified by the symptoms: the color of the petals changes, asymmetric radial bands appear on them, which are lighter than the petals themselves. The presence of this virus leads to the fact that the plant looks weakened and ceases to please its flowering. The affected phlox should be dug up with the root and burned. The landing site must be thoroughly disinfected.
- Phlox jaundice can cause the plant to change the shape of leaves, stems and buds. The flowers turn green, the plant stops growing. Despite the fact that this disease affects the plant slowly, the best way to deal with it is to destroy the bushes. But phlox can be saved with aqueous antibiotic solutions.
- Among the diseases affecting Gzhel, and powdery mildew. A white coating appears on the plant, it lags behind in development and loses its attractive appearance. If you start the disease, phlox can die. As a prophylaxis, a solution of furatsilin and various fungicides should be used. If the disease has already appeared, it is necessary to repeatedly treat the bushes with preparations containing copper.
Reviews
In their reviews of Gzhel phlox, flower growers note a delicate aroma of flowers. They also speak of appearance - it is simple and gentle. Among the advantages are mentioned lush inflorescences, frost resistance, unpretentiousness.